PERFECT PRESENTS: Bypass the mall today and head to the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. The museum opens its Mercado Navideno today, offering gift-ready pottery, ornaments, sculpture, books, textiles, glassware, clothing, jewelry, toys and more. Just imagine: You could have your holiday shopping done in a day. 10AM-5PM, free.
GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK: Turn your Black Friday eco-friendly with the Green Friday event at Greenheart, an environmentally aware, fair-trade shop in River North. At this series of workshops, you'll learn how to knit, make jewelry, repurpose sweaters into mittens, restyle old tees and more. Then you can brag to all of your friends about your do-good nature. 11AM-7PM, free.
LEGEND ON THE WALL: "This is Xmas: A Look Into John Lennon's Life Through His Artwork" (a show title that says it all) opens at the Hard Rock Hotel today. You'll get to see more than 100 pieces of artwork by the Beatle, including drawings, caricatures and a lithograph series detailing Lennon and Yoko Ono's honeymoon. Selected items are for sale, if you feel so inclined to make a music fan's holiday extra special. 12-9PM, $2 suggested donation benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
HOLIDAZE: You loved the book, now see it brought to life. Local actor Mitchell Fain stars in an adaptation of "The Santaland Diaries," author David Sedaris' hilarious tale of surviving his stint as a Macy's Christmas Elf. The play opens today at the Theatre Building of Chicago. 7:30 and 9:30PM, $22-$24.
