The spot: Book your weekend reservations early at West Town’s hot new Thalia Spice. This eclectic pan-Asian multi-level bistro draws big groups eager to take advantage of its BYOB status. Co-owner Anna Makmok said they recently instituted an $8-per-bottle corkage fee on weekends to discourage table squatters eager to chill all night with their wine in the funky, modern space without ordering too much off the menu. But how can anyone resist appetizers like mango seared scallops ($7) and Malaysian roti canai, authentic homemade naan served with yellow chicken curry ($4)? Entrees include a range of Thai, Laotian and Malaysian rice and noodle dishes; you can also indulge in creative Japanese maki. The per-bottle corkage fee is half-price ($4) Sundays through Thursdays. Makmok says she hopes to acquire a liquor license in the spring, but Thalia will continue to allow BYOB, possibly with a higher corkage fee.

The bottle: The nearby CVS/pharmacy store (771 N. Ogden Ave. 312-243-5590) has a surprisingly decent and affordable wine selection. When dining in the hip, non-traditional Thalia Spice, you might be inspired to choose a wine with a unique name and modern label. Little Black Dress pinot grigio ($9.99) is a conversation starter, and the crisp white notes will pair nicely with spicy Asian cuisine. Folie a Deux’s Menage a Trois chardonnay ($9.99) speaks for itself. And if you’re feeling celebratory, grab a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly chardonnay champagne ($8.99). -- Emily Hiser Lobdell, metromix special contributor

Ladies, stefp away from that throwaway sparkly dress from Forever 21 -- chances are you'll see the same all over town on New Year’s Eve. If you’re truly committed to standing out on the biggest party night of the year, comb the racks at resale treasure trove The Daisy Shop, tucked away on the sixth floor of a discreet building on Oak Street. The store sells second-hand vintage and new couture clothing for women, from Dolce & Gabbana to Gucci, at a sliver of their original price tags. (Reality check: That’s still pretty expensive; most items range from $100 into the thousands).

On a recent visit we spotted a hot-red strapless number by Victor Costa and a quilted velvet jacket by Armani, among hundreds of choices, plus a few accessories under $100, like vintage beaded gloves or earrings from the shop’s collection of estate jewelry. If nothing else, stop in to drool over the sheer number of designer duds in one room and chat with Barbara Nell, owner of the 13-year-old shop. If your experience is anything like ours, she might just usher you behind the curtain into her back room, light up a cigarette and tell you about how she got started in the biz. (Her offhand beauty tips are an added bonus: “You’re so pale,” she told us. “You should eat more meat.”) Ask this couture collector about her own wardrobe and she’ll tell you straight out, “There’s not a lot, but it’s good shit.” We wish we could say the same...

At last. A silly story has the anti-climactic ending it deserves.

After only a few minutes in a Chicago courtroom Wednesday, prosecutors put an end to least-sensational celeb-gone-bad story of the year: Shia LaBeouf's arrest in a downtown Chicago Walgreens. They explained that a letter from Walgreen Co. and a security company said that they did not want to continue the case against the 21-year-old actor. LaBeouf had been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing after the Nov. 4 incident, but clearly Walgreens considers this incident as harmless as we do. No details were revealed on whether Walgreens employees will receive free tix to LaBeouf's much-anticipated, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

What do you think? Is this the most innocent celebrity brush with the law you've ever heard? Or did LaBeouf get special treatment because he's a star?

If you missed the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale last weekend, don't knit yourself a noose of hand-dyed organic lambswool just yet. Get your DIY fix at the mothership, a.k.a. Renegade Handmade, a store where you can browse all manner of irresistible crafts and even pick up a gift or two (or three, if you must shop for persons other than yourself). Oh, and here's the skinny on last weekend's fair: the octopus, in a sweep any politician would envy this time of year, replaced the owl as the new darling of the craft world (Why? Beats us), and knitters' fingers seemed to have finally tired of turning out mountains of caps, scarves, mittens and bobbles. (Is yarn an endangered species?) Despite the season, there were still some good picks for T-shirt addicts like myself. I picked up a soft-as-silk long-sleeved T-shirt from Renegade regular maryink, $35, to add to my collection.

Wan't to shop till you drop? Try these limited-run mall-ternatives:

Small Print Show and Holiday Open House at the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative

Woman Made Gallery Holiday Bazaar

Modern Vintage Holiday Market

Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar

Christkindlmarket