let's do fun thingshosted events.
social people.
actually fun.
shared experiences with people who actually show up
@letsdofunthingschicago
you could have stayed in. but you didn't.
this is what saying yes looks like.
real conversations. real chemistry. no profiles required.
rooms full of people who actually showed up.
it starts as "maybe." it ends like this.
game night: speed friending
Duffy's Tavern and Grille
420 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
looking for your game night crew? this is the place to start. we're kicking the night off with a low-pressure icebreaker. from there, you’ll rotate through a selection of easy-to-learn, fun-to-play party games, playing two different games with two different groups to keep things social, active, and engaging. then open play begins, and the night transitions into our classic game night experience. mix, match, and play whatever you’d like from our curated collection of approachable games designed to spark friendly competition and conversation. whether you’re new to board games or just new to chicago, this night is built for meeting new people and making friends. check-in begins at 6:00 pm, speed friending starts at 6:30 pm. open play kicks off at 7:30. see you there 🎲
game night - 7:30 start time
Duffy's Tavern and Grille
420 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
join us for game night every Monday at Duffy's! we've got a curated collection of fun easy-to-learn games that allow you to make friends over friendly competition coming solo? we've got you covered! we'll set you up with games and fun players to enjoy the night with. see you there! this game night follows our speed friending game night! mix and match with new people before our usual open play game night begins. check out speed friending in our event feed for more details.
last call lectures: the philosophy of fandoms: what swifties, sherlockians, and sports fans have in common
Hubbard Inn
110 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
fans are more visible—and influential—in the public sphere than ever before. yet with greater cultural prominence has also come greater misunderstanding. dr. samantha close, associate professor of media and popular culture at depaul university, surveys three very different kinds of fandom before focusing in on what they all have in common: a balance between loving something as it is and seeking to transform it into what you want it to be. we will explore fundamental questions about what fans want from their fandom and how different kinds of industry can—and should—relate to them. dr. close is an expert on digital media and popular culture, with a focus on fandom. you can check out her work at newsweek, vice media, and academic outlets like the international journal of communication, transformative works and cultures, and [in]transition. she is currently working on a book about naruto fandom. here is how the night runs: dr. close opens with a 45 minute lecture, followed by 15 minutes of live q&a. then we break into small groups for 45 minutes of guided discussion, closing with a 15 minute debrief to bring it all back together. stick around after for mingling, this crowd always has more to say.
let's learn salsa
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn salsa: october series a drop-in salsa dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program who it's for anyone who wants to actually learn salsa instead of shuffling through it. no partner needed, no experience required. you'll start with the basics and build from there. the series tuesday, october 13 tuesday, october 20 tuesday, october 27 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three tuesdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect andrew covers timing, the basic step, cross-body lead, turns, and the lead/follow connection that makes it feel like dancing instead of counting.
let's go line dancing
The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen
1419 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, USA
let's go line dancing at scout boots, beats, and your new favorite night out. we're teaming up with line dancers of chicago to take over scout for a night of line dancing that's equal parts lesson and party. the night opens with a beginner-friendly lesson from the pros at line dancers of chicago, so you'll have the moves down before the floor heats up. then it's country classics, modern hits, and line dance staples until close. come solo, bring your crew, or show up ready to make new friends on the dance floor. no partner needed. no experience necessary. boots encouraged, good vibes required.
