1. Add a little color to your day
Get to know the vibrant, expressive work of a key figure in the process art movement at "MCA DNA: Rafael Ferrer." This solo exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art celebrates the willfully naive and immediate style of painter Ferrer, who burst onto the international art scene in the 1960s. (Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, 10am–8pm, $12 suggested donation)
Haven’t had your fill of Oktoberfest in Chicago just yet? Head to Old Town Social for a foodie take on the fall fest with a delicious German dinner. The Oktoberfest meal features a handcrafted sausage platter comprised of knackwurst, veal bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerkraut and mustard spaetzli, perfect for pairing with a Hammerheart Smoked Marzen, Surly Fest or Hofbrau brew. (Old Town Social, 455 W North Ave, 5pm–2am. $22 meal, beer by the pint $7)
3. Let a jazz quartet strike a secret chord
Slip into the Whistler’s wonderful weekly jazz night to sip on a signature cocktail (might we recommend the Secret Chord?) and indulge in a lively performance by the Heritage Quartet. The band features a dynamic roster of Chicago’s top talent performing original compositions and traditional Polish folk songs. (The Whistler, 2421 N Milwaukee Ave, 9:30pm. Free)