Winter Break Blues Buster

Oh, what to do in Chicago during winter break? Many of us have solid plans, like just lazing around and doing absolutely nothing. But what, pray tell, will you do when that becomes boring? Here's a simple guide of events and happenings around town, guaranteed to cure you of any "winter break blues".

The Armando Diaz Theatrical Experience and Hootenanny

Open run on Mondays at 8:30 p.m.

Improv/Sketch

$12

iO Theater

3541 N. Clark Street, Wrigleyville

phone 773-880-0199

Baby Wants Candy: The Rock Musical

Open run on Fridays 10:30 p.m.

Improv/Sketch

$15

Apollo Theater

2540 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Park

phone 773-935-6100

The Nutcracker (2004) Helgi Tomasson, USA, 120 mins. with Elzabeth Powell, Davit Karapetyan

Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m.

Dance

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street, Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

Pechakucha Night Volume 20

Tue Dec. 6 at 8 p.m.

Spoken Word/Poetry Slam/Open Mic

$10

Martyrs'

3855 N. Lincoln Avenue, North Center

phone 773-404-9494

Homolatte

Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

Literary

Big Chicks

5024 N. Sheridan Road, Uptown

phone 773-728-5511

Editor Kathie Bergquist and contributors Owen Keehnen, Yasmin Nair, J. Adams Oaks, and Nadine Warner read from Windy City Queer: LGBTQ Dispatches From the Third Coast.

Yoonjung Han

Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 12:15 p.m.

Musical Entertainment

Piano

Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington Street, Loop

phone 312-744-6630

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone (2011) Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, USA, 107 min. Narrated by Laurence Fishburne

Dec. 9 - 15

Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 5:30 p.m.;

Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.; Thursday at 8 p.m.

Film

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street., Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

The Big Yellow Bus

Open run on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Improv/Sketch

$10

Playground Theater

3209 N. Halsted Street, Lakeview

phone 773-871-3793

Experimenting with Coffee

Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Food

Illinois Science Council and Intelligentsia offer a hands-on class about the chemistry of coffee. 25 slots available RSVP now! $15

Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea

1850 W. Fulton Street, Near West Side

phone 312-563-0023

Cinderella (2010) David Bintley, UK, 120 min with Elisha Willis, Iain Mackay

Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m.

Dance

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street, Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

The Comedysportz Crew Saves Santa

Through 12/17; happens every @ Saturday 11 a.m.

Improv/Sketch

$7-$10

ComedySportz Theatre

929 W. Belmont Avenue, Lakeview

phone 773-549-8080 or 312-559-1212

Farmageddon (2010) Kristin Canty, USA, 86 min.

Saturday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.

Sunday Dec. 11 at 5:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6:15 p.m.

Film

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street., Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

*The Interrupters (2011) Features NEIU Student Eddie Boconegra, Steve James, USA, 125 min.

Dec. 16 - 22

Friday at 8 p.m.

Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

Film

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street, Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

Weekend (2011) Andrew Haigh, UK, 97 min.

December 23 - 29

Friday at 8:15 p.m.;

Tuesday - Thursday at 8 p.m.

Film

Gene Siskel Center

164 N. State Street., Downtown

www.siskelfilmcenter.org for film description

…and per the city of Chicago

(http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-holiday-events.htm)

• Macy's Great Tree Lighting & Holiday Windows

Macy's State Street, 111 N. State Street, Chicago

Macy's kicks off the holiday season at 12 p.m. at the 7th floor Walnut Room with the 103rd annual Great Tree Lighting & Holiday Windows. This year, singer and actress Katharine McPhee will be Macy's special guest, performing some songs from her new holiday CD. The 45-foot Great Tree features 10,000 LED sparkling lights and 1200 ornaments. Outside, passersby will once again be amazed with this year's Macy's window display, themed "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".

Nov. 18 - Mar. 11 (weather permitting)

• Millennium Park Ice Skating

Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, Chicago

Located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets, the Millennium Park Ice Rink draws more than 100,000 skaters annually. The rink is open to the public every day of the week and skating is free. Skate rentals are available.

Nov. 17 - Jan. 8

• Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light

Night Time Aerial View of Downtown Chicago

Museum of Science & Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

The museum halls will be decked, holiday singers and dancers will fuel the festivities and the sparkle of dozens of decorated trees will greet you at this year's Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light. The museum's grand tree takes center stage in the rotunda, while more than 50 trees beautifully decorated by members of Chicago's ethnic communities to represent global cultures adorn the museum's main level. Stroll through the trees, enjoy intermittent falling "snow" and savor the performances of various dance and choral groups on the Holiday Stage.

Nov. 25 -Dec. 20