Filthy mouthed and adorable for it, this Australian comedian brings his vitriolic, honest stories and stand-up that both charm and offend to the Vic for a three-night run. Whether you’re already obsessed with his specials or just need a great laugh, you’ll want to get your ticket before they all sell out. (Vic Theatre, 3145 N Sheffield Ave, Fri 7:30pm, Sat 7:30 & 10:30pm. $37.50)
2. Get iced out
Normally, we’d have to wait until after Thanksgiving to break our skates out and get our glide on at one of Chicago’s fabulous outdoor rinks. The holidays come early this year, with Maggie Daley’s curvy, sloping skating ribbon opening this Saturday. Take advantage of the early opening and shred some ice while the weather is still tolerable. It’s free to skate, but expect a bit of a wait. Don’t worry, this Dr. Seussian rink is worth it. (Maggie Daley Park, 337 E Randolph St, Sat 10am–10pm, Sun 10am–9pm. Free admission, skate rental $12)
You already do a little happy dance whenever you see a Daisy Cutter can behind the bar, why not take your relationship with Half Acre Brewery to the next level by getting a little more intimate on the tour? Every Saturday the local brewery provides tours to the first 60ish people who line up at their doors. The brew biz isn’t slowing down any time soon, so try to keep up on one of the city’s best brewery tours. (Half Acre Brewery, 4257 N Lincoln Ave, Sat 11am. $10 cash only)
Get ready to mine the deepest depths of forgotten VHS tapes in the truly twisted, totally hysterical show, Everything is Terrible! The irreverent video remix artists return to Chicago with a best of show created from their past seven years of work in Legends. The show gets interactive with a choose your own adventure twist, where the audience will choose between battles like Kids vs Animals and Sex vs Violence to determine where the outrageous show goes. For a taste of what in the hell this show is, see the trailer here and brace yourself for a major WTF moment. (Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave, 7pm. $15)
5. Take a hike
Climb the mountains of Antarctica, raft the Colorado River and ski one of Mexico’s highest peaks without leaving Logan Square at the Adventure Film Festival. The fest showcases 10 inspiring films, handpicked by the Boulder Adventure Film committee, that will take you to the edges of the world and the edge of your seat. The event will also raffle off $1,500 in prizes from sponsors like Whole Foods and Patagonia with proceeds going to Chicago ICO (Inspiring Connections Outdoors). (Logan Theatre, 2646 N Milwaukee Ave, 6pm. $20, VIP $40)