Beware the American Music Awards people. Coming just before the Thanksgiving Holiday, the glitzy, somewhat kooky “live” performances seem designed to put a temporary visual stain on our minds that only vast amounts of turkey (or tofurkey) and cranberry sauce or images of giant cartoon characters flying down big city streets can help erase. I’m going to have the image of Jennifer Lopez in an unflattering athletic tunic dancing around a boxing ring to shake off—I won’t have to shake off the tune, “Louboutins,” she was singing, it has all the adhesive properties of slab of concrete. I didn’t watch much more than that—but that was enough. I’ve seen El Cantante, so I should have known to look away.

AROUND TOWN - “The White House: A Look Inside”
Poke your nose into Michelle’s famous veggie garden and Barack’s headline-snagging art collection in “The White House: A Look Inside,” an intricate 60-foot-long scale model of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on display at Museum of Science and Industry. Director of Temporary Exhibits Anne Rashford shares some highlights: “rugs that have been re-created stitch by stitch, the paintings in the Red Room, the chandeliers, marble fireplaces” and, as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around, the museum will add the first family’s holiday decorations. 5700 S Lake Shore Dr (773-684-1414, msichicago.org). Mon–Sat 9:30am–4pm; Sun 11am–4pm. Regular admission ($13, seniors $12, kids ages 3–11 $9, kids 2 and under free) plus $5, kids and seniors $2.

SHOPPING & STYLE - Le Dress sale
Make shopping for a holiday party dress a cinch by perusing the selection of casual to cocktail party–appropriate fall frocks from Milly, Trina Turk and others, marked up to 40% off. Dress deals are available through the end of November. 1741 W Division St (773-697-9899, ledresschicago.com). El: Blue to Division. Bus: 9, 56, 70. Mon–Wed 11am–7pm; Thu 11am–8pm; Fri 11am–7pm; Sat 11am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm.

ART & DESIGN - “Caravaggio’s The Supper at Emmaus”
The artist’s 1601 painting of Jesus and his disciples is on loan from London’s National Gallery. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave. 10:30am–5pm. $18, seniors, students, and kids 14 and over $12; kids 13 and under free. $2 discount for Chicago residents.

FILM - Collateral
Michael Mann’s Collateral remains one of the best uses of hi-def digital video for a feature film. The plot—hitman and cabbie driving around Los Angeles—is silly, but Los Angeles looks great. Doc Films, University of Chicago, 1212 E 59th St between Kimbark and Woodlawn Aves (773-702-8574). Metra: Elec Main to 59th St. Bus: 4 (24hrs), X4, 14, 28, 59, 171. Mon 23 at 7pm. $5.

THEATER - That’s Weird, Grandma
Barrel of Monkeys does it all for the children. The troupe’s screwball evening of short plays is written by CPS students (grades three to six) and performed with abandon to match. The fact that it’s also the most entertaining show an adult might stumble upon is just a happy coincidence. Tonight, they start throwing in Holiday-themed sketches. Neo-Futarium, 8pm, $10, kids $5.