"Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy" is not your grandma's circus. And that's a good thing. It's not Cirque du Soleil, either. And that's a not-quite-as-good thing. The Florida-based, family friendly show has a less-than-sexy veneer that Cirque du Soleil fans (myself included) could find distracting, especially during the sweet, intermittent songs that are supposed to tide us over between physical feats that seem increasingly more daring as the two-act, two-hour long spectacle progresses. (Yes, I was terrified as Vladimir Dovgan and Anatoliy Yeniy teetered in unison upon stacks of awkwardly rolling cylinders.) And herein lies the strength of the show: The performers, representing the Ukraine, Russia, Mongolia, Canada and the U.S., are top notch. They fly, twirl, balance, lift, hoist, dance and generally awe the audience with their timing, both comic and physical. And, technical expertise aside, they have a blast on stage, doing what they're good at.

The venue, the grand old Chicago Theatre, makes for an interesting big top, probably because there isn't one in sight. Instead, the show's backdrop is a multicolored jungle scene flanked by two ginormous, inflated tree trunks. Characters representing butterflies, giraffes, ostriches, snakes and other beings slither and bounce throughout the show in dazzling costumes. Acts range from tricky jump-rope routines to the flying trapeze. But hurry: If you want to pack a bag and run off to this Cirque, you’ve got to act fast. The last performance is Dec. 31.

 http://chicago.metromix.com/events/theater_event/cirque-dreams-jungle-fantasy-loop/152822/content

And we thought a wholesome show like "The O.C." would teach valuable lessons!

Apparently not: TMZ and People report that former "O.C." star Mischa Barton was arrested in West Hollywood early Thursday for DUI and being an unlicensed driver. Check out Barton’s booking photo, which sort of makes her look like the singer of an '80s hair metal band: http://www.tmz.com/2007/12/27/mischa-barton-busted-for-dui

Unfortunately Barton's co-star Adam Brody isn't here to make the requisite snarky comment. Anyone else care to chime in?

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20168290,00.html

Try not to feel sorry for her, but Paris Hilton is now destined to be considerably less rich.

People.com reports that Hilton's 80-year-old grandfather, Barron Hilton, has earmarked 97 percent of his fortune--yep, nearly $2.3 billion--to go to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which assists in finding housing for the homeless and other worthwhile causes across the globe. That means the remaining 3 percent--about $69 million--will be divided among Paris, Nicky and the rest of Hilton's heirs.

With Paris set to inherit a measly $5 million instead of what once looked to be around $100 million, do you think she’ll be able to survive?
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20168283,00.html

The spot: Once again, you've procrastinated, and now anywhere you'd want to go on New Year's Eve is either booked, closed or too darn expensive. Well, who says you have to ring in the new year at midnight? Beat the rush into 2008 with an affordable BYOB brunch at Bite Cafe on New Year's Eve. The eclectic, vegetarian-friendly Ukrainian Village eatery serves its usual weekend brunch menu from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 31. Join the other hipsters in the small, cozy space for Eggs Bite ($7.50), a spin on traditional eggs Benedict with ham and spinach, or satisfy your sweet tooth with blueberry pancakes ($5.75).

The bottle: Not too far from Bite, gourmet grocery and upscale wine shop Goddess and Grocer (1646 N. Damen Ave. 773-342-3200) is the perfect spot for an early-morning excursion. Not only does it open at 6 a.m., it's got more bubbles than a Jacuzzi. Pass on the expensive stuff and start small with a split (that's a quarter of a bottle--perfect for a couple of mimosas) of Segura Viudas cava ($6). If you want to go a bit more upscale--c'mon, it's New Year's!--owner Debbie Sharpe recommends a bottle of Casa Boher ($18), an Argentinean sparkler from Mendoza, a wine region you'll probably see a lot more of in 2008. "We were shocked at how well priced it was," says Sharpe. "When we tasted it, we thought it was going to be a $30 or $40 bottle." When the clock strikes midnight, Sharpe will be sipping a sparkling rosé, hopefully on the beach in the Bahamas. If you'd like to follow her lead--with the wine, at least--pick up a bottle of Gruet Sparkling Brut Rosé ($16), the popular bubbly from New Mexico.

-- Emily Hiser Lobdell, Metromix special contributor

http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/contemporary/bite-cafe-east-village-ukranian-village/134762/content