Events
If you live in a Chicago condo, there’s a large chance that you are also a Chicago Cubs fan (Sox fans, just skip to the next event!). Just a week or two before Spring Training begins, start getting into the Cubs’ spirit with an event at Rockit Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville! Local sports expert David Kaplan of WGN 720-AM, ChicagoNow.com, and the Chicago Tribune hosts Cubs-Aholics Anonymous, where you can connect with other fans and sports media. It happens every Thursday, and it sounds like a great way to start the weekend early to us!

If an artistic endeavor is more likely to interest you than an athletic one, stop by the Museum of Contemporary Art sometime this weekend. Friday is, of course, First Friday, where you can get museum admission, live entertainment, and complimentary Wolfgang Puck hors d’oeuvres for $16. Saturday, show up at 10 a.m. for Coffee and Art, an art history class like you never had in college. For $18 for nonmembers and $15 for MCA members, you can enjoy coffee and conversation led by an art expert. Also at the MCA on Saturday, join Chicago Public Radio for the Third Coast Festival– an audio festival celebrating storytelling, sound and the art of listening from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Ticket information here.

Restaurants
Take a look at a few pictures of the newly-opened Gilt Bar, courtesy of Metromix. And if you like what you see, give the new River North eatery a try. “No white tablecloths, no snooty staff and no dish topping $18–just simple comforts in the form of unfussy eats and classic cocktails.” Sounds like a perfectly relaxed evening!

Gilt Bar, a new restaurant in River North, is a great option for dinner or drinks this weekend.

See inside Gilt Bar and consider stepping out of your Chicago condo for a visit to the new eatery!

And for a pre-Oscar brunch, try a pancake joint new to the neighborhood- Elly’s Pancake House. On the border of Old Town and the Gold Coast, it’s a great brunch location for Near North Siders, Lincoln Park residents and downtown condo owners alike. You can eat your fill of pancakes and other classic greasy spoon grub, and you’ll definitely be back in the comfort of your own Chicago condo in time to see the celebs walk the Oscar red carpet!

Movies
And finally, what movies should you watch on Hollywood’s biggest weekend? Well, we’d recommend you check out some of the films nominated for Best Picture. Luckily, Chicago is one of the cities where you can watch all 10 nominated movies in a 24 hour marathon this Saturday! The Best Picture Showcase takes place at AMC River East, starts at midnight on Friday and runs until midnight on Saturday. What a way to spend a day!

However, if you’d like to check out just one or two of the honored movies from the comfort of your own Chicago condo, the nominees are:

• Avatar
• A Serious Man
• Up
• District 9
• Inglourious Basterds
• The Blind Side
• An Education
• Precious
• Up in the Air
• The Hurt Locker

No matter how you plan to celebrate the Oscars and this weekend, we hope you have a great time!

Events
If you aren’t into football, maybe art is more your thing! This Friday, for one night only, you can attend Now You See It, Now You Don’t at the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park, where 40 local artists will “unveil murals throughout the building’s hallways and then, at 10 p.m., destroy the work by painting over it.” Or for something more traditional, head to the MCA for the First Friday after-work mixer!

What about some magic? Join necromancer Neil Tobin in Chicago’s most haunted building for a comedic and interactive trip through the city’s paranormal history in the show Supernatural Chicago. Complete with demonstrations!

The Randolph Street Market introduces its first ever Valentine’s Day Market this Saturday and Sunday. Browse vintage antiques, collectibles and indie designer goods from the 1800s to the 1980s with your Valentine, and find something special for your sweetheart!

Restaurants
Wicker Park coffee shop, Filter, just opened in a new, green location. The couches are comfy, and the appliances are energy-saving (even the coffee brewing system!). Stop by for breakfast or brunch!

Karyn’s on Green is now open in Greektown. The Green Street spin off of Karyn’s Cooked and Karyn’s Raw is slightly more upscale, with vegan interpretations of dishes like crab cakes and shepherd’s pie.

Movies
From Paris With Love is out this Friday. See John Travolta reinvent himself again, this time as wildcard U.S. intelligence agent, in this high octane action flick.

Crazy Heart tells the story of a rundown country music star, trying to find his song again. Jeff Bridges has already won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Bad Blake, and T-Bone Burnett created the soundtrack for the film. With soundtracks under his belt like Walk The Line, Cold Mountain, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the movie’s music is already garnering awards, too. Good acting and good music … a killer combo!

We’ll see you out and about in downtown Chicago this weekend, except for during the big game of course! We’ll be glued to the TVs in our Chicago condos for the Super Bowl and it’s hilarious commercials. No matter who wins, we hope you have a great weekend!

Events
Spend the evening enjoying Dueling Pianos featuring Steve Kouba and Dave Roberts who will be playing all your requests starting at 9pm at LuxLounge.

Belushi Birthday Blowout Weekend, Friday and Saturday at Faith and Whiskey, includes $5 Jack Daniels shots and cocktails and live music from The Bluz Brothers Friday at 9pm!

Le Passage is hosting a Haitian benefit on Friday, January 22^nd and January 29^th from 7 – 10pm. All tips given to bartenders within those hours will be donated to the Red Cross, so tip generously.