comedy night: crowd work wednesday
The Comedy Bar
162 E Superior St, 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
we pick your group. the comedians pick on you. a night of stand-up where the audience is part of the act, and you go in with a group of 6 instead of on your own. how it works you buy one ticket, take the together quiz, and we match you into a small group of people around your age and in a similar stage of life, gender balanced. your group gets a chat a few hours before to sort out logistics, doors are at 6, so you meet at 6:30 at the bar on the 3rd floor and grab a table together before the show starts. the show crowd work wednesday at the comedy bar in streeterville, hosted by chicago comedians pat bolduc and john gasper, with a rotating lineup of stand-ups working the room live. no two nights are the same, and you might end up part of the punchline. good to know two item minimum per guest, plus 18% auto gratuity on food and drinks (gino's east deep dish and cocktails are on the menu) seating is first come, first served, so get there early with your group valid ID required at entry 21+
arguing with strangers
Mary Jo McGuire's
2251 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
arguing with strangers, thursday, october 15 at mary jo mcguire's in lincoln park. arguing with strangers is half debate club, half open mic, and 100% real talk. we start things easy. get paired with a stranger, get handed a side, and argue something ridiculous. like is a hot dog a sandwich? defend it with everything you've got and practice disagreeing with a laugh. then the best matchups go up front. the crowd picks a winner on who's more fun to watch, not who's right. send us your hot takes and get the chance to defend them up front and spark debates for the whole crowd. once everyone's loose, the topics get real and you argue what you actually believe. the stuff you don't usually say out loud to a stranger. what you'd never compromise on. maybe what you've even changed your mind about. things may get serious, but they stay civil. and at the end of the night, you walk away knowing you can completely disagree with someone and still walk out respecting a new friend. we forgot how to do that. this is practice.
let's learn bachata: advanced
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn bachata: advanced a thursday night advanced bachata dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program. who it's for dancers who already have the basic step, timing, and a turn or two, and want to move past the fundamentals. if you can dance a full song without counting out loud, you're ready. the series thursday, october 15 thursday, october 22 thursday, october 29 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three thursdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect footwork variations, body movement, musicality, and longer turn patterns. we rotate partners, so come alone or bring someone.
game night
Duffy's Tavern and Grille
420 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
join us for game night every Monday at Duffy's! we've got a curated collection of fun easy-to-learn games that allow you to make friends over friendly competition coming solo? we've got you covered! we'll set you up with games and fun players to enjoy the night with. see you there!
last call lectures: storytelling is community building: how spoken art brought chicago together
Hubbard Inn
110 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
before chicago had podcasts or open mics, it had settlement houses. immigrant families packed into rooms taught each other how to speak, perform, and be heard in a new country. in this lecture, dr. fiona maxwell will be diving into the art of storytelling and its history based in chicago's late 1800s immigrant populations and beyond. dr. maxwell is a historian at north central college who studies how chicagoans used drama, oratory, and storytelling to build civic life in the early 1900s. her research digs into the settlement houses that immigrant and working class families relied on, places like hull house, where spoken performance became a tool for organizing, belonging, and making others laugh. how the night runs: 45 minutes of dr. maxwell walking us through the immigrant roots of storytelling in the city, 15 minutes of q&a, then 45 minutes of small group discussion with other people just as curious as you are.
let's learn salsa
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn salsa: october series a drop-in salsa dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program who it's for anyone who wants to actually learn salsa instead of shuffling through it. no partner needed, no experience required. you'll start with the basics and build from there. the series tuesday, october 13 tuesday, october 20 tuesday, october 27 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three tuesdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect andrew covers timing, the basic step, cross-body lead, turns, and the lead/follow connection that makes it feel like dancing instead of counting.
happy hour salsa: free w/ rsvp
The Old Post Office
433 W Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
happy hour salsa at the old post office happy hour salsa is a relaxed after-work social designed to help you unwind, move your body, and do something fun without committing your whole night. we’ll start with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson from 5–5:45pm . no experience or partner needed. after the lesson, the space opens into an open social dance for anyone and everyone. the event is free to attend and hosted at the iconic Old Post Office , featuring beautiful flooring, soaring ceilings, a riverside patio, and food and drinks available from Snorkelbox . come solo, bring coworkers, or meet friends there.
