The SportsWise Team shares their all-time favorite athletes.
Cover Story: halloween
Learn interesting tidbits about Oak Woods Cemetery, encluding a fiction piece by our vendor Lee A. Holmes. Also, plan your Halloween schedule with our holiday event listings.
From the streets
StreetWise vendor Debbie Booker wonders where she will live when she gets a notice to vacate her centuryold Uptown apartment building. Her situation shows the need for more affordable housing in Chicago amid aging inventory that needs expensive upkeep.
The Playground
THIS PAGE: The Architecture Guild particiates in the Arts in the Dark parade dressed as the Crown Fountain (Apertrue photo). DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of StreetWise.
Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher dhamilton@streetwise.org
Julie Youngquist, Executive director jyoungquist@streetwise.org
Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Compiled by Dave Hamilton
A Sky Full of Stars!
‘Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars’
Motherhood, marijuana, and the multiverse collide in this Chicago-set story of family, immigration, and Ameri can identity. Like millions of Americans, Clara is doing her best to hold everything together—working hard, raising her tween daughter Stella, caring for an aging father, and supporting her under-employed ex-husband. But when she applies for U.S. citizenship ahead of a mother-daughter trip to Paris, her application is unexpectedly flagged, exposing minor infractions in her past and threatening the only home she’s ever known. Blending grounded family drama with otherworldly wonder, this Chicago-set world premiere is a moving and provocative exploration of our country’s most fundamental values. Playing through November 9 at Lookingglass Theatre, 163 E. Pearson St. Tickets are $40+ at timelinetheatre.com
'Chicago' Like Never Before!
‘Chicago: Queerly Adapted from the Play You’ve Never Heard of that Inspired the Musical You Can’t Get Away From’
“Chicago: Queerly Adapted From The Play You've Never Heard Of That Inspired The Musical You Can't Get Away From” is a queer adaptation of Maurine Watkins’s 1926 play, “Chicago.” The play is a satire of lawyers and journalists and the criminals who keep them in business. It's the roaring 20s and Roxy Hart is desperate to get out of Cook County Jail and onto the vaudeville stage. Join Redtwist in rediscovering this classic story of the Windy City written by the Chicago Tribune journalist who first reported on the real murderesses of Jazz Age Chicago. Playing October 16 - November 23 at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$60 at redtwisttheatre.org
Drinks + Shopping = Fun!
Sauced Night Market
That chill in the air—it only means one thing. Sweater weather! Well, and also beer weather. And scented candle weather. SAUCED Night Market is the one-stop-shop for all fall essentials. The market returns to Half Acre Beer Co., 2050 W. Balmoral Ave., on October 17 and 18 from 5 to 10 p.m. The market is free to attend and open to guests of all ages. Find vendors selling everything from hand-bound notebooks to ceramic figurines, small-batch hot sauce and vintage apparel. Take a break from shopping and grab bites from Soul & Smoke, Cafe Tola, and Onigiri Kororin. The market will also feature several interactive booths, including custom embroidery by Jumpstitch Studio, permanent jewelry by Melted Bonded, and tooth gems by Crybaby. Persephone, a pomegranate Kölsch brewed by Half Acre, will also make its debut in cans and will be available throughout the weekend.
Remember Me!
‘Coco’ In Concert Live to Film
Following its wildly popular debut last season, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Movie Nights at Lyric series expands in the 2025/26 Season starting with Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” in Concert Live to Film. Presented in English with projected Spanish titles, this special event combines the Oscar- and Grammy-winning score by composer Michael Giacchino with a live performance by the acclaimed Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Gonzalo Farias. The beloved film will be projected on a massive screen above the stage for two performances only at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive: Thursday, October 16, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, October 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $43 at lyricopera.org/coco
One Night Only!
‘Invictus’ & ‘An African American Requiem’
For one night only, nearly 200 artists will fill the stage, uniting the full Chicago Philharmonic with the 100-voice Apollo Chorus of Chicago and acclaimed soloists. The evening features the World Premiere of Stacy Garrop’s powerful piano concerto “Invictus” and the Chicago Premiere of Damien Geter’s groundbreaking “An African American Requiem.” Together, these two works mark an historic moment in Chicago’s musical life, amplifying new voices and shaping the future of symphonic canon. October 18, 7:30 p.m., at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets start at $25.50 at harristheaterchicago.org
Rebuilding a Better World!
