TUE
10/10
Toy boys
We’re not sure what part of “Altar Boyz” is most alluring: The boy band element, the religious band aspect or the promise of sheer spoofiness. But we do know it’s hard to ignore the crooning call of this award-winning musical about a fictional Christian pop group plagued by fashion dilemmas, hair gel and hidden secrets. 8 p.m. Through Oct. 29. $32.50-$55. LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly The Shubert Theatre), 18 W. Monroe St. 312-902-1400.
Reel deals
The star-studded kickoff featuring the likes of Will Ferrell and Dustin Hoffman is over, but the reels are still spinning. Today’s titles for the 42nd Annual Chicago International Film Festival (through Oct. 19) include “Tsiou,” a comic take on Greece’s drug subculture (6 p.m. Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.), and “The Last Gaze,” a haunting tale of strangers, abandonment and romance (8 p.m. AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St.). $7-$11 per screening. Complete schedule: chicagofilmfestival.com. 312-332-3456.
X marks a deal
Small plates are in vogue, but small sips? Not so much. We’ll take our glasses full, please, and with minimal damage to our wallets. Take stock at The Spot, where you can sip from a $10 tasting menu with rotating picks, including liquor, wine, microbrews and more. This week, sample Three Olives vodka. 7 p.m. No cover. The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway. 773-728-8933.
WED
10/11
Staff party
If your former co-workers had a personal connection to a wine label, you’d probably return their e-mails and send holiday greetings full of cheer, huh? Maybe you should think about a career change. Sam’s Staff Alumni Event is just the place to indulge your fantasy. The walk-around tasting features wines that former employees now make, blend or represent. 6 p.m. $10. Sam’s Wines & Spirits, 1720 N. Marcey St. 312-664-4394.
Suds-sational
Ready to inject your midweek blahs with oompahs? Oktoberfest parties are still bubbling to the surface. Piece’s Oktoberfest Party delivers $3 themed brews from the restaurant’s own stock, plus locals Rock Bottom, Flossmoor Station, Three Floyd’s, Goose Island and Mickey Finn’s. With live music and a Thuringer sausage pizza on the menu. 8 p.m. No cover. 1927 W. North Ave. 773-772-4422.
THU
10/12
Southern charm
The chill in the air has you yearning to migrate, but you’re not sure if you can swing a six-month vacation. Warm up instead at Moonshine, which launches a weekly Knob Creek poker night with $5 Small Batch Bourbon cocktails (Jim Beam Black, Basil Hayden’s, Knob Creek and Bookers). Kickoff party features special guest distiller Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III and complimentary Southern eats such as mini-pulled pork sandwiches and fried chicken fingers. Launch party at 8 p.m.; cards at 9 p.m. No cover. 1824 W. Division St. 773-862-8686.
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