sing alongs and sake bombs: karaoke night
Izakaya Tokyo
3335 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
karaoke night in tokyo! free to join. sing or just watch, both are a good night. the spot izakaya tokyo on halsted, a late night japanese bar with skewers off the grill, udon, and fried rice. come hungry, the wagyu skewers are worth it. $5 sake bombs from 7 to 8, so get there early. how it works rsvp is free, you pay for your own food and drinks. find our host when you get there and we'll get you into the room, into a song, and talking to people you came in not knowing. good to know 21+ 3335 n halsted st everyone sounds better after a sake bomb, and the crowd is on your side
let's learn bachata: advanced
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn bachata: advanced a thursday night advanced bachata dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program. who it's for dancers who already have the basic step, timing, and a turn or two, and want to move past the fundamentals. if you can dance a full song without counting out loud, you're ready. the series thursday, october 15 thursday, october 22 thursday, october 29 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three thursdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect footwork variations, body movement, musicality, and longer turn patterns. we rotate partners, so come alone or bring someone.
darr de disco: a desi halloween party with bollywood and house music
Elements karaoke lounge
1356 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Beyond Bollyland x Let's Do Fun Things present: darr de disco a Desi music festival experience. we're taking over all of Elements Chicago for an afternoon of Desi sounds, Halloween energy, and the lyric that hits different when the beat drops. the music bollytech, house, and Desi EDM. Bollywood and pop reimagined through house, plus sounds pulled from global genres. melodies you know, turns you won't see coming, and every reason to keep moving. on the decks: ACHINX and LOOPBOX. the venue the whole space is ours, dressed in Desi Halloween décor from the moment you walk in. this is a ticketed event, so bring your darr de disco ticket to get in. the drinks drink specials with a Desi twist. details coming closer to the date. the energy come with your crew, bring a friend to their first Desi music event, or come solo and we'll make sure you meet people. everyone is welcome in this room. costumes costumes encouraged. go all out, add a little Halloween detail, or wear whatever feels good. a costume is only required to win the raffle. $100 Visa gift card costume raffle check in with a valid ticket before 5:30pm to get one raffle ticket. the drawing is at 5:30pm. to win, you need to be in the room when your number is called and wearing a costume. if the number called isn't eligible, we draw again until we have a winner. buying a ticket alone doesn't enter you, and arrivals at or after 5:30pm aren't eligible. come early, hold onto your raffle ticket, and dress up. 🎃
last call lectures: the language of optimism w/ case kenny
Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
last call lectures goes big: a live writing workshop with case kenny, chicago writer, author, and chief optimist at optimism.com, home for one afternoon at epiphany. the idea you talk to yourself all day, and most of the time you don't notice what you're saying. that voice shapes what you expect, what you do, and what you think is possible. optimism is something you can practice, and it starts with the words you use every day. how it runs you get a red pen and blank paper at the door. case teaches, pauses for you to write, and invites you to share and reflect with the people around you. then a 30 minute q&a, then a reception. doors 2:00 workshop 2:30 q&a 3:30 reception 4:00 to 5:00 included every ticket includes a pre-order of case's new book, the language of optimism. good to know 21+ with a valid ID epiphany hall, 201 s ashland ave brought to you by chicago kasam x milna x let's do fun things.
game night: liar's night
Duffy's Tavern and Grille
420 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
liar's night is back. we're switching up game night. every game on the table will focus on social deduction, deception, bluffing, and reading the room. spend the night trying to catch someone else in a lie, or convincing the group you’re totally innocent (even when you’re definitely not). coming solo? we’ve got you covered. we’ll help match you with a group and walk everyone through the rules so you can jump right in and start playing. whether you’re a master manipulator or a terrible liar, this is a game night where everyone wins.
