EAT
Cuban Holiday Menu
Nacional 27 325 W. Huron St. 312-664-2727
Treat your palate to a four-course island-style prix-fixe menu with wine pairings featuring slow-roasted suckling pig Cubano or spice-rubbed jumbo prawns served with sides and DeLoach pinot noir, plus a tapas sampler, hearts of palm salad and a dessert duo. 5:30-9:30 p.m. $45.
(Free!) Pasta Tastings
Pasta Puttana 1407 W. Grand Ave. 773-439-9623
Owner Jessica Volpe offers complimentary samples of her sweet and savory seasonal creations—also available for take-home purchase—including hand-rolled Golden Egg Garganelli ($12) served with housemade Bolognese sauce ($6) and Chestnut Panzerotti filled with roasted, creamed chestnuts, mascarpone cheese and chestnut honey ($1.25 per piece) sauteed in brown butter ($4 per ball). 4-8 p.m. No cover.
DRINK
12 Beers of Christmas Party
Kirkwood 2934 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-770-0704
Make your own spirits bright at this bash featuring passed appetizers and Advent calendar-style place mats for servings of seasonal spirits from 12 craft breweries including Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper, Shiner Holiday Cheer, J.K.’s Cuvee Winterruption hard cider, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale and New Holland Cabin Fever. 7:30 p.m. $35. Tickets: kirkwoodbar.com
DO
Burly
The Burlington 3425 W. Fullerton Ave. 773-384-3243
You don’t need to be burly to attend the holiday edition of this monthly bash for LGBT and bearded folks and their friends which features beats by guest DJs Butch Sassidy and Josie Bush, $5 hot toddies and a book release party for the essay anthology, “Boys.” Festive holidaywear encouraged. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.
The Hideout Office Holiday Party
Hideout 1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433
Join the folks who bring you regular entertainment—Schadenfreude, Funny Ha-Ha, Shame That Tune and The Interview Show—for seasonal musical and sketch comedy, humorous stories, a musical performance by Chicago rapper Psalm One and a sketch featuring real-life aldermen Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Bob Fioretti (2nd) with Schadenfreude’s fictional character, Alderman Ed Bus. A cash bar party follows. 7-8 p.m. $5.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
See our picks for the best of 2013 in dining and nightlife at redeyechicago.com/bestofdining
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.
