Things to do this weekend: January 1 - January 3

FRIDAY  JANUARY 1

CLUBS - Dance in the New Year
If you didn't overdo it the night before, keep the party going at Lincoln Hall with the hipster stylings of DJs Skyler, Midnight Conspiracy, Broken Disco 1980, Trav and West. Glitterguts is on hand to snap photos, and cheap drinks top the menu. Lincoln Hall, 9pm. $5.

COMEDY - Improvised Shakespeare
It's a night of Elizabethan tomfoolery that's not to be missed. The nimble players capture the spirit of the Bard without ever lifting material directly from his work. iO Del Close Theater; 8pm, 10:30pm. $14.

MUSIC - The Black Keys
Live, Akron, Ohio, duo the Black Keys continue to make us all wonder how two people can create so many sounds. Fresh off promoting the new rap-rock project BlakRoc, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney hold down two nights in Chicago, during which they'll likely preview cuts from a forthcoming follow-up to '08's Danger Mouse–produced Attack & Release. Riviera Theatre, 8pm. $27.

SPORTS & REC - Pilsen/Little Village Circular Mass
This monthly tour of Pilsen and Little Village is open to anyone with a bike. Like other Critical Mass rides, the route is determined the night of the event and depends on the whims of the group. Meet at Tenochtitlan Plaza, 6:30pm. FREE.

THEATER - The Message Is in the Music
The slim pretext of Black Ensemble's latest theatrical mix-tape pits no less than God against Lucifer in a soul-music-powered battle for souls, with angels and demons throwing down on the likes of “What'd I Say” and “Devil in Disguise.” Black Ensemble Theater, 8pm. $45.

SATURDAY JANUARY 2

AROUND TOWN - Hoops and Hops Party
Forget about the fact that you haven't really recovered from New Year's Eve yet and get ready to party. At this shindig, guests take in Bloody Marys and a breakfast buffet then hop on a special bus to the Illinois vs. Gonzaga game at the United Center (1901 W Madison St). Joe's Bar, 9:30am. $35.

BOOKS - Blackstone Book Exchange
Bring along one to five “good reads” to swap at Blackstone's annual exchange. It's looking for decent books—novels, biographies, cookbooks—so leave that urban-planning textbook from 1989 at home. Chicago Public Library, Blackstone Branch, 2pm. FREE.

FILM - Gogol Bordello Non-Stop
Catch the local premiere of this 2008 documentary following frontman Eugene Hütz and his rowdy band of Gypsy-punks. Gene Siskel Film Center, 8pm. $10.

MUSIC - Battle of the Saxes
Ed Petersen and Von Freeman are two of Chicago's revered sax masters; tonight, they'll face off against each other, and we can promise there'll be more exciting music than just trading fours. Green Mill, 8pm. $12.

SHOPPING - Charitable shopping
If you're New Year's resolution is to be more charitable in '10, this Wicker Park shop here to help. Bring in a winter coat (which will be donated to Cornerstone Community Outreach) and you'll get 10% off your next purchase at Connect. They're taking any type of coats this season, but the organization is in particular need for larger men's outerwear. Connect, noon–8pm.

SUNDAY JANUARY 3

ART & DESIGN - "Joseph Yoakum: Line and Landscape"
The museum pairs fantastical landscapes by Yoakum (1890–1972), a self-taught artist and South Side resident, with works by the Chicago Imagists he inspired. Smart Museum of Art, 11am-5pm. FREE.

CLUBS - Living Sundays
The folks from Moment Sound rev up your sleepy Sunday with a night of new music, video art and live performance. Tonight, Dojo and Twitch provide the ornate musical tapestry with Ontologist on hand to supply the visuals. rodan, 9pm. FREE.

COMEDY- Middle Age Comeback
Veteran improvising duo Craig Uhlir and Jimmy Carlson crank out fast-paced improv. iO Cabaret, 10:30pm. $5.

FILM - Rififi
Dassin's très awesome noirish caper flick is justly famous for the long dialogue-free heist sequence. It's nearly 30 minutes of exquisite suspense. Music Box, 11:30am. $9.25.

MUSIC - Roy Hargrove Quintet
For five years now, Roy Hargrove has been doing double duty, spending half his time as a funkster with his slick combo RH Factor and the other half as a soulful neobopper, usually with a quintet. It's not too tough to guess which mode he's likely to favor here at the Jazz Showcase, especially since Hargrove's last quintet CD, 2008's Earfood, stuck close to a hardbop template forged by the likes of Cedar Walton and Lee Morgan. Jazz Showcase; 4pm, 8pm, 10pm. $20-$25.