THURSDAY
FREEBIE
To market, to market
Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St.
312-744-6630.
Cap off the World Music Festival with at The International Market Place, a bazaar stocked with musical instruments, jewelry, art and more from 30-plus vendors showcasing wares from Africa, Asia, Mexico and South America. The debut event also features craft demonstrations, free food samples, gift bags and more. 6 p.m.
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THUR 25
Get crafty
Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N. Clark St. 773-832-9040.
The term “craft fair” takes on new meaning at Festive-Ale, a sudsy benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Instead of handmade tchotchkes, get your mitts on more than 30 craft beers from Goose Island, Gordon Biersch, Peak Organic and nine other breweries. Also, hit an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring pizza, mini-burgers and more, as well as a silent auction and raffle of featured beers. 7 p.m. $50.
Back to the future
Landmark, 1633 N. Halsted St. 312-587-1600.
Relive the best of yesteryear at Vintage Wines and Vintage Music, an informal tasting featuring Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 2005, Renwood Zinfandel 2003 and three additional wines from the last decade paired with organic cheeses, flatbreads, crab cakes and other bites from Landmark’s executive chef Benjamin Browning. A soundtrack features songs from each wine’s year. 7 p.m. $35.
FRI 26
Shriek fest
Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-736-4050.
Get a head start on seasonal screaming at the Chicago Horror Film Festival, a three-day lineup of scary movies, creepy shorts and celebrity appearances. Friday, see “Dark Reel” (7:45 p.m.) and meet the film’s director, Josh Eisenstadt, and actress Tiffany Shepis. Live music by Sinister Fate and Mazarene follows. 5 p.m. Through Sunday. $10-$12; $18-$30 for fest passes. Tickets: chicagohorrorfest.com
Chain gang
National Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway. 312-458-9083.
If you delight in so-bad-it’s-good entertainment, take in New Millennium Theatre Company’s production of “The Texas Chainsaw Musical,” a theatrical parody of the cult horror flick “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Follow along as a woman, her disabled brother and three friends travel a desert highway on what turns out to be the worst day of their lives. 11 p.m. Through Nov. 1. $15.
SAT 27
Brat-a-tat-tat
First Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1301 N. LaSalle Drive. 312-642-7172.
Get your oompah on at First Saint Paul’s Oktoberfest, where a moderate gate fee gets you a plate of brats, potato salad, sauerkraut, strudel and other German fare, plus two glasses of beer, wine or soda. Round out the night with polka music by Flechsig’s Oktoberfest Band
and a silent auction. 5 p.m. $25. Proceeds benefit First Saint Paul’s ministries.
