Word on the street is that clowns will be protesting the NATO Summit this week. No, real clowns—as in scary white makeup, colorful wigs, and big red noses. And as if that’s not frightening enough, they say they will be armed with pies. No word yet what kind of pies—seasonal fruit or custard. Or if they’re just those whipped cream clown pies, whether they’re using local, organic, BHT-and-carrageenan-free, heavy cream—so watch out. In the meantime, if you’re out and about, especially for Chicago Craft Beer Week, mind the road closures. Cheers!

Thursday, May 17

Drink your way through the greater Chicagoland area in the third annual Chicago Craft Beer Week—which lasts 11 days and nights actually. “This year’s theme is “Chicago: A City of Neighborhoods.” and [i]t’s expected that more than 200 venues will participate this year, offering special $4 tastings of rare beers and other special events throughout the week.” Get out there and drink!

BYOB (Bring Your Own BRAINS!) to the Drive-In Double Feature! Zombie Apocalypse at the Cascade Drive-In! The event is this month’s edition of WBEZ’s Off-Air Event Series. Filmspotting hosts Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen will hold your hands through screenings of Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. The Cascade has a grill and picnic area but you need to BYOCharcoal—and BRAINS!

See a screening of the documentary Absinthe with the film’s director Chris Buddy, then taste Lucid absinthe, at the Alliance Française—hold on to your ears and don’t even think of setting any sugarcubes on fire.

Read along with those crazy kids of the Green City Market Junior Board Book Club at Next Door Chicago. The book: The Prince’s Speech: On the Future of Food by “HRH The Prince of Wales” aka Prince Charles.

Learn about Chicago’s candy-making history at the Elmhurst Historical Museum from “Sweet Home Chicago exhibit co-curator, author, and lecturer, Leslie Goddard, PhD. After the presentation, be among the first to browse the new exhibit in the museum galleries. Special refreshments will be served following the program.” Rumour has it that there will be CANDY!

Friday, May 18

Rock out with Alpana Singh and her adorable pug Haruki at Rockin’ for the Rescue at the Double Door, benefitting the Trio Animal Foundation, with food by Hot Doug’s. Check out the silent online auction now, which includes amazing items like an Alinea chef tasting for two with wine pairings, a Moto Chef for a Day, and much, much more!

Saturday, May 19

Eat desserts for a good cause with Duff “Ace of Cakes” Goldman hosts the fifth annual YouthBuild Lake County Spring Benefit at the Hyatt Deerfield. YBLC helps “low-income young adults complete their education, learn the necessary skills to become gainfully employed, and build a hopeful future for themselves and their families. It will be a “Night of Dessert Stars”!