Chicago prize sponsors: Thursday, Dec 6

As the BQT machine recovers from our Boston Tenth Anniversary Marathon (the horror! the horror!), it's back to business. Back to this Thursday night, back to Chicago.

Our third show at Uncommon Ground in Edgewater, hosted by Quizmistress Katie, far and away the prettiest BQT host of all time (though L.A. Dan sure has a nice face).

Naturally, five rounds of the best quiz action you'll find anywhere, naturally a $200 grand prize, naturally UG's doubleplusgood (and earth-friendly) menu, but let me give you the scoop on our prize sponsors:

The Second City

Returning as a sponsor our first Chi-Town event, the home of pretty much all that is holy in the history of American comedy. More of my effusive praise is here; we got a few more passes to give away to some lucky-duck trivia geeks.

Another returnee…

Graham Crackers Comics

For whatever reason, as a young comics geek, I had it in my head that Chicago was nirvana for comic-book stores. So when my parents took me there for the first time at age 14, I went a little nuts on the back issues. (I spent $12 on a nearly shredded copy of 1961's Justice League of America #2. Yeah, me sexy.) Graham Crackers is one of the finer comics chains in Chicago (and oldest, it appears), with locations all over the metro area, and they're proud sponsors of the BQT, kicking in some gift cards for the geekiest of the geekiest.

And now onto high culture…

The House Theatre's production of The Nutcracker

Da-dadada-da-da-DA-duh-daaaa! Actually, no: This is a modern reimagining of the stalwart Xmas story, featuring original songs and puppetry (yes!) for a eminently modern yet family-friendly take on an old story. It's running at the Chopin Theatre through December 30; we got your free tickets right here ("here" being this Thursday night at the BQT, of course).

Finally, how about this…

The Apollo Chorus's performance of Handel's Messiah

Hallelujah, indeed. Because seriously, Xmas ain't about stampeding people to buy a Blu-ray player, it ain't about watching Ralphie beg Santa for a BB gun yet again, it ain't even about eating Chinese food and finally seeing Skyfall: It's about Jesus friggin' Christ, as interpreted by the great Dead White Males of Western culture. They don't get much greater than Handel, and it don't get much more Jesusy that his Messiah. The Apollo provides perhaps Chicago's most transcendent Handellian experience this holiday season, and they're donating a pair of tickets to the December 16 at 3pm performance, at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

And of course, a lovely gift card from our venue, Uncommon Ground. Seriously, you can't afford not to go to this show. And hey, reserve a table by calling 773-465-9801. Thursday night, 7:30pm.