Pencil This In

By Amy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 5, 2008 7:10PM

Crafts
Tonight is opening night at the three-day DEPART-ment holiday craft fair, featuring handmade goods from over 125 local and national vendors. Good for those determined to give unique holiday gifts (or gifts for those poor souls with December birthdays).
AV-aerie, 2000 W. Fulton, 3rd Floor, December 5, 7p.m. -10 p.m., 12/6 and December 7, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free admission, purchases cash only, with ATM on-site.

Music
The home-grown Wicker Park Choral Singers debuted with a free concert this past summer to a full house at Wicker Park Lutheran Church. The 32-member professional ensemble has been working hard since then to prepare for the second concert of their inaugural season, a “not so typical” holiday concert that the group promises will not include your average Christmas carols.
Wicker Park Lutheran Church, 1520 N. Hoyne Ave., December 6, 3:00 p.m., Free

Lectures
Catch up with WGN Meteorologist Tom Skilling this weekend at the Field Museum as he talks about the history of tsunamis within the United States. Make a day of it and visit the museum’s Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters exhibit, which is a decent enough interactive display for those who don’t know crap about volcanoes and hurricanes.
Field Museum, December 6, 2:00 p.m., Free with General Admission, Nature Unleashed exhibit requires separate ticket.

Miscellaneous
The Bike Town Bash winter party, benefiting the Active Transportation Alliance, is a chance for biking advocates to get together, meet and greet and party it up; with drinks, food and local DJ Chris Colton spinning some tunes. A ticket gets you 3 drinks and food from Goose Island Brewing Company, plus a cash bar for any lushes in attendance.
Epiphany Episcopal Church, 201 S. Ashland Ave., December 6, 6p.m. - 10 p.m., $25. Purchase tickets online or call 312.427.3325 x241