1. Immerse yourself in pop-culture fandom at C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. The annual convention takes over McCormick Place today through Sunday with appearances by celebrity actors and authors, and incredible feats of cosplay by attendees. Tickets start at $30 for a Friday pass, and the floor is open from 10am to 7pm.
2. Lucy Dacus, a buzzy 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia, plays the Empty Bottle tonight in support of her new album, Historian. Doors open at 9pm, and tickets are $15.
3. See an intimate magic show at Trickery Chicago, the tiny Boystown storefront where proprietor Aaron Rabkin performs sleight-of-hand for small but appreciative crowds. Shows tonight are at 8 and 10pm, and tickets are $15.
For more events, check in with Time Out throughout the day.