Cook County Social Club returns to Chicago for one night only on Friday 11/10. Credit: Courtesy of Artist

Here’s some of what we recommend for your snowy weekend ahead:


Through Sun 11/12: The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival makes its November debut with feature films about David Bowie, queer punk, New Orleans piano, gospel quartets, Ozzfest, Malian traditional music, and lots more. Most showings happen at the Davis Theater (4614 N. Lincoln). See the Reader‘s CIMMfest recommendations.


Fri 11/10-Sun 11/12: Alexandre O. Philippe’s film 78/52, currently showing at the Music Box (3733 N. Southport), dissects and decodes the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). See showtimes.

Fri 11/10: Cook County Social Club, one of the most storied Chicago improv groups of the last decade, returns to town for two shows at iO Theatre (1501 N. Kingsbury). 8 and 10:30 PM, sold out

<i>Reader</i> contributor Baldur Helgason's "Three Wise Monkeys," an exhibit of trippy paintings, opens on Fri 11/10.
Reader contributor Baldur Helgason’s “Three Wise Monkeys,” an exhibit of trippy paintings, opens on Fri 11/10.


Fri 11/10: Icelandic artist Baldur Helgason’s “Three Wise Monkeys” opens tonight at NYCH Gallery (643 W. 18th). You might remember Helgason’s illustrations for our Riot Fest coverage. 6-10 PM, free

Sat 11/11: Revolution Brewing pairs its beers with arcade games at Emporium Arcade Bar (1366 N. Milwaukee) for the annual fund-raiser Chicago Loot Drop. The money raised will be used to buy presents for children at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. 5-8 PM, $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Sat 11/11-Sun 11/12: Otherworld Theatre, a company specializing in sci-fi and fantasy-based work, produces 40 plays over the course of the weekend-long Paragon Festival at Public House Theatre (3914 N. Clark). The full schedule is available at otherworldtheatre.org/paragon2017. 11 AM-5:30 PM; Sun 11/12: 11 AM-10 PM. $10 per play, $20 day pass, $30 festival pass

Sat 11/11-Sun 11/12:  More than 30 artists and publishers who work in the print medium gather at the Chicago Printers Guild Publishers Fair, held at Elastic (3429 W. Diversey). Tonight’s opening night reception includes music from DJ Jan Jammerlappen and speeches from London artist Luke Drozd and Tanner Woodford of the Chicago Design Museum. 6 PM-midnight; Sun 11/12: 10 AM-6 PM. $8 Sat, free Sun

Ted Leo plays Thalia Hall in conjunction with the release of his new album, <i>The Hanged Man</i>, on Sun 11/12.
Ted Leo plays Thalia Hall in conjunction with the release of his new album, The Hanged Man, on Sun 11/12.Credit: Mindy Tucker


Sun 11/12: Indie stalwart Ted Leo returns with The Hanged Man, his first album in seven years. He’ll be at Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport) tonight. The Reader‘s Leor Galil calls Leo’s new album, ” . . . an accomplished melange that further colors his power-pop sensibilities and gift for multidimensional songwriting.” 8:30 PM, $20-$25

For more things to do this weekend—and every day—visit our Agenda page.