The Time Out Chicago blog team

Every Wednesday at 8pm, dozens of people descend into a dim basement beneath the Den Hotel in Lakeview for an evening of comedy and cocktails at the Blind Wolf Comedy show. Each week, a rotating lineup of new, established and on-the-rise comics takes the stage to perform short, late-night-style sets for about an hour and a half. The best part? It’s completely free. I first heard about Blind Wolf, hosted by local comedian Devin Glass, from a poster plastered on a traffic signal pole in Lincoln Park. When I finally made it out to a show this week, I was shocked that the experience I had was, in fact, actually free. You’ll need to reserve a complimentary ticket on the event discovery platform Pie. I was able to snag one a few hours before the show. When I arrived about 20 minutes before showtime, there wasn’t a bouncer scanning tickets at the door, just Glass standing outside greeting us with, “You here for the show?”  RECOMMENDED: The best free things to do in Chicago this month He led us down a narrow stairwell in a gangway next to the Den Hotel and showed us inside with a quick rundown of what to expect. We secured seats on a couch near the front, ordered a round of drinks (there’s no formal minimum), and waited for the show to begin over a game of Connect 4 that was sitting on a nearby table.  Photograph: Lauren Brocato for Time OutBlind Wolf Comedy To my surprise and delight, audience members were actually chatting as they took their seats. In a time when it’s typical...

The Adler Planetarium’s iconic dome on the Lake Michigan shoreline has beckons Chicagoans to explore the cosmos, but this fall, the Adler's astronomy educators and volunteers will be bringing the universe out into the city. Through a partnership with the Chicago Public Library, the Adler is expanding its community outreach, making stargazing and high-level space science more accessible. Scopes In The City is a free pop-up telescope program designed to break down barriers to astronomy education. By positioning telescopes outside neighborhood library branches and in public parks, Adler's team will offer residents a chance to look deep into the night sky. Turn an ordinary evening into something magical as you peer through high-powered telescopes to catch a glimpse of the cosmos. Marvel at the craters of the Moon, the swirling bands of Jupiter, the golden rings of Saturn or even safe, filtered views of the sun. Upcoming observing sessions run from 6 to 8pm at local branches, including Portage-Cragin, the Obama branch and Bucktown-Wicker Park. RECOMMENDED: These books have the longest waitlists at Chicago’s libraries Photograph: Courtesy Adler PlanetariumAdler Planetarium Alongside neighborhood stargazing, Adler experts are lending their scientific insight to One Book, One Chicago through an engaging autumn lecture series. Designed to ignite curiosity about the cutting edge of astrophysics, these free public talks will feature leading scientists discussing everything from...

We love a good chop at a classic Chicago steakhouse, but we love it even more when it costs less than a buck. Yes, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is turning the clock back to 1979 this Friday, October 2, with a deal that looks like a typo: two of its Friday lunch dishes will cost just 79 cents each. The annual Flashback Friday promotion is coming to all three of Perry’s Chicago-area locations (Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills) and for 2026, the steakhouse is doubling the number of diners who can score the bargain. The first 200 guests at each location will receive a card redeemable for one of the two 79-cent meals.  Naturally, the most tempting option is Perry’s Famous Pork Chop Friday Lunch, the restaurant’s signature seven-finger-high chop in a lunch-sized portion. The pork chop comes with whipped potatoes, homemade applesauce and freshly baked bread. Perry’s describes its meaty process as a combination of curing, slow-smoking and caramelizing the chop before it hits your plate.  RECOMMENDED: Review: West Loop's Trino brings Latin American flair to the classic steakhouse experience View this post on Instagram A post shared by Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (@perrys_steakhouse) The other 79-cent option is the newer Caramelized Prime Rib Steak Sandwich, made with pecan wood-fired prime rib that’s crusted and caramelized to order. It comes with French fries and horseradish cream. There are 100 cards available for each dish at every location. ...