Since the Oct. 24 murders of her mother, brother and nephew, Jennifer Hudson has been keeping a low profile. But now the Academy Award winner, 27, and fiancé David Otunga are finally venturing out. On Dec. 26, Jennifer and David had dinner at Chicago’s Calypso Cafe. “They were just trying to have a nice relaxing meal at one of their favorite spots,” Matt Peebles, the restaurant’s general manager, tells Life & Style. “Jennifer is a regular; she used to come in here a good amount. I noticed them when they walked in, and I took them to the private dining room so they could enjoy dinner.” But, Matt adds, this recent visit was definitely more somber than usual: “They often sit in the dining room, and fans have approached her there. This time was a little different, with the recent tragedies. It was very low-key and discreet.”

Then on Jan. 3, the couple were spotted shopping with friends at high-end department store Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue. “Jennifer told the store manager that she was looking for a dress to wear to church, but she didn’t want to spend ‘a million dollars,’” an eyewitness tells Life & Style. “She ended up buying a dress for about $100 and tights.” Though rumors that the Dreamgirls star was to perform at Barack Obama’s inauguration turned out to be false, the American Idol alum is on the docket for the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala in February. We can’t wait to see (and hear!) Jennifer perform again.

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