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Two years ago producer Rae Schiff was asked by the now-defunct Limelight to throw a little night-before-Christmas bash for Jews; she came up with the Oy Vay Alternative to Christmas Eve, which attracted about 1,000 revelers. The holiday extravaganza continues at the Cairo with its traditional fur fashion show (featuring trader R.J. Abrams and dirty dancers Richard and Phyllis Schwartz, among others), art exhibit (huge paintings by Montana Morrison, featuring her interpretations of Hollywood movies), and music by the Soul Invaders. There will also be a charity raffle to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, with tickets sold at $1 each. It all begins at 8:30 PM at the nightclub, 720 N. Wells. Admission is $5. Call 266-6620.
The Little Brothers–Friends of the Elderly will hold Christmas parties for hundreds of Chicago’s elderly from 1 to 3 today at several locations around the city and in Evanston and Oak Park. LBFE will also deliver hot Christmas meals to those seniors who can’t make it to the parties. But the group needs volunteer drivers to take people to and from the parties and especially to deliver nearly 900 meals. North-side meals will be delivered out of LBFE’s offices at 1658 W. Belmont; south-side meals will go out of Hales Franciscan High School, 4930 S. Cottage Grove. Call 477-7702 to sign up.
Albert Einstein once said he used only about 10 percent of his brain. That’s pretty good, given that the average person uses about 4 percent. But Jose Silva thinks we can all do better. Back in 1944 he came up with techniques to develop the mind and control stress. His program used to be called “Silva Mind Control”; the name has been softened to the “Silva Method.” The Silva Method Basic Lecture Series will be taught in special sessions from 9 to 5 today through Saturday at the Oakbrook Holiday Inn, 17W350 22nd St. in Oakbrook Terrace. Admission is $500 for all four days, $450 if you pay in full in advance. There’s a $50 minimum deposit–yes, they accept credit cards. Advance registration is required, so call 708-449-0404.
Head backwards into the new year on the 31st with Thoughts for the End of the Decade, a night of performance art, film and video screenings, poetry readings, and whatever by local artists. Admission is free; food and beverages will be available. It starts at 9 PM at N.A.M.E. Gallery, 700 N. Carpenter (226-0671).
