The best things to do in Chicago this week

Chicago’s annual festival dedicated to short films returns to Chicago Filmmakers for two days of screenings. Watch shorts from around the world across all genres, including comedy, action, drama and horror. Tickets are $15.

Come help us crown the best espresso martini in the city at Time Out Market Chicago on November 10. Nine Chicago restaurants and bars will compete to see who makes the best version of the caffeinated alcoholic drink. Attendees will get to sample all of the creations and vote for their favorite. The winner will receive a trophy and cash prize and have their espresso martini on offer at the Market bar. Participants include the Pearl Club, Beatrix, Gino & Marty’s, Moneygun, BLVD Steakhouse, UMMO, Maple & Ash, Prosecco and the Market bar. Tickets are on sale now for $25.

Now in its 30th year, the Gene Siskel Film Center's annual showcase of stories celebrating the Black experience takes place from November 8-21. This year's lineup includes Charles Burnett’s never-released feature Annihilation of Fish, and A Yellow Circus, an unapologetic coming-of-age tale about a group high school girls abandoned at the beach. As usual, there's also a series of robust short film programs, accompanied by panels and workshops. Visit the Black Harvest Film Festival website for a complete schedule of screenings and ticketing options.

Chess Night, an open-play event dedicated to the classic board game, makes its way to the Metropolitan Club on the 67th floor of the Willis Tower for its next outing. Enjoy an evening of friendly games with fellow chess enthusiasts—all skill levels are welcome, and boards and clocks are provided. Interested parties must RSVP to attend; join the waitlist to be notified when there's availability.

The 2003 holiday movie Elf takes center stage at this Wrigleyville pop-up located inside of Stretch Bar & Grill, which gets dressed up with more than 1,000 decorative elves, Christmas trees and plenty of festive Christmas lights. Take a seat at tables stocked with the four main food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup) and treat yourself to a plate of Buddy's breakfast pasta (spaghetti loaded with maple syrup, chocolate fudge and syrup, mini marshmallows and strawberry frosted pop tarts) or a beer served in a 36-ounce elf boot. Want to catch a glimpse of Buddy the elf himself? Visit the pop-up between Thursday and Sunday, when he's known to make appearances from time to time. 

Writer, producer and legendary funnyman Larry David comes to the Chicago Theatre for two nights. Led by a special guest moderator, the event will feature an informal discussion about David’s time on Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and more.

Join Time Out Market Chicago during happy hour on November 7 for Beer Fest! Starting at 5pm, you’ll be able to sample as many beers as you want from Chicago’s top breweries. We’re teaming up with Moody Tongue, Casa Humilde, Revolution, Off Color, Old Irving, Haymarket, Pipeworks, Forbidden and Noon Whistle to offer a variety of pours for you to try. Discover something new or stick with old favorites—the choice is yours. Plus, there will be a live DJ spinning the hits so gather a group of friends for a good time. Best of all: Tickets are only $15.

This new exhibition from Chicago Gamespace and the Cleve Carney Museum explores the history of legendary Chicago video game company Midway and its rise to prominence in the ‘90s. Take a look at behind-the-scenes videos, interviews with former game designers, and art, or try your hand at any of the 15 playable arcade games. Midway’s celebrated legacy includes hits like NARC, Smash TV, Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and Cruis’N USA.

Iconic chocolate brand Hershey has brought its first-ever immersive attraction to Water Tower Place, transporting guests to a whimsical, real-life candyland. Upon entering the indoor play experience, guests will explore various themed zones to discover what makes Hershey treats so special. From navigating a Twizzlers maze to celebrating the perfect combination in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, it’s family-friendly fun that tugs at the heartstrings. Plus, when you’re finished, stop by the retail store to snag limited-edition merch.

The six-time Tony Award-winning production kicks off its national tour with a five-month run in Chicago. Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure—joined by a brave new generation, including Harry’s son Albus—that threatens to change the past and future forever. The play has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016, and holds a record 60 major honors.

Come join us at Time Out Market Chicago during football season to catch the Bears in action on the big screen. We'll be showing the games—with sound—each week on a 32 feet wide by 6 feet tall screen, and you can chow down on a variety of delicious eats like fried chicken, burgers and tacos while sipping a cold beer or cocktail. So gather the crew and cheer on the Bears!

This annual festival assembles luminaries from the fields of politics, journalism and the arts for a multi-week series of programming across the city, with events ranging from lectures and discussions to screenings and musical performances. Not sure which events to hit? Some of this season's biggest speakers include Kate McKinnon, Ketanji Brown Jackson, R.L. Stine and Connie Chung. You can see a full schedule of programming on the Chicago Humanities Festival website. 

Escape the planet with exhibits about the first lunar missions, the solar system and more, plus immersive shows in the dome theater. The Doane Observatory is also home to the largest public telescope in the area, and gathers 7,000 times more light than the human eye. Every Wednesday, the Adler stays open late from 4pm-10pm so that folks can visit after work or school. And best of all, admission is free on those nights for Illinois residents.

One of Chicago's most popular farmer's markets, Green City Market welcomes vendors selling regional produce to the south end of Lincoln Park (between Clark Street and Stockton Drive) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Amid the rows, you’ll find farm-fresh eggs from Michigan, cheese from Wisconsin and scrumptious pies baked by Chicago’s own Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. It’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has debuted an exhibit dedicated to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

One of Navy Pier’s newest attractions transports guests to some of Chicago’s most epic places via exhilarating flights. The multi-sensory experience incorporates drone technologies with aerial shots and first-person views to showcase the city like never before. Guests will swoop, dip and turn in motion seats as they climb up skyscrapers, check out iconic landmarks, float through fireworks and more.

The largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition has come to Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie. Visitors will experience a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the famous ship. Marvel at hundreds of artifacts that survived the sinking, plus props and costumes featured in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic. Music from the era will play as patrons walk through detailed recreations of the ship’s interiors, including the grand staircase, while the Discovery Gallery will simulate what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic’s wreckage site.

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

What’s better than a show at the Empty Bottle? A free show at the Empty Bottle. Every Monday, Chicago’s premier indie rock club hosts a free concert. Check the website for a schedule of upcoming performances and to RSVP.

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened over a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

For more than 30-years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. Returning to in-person programming (attendees must be vaccinated and masked) after more than a year spent in the virtual realm, the company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

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