‘Ugly Lies the Bone’
After three tours in Afghanistan, Jess returns home to a changed world, and body. With biting dark humor and virtual reality therapy, she begins to rebuild her life one puzzle piece at a time, confronting scars both seen and unseen in this powerful story of how beauty endures beneath the surface. This raw, emotional journey explores trauma, healing, and the beauty that survives beneath it all. Playing through November 15 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets start at $20 at theaterwit.org
A Timely Play!
‘Dutchman’
A searing examination of race, power, and social expectation, this explosive classic of American theatre surges with racial tension and sexual politics. Keith Surney revives Amiri Baraka’s iconic tale for a contemporary audience with a production as confrontational as it is necessary. Playing through October 25 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St., Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 at trapdoortheatre.com
‘Stitching Stories: Asia from East to West’
Sewn in History!
As part of Journey Chicago and Open House Chicago, the Heritage Museum of Asian Art–together with the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education and Japanese Culture Center–presents a pop-up exhibition exploring traditional and contemporary textile and fashion practices across Asia. The exhibition will highlight embroidery, fabric folding, and garment making as powerful forms of cultural expression and community storytelling. Now showing through October 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S. Morgan St., 3F.
Hometown Favorite!
‘The Sun at the End of the Road’
Tony Fitzpatrick returns to Steppenwolf, 1650 N Halsted St., for an event in celebration of the publication of his latest book of dispatches, poems, etchings, drawings and collages. The event will incorporate music, spoken word, conversation and projection, and will navigate Tony's life as an artist and appreciator of nature, dogs, birds, people and the city of Chicago. Playing Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3:30 p.m., October 16 - November 2. Tickets are $25 at steppenwolf.org/lookout
Art for Sale!
The Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo
An Art Expo unlike any in Chicagoland! The Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo is a curated boutique expo showcasing over 40 invitation-only fine artists from 7 states offering original art for direct sales to the public. Exhibiting artists will encompass a variety of styles, including: Abstract & Abstract-Expressionism, Cityscapes, Encaustic, Expressionism, Figurative, Impressionism, Pastel, Plein Air, Portraiture, Post-Impressionism, Realism, Sculpture, Still Life, Watercolor, and more. Located at Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium in Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd., October 17-19, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tickets are $23.19 daily at westloopartexpos.com
A 'Mount rushmore' of athletes
John: What is your “Mount Rushmore:” your four favorite athletes – current or all-time?
Russell: The Bears’ Walter Payton.
Allen: Sweet!
Russell: My basketball, Michael Jordan, of course. Baseball is tough: Ryne Sandberg and Ernie Banks. They played to win, don’t quit. Payton was the heart and soul of the Bears. He taught everyone how to win a game. Michael Jordan was the greatest. Sandberg was a good player. I don’t know why the Phillies traded him to the Cubs. They must have been coo-coo. They gave their all.
William: I would agree with Russell on the Bears and the Bulls. I think for baseball either Frank Thomas from the White Sox or Sammy Sosa from the Cubs. Sosa because he initiated that nice home run contest with Mark McGuire from the Cardinals. Probably also Frank Thomas.
Allen: Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Ernie Banks and Kobe Bryant. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT – Greatest of All Time -- because he gave us a lot to look forward to with his fights. First of all, he talked a lot of trash, but he could back it up. We loved to see the Muhammad Ali Shuffle. He was a proud man yet a fantastic boxer. Ernie Banks was like an inspiration for all Black baseball players, especially when I was coming up.
John: My Mount Rushmore is Roger Staubach: he was the one who got things started with the two-minute drill for the Dallas Cowboys. Along with Tex Landry and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, he made them America’s team. The way he carried himself: as long as there was time on the clock, he always believed he could win the game. My second was Dr. Julius Erving; he invented the slam dunk in a way it was never thought before. He threw from the foul line, made it so spectacular you
could not fail to watch. Two from Major League Baseball: the “Kid” - Gary Carter, a catcher for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. He could get some key bases. And last, the Phillies’ Michael Jack Schmidt. He was fun off the field and on the field, he hit with power, he stole bases and he played the hardest corner – third base. He won Gold Gloves and was MVP three times: in 1980, 1981 and 1986. He hit his 500th home run in 1987.
