😍 Happy Thursday! Chicago is really Chicago-ing this weekend, with independent theater on stage, quirky food fests in the streets and historic scenes of the city on display.

Today’s newsletter is 996 words — a 4-minute read.

If Maywood-born singer-songwriter John Prine were still alive today, he'd turn 80 on Saturday.

To mark the anniversary, the city is hosting several events this week and declaring Saturday John Prine Day.

Catch up quick: Prine started studying guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the early '60s and — after an Army stint — began playing at local clubs like The Fifth Peg on Armitage where, in 1970, Roger Ebert gave him his first review.

• The gifted songwriter made his major-label debut in 1971 with "John Prine," featuring some of his most enduring songs, including "Angel From Montgomery," "Hello in There," "Paradise" and "Sam Stone."
• By 1980, Prine moved to Nashville and co-founded Oh Boy Records in 1981.
• Prine died from COVID complications in Nashville on April 7, 2020.

If you don't have tickets for Thursday night's sold-out "Souvenirs: 80 Years of John Prine Tribute Concert," you can try these events. But some could be close to selling out, so hurry!

🎉 Saturday, 10am-6pm: Daylong John Prine Celebration in and around the Old Town School of Folk Music, including talks, a mural dedication, food, a sing-along and a musical tribute at Martyrs'.

🚎 Sunday 10am: John Prine Day of Celebration at 121 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood with trolley tours through the western suburb's Prine landmarks.

🍺 Sunday 3-7pm: A John Prine 80th Birthday Weekend Hang at Hattie B's in Wrigleyville with food, beer and a Prine look-alike contest.

💭 Monica's thought bubble: My mom, a regular of the city's '70s folk scene, played Prine records in our house throughout my childhood.

• I loved seeing him celebrate his old pal Steve Goodman during a fabulous tribute at Medinah Temple in 1997.

More Prine events

Carrie's picks:

📸 Sometimes I forget how great The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern is. It's just an L ride away, presents interesting exhibitions and it's free! The current show, "Picturing the Modern Metropolis: Prints and Photographs from The Block's Collection," displays images of Chicago in the 20th century as captured by Vivian Maier, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and others. | 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston | Wednesday-Friday, noon-8pm, Saturday-Sunday, noon-5pm

📚 The Banned Wagon Tour wraps up its weeklong, nationwide trek giving away banned books at the new Obama Presidential Center Library Branch. While you're there, walk OPC's grounds and explore the new library! | Free | Obama Presidential Center | Saturday, 10am-5pm

🎬 Watching a silent film, scored by local musicians in a venue that was once a 7-Eleven feels quintessential Chicago. And I love it. Next Wednesday is the final chance to catch Louis Feuillade's "Fantômas" serial. | $20-$25 | The CheckOut | Wednesday, 7:30pm

Justin's picks:

🎭 Rhinoceros Theater Festival is Chicago's longest-running fringe theater festival. Now in its 37th year, it features experimental and original work at various small venues. There was a time in my life when every actor I knew was in a show in this festival. So good. | Pay-what-you-can, with $25 suggested | Thursday-Sunday throughout October

🎤 I just ran into Christopher Piatt at the Bluebird improv show Monday night, and he reminded me that his brilliant parlor show, The Paper Machete, is running for the next few weeks at the Green Mill. This is one of Chicago's best variety shows. I've taken my out-of-town family a few times and it has never disappointed. Pro tip: Get there early to secure a booth. | Free | Green Mill | Saturday, 3pm

🌳 You know what you need? A tree. The Salt Shed Open House: Fall Arboretum Edition will feature vintage clothes, music gear, arcade games, tattoos, food and drinks. Plus, free trees from the Morton Arboretum. | Free | Salt Shed | Saturday at noon

Monica's picks:

🎭 After missing the sold-out run of "Sanctuary Stories: A Journalism Theater Project" in January, I'm excited to catch this month's multimedia reprise of the show dramatizing immigrant stories based on real interviews. Music by Chicago artist Flo Estes. $20-$50 | The Athenaeum | Oct. 9-18

🍗 When my son first told me about TenderFest, I thought it was a joke. Like, who's gonna spend four hours eating chicken tenders?

• After seeing the fest's lineup of David Choi, Lamar Moore and the folks at Manny's Delicatessen, Harold's, Fry the Coop, Reunion and R.J. Grunts, I'm clucking a different tune. $44+ | Navy Pier | Saturday 11am-9pm

🫘 On Sunday, I'll be full of beans at the Harp & Fiddle Chili Cook Off in Park Ridge, where, full disclosure, my brother Stu and niece Natalie have previously taken home top honors for Team Eng. Proceeds benefit the chamber of commerce and, yes, they'll have the Bears-Packers game on. | $25 | Harp & Fiddle | Sunday, 11am to 4pm

Whether you crave horror, thriller, comedy or sci-fi this weekend, there's a new streaming pick for you.

Carrie — Limited series available now on Prime Video

• Mike Flanagan's ("The Haunting of Hill House") adaptation of Stephen King's novel follows Carrie White (Summer H. Howell), a sheltered teen who faces a viral bullying scandal at her new school and discovers telekinetic powers.

Animals — Thriller available Friday on Netflix

• When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate (Ben Affleck) and his wife (Kerry Washington) scramble to raise the ransom, exposing choices that could destroy their family and his political future.

Abbott Elementary — Season 6 available Thursday on Hulu

• The Philadelphia teachers return to overcrowded classrooms and changing responsibilities, with Gregory (Tyler James Williams) stepping into his new role as assistant principal.

Go deeper: See last week's picks.

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Edited by Larry Graham.