I LOVE puzzles, and my partner just got me one from Magic Puzzle Company that is genuinely insane. The pieces are all these wonky little shapes, but the craziest part is that the puzzle is split into sections, and once you finish it, you literally rearrange those sections to reveal a secret addition to the puzzle.

I know that sounds confusing, but I swear you just have to get one and experience it for yourself because I’m obsessed.

Before I disappear into puzzle mode for the rest of the week…

The Infinite Wrench throws 30 original plays at you in just 60 minutes, and no two shows are ever the same. Expect a rapid-fire mix of funny, weird, thoughtful, uncomfortable, chaotic, and completely unexpected moments, all pulled from the here-and-now. Enter to win tickets!*

JUST ANNOUNCED

• BALTHVS turns Ramova Theatre into one big groove session with psychedelic funk, dreamy guitar work, and rhythms pulling from all over the world. Enter to win tickets and catch the Colombian trio live.*

• Take the podcast out of your headphones and into the room. Father Mike Schmitz brings Parables: A Time of Reflection live with storytelling, humor, and a deeper look at the teachings of Jesus. Enter to win tickets and experience it in person.*

• Open House Chicago returns October 17–18 with free access to 200+ sites across 30+ neighborhoods, including architectural gems, hidden spaces, and landmarks usually off-limits. View all the sites.*

• Your Halloween weekend starts here. 🎃 Nightmare on Randolph Street takes over the Abandoned House of Vans October 23–24 with 20+ DJs, two dance floors, costumes, immersive scares, performers + more. Get 25% off with code “DO312NIGHTMARE”.*

• Plus other just announced shows from Modeselektor, John Splithoff, Goldie Boutilier, Heathers, Rare Americans, Zeds Dead, ALLEYCVT, Vlad Holiday, Ayra Starr, Triage, and more!

DOUBLE THE VENUES, DOUBLE THE CHAOS

Radius and Cermak Hall have a stacked run of shows coming up. Between late nights, huge production, bass-heavy sets, and more than a few chances to score free tickets, there’s basically no excuse to stay home. Pick your room, find your people, and make a night of it.*

• THU 10.15 - SUN 10.18 - SUBTRONICS at RADIUS

• FRI 10.16 - SOMEWHEN at CERMAK HALL

• SAT 10.17 - JAN BLOMQVIST at CERMAK HALL (WIN TIX)

• THU 10.22 - FRI 10.23 - BASSVICTIM at CERMAK HALL (WIN TIX)

• SAT 10.24 - RED BULL SETLIST FT. LIL YACHTY at RADIUS (WIN TIX)

• SAT 10.24 - SAN PACHO at CERMAK HALL (WIN TIX)

NO THEME, JUST GOOD PLANS

The 10-Minute Responsible Thing

Life insurance is easy to avoid, because it’s really not that fun to think about. If given the choice, we’d prefer to use our brain power imagining a horse wearing a cowboy hat… But this needs to be done. 

Ethos makes the insurance of life a lot easier to deal with. You answer a few health questions online, skip the medical exam altogether, and most people get approved the same day. Every plan includes a free will, so you can knock out two of life's least fun tasks at once. Policies start around $54 a month*, and more than 500,000 families have already gotten covered through them. If people depend on you - a spouse, kids, parents, a horse wearing a cowboy hat, anyone - it’s one of the most assuredly useful things you can take care of in about 10 minutes.*

LOCALS ONLY

• The Chicago International Film Festival kicks off today, bringing films and filmmakers from around the world to screens across the city. Get in early, catch something you won’t find on your usual watchlist, and maybe leave with a new favorite. See what’s screening.

• Top Dog Daycare & Hotel is celebrating its grand opening with a full-on pup party. Tour the new space, check out River North’s largest dog daycare play yard, snag a free pet portrait, enter the costume contest, and stick around for treats, games, giveaways, and more. RSVP for free.

WIN STUFF

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