SOFA Chicago & Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art

The 18th annual SOFA Chicago and the Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art occur side by side in Navy Pier's Festival Hall Friday through Sunday, Nov. 4-6. View sculptures, objects and functional art from galleries around the world, as well as outsider art from a number of galleries and dealers. The exhibitions will be open from 11am to 7pm today. Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for a three-day pass, available online or at the door.

Vegucated @ Viaduct Theater

Tonight, at 8pm, the Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, presents the Chicago premiere of Vegucated, an award-winning documentary about three cheese- and meat-loving New Yorkers who go on a 6-week vegan diet and discover the "hidden sides of animal agriculture" along the way. A Q&A with producer Demetrius Bagley and writer-director Marisa Miller Wolfson follows the screening. Tickets are $10-$13 and are available online and at the box office.

ACC Animal Adopt-a-thon @ PetSmart

Looking for a doggy or kitty to be your sidekick? The Silvio to your Tony Soprano? Animal Care and Control sponsors a daylong adoption event at PetSmart (2665 North Elston) today from 8am-8pm. The price is right; a mere $65 for an animal who is spayed/neutered and has its shots. It's a great way to get a great friend.

Common: History of Hip Hop @ UIC Forum

The Chicago Humanities Festival presents rapper, actor and author Common in "Common: History of Hip Hop," at the UIC Forum, Main Hall, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., tonight from 6pm-7pm. The South Side native will speak about his hip hop influences and inspirations as well as hip hop in the era of technology and social media. Tickets are $5-$10 and are onsale through registration on the festival's website, by phone at 312-494-9509 or through the box office, Mon.-Fri., from 10am-5pm.

Note: This event has been cancelled. Please visit the website for more information.

Gozamos Dia de los Muertos Party

Gozamos and 5 Rabbit Brewery host a Dia de los Muertos party at the Chicago Art Department, 1932 S. Halsted St., from 10pm till 2am tonight. 5 Rabbit's Vida y Muerte Ale will be on tap, and DJ Reyna, ((Sonorama)), Ghetto Division, Sound Culture, and Soulphonetics spin all evening. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; admission gets you an all-you-can-drink wristband and cup. 21+

Hot Chocolate 5/15k Race @ Grant Park

This outdoor 5k/15k run is a good way to get your exercise and snacking in -- at the race path's end is Ghirardelli-brand hot chocolate and fondue, along with more food, entertainment, kid fun, and the like. Event starts at Grant Park; takeoff times are 7:40am for 5k, 8:10am for 15k. Admission $48-65; increases to $53-75 after Oct 24.

Half Acre Charitable Chili Cook-Off

The third annual Half Acre Charitable Chili Cook-Off is tonight from 5pm to 8pm at The Arts of Life Chicago, 2010 W. Carroll Ave. Twenty-four teams will compete for chili supremacy, while everyone else just enjoys the chili, ice cream from George's Ice Cream and Sweets and fresh Half Acre beer. The Arts of Life Band will also perform. Tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door. All proceeds go directly to supporting The Arts of Life.

Wooden Shjips, Birds of Avalon @ Empty Bottle

Lo-fi indie rockers Wooden Shjips launch their east coast tour in the midwest tonight at the Empty Bottle. It's a late show, starting at 10pm with People's Temple and Birds of Avalon. Tickets are $10 (adv), $12 (door, if available). The Empty Bottle is located at 1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600.

Beer Hoptacular @ Aragon

The Beer Hoptacular returns to the Aragon Ballroom (1106 W. Lawrence) today for two sessions of drinking and loving drinking. Session One runs from 1-5pm; Session Two, 7pm-11pm. Piece, Five Rabbit, Finch's, Half Acre, Dogfish Head, Great Lakes Brewing Company and Bell's are among the breweries that will be in attendance. You can also compete in their Homebrew Challenge if you're of the homemade beer persuasion. Admission $35 per session in advance, $45 at the door.

Eyeworks Festival of Animation

The Eyeworks Festival of Animation runs Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 & 6, in DePaul University's CDM Theater, 247 S. State St., basement level. Program one begins at 3pm today and features animations by more than a dozen artists. Program two, a talk with animator Lori Damiano, begins at 6pm. Tickets for each program are $6 online or at the door.

Ukrainian-American Writers A New Generation of Literary Voices

Tonight at 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave., "Ukrainian American Writers: A New Generation of Literary Voices" will feature readings by Askold Melnychuk, Alexis Buryk, Roman Skaskiw, and Virlana Tkacz. Admission is $10, $5 for students. More infohere.

Rebirth of a Nation: Race and Gender Politics in Media @ University of Chicago

The University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (CSRPC) hosts Rap Sessions, "Rebirth of a Nation: Race and Gender Politics in Media," today from 12pm-3pm. This townhall, moderated by journalist Bakari Kitwana with panelists including Mark Anthony Neal, Vijay Prashad and Chicago's Che "Rhymefest" Smith, will feature pop culture topics involving the relationship between race, gender and media, as well as political subjects including Occupy Wall Street and Islamophobia. This free event will be held in the Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St. For more information, visit the CSRPC website.

Chicago Vegan Mania @ Pulaski Park Fieldhouse

Even if you like the meaty stuff, take a walk on the wild side today at Chicago Vegan Mania; food (Upton's Naturals and Chicago Diner are among the vendors), live entertainment, cooking demos, fun for kids, and a vegan goods marketplace await you. You may like what you see and eat! Event is at Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 West Blackhawk, 10am-5pm; free admission.

Bicycle Film Festival

The Bicycle Film Festival returns to Chicago this weekend at the Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Blvd., Tonight's screenings are With My Own Two Wheels at 5pm, "fun bike shorts" at 7pm and "urban bike shorts" at 9pm. Tickets to each screening are $10, or get a three-day festival pass for $25. Details here.