Fashion & Shopping Extravaganza

If you prefer fashion shows to craft shows, then the Creative Lounge Chicago is where you'll want to be today from 11am to 5pm (1564 N. Damen, 3rd floor). There will be over a dozen of the best local fashion designers showing off great gift items for your fashion conscious friends and family. They'll be providing complimentary snacks, goodie bags to the first 30 people who arrive, and you can even get a mini-makeover from Sugar & Spice. Admission is free but please rsvp to lydia@evilkitty.net.

The Hot Karl's Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis

World War II is going poorly for Hitler and the Nazi party. So the Fueher decides the best way to turn the tide in the war is to kidnap Santa Claus and take control of Christmas and all of Santa's magical secrets. The only thing standing in the way of their evil plot is a misunderstood elf, a misfit toy and a couple of hit men reindeer. Will that be enough to save Christmas? Find out when The Hot Karl presents, "Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis: The Musical." Read more here.

The show starts at 11:59pm at Comedy Sportz, 929 West Belmont. Tickets are $10, and you can get 'em here or call 312-559-1212.

Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale @ Pulaski Park Fieldhouse

It's that ringing of handmade jingle bells again! The nation's most famous handmade market descends upon Wicker Park's Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk St.) this weekend for a 2-day holiday sale and event, featuring "over 150 of today's finest indie-craft and contemporary design talents" selling their wares. New this year: free trolley rides to and from the field house from a number of Wicker Park hot spots. The fair is free to attend and runs 11am - 7pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6. More information is available on the Renegade Craft Fair website.

The Clever Crafter

Today Thr3e Birds Gallery is hosting a craft show at 1459 N. Milwaukee from 12pm to 7pm. All sales of Lenny and Mevintage will benefit the InterAmerican Chicago Magnet School.

Field Music Canasta @ Beat Kitchen

The concept of Field Music has branched out quite a bit over the last few years. No longer content to just make the pop-oriented indie-rock that more or less defined their first two albums, the English band's core has also recorded as School of Language and the Week that Was. But now Field Music is back together proper. They'll make a rare Chicago appearance at Beat Kitchen with locals Sleep Out and Canasta. The show begins at 9:30PM for ages 17+ and runs $12. Beat Kitchen is at 2100 W. Belmont and tickets are available through their website. UPDATE: Field Music has canceled, but Canasta and Sleep Out still perform. Tickets are now $8.

2009 LTH Forum Holiday Gastroextravaganzathon @ Sun Wah

LTH Forum holds its holiday eatfest tonight at Sun Wah BBQ, 5041 N. Broadway, from 6-10pm. I'm sure it will completely rock. Tickets $35. RSVP required.

Ukulele Cabaret @ Silvie's Lounge

Ukulele Cabaret, an ongoing live music event featuring ukuleles, happens once again tonight at 9pm at Silvie's Lounge (1902 W. Irving Park). Tonight's theme: "How The Uke Stole Christmas (and Hannukah, and Kwanzaa)", a holiday celebration. Please see the Ukulele Cabaret MySpace page for full details and to RSVP, if you want to perform.

Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago @ Gary Comer Youth Center

If you've never seen a live performance of West African Dance, you're missing out; if you've never seen the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, you're missing out on one of life's greatest joys. This week Muntu brings The Sankofa Project to the Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S Ingleside Avenue. The performance features key works from Muntu's history as well as new work showcasing the choreography of Amansu Eason, feature dancer for Muntu Dance Theatre and principal artist for Indiana's South Shore Dance Alliance, and Abdel Salaam, Executive Director of Forces of Nature.

Showtimes and ticket prices: December 3 @ 7:30, $15; December 5 @ 8pm, $27.50; and December 6 @ 3pm, $27.50. Additionally, there will be a gala reception and silent auction on December 4 @ 6pm, tickets are $75. Discounts for groups, children and seniors available. For tickets and information call 773-241-6083 or visit Muntu.

1985 @ The Factory Theater

The Factory Theater spoofs George Orwell's classic 1984 with a distinctly mid-decade Chicago Bears twist. Eric Roach directs. Located at 3504 N. Elston, between Albany and Kedzie. Showtimes: Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sundays at 7 through December 19th. Tickets are $20. For information and tickets call: 312-409-3247 or visit The Factory Theater.

Terror in the Aisles 3 @ Portage Theater

Movieside Film Festival presents Terror in the Aisles 3, a triple feature of horror films at the Portage Theater (4050 N. Milwaukee). On the bill for tonight: Night of the Creeps (with director Fred Dekker appearing in person), [Rec] 2 (the sequel to the Spanish horror film [Rec]) and The Blair Witch Project (with director Eduardo Sanchez attending to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this film). In addition to the main features, there will be trailers and short films shown throughout the evening, vendor tables, auctions, and plenty more surprises. The screening starts at 7pm; tickets are $12 and are available through Brown Paper Tickets. For more information see Movieside's MySpace page.