Russell: Gary Carter is the one who got that base hit that started the rally for the 1986 Mets. He got a base hit and the rest was history.
John: Gary Carter had time for the fans.
Allen: I’d like to say a little more about Michael Jordan. He was spectacular when he was playing. Like on the Jordan shoes, you could see him flying through the air. Russell mentioned Walter Payton. I had a chance to meet Walter
Payton and he was a great man, very soft-spoken and an excellent running back. I really liked to see Sweetness when he played with the Chicago Bears.
William: You guys made some pretty good choices, especially Jordan. He made it to the Bulls and gave people a different attitude about Chicago. Instead of you mention Chicago, it was Al Capone and outlaws, people were like, “Oh, yeah, Jordan.” Muhammad Ali was a good idea too. I remember he did the Ore-Ida hash brown commercials in the early 80s.
Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Vendors (clockwise) John Hagan, Russell Adams, A. Allen and William Plowman chat about the world of sports.
Oak Woods Cemetery
Tales from the StreetWise vendor: entering the StreetWise Zone…
Fiction by StreetWise Vendor Lee A. Holmes
The awesome ones, Lee A. and Paula D. Holmes, revisit Oak Woods Cemetery on Halloween Eve. As we walk through the gates, Paula had a very eerie feeling and apologized to the dead people we were stepping on – Confederate soldiers.
The Awakening
A strange fog came over the cemetery. Paula became Miss Yellow. There was an eruption and Paula jumped behind a bush, then said, “Come on, babe. Something’s going on and I’m scared.” I said, “No, don’t hold my hand. Don’t stop me. I’m not scared.”
When the earthquake came, and it was over, the Confederate soldiers were awakening – not knowing they had lost the Civil War. Suddenly, a portal opened up and the soldiers were drawn into it. Leaving all behind, I said, “Paula, you wait for me, babe,” as she jumped through just before the portal closed.
As we entered the other side, we saw the Confederate soldiers standing in amazement looking at the lady who originated the role of Aunt Jemima. Paula yelled out, “Hey, babe! Ain’t that Aunt Jemima on the pancake box?” I don’t like Paula to quit being funny. This is serious. Something is really going on here that I really need to understand. The Confederate soldiers were all looking at the lady who played Aunt Jemima as she prepared for her role. The soldiers ordered her to fix them something to eat and when she kept going about her business, they did not know they were in a Time Warp. She could not hear them as they angled by, rose up, pulled their weapons – and shot her with no effect.
Perplexed by what was going on and not understanding she could not see them, all of a sudden she grabbed her head, held onto the sink and spoke these words from the Civil War to the Civil Rights era: “Black people will fight; rise up, you mighty nation and accomplish that with your will.”
To Be Continued…
Left: The Confederate Memorial Mound at Oark Woods Cemetery (Lee A. Holmes photo). Center: Paula and Lee on their wedding day (Kathleen Hinkel photo). Right: Paula visits Oak Woods (Lee A. Holmes photo).
The Grave of 'Aunt Jemima'
Nancy Green, better known as Aunt Jemima, lay in an unmarked grave at Oak Woods Cemetery from her death in 1923 until efforts by the Bronzeville Historical Society in 1920.
Green was born enslaved in Kentucky in 1834 and was the cook for a Chicago family when she began her association with the boxed pancake mix; she was hired by the Rutt Milling Co. to promote their product for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Green – and other women dressed in apron and headscarf – then did cooking demonstrations with the pancake mix across the U.S for the next 20 years, according to the New York Times.
However, the image was retired in 2020 when Quaker Oats, which bought the brand in 1926 and which had been acquired by PepsiCo in 2001, acknowledged that she had been “based on a racial stereotype.”
“I think we need to know that the image on the box was not her image,” Bronzeville Historical Society Executive Director Sherry Williams told StreetWise after the headstone placement ceremony. “It was drawn as a character based on the marketing ideas of the company including when Quaker [Oats] purchased the company after her death. Those images are not an image of Nancy Green. They are representations of the many women who went past Nancy Green to promote the imaging of the product.”
Green never benefitted from her image being used and she worked until the day she died at age 89, Williams said. At the time, there was no Social Security, which could have provided her with a cushion in her old age, Williams added.
