CHIGuide
9 Exciting Things To Do & Eat In Chicago This Week
photo credit: Anthony Tahlier
We’re doing a lot this week - like watching Squid Game and coming to terms with the fact that it’s officially fall. On top of all that, there are also tons of fun new things to do and eat right now, including pop-ups, openings, haunted houses, and specials happening across the city.
The Things
If you’re looking for bars with activities besides drinking, you might be interested in Mission Control. This bar is opening in Roger’s Park this week, and has vintage video games, pinball machines, board games, and more. There’s also a food menu with pierogies and pizza.
Urban Belly is offering $1 dumplings all day on Sunday the 26th. You have a choice of chicken red curry or edamame, and you can order them for carryout or dine-in. If you decide to eat there, you can also pair them with a frozen beer slushie.
On Sunday the 28th, Lao pop-up Sao Song will be at Kimski in Bridgeport. It goes from 3-8pm, and they’ll have dishes like mussel khao poon, duck laab pierogies, and Lao beef jerky. Check out their IG for more information.
From now until we get knocked out of the playoffs, PB&J in the West Loop will serve a special Sunday menu of strombolis and calzones while they play the Bears’ game (with the sound on). More relevant football information: they now have a $25 bottomless mimosa option for their Sunday brunch. They also have a bloody mary garnished with a slice of pizza and candied bacon, which also feels relevant.
Vol 39 - the fancy cocktail bar inside the Kimpton Hotel - has reopened with a new menu. And they’re going old-timey with the theme of “1893 World Fair”. This means a bunch of classic cocktails, and drinks that correspond with different historical buildings around the city. So if you want your post-work drinking plans to make you feel like the Monopoly Man (a lazy Google search taught us his name is Rich Uncle Pennybags), come here.
Verve is a newish wine bar in Lincoln Park that also has locations in San Francisco and New York. And this weekend they’re going to start serving brunch. Dishes will include oysters with marmalade, bacon, and hot sauce, brown butter ricotta pancakes, and cheesy grits with mushrooms.
13th Floor Chicago
While the past 18 months have frequently felt like a collective trip through a very long haunted house, maybe your appetite for terror can’t be sated. So we have a couple of haunted houses that are opening in Chicagoland this week. The first one is 13th Floor Chicago, which has a new location this year in Schiller Park. It will start running on September 24th, and will also feature a carnival midway, food, and drinks. Tickets and more information are available on their website.
Joliet Haunted Prison
The second haunted house to know about is the Old Joliet Haunted Prison, which is opening on the 25th for the Halloween season. And yes, it is literally a haunted house in an abandoned prison in Joliet. You can buy tickets and get more info here.
Andersonville Homecoming
For a less terrifying option, the Andersonville Homecoming festival is being held this weekend. It goes from the 24th through the 26th, and will have live performances, local artists, merchants, food, drinks, carnival games, and free kids’ activities. Admission is $10 ( there’s a suggested donation at the gate) and you can see the full line-up on their site.
