Folk, Free Art and a Quiet Read for a Mild Tuesday

A mild, overcast Tuesday for folk at the Vic, a free art show in the Loop, courtside hoops and a quiet place to read.

By Raj Singh · Published November 3, 2026.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

The Blasting Company — Over the Garden Wall Tour @ The Vic Theatre

The Blasting Company — the Los Angeles nouveau-folk group behind the woodsy, antique-sounding score of Over the Garden Wall — brings its third annual autumn tour to The Vic Theatre tonight. It's a fitting season for it: the same crackling, slightly haunted folk that turned the cartoon into a cult favorite.

Tuesday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m. It's a ticketed show; grab seats through the link.

LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style @ School of the Art Institute

LeRoy Neiman is best known for his bold, colorful paintings of athletes and big sporting moments — but this free exhibition at the School of the Art Institute makes the case that it started with fashion. It gathers roughly 80 drawings and paintings spanning the 1950s to 2000, tracing how his early work as a fashion illustrator shaped the way he captured clothing, gesture and personal style for the rest of his career. Neiman studied and taught at SAIC, so it reads a little like a homecoming.

Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, and admission is free.

Silent Reading Club @ Barrel Cheese & Wine

A low-key way to spend the evening: the Silent Reading Club meets weekly in the upstairs seating area at Barrel Cheese & Wine in Lakeview. The format is simple — about 30 minutes to chat with fellow readers, then an hour of quiet reading. Bring whatever you're already in the middle of; no sign-up required.

Starts at 7 p.m. It's free — "unless ya buy a drink," as the organizers put it — and presented by Long Overdue Books.

DePaul Women's Basketball vs. Evansville @ Wintrust Arena

DePaul women's basketball tips off against Evansville at Wintrust Arena tonight. Tickets run $15.50 to $76.50 depending on where you sit — an affordable night of Division I hoops in the South Loop. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Wake 'n Bacon Brunch Happy Hour @ Wake 'n Bacon

A cheap, cheerful Wednesday-afternoon plan: Wake 'n Bacon in Lakeview runs a weekday happy hour from 2 to 4 p.m. with 50% off cocktails, coffees and food. It's a brunch spot, so the half-off menu leans toward brunch favorites and signature drinks, and there's no cover.

Season of Thanks Banquet @ Mozart Park

The Season of Thanks Banquet at Mozart Park is a community celebration honoring the neighborhood's senior community. The program packs a lot into one afternoon: a makers-market popup of handmade goods, wreath-making, pumpkin pick-ups, live music, bingo and dancing, plus the announcement of winners in six lighthearted award categories voted on over the season.

Wednesday, November 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5.

THIS WEEK

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light @ Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

If you're planning the weekend: a longtime Chicago holiday tradition returns Saturday, November 7, when the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry raises its four-story Grand Tree and surrounds it with more than 50 trees representing the city's many communities and their holiday celebrations. The companion Holidays of Light display recognizes Chinese New Year, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Visakha Puja Day and St. Lucia Day.

The display is included with regular museum admission — $25.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids ages 3 to 11 — and runs through January 3, so Saturday is the start of a long season in Hyde Park.