EAT
'Top Chef' Preview Dinner
Slurping Turtle116 W. Hubbard St. 312-464-0466
Season 11 contestant Aaron Cuschieri creates a three-course prix fixe that changes weekly until the Oct. 2 premiere. His kick-off menu includes a Korean street food appetizer, citrus duck breast and miso-cured beef with sweet-and-sour root vegetables. 5-10 p.m. $40.
Meet the Market
RM Champagne Salon116 N. Green St. 312-243-1199
Learn about Green City Market at this mixer featuring complimentary, plant-based appetizers by executive chef and GCM junior board member Jared Van Camp in collaboration with One Part Plant founder Jessica Murnane. Sip $8 cocktails made with Journeyman Distillery spirits; partial proceeds benefit the market. 6-8 p.m. No cover.
DRINK
Lagunitas Beer Tapping
High Noon Saloon1560 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-227-9339
The Wild West arrives as ambassador Nick Iverson of the California-based craft brewery taps kegs of seasonal brews Lil Sumpin' Wild and Lucky 13 anniversary beer ($8 per 12-ounce snifter) plus year-round options including Lagunitas IPA and Little Sumpin' Sumpin' ale ($4 per pint). Additional festivities include themed giveaways and live music by Nate Holley (9 p.m.-midnight). 7 p.m. No cover.
DO
#ShopFest
Pioneer Court401 N. Michigan Ave.
"Mad Men" actress Christina Hendricks hosts and R&B recording artist Jason Derulo performs on the runway at this fashion show under a private tent featuring the latest trends from Magnificent Mile shops. Admission includes cocktails and appetizers. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $30. Tickets: shopfest.eventbrite.com.
The Living Newspaper Festival
The Frontier1106 W. Thorndale Ave. 773-340-2543
Jackalope Theatre Company presents six short plays inspired by current headlines including, "Chill the [Bleep] Out," by Ike Holter ("Hit the Wall"), based on a New York Times article entitled "It Takes a B.A. to Find a Job as a File Clerk," and "Voices of Buffalo," by company member Patrick Whalen, inspired by a July article about a secret NSA data collection program. 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday. $10. Tickets: jackalopetheatre.org.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
Get tickets for the Music Box's interactive version of R. Kelly's hip-hopera, "Sing-a-Long 'Trapped in the Closet,'" screening late Friday night: musicboxtheatre.com.
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.
