Welcome, adventure seekers, to Things to Do in Chicago with your trusty guide Ollie Bennet—globe-trotter, certified sports nut, and connoisseur of the strange and wonderful! It’s Saturday, October 11, 2025, and Chicago is buzzing with fall energy—sunshine overhead, a crisp breeze off Lake Michigan, and enough events to make your head spin like a deep-dish pizza at full throttle.

Today, Chicago is showing off its festival swagger, and the weekend is supercharged with everything from mouthwatering bites to mind-bending escape rooms. I just spent the morning people-watching on Lincoln Avenue, where the aroma of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and the faint sound of indie bands tuning up marks the return of Lincoln Brunch Fest. Imagine morsels from Chicago’s best brunch spots, live tunes, family-friendly games, and the kind of cheerful chaos that only this city can dish up, all happening right now at 2900 N. Lincoln Ave, as spotlighted by Eventeny.

Art fans, head over to The WasteShed for the wild and eco-friendly Soda Can Mosaics workshop hosted by Chicago artist Norma Rios-Sierra. You’ll snip, snap, and sticker your way into soda-can glory, leaving with a one-of-a-kind mosaic and a newfound appreciation for upcycling. Love a bit of night magic? Rooftop Cinema Club is screening La La Land and 500 Days of Summer tonight, so bring a blanket and experience movie musicals and heartbreak comedies under the sparkling city skyline.

For pop-culture junkies, Lisle is throwing down at Hallow-Fest, the region’s two-day anime and gaming convention, complete with cosplay, shopping, and endless tournaments. Looking for something truly unique? Center on Halsted is the place to be for QueerQuest. Honored by the United Nations, this celebration of Black, brown, and queer identities features a mind-boggling quantum escape room, wellness spaces, science talks, hammocks, tea lounges, and performances ranging from drummers to healers. According to Fox 32 Chicago, you don’t need to know quantum physics, but bring your curiosity!

Chicago’s kid-friendly side never takes a day off. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s Science Works event is packed with hands-on experiments and discovery—perfect for little explorers. Prefer music? The House of Blues is alive and riffing with live blues shows all evening long. Head up to Norris University Center for “Street: Photographs by Ann Kogen,” a daylong exhibit capturing urban life at its rawest.

Now, what’s the word on the street? According to Patch and local theater guides, downtown arrivals today should check transit updates before heading in—weekend service changes on the Blue Line might add some minutes to your trip. The weather’s treating us all to classic Chicago autumn: jacket weather, but T-shirt optimism. And for foodies, rumor has it that a new ramen joint just opened in West Loop—perfect for slurping up after your rooftop movie or a stroll through Millennium Park!

Here’s your local tip: the Daley Center’s farmers market is open this morning—come early, get an apple cider donut, and claim a spot among the regulars. And if someone offers you “Chicago mix” popcorn, accept no substitutes—it’s a wild, delicious blend of caramel and cheese. Only in Chicago does sweet-and-savory popcorn spark as much debate as our pizza or baseball.

Coming up tomorrow, Navy Pier welcomes the Black Girl Art Show, a stunning showcase of Black women artists in the Aon Grand Ballroom—if you need another reason to linger by the lakeshore. Open House Chicago is just a week from now, so stay tuned for tips on how to peek inside some of the city’s most jaw-dropping buildings.

Thanks for hanging out with me, Oly Bennet, as we leapt through Chicago’s wild weekend scene. Tune in tomorrow for what’s next, and remember: in this city, there’s always more to discover.

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