MON 10/29
Poodle canoodle
Can’t face the leftovers in your fridge but your pals already have dinner plans? Make a date with your animal companion instead. Canine Wine and Dine features lasagna and desserts for humans and dogs, plus raffles, contests for top dog trick and pooch costume, and a glass of wine for you. 7 p.m. $20 per person; $10 per dog. RSVP required: rockwellsgrill.com. Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill, 4632 N. Rockwell St. 773-509-1871.
Conscious choice
Once upon a time, a politician made an “inconvenient” documentary that got the whole world talking. Continue to raise your consciousness at the Acts of Concern Performance: Plays by Jose Rivera, Brian Tucker. Actors perform world-premiere readings of short, environmentally themed plays commissioned by the 18th Annual Chicago Humanities Festival. Stick around afterward for a discussion with the playwrights, festival artistic director Lawrence Weschler and Clinton administration environmental adviser Todd Stern. 7:30 p.m. $5. Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center, 1060 E. 47th St. 312-494-9509.
Brief encounters
When the drama’s your own, it can feel like it goes on f-o-r-e-v-e-r. But at the 15th Annual Monologue Matchup Competition, the dramatic scenes are short and to the point. Local actors compete for prizes with performances of two-minute, one-person scenes. A panel of local directors chooses the winners, and the audience selects the recipient of a people’s choice award. 7 p.m. $12 for spectators, $15 for competitors. St. Bonaventure Church, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. 773-404-7922.
TUE 10/30
New boo for you
If the current state of your love life is more chilling than thrilling, head to the Second Annual Halloween Speed Dating Party to meet other singles age 21 to 34. But please, leave the costume at home — your potential punkin wants to see what you really look like. Includes appetizers. 8:30 p.m. $32. RSVP required: dateanddash.com. Salud Tequila Lounge, 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave. 800-957-3274.
Hoppy days
Think only beer goes with burgers, pizza and pretzels? Not so! Expand your beer-drinking horizons at a five-course Beer and Book Dinner with local author Lucy Saunders. The menu features gruyere fritters, carrot-ginger curry soup, roasted salmon with caramelized Belgian endive and other brew-friendly delights from Saunders’ book, “The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing and Cooking with Craft Beer.” 6:30 p.m. $49. Brasserie Jo, 59 W. Hubbard St. 312-595-0800.
WED 10/31
Undead divas
Ready to swoop into the Halloween spirit? Don your protective neck armor and camp it up at The Easy Street Players’ production of “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.” The comic mini-epic follows two rival immortals from biblical cities of antiquity to modern Las Vegas. 8 p.m. Through Nov. 17. $15. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. 312-902-1500.
