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hip happenings Says Artistic Director Nathan Allen, "There will be nothing else like it—it's like a crazy haunted- house ride." January 21–March 27 Soak It In Sit back, relax, and enjoy a rustic indulgence in the heart of the city at NoMI Spa (312-335-1234; parkchicago.hyatt.com), where for 90 minutes guests can unwind with a body polish and massage featuring Farmhouse Fresh's festively decadent Bourbon Bubbler, complete with brown sugar and Kentucky whiskey. $200 taSte SenSatIonS Attending an event on an empty stomach may seem unorthodox, but at First Bites Bash ( above; choosechicago. com/things-to-do/dining/ first-bites-bash) it's essential. The kickoff to Chicago Restaurant Week features plates from more than 50 premier restaurants, all served up in the grand surroundings of Union Station. January 21 eye-PoPPIng art Closed for nearly nine months, the contemporary galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago (312- 443-3600; artic.edu) reopen with a bang, unveiling the largest gift in the institute's history: 44 iconic works ranging from Warhol's Liz #3 ( below) to Jasper Johns's Target with Four Faces. Opens December 13 raISIng the SteakS Restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz bet big on the Fulton Market district with Japanese stunner Momotaro. Now they're doubling down with Swift & Sons (312-733-9420; swiftandsons chicago.com), a hugely antici- pated steakhouse helmed by rising star chef Chris Pandel. go natural Four years after a hailstorm devastated Garfield Park Conservatory (312-746-5100; garfieldconservatory.org), the century-old West Side institution is shining again with "Solarise: A Sea of All Colors," an interactive exhibit drawing on the relationship between plants and light to explore a see-it-to-believe-it spectrum of color. On view through September 2016 JaPaneSe ChIC There's fashion for days and lines out the door at the Mag Mile's latest style flagship, as Japanese retailer Uniqlo (uniqlo.com) marks its Midwest debut with a jaw-dropping 60,000- square-foot emporium—its second largest in the US. DrInk Me The ultimate winter cocktail is the Hearthstone at new Andersonville mixology hot spot Elixir (773-654-1751; elixir andersonville.com), where whiz kid Vlad Novikov combines bourbon, nocino liqueur, curaçao, and two kinds of bitters to come up with something dark, nutty, and dangerously drinkable. gaMe on Jump into the action at The Last Defender (773-769-3832; thehousetheatre.com), an interactive stage collaboration between the award-winning House Theatre and some of Chicago's top game designers. Heat Wave From groundbreaking theater to one of the year's hottest new restau- rants, eight ways to turn up the temps this winter in the Windy City. The wind may be howling down Michigan Avenue, but winter in Chicago is no time to hibernate. The season is set to be sizzling-hot, abuzz with anticipated cultural events and new destinations for fashion, dining, imbibing, and more. If you have 48 hours to spare, get a taste of the excitement with these essential winter experiences. ice age: The Blackhawks have been killing it. Our stages are close to United Center, so anytime I get the chance, Eamonn Walker, Jesse Spencer, and I will go. In the 2013 season, I caught maybe 20 games. The Blackhawks were on a run, and we all thought we were good-luck charms. go-to restaurant: The Monkey's Paw (themonkeyspaw chicago.com)—great bar, great food, great kitchen. I like tough-to-find neighborhood joints. secret spot: Lagunitas (lagunitas .com) has a huge brewery, but unbeknownst to a lot of people, there's a bar in there. It's like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a beer aficionado. Can't-miss show: TJ & Dave at The iO Theater (312-929-2401; ioimprov.com). They do this improv show, and it's just amazing. pizza preference: I'm a Pizano's Pizza (pizanoschicago.com) guy. I like their thin-crust, which is kind of sacrilege for any Chicagoan. Must- see spot: If my mom comes to town, I like to go to The Signature Room (signatureroom.com) at the 95th. You can see forever, and especially in winter, it's beautiful with the festive lights. inside chicago ChiCago Fire star taylor Kinney shares his ultimate buzzy Windy City Weekend. The interactive exhibit "Solarise" ushers in a new era at Garfield Park Conservatory. chicago 48 hours in bostoncommon-magazine.com 93