Late-Night at Second City

Second City has some great free late-night options, so if you're a cheap insomniac with a good sense of humor, this is the place to go every night of the week. In case you've been asleep – literally – they've long offered free improv sets after every night's show – at about 10:15 – except on Friday. (Insider tip, as Second City happens to employ Chicagoist: head over to catch the E.T.C. cast's set. Like the show playing there, their improvs are frequently edgier and funnier.)

On Friday nights/Saturday mornings at 1 a.m. in the E.T.C. Theatre, cast member Peter Grosz and radio personality TJ Shanoff host a talk show entitled, well, Talk Show. They do topical sketches and songs recapping the previous week's events, as well as host a panel discussion with a trio of local names. Past guests have included local columnists, public radio figures, and Second City alums. Go late tonight then hit the Wells street bars. And Saturday is the Second City Short Cuts Film Festival in Donny's Skybox Theatre, so maybe you should just crash in Old Town this weekend.