EAT
In your kitchen
Slurping Turtle, 116 W. Hubbard St. 312-464-0466
Meet Emmy Award-winning chef Ming Tsai (Public TV's "Simply Ming") and taste appetizers created from recipes in his new cookbook, "Simply Ming in Your Kitchen," at a cookbook signing and reception. The event includes your choice of a cocktail, beer or sake. 3-5 p.m. $25.
Finch food
Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard St. 312-645-6000
The River North spot partners with Finch's Beer Company to throw its first craft beer dinner. The four-course pairing party features locally produced Smoking Goose sausage served with Finch's Threadless Ale, braised beef short ribs and Fascist Pig Ale and more, plus a pre-meal reception with Finch's owner and head brewer Richard Grant and brewer Mike Demetrus. 6 p.m. $45. RSVP required by 1 p.m.: rockitbarandgrill.com.
DRINK
Political libations
Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market 312-850-5005
Cast your vote with a $7 election-themed cocktail. There's the blue-hued Barack on the Rocks, made with coconut rum, Mezcal tequila, grapefruit liqueur, Blue Curacao and grapefruit juice; or a bright red Romney-tini, with citrus vodka, elderflower and grapefruit liqueurs and pomegranate and grapefruit juices. Or, go bipartisan and sample both libations. 5-10 p.m.
DO
Litpocalypse
Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont Ave. 773-709-1401
For a literary-style zombie apocalypse complete with free Halloween cookies, head to Two Cookie Minimum reading series' Dead Zine installment. DIY publications rise from the grave as Nate McDonough and Daniel McCloskey of Pittsburgh's Cyberpunk Apocalypse writing project and a curated lineup of Chicago self-publishers read from their oldest issues and out-of-print zines. 9 p.m. Donations accepted for touring readers.
Losing at love
Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-871-3000
Comedian Mike Birbiglia closes out a seven-performance stand of his Drama Desk-nominated show, "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend," in which he humorously explores his worst romantic disasters so you can feel better about your own. 7:30 p.m. $45.50. Tickets: victorygardens.org.
REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY
Start shopping for your reindeer-patterned cardigan now-The Ugly Sweater Run hits Chicago Nov. 24: theuglysweaterrun.com.
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