EAT
(Free!) SAUSAGE PARTY
The Publican
837 W. Fulton Market 312-733-9555
Chef Brian Polcyn of Michigan's Forest Grill and culinary author Michael Ruhlman demonstrate artisanal sausage-making and discuss their new book, "Salumi: The Craft of Italian Dry Curing" while you nosh on complimentary charcuterie prepared by Polcyn. 1-3 p.m. Saturday.
FRIENDLY FOOD
Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
In a nod to the "Music Friendly Dancing" text on the awning over its door, the venerable music club throws its first outdoor block party--Music, Friendly, Food Trucks-which features food for purchase from food trucks including Duck N Roll, 5411 Empanadas, Bridgeport Pasty and the Brown Bag Lunch Truck, plus performances from four folk and alt-country bands and $5 Revolution beers. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $5 suggested donation.
DRINK
THE BEATS GO ON
Haymarket Pub & Brewery
737 W. Randolph St. 312-638-0700
The eighth annual Drinking & Writing Festival's theme is The Beats and the themed shindiggery includes a tapping and tastings of Naked Lunch, an amber lager made with beets created for the festival in honor of Beat writer William Burroughs, plus free samples from local breweries, Beat-themed entertainment and the optional Two Drink Minimum Writing Contest for prizes. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday. $30. Tickets: drinkingandwriting.com.
(Free!) TEA TODDIES
Oh, Olive
904 W. Armitage Ave. 773-697-7881
Cocktail tastings at an olive oil shop? Yes, please. Nellcote mixologist Dante LoPresti-who's also been seen on The Sundance Channel's "Iconoclast: Beyond the Bar"-offers hot and cold samples of his Tiesta Tea Toddy, a Moroccan-inspired cocktail made with vodka, apricot liqueur and Tiesta tea. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
MARTINIS FOR ART
Lumen
839 W. Fulton Market 312-922-0440
Get your drink on in style at Artini, a fundraiser for Urban Gateways' arts education programs, which includes art-themed martinis, Goose Island beer, appetizers, performances by DanceWorks Chicago and Chicago Improv Productions, DJ sets and more. 6-9 p.m. Friday. $40. Tickets: urbangateways.org/artini.
DO
IN THE SPIRIT
The Call
1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. 773-334-2525
Get into the spirit of the season with "Kiss of the Spider Woman," a drag revue featuring entertainers Ashley Morgan, Miso du Jour, members of The Chicago Spirit Brigade and others, which benefits Care 4 Real, a food pantry in Edgewater. Keep your spirits up with $5 Newcastle Werewolf Blood Red ales and $10.50 martinis made with blood-red Vampyre vodka. 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $10 donation or $5 with two non-perishable food items.
FRIGHT NIGHT
The Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-736-4050
Get ready for 24 hours of horror movie madness at The Massacre, which includes more than a dozen films featuring everyone from Karloff to Hitchcock to Carpenter-with appearances by "The Return of the Living Dead" actress Linnea Quigley and "Spider Baby" director Jack Hill, who introduce their films and sign free autographs-plus short cuts, vintage trailers, a zombie makeup station and giveaways. 11 a.m. Saturday. $20-$25. Tickets: brownpapertickets.com.
PROUD CINEMA
Hoover-Leppen Theatre, Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted St. 773-472-6469
See works on both stage and screen during Pride Films and Plays' Gay Film Weekend with staged readings of works by Great Gay Screenplay Contest finalists and a Queer Shorts Film Program (5 p.m. Sunday) curated by the Indie Boots Film Festival. 7 p.m. Friday; 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday. $10 each. Tickets: brownpapertickets.com.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
See the Windy City Rollers at UIC Pavilion Saturday: uicpavilion.com.
Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.