Williams says Green’s image should have remained on the Aunt Jemima pancake mix box, “as a teachable moment. I believe the product was a success due to having a Black woman on it.” She sees the character’s role as that of a nurse or caretaker to individuals in the household other than herself – an “essential worker.”
How did South
Side
Chicago gain one of the largest Confederate memorials in the U.S.?
More than 26,000 Confederate prisoners of war (POWs) passed through the Union’s Camp Douglas during the Civil War and more than 4,000 of them– 1 in 7 -- died from the deplorable conditions there: typhoid fever, diphtheria, smallpox, cholera, consumption, dysentery, measles and pneumonia. There was also starvation, from the “punitive rationing” ordered by the commander of the camp located at roughly 31st and Cottage Grove, in retribution for similar conditions imposed by the Confederacy on Union prisoners, according to the website of the Hyde Park Historical Society.
Initially buried in the City Cemetery, the POWs’ bodies were dug up by the U.S. Army in late 1865, as the cemetery began its transformation into Lincoln Park. The federal government then purchased a five-acre lot in Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 E. 67th St., which was a largely white neighborhood at the time.
The remains of 655 Confederates and at least 12 Union guards from the smallpox cemetery were reinterred in Oak Woods, in what became known as the Confederate Mound. Two years later, the Army moved an additional 3,384 bodies there from the City Cemetery.
In 1887, the War Department approved an Ex-Confederate Association of Chicago proposal to place a memorial at Confederate Mound. John C. Underwood, a former Confederate officer, designed the memorial and raised funds for it, according to the website of the National Cemetery Association, which maintains the Mound, along with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Army supplied four artillery pieces and enough projectiles to create six pyramids around the Mound, whose dedication on Memorial Day 1895 drew an estimated 100,000 people.
In 1911, the Commission for Marking Graves of Confederate Dead raised the 40-foot monument and placed it on a new base that features 16 bronze plaques with the names of 4,275 Confederate soldiers that the Commission was able to document had died at Camp Douglas.
Black Chicago aldermen defeated plans to name the Mound a Chicago landmark in 1992 by threatening a public fight. They said the designation would honor those who fought to preserve slavery, according to Chicago Magazine.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans host yearly memorial services there, authorized by the VA and the National Cemetery Association.
The Grave of Harold Washington
The first Black mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, and the Republican he narrowly defeated for his first term, are both buried in Oak Woods Cemetery. Washington won election in 1983 over Bernard Epton by a 51.4 to 48.3 percent margin.
“White political opposition to Washington's reform agenda was fierce. His first term in office was marred by racially charged fights and acrimony,” WTTW noted in its “DuSable to Obama” series. “The so called "council wars" [21 multiethnic aldermen aligned with Washington aligned against 29 from the white establishment] brought the city to a nearstandstill.”
But three years into Washington’s first term, a court order for special elections in seven minority wards resulted in elections that shifted the balance of power. Washington pushed ahead with his progressive agenda, which included government transparency, improved city services, community development, affordable housing and empowerment.
However, just seven months into his second term, on Nov. 25, 1987, Washington collapsed at his desk in city hall and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. After two hours of efforts by doctors – and prayers of his supporters who were gathered there – he was dead at age 65 of cardiac arrest.
Although Washington's multiethnic coalition began to unravel, Blacks and Latinos realized they had the power to change how the city worked, according to WTTW.
Epton died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 14, 1987 – roughly three weeks later. He was visiting his son, a city councilman in Ann Arbor, MI., and staying in a hotel.
After serving in WWII, Epton made millions in the insurance business, according to his UPI obituary, and served in the Illinois General Assembly from 1968 to 1982, when the end of cumulative voting in Illinois meant that a Republican had no chance of getting elected in a Democratic district.
Early in 1983, he allowed GOP leaders to convince him to run for the mayoral nomination. Normally, this would be akin to being a sacrificial lamb, UPI noted. Racial politics made it a close race, however, with some lifelong Democrats voting Republican.
Left: The headstone of Nancy Green, as unveiled in 2020 (WBEZ photo). Center: The Confederate Memorial Mound (J.M. McCleese photo). Right: The tomb of Harold Washington (Nick Number / Wikimedia photo).
