WEDNESDAY FREEBIE
Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. 773-472-3492.
Comedy
at work
You won’t find Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute at the “Office” Spec Script Reading with local comics Todd Edwards and Dan Telfer, but expect just as many laughs. Actors from The Second City, Blewt Productions, I.O. and more perform live readings of scripts from Edwards and Telfer, based on the NBC comedy “The Office.” Includes appetizers and a cash bar. 7 p.m. Free.
Artistic chemistry
Evil Olive, 1551 W. Division St. 773-235-9100
For an electrifying burst of creativity, hit the Atomic Sketch Event. Watch as eight invited artists, including Kyle Francis Harter and found-art painter Brett Whitacre, create paintings, drawings and more while DJ Greg Haus spins. Afterward, purchase one of the just-created works ($1-$50). Artists: BYO materials and create your own pieces to display and sell. 6 p.m. No cover.
A step up
Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St. 312-226-5577
Storytelling series 2nd Story takes local lit to a new level with original tales from writer-performers Megan Stielstra, Bobby Biedrzycki and Deb Lewis. The Chicago fiction writers share narrative stories based on real-life experiences while pop-funk band The Pawns bring the stories to life with live music. 7 p.m. $10.
Bar help
Various locations, 773-359-0122
Doing your part for charity is as easy as throwing back a shot at the fifth annual Bar AIDS fundraiser. Just have a drink at Circuit, Zocalo, Fat Cat or any other participating restaurant or bar, and partial proceeds benefit HIV/AIDS patients through local charity AIDSCare. Includes airline ticket raffles at each participating spot. 8 p.m. Prices vary. Full list of venues: baraids.org
Polo powerhouse
Mother Hubbard’s, 5 W. Hubbard St. 312-828-0007
Giddyup to Mother Hubbard’s and sign up for the North American Bike Polo Championships, a two-wheeled weekend romp where teams of three from Chicago and beyond go mallet-to-mallet in a round-robin face off, cycling on a tennis court and aiming the ball for the net. Signup starts at 5 p.m. Friday; the tourney takes place Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Garfield Park tennis courts (100 N. Central Park Ave.). BYO bike. $30 per person;
$90 per team. Rules: chicagobikepolo.com
One ‘L’ of a show
Adams and Wabash L platform, 200 S. Wabash Ave.?
Get your weekend on track — literally — with Art on Track. Hop aboard an eight-car Orange Line train for a mobile exhibition of works by local independent artists and those artists represented by Quennect 4, Peter Jones Studio & Gallery and other galleries. The “L” stops along the way so you can see works in different cars. Docents lead. 6 p.m. Saturday. $5. Tickets: chicagoartontrack.com