Maurizio Cattelan Coffee & Art Lecture @ The MCA

Paola Morgavi, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of French and Italian at Northwestern University, will lead a discussion on the art of popular contemporary Italian artist, Maurizio Cattelan this morning. Unfortunately, Cattelan won't be there. This is part of the MCA's Coffee and Art series, which is basically a series of relatively cheap and easy Art History courses. The discussion begins at 10am. Space is limited; reservations are required. Admission is $18 for regular folk; $15 MCA members; $12 students with valid ID. For tickets, call the MCA Box Office at 312.397.4010. For more information, visit their website.

Winter Bike Maintenance Class

Rapid Transit Cycleshop (1900 W. North Ave) is offering a free monthly class to help you prep your bicycle for the cold months ahead. 6pm, class runs around 2 hours.

Roast & Toast: Herb Kent, "The Cool Gent"

Real Men Charities celebrates Chicago radio icon, Herb "Cool Gent" Kent, at its third annual "Roast & Toast and Holiday Party." This event, also a fundraiser, will be hosted by Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Richard Daley, and will also feature some of Chicago's most popular media personalities. The festivities take place at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. The cocktail reception is at 6:30pm; and the roasting and toasting begins at 7:45pm. Tickets begin at $37.50 and are tax deductible. Contact Real Men Charities, Inc. for more information.

Scrabble for Cheaters @ 826 Chicago

The nonprofit 826 Chicago, an organization founded by Dave Eggers and dedicated to children's literacy, is hosting a scrabble tournament with a twist -- pay your way to a winning word using a delicious menu of cheating, lying and manipulation. Tournament starts at 12pm, teams must show up by 11:30am. 826 Chicago is located at 1331 N. Milwaukee, for more information email cheaters@826chi.org, call Patrick Shaffner at (773) 772-8108 or visit 826 Chicago.

Holiday Hop Concert @ Governors State University

The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University presents a special holiday concert featuring 50's and 60's hit-makers Cornell Gunther's Coasters, The Platters and The Marvelettes. Tickets are $32 to $52, but Gapers Block readers receive 20% off (details in Transmission). 8pm. 1 University Parkway, University Park.

Cookie Baking Class @ Forkable

Join Andrea of the food blog Forkable for a day of holiday cookie baking! The event will take place on Saturday, December 5 from12 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Andrea's Chicago home. The event is $40 per participant and space is limited. More information can be found in Drive-Thru. Register through Brown Paper Tickets.

Comics Sale @ Quimby's

All today, you get 25% off all comics and graphic novels at Quimby's Bookstore, 854 W. North Ave. The sale includes all soft cover and trade paperback graphic novels as well as individual issue comics, mini-comics, comix and comixxx.

Do Division Holiday Walk @ Division Street

Stroll down Division Street between the Kennedy Expressway and Leavitt Street today Saturday December 5th and shop the participating boutiques for this season's Do Division Holiday Walk. Shops will feature discounts all day. Spend $40 anywhere on Division Street and bring your receipts to House of Two Urns (1239 N Greenview Ave), Elevenzees (1901 W Division Street), Event Studio (2027 W Division Street), or D/Vision Optical (1756 W Division Street) to receive a coupon worth 20% off at participating area shops and restaurants.

Kids Sample Sale @ Beta Boutique

Thrifty Chicagoans' favorite Beta Boutique holds its first ever kids sample sale at their 2016 W. Concord Place location today, Saturday December 5th from 11 am to 5 pm. Shop heavily discounted designer infant to pre-teen clothing from Aristabrat, Lolli Pop Tots, Gold Rush, and many more. Visit their website or call 773-276-0905 for more details and a complete list of designers.

Native Arts Holiday Bazaar @ The Mitchell Museum

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evaston holds its annual Native Arts Holiday Bazaar Saturday December 5th from 10 am to 5 pm. Stop by the museum's 3001 Central Street location to shop the handmade art, ceramics, jewelry, and clothing from over 20 vendors. Visit their website for more details.

The One of a Kind Show and Sale @ Merchandise Mart

The One of a Kind Show and Sale continues today Saturday December 5th from 10 am until 7 pm at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 8th Floor; 312-527-4141). The event features handmade furniture, art, clothing, and accessories from over 500 artists. Tickets are $12 for all 4 days attendance and available at the show's website along with a complete listing of participating artists.

World Kitchen Learning Series: Grande Finale

The end is nigh, but the dessert quality is high at the "Grande Finale" party/class, which is part of the city's World Kitchen learning series. Learn how to make awesome desserts for your holiday soirees. Class runs 11-2pm at the Gallery 37 Center for Arts at 66 East Randolph, admission is $30, and registration is required.

Pat Sheerin @ Green City Market

Pat Sheerin of the Signature Room will conduct a 10:30am chef demonstration at the Green City Market, which is currently located indoors at the Notebaert Nature Museum (Fullerton and Cannon).

Chicago Foodways: 1934 Union Stock Yards Fire @ Kendall College

Learn more about the destructive 1934 blaze at Chicago's Union Stock Yards today at Kendall College (900 N North Branch St) at 10am. Fire historian Jeff Stern will share his knowledge about this historic event, courtesy of the Chicago Foodways Roundtable. Admission $2. RSVP requested.