Friday 20
If chocolate carries as much weight as wine, check out le Flour’s Chocolate Tasting class. Learn the history, varieties and how to taste. Be prepared to journal and get your chocolate fill. 6701 N Olmsted (leflour.com, make your reservation: 773-631-1400). 6–10pm, $25 (adults only).

Organic School Project is hosting its Fall Harvest Dinner/Fundraiser. G0 and enjoy the seasonal fare prepared by chefs from Rockit, Foodlife and Goose Island. Kick off the season right. Leslie Hall, 1111 N Wells St (purchase tickets). 6–8pm, $40.

The Beaujolais Nouveau is out. Get your fill at Brasserie Jo. Order it by the glass ($8) or the bottle ($39) while you enjoy the chef’s special beef bourguignon pairing. 59 W Hubbard (brasseriejo.com, 312-595-0800).

Saturday 21
La Madia is promoting lazy Saturday afternoons by hosting a Wine and Cheese Class. Sit back and enjoy lunch (pizza and salad) while you learn about holiday entertaining, wine and cheese (you get to eat/drink the wine and cheese too). After all that relaxing, who wants to throw a holiday party anyway? 59 W Grand Ave (dinelamadia.com, call to make your reservation: 312-329-0400). 11am–1pm, $30.

Center on Halsted (serves as a catalyst for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities that links and provides community resources, and enriches life experiences) is hosting a Potluck Thanksgiving Party. Show up with our favorite appetizer or dessert and learn more about their programs. 3656 N Halsted (centeronhalsted.org, call for reservations: 773-472-6469). 3–6pm, FREE.

If you are hitting up the 18th Annual Lights Festival with the kids, head over to Osteria Via Stato for dinner. The restaurant is serving up The Famous Italian Dinner Party menu (aka family style). Kids will dine for half the price. 620 N State (osteriaviastato.com, 312-642-8450). 5–9:30pm. $24.95–$38.95 (full price).

Know the ins and out of beer? How about the ABCs? Check out The Globe Pub’s Beer: A-Z event. Bar-goers will actually taste one beer for every letter of the alphabet while learning some beer basics from Eric Hobbs of Goose Island Brewery. Just make sure you can still say your ABCs at the end of the night. 934 W Irving Park Rd (purchase tickets). 6–9pm, $40.

Take the kids to visit the pickle tree at The Berghoff. In honor of the Bavaria-American tradition, kids can look for the pickle ornament on the holiday tree. Kids who spot it, win a root beer float (and a year of good luck). And you thought we were joking. 17 W Adams (312-427-3170).

If you’re o.k. with sketchy details, a shocker of a dinner and BYOB, then X-marx is for you. Check out this underground dining experience at a place unknown (that is until you sign up).  We do know there will be seven(+) courses, but that’s all we got. (purchase tickets) 7–11pm, $95.

Stop by the Hotel InterContinental and warm up at the Lights Festival with some hot chocolate ($1) or roasted chestnuts ($4). Corner of Illinois St and Michigan Ave. noon–6pm.

One last Lights Festival stop before the end of the night: FREE cupcakes at more. Enough said. 1 E Delaware Pl (312-951-0001). 7–9pm.

Sunday 22
Hosting Thanksgiving…not a clue where to begin? Check out A New Dawn’s class at Whole Foods. They’ll point you in the right direction (demos, tastings, BYOB). 1550 N Kingsbury (purchase tickets). 6:30pm, $45.

Learning how to make pasta sounds like a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon (note: Bears play at night). Make reservations for the how-to class at Quartino. A Sunday with pasta tasting, wine and a new cookbook in hand who needs football anyway? 626 N State (reservations required: 312-698-5000). 1–2:30pm, $24.95.

Need some brioche? Learn how to make it yourself. Head over to le Flour for the tutorial. Best use: French Toast 6701  Olmsted (make reservations: 773-631-1400).  2–4pm, $25.

Upgrade the lousy movie popcorn and soda to a prix-fixe wine dinner at BIN 36. The movie: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Dinner and a movie just got way better.  339 N Dearborn (call for reservations: 312-755-9463). 6pm, $48.