by Gabriella Mikiewicz

The One of a Kind Show and Sale, Dec. 4-7
222 W. Merchandise Plaza
The 14th Annual One of a Kind Show and Sale returns to Chicago December 4-7 at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. The show offers one-of-a-kind gift ideas for everyone on this year’s shopping list from more than 600 artists. Stop in to see all kinds of gifts ranging from accessories, ceramics and fashion to jewelry, paintings, photography and sculptures.

For more information, visit: www.oneofakindshowchicago.com/

Santa lunch cruise aboard the Spirit of Chicago, Dec. 13
The perfect start to the holiday season, families are welcomed aboard the Spirit of Chicago on Navy Pier on Saturday, Dec. 13 for the Santa lunch cruise. Spend the day with your family admiring the views of the Chicago skyline as well as making memories with Santa. The menu includes dishes such as an organic kale and spinach salad, Mediterranean couscous, chickpea salad, salmon, tilapia, chicken parmesan and meatballs.

For more information, visit: www.spiritcruises.com/chicago/cruises/specialty/santa-lunch

Dose Market’s HoliDose, Dec. 14
1034 W. Randolph Street
Dose Market, the popular artisanal market, is gearing up for its fourth annual holiday-themed market on Sunday, Dec. 14. Supporting 100 local businesses and 15 more from around the country, visitors can discover, purchase, and have their holiday gifts wrapped on the spot. HoliDose will take place at Venue One (1034 W. Randolph) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information and tickets, visit: https://dosemarket.com/

Rainforest Adventure exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park
The new interactive and family-friendly exhibit, Rainforest Adventure, is open at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The experience aims to introduce guests to the diversity of rainforests without having to leave the cold of Chicago this winter. The exhibit highlights how these distant ecosystems are influenced by our choices. Five species of live animals will also be present: blue-throated macaw (of which only 350-400 remain in the wild), biolaceous-turaco, green tree python, powder blue poison dart frogs and spectacled caiman (the most common of all crocodilian species).

For more information, visit: https://naturemuseum.org/

Homestead on the Roof’s New Year’s Eve dinners
1916 W. Chicago Ave.
Homestead on the Roof, a literal farm-to-table restaurant, will be hosting two sit-down, multi-course New Year’s Eve dinners in the restaurant’s second-floor heated indoor space. Both dinners, a five-course and a seven-course dinner, will be on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and include alcoholic beverage pairings of cocktails, wine and beer. The five-course dinner will start at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. The later event, the seven-course dinner, will have seatings starting at 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., or 10 p.m., and include a midnight champagne toast. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available.

Tickets for Homestead’s New Year’s Eve dinners can be purchased at: www.HomesteadNYE2015.eventbrite.com