Fun View TV - Home of the Best Christmas Gifts for the entire Family

You have a little time left. Have you secured a Valentine yet? Don't worry--we'll help you weed through the wannabe suitors to find that special someone who deserves your attention. Hit one of these hangs with your maybe Mr. or Ms. Right, and figure out whether there's a future in two hours or less.

The Cotton Club
Open mic nights at this Near South Side Harlem-themed club will either help you form a bond with your potential new sweetie as you badmouth the singer that sounds like a dying cat, or rip you two apart as fast as he can make an ass of himself doing Barry Manilow a capella onstage. Sign up to perform between 8-9 p.m., but be ready to bolt if your date's truly dismal. Mondays. $5.

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
When you're not sure if last week's drunken snog knows the difference between Fritos and Frida Kahlo, it's time to test your new catch's cultural knowledge with a stroll around this Pilsen museum. Check out a four-ton stone head and other smiling figures in the special exhibit, Treasures of Ancient Veracruz. Still hanging in there? Wander around other brightly colored galleries and chat about a painting, beaded costume or giant puppet that grabs your attention. If you date's a drag, the museum's not that big. It'll all be over soon. Free. Exhibit through Feb. 6.

The Tasting Room
Think your pal has potential as a love interest? When you want to dial the romance up a notch, nothing works better than a bottle of vino. Staff at this West Loop wine bar suggests the 2002 Pago Florentino from Spain, which has a round, velvety feel ($43). But, wait. Is your partner too pushy? Not liking his Dr. Jekyll-like transformation after the last glass? Say buh-bye when you hit the bottom of the bottle.

Improv Kitchen
When your date suggests dinner and a movie and you're not sure you can even make it through a 90-minute feature, roll it all into one and head to this Lakeview spot, where you can catch a flick while you feast. Trust us, skip the painful improv part, but check out the weekly DVD screenings during the Psychotronic Film Society Cult Film Festival. This Thursday, watch '80s favorite "The Goonies" and gobble deep-fried ricotta cheesecake ($6). If the convo's bad, tune out your tablemate and check out Chunk as he does the Truffle Shuffle. 9 p.m. Thursdays. No cover.

Satay
You've finally mustered up the courage to meet your online date in person. Rule No. 1: Have an escape plan. What? You mean the photo you saw failed to pick up your date's ghastly unibrow? Meet somewhere near an "L" stop and you won't have to concoct an elaborate getaway. We suggest getting off the Brown Line at Diversey, only steps away from this cute Pan-Asian spot and the yummy lemon-honey spicy chicken ($8.95). Bonus: If your date's a snooze, the service here is speedy and it's BYOB, so you can console yourself with a glass of sauvignon blanc.





	Now you can have an instant Fireplace that lasts forever and a goldfish that never stops swimming. Fun View TV is a collection of themed video scenes for your television. Just insert the Fun View TV DVD into a DVD player, and you're ready to go. There are 20 fun scenes, each with their own soundtrack. All of the scenes are divided into three categories; Seasonal, Novelty and Party. The Novelty Views are real never-ending scenes; a roaring fireplace, a fish that never stops swimming around, a groovy 70s lava lamp, a laundry dryer that continuously tumbles clothes, and a pizza revolving in a microwave oven. The Seasonal views are intended to create a seasonal mood; beach scene, winter snow view, scary Halloween pumpkin, Valentine hearts, 4th of July Fireworks, Spring field, and autumn leaves. The Party View category is filled with exciting party lights especially designed for parties. There is even a New Year's Eve Countdown for your own New Year's Party. Special Features: Fun View TV scenes are designed to loop forever. So when you choose a particular scene, it will play as long as you like. When you want to exit a scene, just press the menu button and you can choose something else. Appropriate for all ages. Fun View TV has appeared on The Ellen Show with Ellen Degeneres and HBO’s Inside the NFL with Dan Marino.

Pull a fast one