1. Take a literary look at Chicago
Experience a new way of understanding our city at the Chicago History Museum’s interactive exhibit with a literary focus. Chicago Authored invites visitors into a multimedia experience to access a diverse collection of works, exploring the character of Chicago in a cafe-style space. (Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St, 9:30am–4:30pm. $14)
Get your week off to an upbeat start at Second City’s short form Improv All-Stars show. We’ve seen these games hundreds of times before, but there’s nothing funnier than watching the super talented crew of vets play them to perfection, guided by improv legend Mick Napier. (UP Comedy Club, 230 W North Ave, 8pm. $17)
You still have time to get away from the sterile, hushed museum norm and experience a loud and proud mashup of art and music at “The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now.” The MCA’s lively exhibition merges Chicago’s legacy of avant-garde jazz with the visual art that stemmed and was shaped by the same scene. Experience it yourself before it leaves us in November. (Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, 10am-5pm. $5 suggested admission)