. . . so-LAZE around or choose a To-Do!
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Greetings!
 Okay - I'm going to get to the NYE To-Dos in a minute, but what I'm really looking forward to comes a little later - the Café Ba Ba Reeba FREE* New Year's Day Pajama Brunch! Now you know you can't beat that! *Here's the real deal - however much you spend (on food, liquor or anything else on the menu), you receive gift cards equal to the pre-tax total of your bill - if you come in your pajamas. So, while you'll pay on the front end, you'll have a perfect excuse to visit Café Ba Ba Reeba within the next 11 months! The food is delicious, the sangrias - refreshing, the vibe is lively and the waitstaff - hilarious in their robes, slippers or footie pajamas.
 Café Ba Ba Reeba features tapas - like "dim sum" except Cuban food. Not "dimisum" as in "dimisumadat (I'd like to try a little bit of that, please)"; rather, a meal comprised of appetizer-sized dishes. ;) Full of vibrant energy and warm decor, this place is always festive! While you can usually feel the energy as you approach it, on this day, you can also see it as you arrive and begin to pass people strolling in their PJs!
 Don't forget about Kwanzaa! A lot of activities and performances will take place through January 1 at the Malcolm X College 14th Annual Kwanzaa Observance. Great acts are coming up, including Nanette Frank, Fred Baker's West indies Dance Company, Dee Alexander Trio, M.A.D.D. Rhythms and the Ari Brown Quartet. Grab a bite from the food court in the African Marketplace - open from 10am-5pm daily!
ON TO NEW YEAR'S EVE!!!
 MEET your neighbors and neighborhood singles at New Year's Eve in Bronzeville. There are a few things that are ideal with this To-Do: The 10,000 square foot Swift Mansion promises to be spacious, yet cozy - and conveniently (for some) located in Bronzeville. It will truly be an adult (rather than "young" adult) party, featuring Singles Mingles activities, the live music of the Ultimate Concept Band, dancing, cabaret seating and entertainment venues on two floors. Enjoy appetizers, a seafood dinner, desert, wine, beer and the whole party favor/champagne toast thang. Stags are not only welcome, but encouraged!
HEAT - The HotHouse is back and invites you to heat it up at their Reveillon 2009: A Brazilian New Year's Extravaganza! Out with the antiquated notion that bars white after Labor Day; in with the Brazilian tradition of bringing in the New Year wearing all-white - as a symbol of peace! Enjoy live music by Chicago Samba, dance lessons, a Carnaval show, free champagne toast and party favors, cocktails and Brazilian food available for purchase. Alternatively, Fiesta de Ańo Nuevo at Carnivale will feature a DJ, dance floor, festive entertainment, food and drink specials and a champagne toast
 GREET fellow art-lovers at Gallery Guichard's The Art of Celebration New Year's Eve Experience! Gallery Guichard has a well-established rep of attracting a mature, sophisticated audience. Why? The ambiance, attractive venue and location in Bronzeville and incredible art all contribute to a swanky party! Slip on your formalwear and party on three levels with the music of Sound Therapy and Black Slang, DJ Bryan Sayles, premium open bar, Champagne toast and lavish buffet!
 REPEAT the past with a trip down memory lane, as you join in the Black Ensemble Theater NYE Celebration! This evening will feature performances of musical numbers from past productions, a chance to chat with the cast, Hors d'Ouevres, Champagne toast, party favors and - uh-oh - an open mic!
RETREAT - Get outta town and enjoy a peaceful start to the New Year with New Year's Eve at the Abbey Resort. There are all sorts of things to distract yourself with, including spa treatments, live music, champagne toast, 4-course dinner, a waterfront party and so much more!
 PETE - Check out the Damon Williams 10th Annual NYE Comedy Bash! Damon Williams will have you laughing, crying and saying - Girrrrrrrl, I done pete my pants! Price includes Champagne Toast, music by DJ Dolla Bill, party favors and food. Or stay within the City limits, stop by Jokes & Notes and laugh your way into the New Year with L'il Rel and friends. Jokes & Notes will provide a one-hour buffet, party favors and champagne toast.
On your FEET:
- Art of Celebration 2009: A Black Tie New Year's Eve Gala - For those of you who want to be in the thick of it - at River East Art Center, near Navy Pier. This elegant evening is black tie, features a live celebrity performance, passed Hors d'Ouevres, a bar hosted by Diageo Brands and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit The 8 Foundation.
- '09 Swerve - Hosts include Mark Fuller, Stephen Mitchell, Shun Dyes and Bryan Wallace, and I'd expect the set to mostly include late-20s to mid-30s. Huge venue with a few price options for the VIP in you.
- New Year's Eve Bash - Classic - Expect the same flavor you'd get at the SilverRoom's annual Sound System Block Party, as the SilverRoom is one of its hosts. Diverse crowd; mid-30s, plus.
- New Year's Eve Celebration at M Lounge - featuring DJ Inc
In your SEAT (live music, adequate - ample seating):
There you have it - tons of options for kicking off the New Year! Prices are subject to change and most parties offer upgrade packages. Make sure you confirm price and availability online. Whatever you choose To-Do, I hope you have a safe, but fun, evening and a wonderful New Year!
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| RESTAURANT REVIEW: Real Tenochtitlan |
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 The Real Mole Deal in Logan Square
Let's face it, there are a lot of restaurants in Chicago that feature Mexican cuisine, but there are only a handful that really, really stand out. You can place the new Logan Square eatery Real Tenochtitlan in the standout category. Let's say it together: Re-AHL-teh-NOCH-tee-tlahn. Executive Chef Geno Bahena's specialty is mole sauce. Mole literally means "concoction" and describes a whole genre of sauces. Mole is complex to make and also represents the tradition of Mexican cooking. There are seven classic moles from a southern Mexico region called Oaxaca by which all moles are categorized. Bahena features a different mole each night of the week, and they include, Amarillo, Manchamanteles, Verde, Chichilo, Rojo Coloradito, and Negro. The menu is filled with a combination of traditional and specialty dishes that will make your meal memorable. Real Tenochtitlan credits the quality and authenticity of their dishes to the use of harvested fresh local organic ingredients. Appetizers such as the Sopes Surtidos -- corn masa boats with a sampler of fillings like chicken, plantains, and black beans with chorizo, are a great way to get your meal started. Memorable specialty entrees include a Natural Black Angus trater steak, a Chilean sea bass dish and a Sugar River Farm baby rack of lamb. I had the Negro specialty mole, which is considered the king of moles. Spicy and sweet the Negro mole contains over 28 ingredients that gives it a nice thickness and an intense flavor. Skipping dessert here is not an option. The 10 desserts range from Mexican bread pudding and key lime pie, to buttered crepes and a warm individual pumpkin cake. The restaurant is BYOB, which is another great reason to enjoy this restaurant during this challenging economy. The environment compliments the more upscale Mexican cuisine, and they have a separate dining room for private parties. Take my word for it: Real Tenochtitlan is the real deal. 2451 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
(773) 227-1050
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