The Atlas Obscura is the “compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoterica.” It’s a great directory chock-full of the weirdest and most wonderful places in the world. And this Friday there will be Obscura Day events hosted all over the world to celebrate this particular flavor of oddness. Chicago has a panoply of quirky destinations, but only a couple of destinations hosting Obscura Day events Friday.

Chicago’s choices:

Museum of Surgical Science
In honor of Obscura Day, the Museum’s curator will present 3D stereoscopic photos, chromolithographs, and a magic lantern show depicting skin diseases in gorgeous, gruesome detail.

OR

Busy Beaver Button Museum
The tour will highlight important buttons throughout history and offer a behind the scenes look of our button archives.

It comes down to either and evening of awesome, gross-out, 100 year old science or, you know, buttons. Even if I don’t make it to either of these I’m glad to have the list I’m happy to credit my web-savvy mom with this tip.