Halloween Events
Make the most of the spooky season with events for all ages throughout Chicagoland!
Now - Oct 26
Chicago Botanic Garden’s Night of 1000 Jack-o'-Lanterns
When: 6:30-10:30 pm
Where: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Dare to walk an eerie path, aglow with artist-carved pumpkins featuring tributes to Chicago sports teams, famous vampires, pets in Halloween costumes, and more. Among them, 75 giant pumpkins tip the scales at 150 pounds each. Watch live carving in action, meet costumed characters, and enjoy playful frights around every corner. Food and drinks available. Costumes encouraged. Tickets are $22-27 for adults; $15-$18 for children; parking $15-$25 at chicagobotanic.org/halloween.
Now - Oct 26
‘Woodland Creatures
Halloween’
When: Sat & Sun at 11 a.m.
Where: Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave.
Theater for Young Audiences @ Corn presents its newest show, perfect for young ones and the entire family! In “Woodland Creatures’ Halloween,” our friends are celebrating Halloween Break from their monster-sory school. Wolfie’s birthday is approaching, and they can’t wait to celebrate. But when new and exciting plans come up, the creatures try to cram too much into their break. $8 at cornservatory.org
Now - Oct 29
‘GOODY!’ An absurd Sketch Comedy Folk-Horror
When: Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
Where: Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave.
Join the town elders of Brian’s Hollow for an immersive 55-minute folk horror sketch comedy show about a cursed 1600s Puritan village spiraling into chaos — told one town meeting at a time. $14 at theannoyance.com
Now - Oct 30
‘The Wolfman of Wrigleyville’
When: Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Where: Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave.
A creature is stalking the streets of Wrigleyville in 1927 - this 70-minute comedy follows an investigative journalist and her ex-girlfriend, a private eye, as they look into a series of murders that have been afflicting this sports-enthused neighborhood in Chicago. They'll chase rumors of a wolf the size of a man as they are faced with thrills, farces, a cavalcade of incompetent men, and of coursea big ol' moon! Tickets are $22 at theannoyance.com
Now - Oct 31
BOO! At the Zoo
Where: Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St, Brookfield Get ready for a fang-tastic time at BOO! at the Zoo, Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s family-friendly Halloween celebration. This event is packed with not-so-scary thrills, festive decorations, and plenty of fun for all ages. Included with zoo admission.
Now - Oct 31
‘DEATH TOLL: The Halloween Drinking Game Sketch Show’
When: Fri & Sat at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave.
“DEATH TOLL” is a sketch show with one simple rule: drink when someone on stage dies. You'll see torment by a sleep paralysis demon, a creepy doll come to life, and the consequences of your actions when you fall for a serial killer. All these sketches with plenty of death, comedy, and (fake) blood! The show is BYOB, but you do not need to be drinking to enjoy the fun. $15 at cornservatory.org
Compiled by Dave Hamilton
Now - Nov 1
‘Mystery at the Museum:
Masquerade Heist’
When: Fri & Sat 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St.
A priceless artifact has gone missing, and only the sharpest minds will solve the mystery. Don your mask, sip fall cocktails, and follow cryptic clues through its immersive galleries—including Yayoi Kusama’s mirrored infinity room. $32.99+ wndrmuseum.com
Now - Nov 2
Pumpkin Lights & FrightsPlayful
Where: WNDR
1130 W. Monroe St.
A family-friendly event for kids, families, and everyone who loves a little Halloween excitement. The WNDR Museum is transfroemed into a bright and colorful wonderland with glowing pumpkins, hands-on activities, and treat-filled adventures. No scares here – just imagination, laughter, and candy. Included with museum admission.
Now - Nov 23
‘Strange Cargo:
The Doom of the Demeter”
When: Fri & Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 3 p.m.
Where: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr
Based on Chapter Seven of Bram Stoker’s “DRACULA,” this gothic horror high seas adventure tells the shocking events aboard the cargo ship transporting Count Dracula’s
belongings from Transylvania to England. Suspicion, paranoia, and madness infect the crew as the harried sailors disappear one by one. Full of creeping mystery, vibrant language, rich characters, sinister vanishings, violent sea storms, swashbuckling action, monstrous puppetry, and a boatload of terrors, this is the Dracula tale you’ve never seen. $30+ at citylit.org
Oct 16 - 18
'Monstrous'
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.
