<<--The spot: It's easy to zip right by little Bonsoiree Cafe & Delicacies, a charming-yet-modern BYOB with an awning obscured by trees. Maybe that's why co-owners, chefs, (and sometimes servers) Kurt Chenier and Shin Thompson offer perhaps the most eye-popping pre-fixe prix-fixe dinner in town Tuesdays through Fridays. "A lot of people think we're insane for doing prix-fixe on Friday," says Chenier. "We're just trying to get people in and try our food."

For as little as $20, you get three courses from a stellar contemporary American menu. For starters, go for the corn cake topped with a salad of spicy red lentils and fresh lime. An asparagus and oyster mushroom salad is another temptation. Entrees include braised beef short rib in a cabernet reduction and a smoky pork tenderloin wrapped with thick slab of applewood bacon (a $3 upcharge is well worth it.) For dessert, you can't beat warm banana bread pudding drenched with a decadent white chocolate creme anglaise. Think it can't get better? Eat it all under the stars on the secluded back patio-oh, and they do a weekend a la carte brunch too.  Pinch us, we're in BYOB heaven.

-->>The bottle: There's a liquor store on the corner near Bonsoiree, but skip it--they don't  have anything you want (we hope). Instead, just head about two blocks west to Food Smart (2901 W Armitage Ave. 773-772-3200), a 24-hour convenience store with about every mid-priced, popular wine you need, from Santa Margherita to the Coppola Diamond series-plus a few surprises. We couldn't resist this too-cute bottle of Lulu B. syrah, a $6.49 screwcap number from the daughter of famed French winemaker Louis Bernard. But turns out Lulu was more than just a pretty label, with luscious berrys and soft tannins, making it a wonderful summer sipper. -- Chris LaMorte, Metromix dining producer.

Fresh-faced actor/comedian Hal Sparks doesn't exactly bring to mind the image of buff leathermen. But, sure enough, the funnyman will entertain the crowd at the 29th annual International Mr. Leather contest. (At least last year's IML joke-teller Bruce Vilanch looked like someone you'd find at Jackhammer.) Still, the ex-Boy Scout and "Queer as Folk" star (who got a start at The Second City at age 16 while attending New Trier High School) will headline the title event on Sunday at The Chicago Theatre, where one of 50 fierce contenders will claim the coveted title of International Mr. Leather. So, um...what's up with that? Well, in addition to working the room fro laughs, maybe the comedy cutie also hopes to hype his upcoming CD release from his band Zero 1. On his Web site, Sparks says, "If you don't sing your song... nobody will." We can't wait to hear his "song" this weekend.

After last week's "Grey's Anatomy" season finale I thought two things: 1. Meredith is so annoying that I wouldn't mind if her title character got kicked off the show, and 2. I wish Izzy would finally catch a break.

Well, the actress that plays her sure has-Katherine Heigl is set to star along with members of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" in "Knocked Up," coming to a theater near you on June 1. If this flick's early buzz is anything to go by, accidental pregnancy never sounded so exciting!

Tonight, from 8 to 11 p.m., Elm Street Liquors is hosting a movie release party, complete with swag bags, "Knocked Up" giveaways and complimentary screening passes. And for 5 bucks, you can swig movie-inspired cocktails like Babymama Drama (Sky Vodka, Soda, Splash of Grapefruit), Fertility Shot (Bacardi Melon and Red Bull Shot) or Plan B (Beam, Coke and Grenedine with Cherry). We also like the $2 Shotgun Wedding (can of PBR).

Gee, I hope they're passing out condoms, too.