This article is courtesy of The Real Chicago magazine. For more like it, visit www.TheRealChicagoOnline.com
Learn what’s hot and what’s happening in Chicago this fall
Soldier Field shuttles for Bears games
Bus or trolley shuttles to Soldier Field for home Bears games are available from several different bars around the city. Here are few of the more convenient ones.
O’Donovan’s
2100 W. Irving Park in Lakeview
Prior to boarding the bus for Bears home games, patrons can enjoy O’Donovan’s all-you-can-eat brunch for just $10 (down from the normal $13.95). O’Donovan’s opens at 10 a.m., and the shuttle, which includes beverages onboard, is also just $10. Call the restaurant at 773-478-2100 for details.
Timothy O’Toole’sBearsBus 
622 N. Fairbanks in Streeterville
Avoid sitting in traffic or paying exorbitant parking fees and enjoy a few “road pops” from O’Toole’s on the way to the game. The bus returns 30 minutes after the game and costs just $10. Don’t forget their brunch and build-your-own bloody Mary and mimosa bars. Call 312-642-0700 or visit www.TimothyOTooles.com for more info.
Cactus Bar and Grill
404 S. Wells in the Loop
Located downtown, Cactus offers game-day ticket holders complimentary transportation to and from Soldier Field. Continuous, round-trip bus service will be available 90 minutes before the game starts until 60 minutes after the game ends. As an added game-day deal, free parking will be offered to all football fans (with any $25 purchase) at the Traders Park Garage (326 S. Wells). Cactus’ Sunday football specials include $18 Miller Lite buckets, $5 bloody Marys and $7 half-pound burgers with a side. Call 312-922-3830 or visit www.CactusChicago.com for more info.
Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 9-23
Celebrating 50 years of making Chicago an international destination for acclaimed filmmakers, bold new directors and lovers of cinema, the Chicago International Film Festival returns Oct. 9-23. The anniversary celebration will kick off with an opening-night gala presentation at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph St.), followed by a golden anniversary celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center. For more information and a complete festival guide, visit www.ChicagoFilmFestival.com
13th Floor Haunted House 
Prepare to face your darkest nightmare, as 13th Floor Haunted House — the country’s largest professional haunted house production company — is introducing its award-winning, nationally-feared brand of terror to Chicagoland.
Boasting 30,000 square feet of horror and mind-blowing entertainment, 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago offers two terrifying attractions: 1.) The Rising — a modern gothic, ghoulish destination only for the bravest of heart, inspired by an actual graveyard in Paris. 2.) The Dead End District — a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic dead zone with urban and rural settings.
13th Floor Haunted House is located 1940 George St. in suburban Melrose Park. It’s open Sept. 26-27, Oct. 2-5, Oct. 9-12, Oct. 15-19, Oct. 22-Nov. 1 and a special post-Halloween “Blackout” event Nov. 7-8. Hours: 7-10 p.m. weekdays, 7-11 p.m. weekends.
Visit www.13thFloorChicago.com for ticket information.
A Christmas Carol returns to the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre’s annual holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, will enter its 37th, led by Larry Yando, “a model of humbug perfection” (Chicago Sun-Times) who “gets better every passing year” (Chicago Tribune) starring as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge.
A Christmas Carol runs Nov. 15-Dec. 28 in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre. Tickets ($25-$83) can be purchased at www.GoodmanTheatre.org or by phone at 312-443-3800.
Lego Build at the Chicago Architecture Foundation 
Let’s face it: All the architecture in this city is pretty inspiring. Luckily, Lego and the Chicago Architectural Foundation have teamed up to give young adults and grown-ups a chance to build conceptual displays out of the famous Lego blocks.
Led by a designer, each casual Sunday session (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) has a theme, so plan accordingly because there are no directions included! Located at 224 S. Michigan Ave. For more information, visit www.Architecture.org
The Second City’s Deep Cuts at Up Comedy Club
UP Comedy Club dives deep into The Second City archives to present its newest show, The Second City’s Deep Cuts, featuring Bente Engelstoft, Peter Kim, Kelsey Kinney, Adam Peacock, Dewayne Perkins and Rashawn Nadine Scott. The Second City’s Deep Cuts runs every Sunday from Sept. 12-Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W. North Ave, in the third floor of Piper’s Alley.
Join the cast of The Second City’s Deep Cuts as they navigate the daily apocalypse of the internet age, where the end of the world is simply fodder for top-10 lists and worldwide politics are boiled down to philosophical T-Rex memes. Too busy Googling your ex-boyfriend to make a new memory at prom? Too many Big Macs ruining your profile smile? It’s easy to go to the hit single, but the deep cuts are where it really gets rewarding.
For ticket information, visit www.UpComedyClub.com
Second City’s Holidazed and Confused
Already wondering how to entertain your visiting relatives this holiday season? UP Comedy Club has you covered with its new holiday revue, The Second City’s Holidazed and Confused. This hilarious show pulls a festive mix of material from The Second City archives and is the perfect way to celebrate winter in Chicago. Holidazed and Confused runs Nov. 16-Dec. 28 at the UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W. North Ave., on the third floor of Piper’s Alley.
Hear that? Yes, it’s the sound of bells a-jingling already. Next thing you know dreidels are spinning and pumpkin-spiced everything is everywhere. Now your family is in town, you’re numbed to frosty snowmen and black Friday bargains… and it’s not even December! Thankfully the Second City is here with the perfect upheaval of your holiday malaise: Holidazed and Confused bursts the monotony of the season with a riotous send-up of traditional holiday fare. Put away your turkey baster and bring the whole family to laugh until your cheeks flush with ho-ho-holidazed joy.
Holidazed and Confused is 90 minutes with a brief intermission; suggested rating is R. Tickets range from $24-$36. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at (312) 662-4562 or online at www.UpComedyClub.com
Oktoberfiesta at Taco Joint
From Sept. 20-Oct. 5, Taco Joint in Lincoln Park and River North will celebrate Oktoberfest with a Mexican twist. “Oktoberfiesta” specials include a German-inspired, Jalisco bratwurst taco ($3), Revolution Brewing’s Oktoberfest ($4), and Maestro Dobel Diamond tequila ($5/$10). A packaged combination of all three is available for $10. The Oktoberfiesta specials will be available for lunch, dinner and late-night dining.
Taco Joint Urban Taqueria and Cantina is located at 158 W. Ontario St. in River North and 1969 N. Halsted in Lincoln Park. www.TacoJoint.com
Nature Nuts at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
You’re never too young to connect with nature. Introduce your child to the wonder of nature by signing up for Nature Nuts, a new twice-a-month-program for children ages 2-4.
Every class at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has a different nature theme; examples include butterflies, apples, pumpkins and snow. Little nature-lovers can sing, take hikes, visit the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven and more. Kids will also learn and discover through coloring, puzzles, sensory and water tables.
Parents or caregivers participate in each class with their child. Don’t forget to dress for the weather and the mess.
Nature Nuts runs the first and third Wednesdays from September-December at 10-11 a.m. The Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 N. Cannon Drive, just off Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park. Visit www.NatureMuseum.org for schedule information.