ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A Family Lineage!

‘A Nation of Descendants’

The Newberry Library is hosting a virtual meet-n-greet with Francesca Morgan, the author of “A Nation of Descendants” on December 9 from 5-6 p.m. “A Nation of Descendants” discusses Americans’ fascination with tracking family lineage through three centuries. It examines how specific groups throughout history grappled with finding and recording their forebears, focusing on Anglo-American white, Mormon, African American, Jewish, and Native American people. Morgan also describes how individuals and researchers use genealogy for personal and scholarly purposes, and she explores how local business people, companies like Ancestry.com, and Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s “Finding Your Roots” television series powered the commercialization and commodification of genealogy. For more information and to access the Zoom link, please visit newberry.org.

Celebrating All!

‘This Ability’

The Chicago Children’s Theatre released “This Ability” on December 3 to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. “This Ability” is an online short film that follows a famous cat gone missing from O’Hare International Airport. Akeh, a young autistic person, starts the hashtag #thisability to find the missing cat. Will Moore, a young deaf person, and Faith, a young blind person, pick up the hashtag and join the search. This film combines actors and animation to show the way each character experiences the journey. Recommended for ages 6 and up. For more information, please visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

A Classic Re-imagined!

'Duke It Out!'

The Music Institute of Chicago is bringing back a holiday tradition with “Duke It Out!,” featuring the classical (Tchaikovsky) and jazz (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn) versions of “The Nutcracker” in a music and dance performance Saturday, December 11 at 2 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. This new twist on “The Nutcracker” features performances by Dance Chicago as well as your favorite music from the show. $10 at musicinst.org.

Supporting those in need!

'An Evening with Grace'

The Grace Housing Complex is hosting its inaugural fundraiser, “An Evening With Grace,” on December 9 from 6-10 p.m. at Row 24, 2411 S. Michigan Ave. Grace will celebrate its year-to-date accomplishments and unveil upcoming goals toward its mission of providing low-income families with supportive services, community resources and affordable housing in Chicagoland. The gala will include champagne, live music and silent auctions. Dress code is black tie/"dress to impress." Tickets start at $40 at gracehousingcomplex.org.

Author Talk!

Virtual Author Conversation with Ayelet Tsabari

The Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership will host a virtual conversation with author Ayelet Tsabari at 10 a.m. December 12. Tsabari grew up Yemeni in Israel; her work is a new kind of immigrant storytelling about balancing old traditions with modern times. Her first book, “The Best Place on Earth,” won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, the Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish Fiction, and was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Keren E. Fraiman will lead the 90-minute conversation. Cost is $18 for non-members and $10 for members of Spertus. Tickets are available on spertus.edu.

Virtual Market!

Virtual Kwanzaa Market

Africa International House is hosting a virtual Kwanzaa Market during the month of December. Kwanzaa, which is December 6 - January 1, is a celebration of community, family, and African culture. This Kwanzaa Market features online coloring pages, free recipe downloads, and local black-owned businesses, including 4 Elements Bath and Spa products, The Original Sister Dolls Collection, and Senteamental Moods. There will also be Africa International House T-shirts, mugs, hats, and stickers for purchase. For more information and a list of the vendors, please visit aihusa.org.

Shop Local!

The Night Market Before Christmas

Join 35 vendors and a DJ for a night of eating, drinking, and local shopping, 5 to 10 p.m. December 9 and 10 at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S. Michigan Ave. Vendors include You’re a Cookie, Zeitlin’s Deli, Onigiri Shuttle Kororin, Soothsayer Hot Sauce, Tempered Label, Exile in Bookville, Bon Bon Bon, The Roof Crop, Winchcraft Candle Company, and many more. Admission is free to all ages, no RSVP required. Guests must show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test administered within 72 hours of the event.

A Living Legend!

Annie Leibovitz at Chicago Humanities Festival

Join Annie Leibovitz, one of the most influential photographers of our time, at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., for an exclusive event to mark the publication of her latest collection “Wonderland” —a series of photographs chronicling her encounters with fashion. Leibovitz will share stories from her ambitious fashion shoots, starting with her groundbreaking collaboration with Rolling Stone in 1970, to her work at Vogue and Vanity Fair in the 1980s, and the present. She will reflect on how her distinctive approach to photography has evolved over the last half century. Tickets $30 at chicagohumanities.org.

Holidays with Pizzazz!

'Destinos al Aire, A Holiday Extravaganza!'

The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) is adding all-new Latino flair to Chicago’s free, outdoor holiday entertainment offerings by introducing "Destinos al Aire, A Holiday Extravaganza!," on Friday, December 10, from 4 - 7 p.m. at Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St. in Pilsen. It will bring vendors, food trucks, heat lamps, and live entertainment, including Gwen La Roka; Mariachi Sirenas – Chicago’s first all-women Mariachi (pictured); and Teatro Tariakuri accompanied by Pastorela Navideña. FREE.

-Compiled by Paige Bialik & Dave Hamilton