Spider Trio @ Cafe Mestizo

The Spider Trio plays avant-garde jazz at Cafe Mestizo, 2123 S Ashland (at Cermak), tonight starting at 7:30pm. Free, but tip the band. Call 312/942-0095.

"Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer" @ the Loop Theater

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents "Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer" at the Loop Theater (8 E. Randolph St). The show opens today at 8 p.m. and runs through Friday, Dec. 31.

Tickets are $15 and $10 for students and seniors. All tickets can be purchased by phone at 312-744-LOOP (5667) or on-line at ticketweb.com.

"Chicago's favorite cross-dressing reindeer is back for its seventh
smash holiday season. Join Rudolph (Brannen Daugherty) and his misfit friends -- Herbie (Adam Keune), the "not gay enough" elf who wants to be a dentist and Yukon Cornelia (Lori Lee), the butch prospector with a deep, dark secret -- as
they search for happiness and attempt to outrun the horrifyingly tacky
Abominable Drag Beast (Ed Jones)."

For more information visit www.handbagproductions.org.

The Great Chicago Fire Sale

The Great Chicago Fire Sale is a municipally sponsored eBay charity auction that will benefit the Chicago Cultural Center, Cultural Grants and Gallery 37. All sorts of unusual items will be for sale starting today, including: a 1960's Playboy Bunny costume; a Chicago Cubs jersey signed by Moises Alou; a 1999 Chicago Cows on Parade cow; artwork from Gallery 37; City of Chicago manhole covers; and a lot of other stuff that you probably won't be able to afford. Check the Website for a full auction list.

Flabby Hoffman Show @ Beat Kitchen

Tonight at the Beat Kitchen at   2100 W. Belmont, Chicago, enjoy a big showcase of bands as part of the Flabby Hoffman show. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. The Parc Du Cerfs (The Flabby Hoffman band), 9:15 p.m. Adam Zeisler, 9:30 p.m. The Apartment Burlesque Orchestra, 10:15 p.m. The Wandering Endorphin, 10:30 p.m. A Band Called Pharisee, 11:15 p.m. Adam Zeisler, 11:30 p.m. God Wafer. Call 773-281-4444 for more information. If you miss the live performances, you can watch the taped show on Flabby Hoffman's cable tv show, Thursday night on Chicago Cable Channel 19 from 11:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. $7 at the door.

World of Chocolate Benefit

Help a great cause while sampling some of the world's most toothsome chocolates. The World of Chocolate Evening features a host of Chicago's finest restaurants, caterers, and chocolatiers. Local celebrities will award prizes for the most fabulous holiday creations, plus host a bazaar and raffle. Proceeds support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. The cost is $65-$75. This event is located at the posh Fairmont Hotel.

Golden Age of Chi Children's TV

Ted Okuda and Jack Mulqueen talk about their book, The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television and discuss classics such as "Bozo's Circus" tonight at 7pm at the Oak Park Public Library, Main Branch. It's one block north and one block west of the Green Line's Oak Park stop, and it's free.