last call lectures: from bloodsucker to heartthrob: how the vampire got hot
The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen
1419 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, USA
vampires weren’t always sexy. from ancient blood-drinking monsters and plague-era corpses to dracula, bela lugosi, anne rice, buffy, and twilight, this lecture follows 2,000 years of humanity’s favorite undead menace and asks how a horrifying creature of disease and death somehow became robert pattinson with glowing skin. historian dr. john j murphy leads us through a history of folklore, fear, sex, death, and pop culture, told through the constantly changing monster we call the vampire. here's how the night runs: dr. murphy opens with a 45 minute lecture, followed by 15 minutes of live q&a. then we break into small groups for 45 minutes of guided discussion. stick around after for mingling, this crowd always has more to say.
let's learn salsa
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn salsa: october series a drop-in salsa dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program who it's for anyone who wants to actually learn salsa instead of shuffling through it. no partner needed, no experience required. you'll start with the basics and build from there. the series tuesday, october 13 tuesday, october 20 tuesday, october 27 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three tuesdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect andrew covers timing, the basic step, cross-body lead, turns, and the lead/follow connection that makes it feel like dancing instead of counting.
salsa on a school night: día de los muertos
Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
join the waitlist, early bird tickets drop on friday 10/2 at 12:00pm one night a year the dead come back. we're throwing them a party. wednesday, october 28 · epiphany · doors 6:30, lesson at 7:00pm, social + more till midnight. what's happening: 💃 salsa lesson. beginner friendly, no partner needed, lots come solo 🎺 live salsa band 💀 face painting. calavera looks 🕯️ ofrenda. bring a photo of someone you've lost, we'll put it on the altar 🔮 tarot and palm readers 🛍️ vendor market. local makers ✨ dance performances 🏆 bachata competition 👑 costume contest open floor til midnight. it's a school night. stay up late. salsa with us. tickets: first 50 are $20, then prices step up as tiers sell out. 21+ with a valid ID.
clover x ldft: pour decisions
Clover Lincoln Park
810 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
think you can shake, stir, and garnish your way to glory? at pour decisions you'll learn how to make three different cocktails and choose two of your favorites to test (and drink) on your own. meet new people while you: • sample and learn how to craft cocktails while picking up tips from behind the bar • create your own custom drink during the interactive workshop • enjoy photo ops and a night full of unforgettable moments whether you’re an aspiring mixologist or just looking for a unique night out, this is your opportunity to put your cocktail creativity to the test.
let's learn bachata: advanced
We The People Fitness Studio
1229 N North Branch St #3/F, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
let's learn bachata: advanced a thursday night advanced bachata dance class with Andrew, Director of our Latin Dance program. who it's for dancers who already have the basic step, timing, and a turn or two, and want to move past the fundamentals. if you can dance a full song without counting out loud, you're ready. the series thursday, october 15 thursday, october 22 thursday, october 29 each week builds on the last, so taking all three gets you the most out of it, but every class stands on its own if you can only make one. included with the full series take all three thursdays and you get free entry to salsa on a school night: día de los muertos on wednesday, october 28 at epiphany, where you can use everything you learned on a real floor with a live band. what to expect footwork variations, body movement, musicality, and longer turn patterns. we rotate partners, so come alone or bring someone.
1 mile radius: pilsen
Pilsen
Pilsen, Chicago, IL, USA
do you live in pilsen? no? you're not invited. 1 mile radius is all about making friends with people who live nearby for the sitcom life you deserve. take the together quiz and get matched into groups of people you click with around your age, gender balanced, and who are in similar stages of life as you. we're getting dinner, drinks, and getting to know our neighbors. location dropped via email day-of. see you there, pilsen. cost only covers entry to event and group matchmaking. does not include food or drink.
1 mile radius: uptown
Uptown
Uptown, Chicago, IL, USA
do you live in uptown? no? you're not invited. 1 mile radius is all about making friends with people who live nearby for the sitcom life you deserve. take our together quiz, and get matched into groups of people you click with around your age, gender balanced, and who are in similar stages of life as you. we're getting dinner, drinks, and getting to know our neighbors. location dropped via email day-of. see you there, uptown. ticket includes event entry. does not include food or drink items.
