Thursday, October 18

Crafted
6 p.m.
SOS Children's Villages Illinois, the largest, non-denominational child care agency in the world, is hosting a charity event tonight called Crafted. The evening will include music, cocktails, craft beers, and local food, including Voges Chocolate and Terry's Toffee. Click here for ticket information. River East Art Center; event website

Saturday, October 20

The Drinking & Writing Festival
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Featuring the tagline, "Write till you puke!!!" join other drinkers/writers for the 8th annual Drinking & Writing Festival. This year it's all about the Beats, so look out for readings of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs while you sample a specially crafted collaboration beer. $30. Haymarket Pub & Brewery; event website

Sunday, October 21

Music Friendly Food Trucks
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Love live music and food trucks? The Empty Bottle has you covered this weekend with Music Friendly Food Trucks. A small stretch of Cortez by the venue will be closed for bands to play while you can snack on food from the Duck N Roll Truck, the Brown Bag Lunch Truck, Bridgeport Pasty, and 5411 Empanadas. $5 donation to enter, though only a limited number of spots are available. If you want a guarantee, purchase a $15 ticket, which also includes entry to the Shearwater show later in the evening. Outside the Empty Bottle on Cortez @ Western Ave; event website

November 3

Gapers Block Microbrewery Crawl
1 p.m.
Join the fine folk at Gapers Block for a "microbrewery crawl" to celebrate the exceptional alcoholic beverages currently being produced in Andersonville, Ravenswood, and North Center. The day starts at Metropolitan Brewery, and will also include stops at Half Acre Beer Co., Koval Distillery, City Provisions, Begyle Brewing, and Gannon's Pub. Tickets cost $60, which includes samples of at least one beer at each stop. Purchase tickets here; event website