Restaurants
Be the first to check out Longman & Eagle in Logan Square this weekend! This restaurant (which will also feature hotel rooms in March) was created to be reminiscent of a traditional Chicago Inn, where you can get your coffee in the mornings and grab a pint of beer after a long day.

Longman & Eagle opens this weekend in Chicago.

A new sushi spot, Macku on Clybourn in Lincoln Park, features traditional sushi along with their signature sashimi and nigiri topped with seasonal toppings.

Movies
Brendan Fraser is back on big screen next to Harrison Ford in Extraordinary Measures, a passionate drama about a man fighting for the life of his children diagnosed with a fatal disease.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ashley Judd star in a family comedy about a man sentenced to serve time as the real Tooth Fairy.

Events

Chicago Blues Tour pub crawl goes to eight different blues lounges this Saturday starting at 8:30pm. $45 tickets include live music at each lounge and transportation.

Prefer a brewery tour to a pub crawl?Head to the Goose Island Brewery for their famous tour. You’ll see the entire process, sample six types of beer, and take home a Goose Island glass. The tour is only $5, and you might want to make reservations.

In honor of National Pizza Week, learn how to make stretch artisan dough at La Madia while enjoy wine pairings and receiving a pizza making kit. Impress your friends next time you entertain at your Chicago condo. RSVP to the class here.

Restaurants

Osteria Via Stato in River North is celebrating National Pizza Week with half-price of select pizzas. They will be offering pizza deals through Jan 29^th every day from 2:30 to 4:30pm.

Mmm, it's Pizza Week in Chicago!

Since it is National Pizza Week, why not celebrate even more by enjoying some delicious pizza at State Street Pizza Company? The new restaurant opened its doors this week and is located at State and Kenzie.

Movies

The Book of Eli, starring the amazing Denzel Washington, tells the story of a man hoping to bring the human race redemption, 30 years after a war made the world to a ruined wasteland. If you like post-apocalyptic thrillers, check it out!

Independent film Broken Embraces starring Penélope Cruz takes you on a journey of a woman in love, but in a difficult marriage, in the 50’s.

Well folks, if Pizza Week deals, pub crawls, and blockbusters aren’t enough to get you out of your Chicago condos this weekend, we don’t know what is! But we hope to seeing you out and about in our beautiful city before the snow returns!

Events
Saturday and Sunday join the fun for the 24th annual Bucktown Arts Fest. Artists from around the nation will be displaying their wares. They’ll have everything from jewelry, ceramics and paintings to sculpture and photography. There will also be performing arts like theatre, spoken word, dancing and live music. Food and beer available for purchase; admission is free! Opens 11am each day, at Senior Citizens Memorial Park, 2238 N. Oakley Ave.

Also being held Saturday and Sunday is the Randolph Street Market Festival. Vintage and antique collectibles will be on sale from over 200 dealers at this indoor/outdoor festival. Don’t miss the gourmet foodstuffs like truffles, salsa and olive oil as well. 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. $10 gets you in for both days; $5 for students; kids under 12 are free. On Randolph St. between Ada & Ogden.

Shake your hips at the 21st annual Viva! Latin Music Festival. Features multiple stages where you can enjoy all different types of Latin music. If you get hungry feast on some authentic Latin cuisine from the festival food vendors, and browse the arts and crafts fair too. Saturday & Sunday, 11am-9:30pm each day at the Grant Park Museums, 300 S. Columbus Drive.

Restaurants
This is the last weekend for the Diva Brunch at The Spot in Uptown. You enjoy a lovely Sunday brunch and they provide the entertainment: Cabaret performers, drag artists, and musical theatre singers serenade diners in a glamorous environment fit for any diva. $35-$50 will get you the brunch, entertainment, mimosas, bellinis, coffee and tea. Don’t miss it! 4437 N. Broadway.

Friday night indulge yourself at Vosges Haut-Chocolate in the DePaul area. From 7pm-9pm delectable gourmet chocolates will be paired with Goose Island beers. There will also be an open bar serving 312 and a live performance and book signing from didgeridoo player Sam Boys. 10 percent discount on all chocolate purchased during the event. $30 a person- RSVP required. 951 W. Armitage Ave.

The latest issue of Chicago Magazine pays homage to Chicago’s best burgers. This weekend pay a visit to any one (or more!) of the 30 restaurants listed and take a bite out of some of the best burgers you’ll ever taste. Here are a few locations to get you started: HotChocolate- 1747 N. Damen Ave., Kuma’s Corner- 2900 W. Belmont, Custom House- 500 S. Dearborn St., Cortland’s Garage- 1645 W. Cortland St. Dig in!

Movies

Taking Woodstock is the story of how, in the summer of 1969, Elliot Tiber saved Woodstock by offering the festival coordinators his family’s Catskills motel and nearby farmland as a location to hold what turned out to be the most epic event in music history. Demitri Martin stars. Opens Friday.

Michael Myers is back once again in the newest version of the classic horror flick, Halloween. In Halloween II, opening Friday, Rob Zombie resurrects Myers and the terror he instills in all who cross his path. Don’t see this one alone!

Have a wonderful weekend!