After a merciless punishment, Medusa loses her way—and her memory—traveling to the Underworld. Beguiled by the whispers of loyal but unreliable snakes in her ear, Medusa vows to return to the land of the living to take vengeance against the mortal enemy who led her to this state. The plan gets sidetracked when Medusa meets Hekate, the goddess of The Crossroads. Refusing the torch bearer’s guidance, Medusa wanders down paths that illuminate shadows of her history. She remembers her earthly life as a priestess of Athena, the dark encounter with the gods that would forever transform her, and the mythical found family she created in the aftermath. As the echoes of the past return, will Medusa unleash a venomous bite of revenge on the world above, or embrace lost fragments of herself to find peace? Tickets start at $20 at thedentheatre.com
Oct 17
BOO with SUE
When: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
This after hours Halloween party will be a scream for all ages. Whether you’re a ghost, ghoul, or guest, you’ll have the opportunity to trick or treat with SUE and The Field’s team of mad scientists, getting up close and personal with spooky specimens from the museum’s collections along the way! Then, enter the realm of nocturnal creatures and take on the special walkthrough attraction, "Dioramas in the Dark." Your senses will be put to the test in a series of chal-
lenges and obstacles as the lights go out and the “Dead Zoo” comes to life!
Costumes encouraged! $30.
Oct 18
BOO-seum Bash
When: 1-4 p.m.
Where: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive
Visit for an afternoon of animal encounters, crafts, and Halloween fun. Slither up with the museum’s spectacular snakes, get curious with some creepy crawly bugs, and dig into the boneyard of the Nature Museum’s collections! Family-friendly. $30 adult, $25 child at naturemuseum.org
Oct 18
Arts in the Dark Parade
When: 6-8 p.m.
Where: State St. from Lake to Van Buren
Magical evening procession celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” with representation of Chicago film, photography, museums, visual arts, theatre, architecture, drag performance, fashion, dance, circus arts, creative youth, hip-hop, jazz, rock, opera, street arts, fire arts, drumlines, puppeteers and so much more. Additionally, the parade will feature a diverse mix of Irish, Columbian, Polynesian, Brazilian, South Asia, Korean, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Chinese, Indonesian, Peruvian, and LGTBQ+ organizations and groups. Named “one of the best Halloween celebrations in the world” by UK-based Wanderlust Magazine, Arts in the Dark is presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago with Major Support from the Chicago Loop Alliance and Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago. It is produced in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). artsinthedark.com
Oct 18
Rosehill Cemetery
Crypt 5K Run & Walk
When: Sat. 7 pm Timed Run; 7:15 pm Fun Run/Walk
Where: 5800 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Should you be afraid when Chicago’s largest, Victorian-era cemetery opens its gates? The entire course is illuminated by candlelight, which casts eerie glows on monuments, intricate headstones, and the final resting places of some of Chicago’s most notable figures. Rosehill’s eternal residents include 10 Chicago mayors, Oscar Mayer, John G. Shedd, legendary Cubs announcer Jack Brickhouse, advertising icon Leo Burnett, Sears founder Julius Rosenwald, and scores of Civil War veterans. Spirited post-run celebration across the street at the Fireside Inn. Registration starts at $43 at https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Chicago/Crypt5KRunWalk
Oct 23
Secrets and Specimens at the Field
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Explore strange stories and unsettling legends from the Field’s collections at this 21+ after-hours event! $65 ticket includes light snacks, beer and wine at fieldmuseum.org
Oct 24
Adults Night Out: Howl-o-ween at the Lincoln Park Zoo
When: 6:30-10 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St.
Adults Night Out: Howl-o-ween is a 21+ Halloween party at the
zoo that includes a haunted trail, Halloween-themed animal chats, free face-painting, a live DJ, and seasonal pop-up bars and concessions. Costumes are encouraged! $25 in advance at lpzoo.org, $35 at the door.
Oct 24-25
ABLE presents ‘Frankenstein’
When: Fri 7 p.m.; Sat & Sun 1 p.m.
Where; Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.
Music journalist Roberta Walton has journeyed to fading punk club The Arctic to cover its demise, but instead finds a disoriented Victor Frankenstein and a much more interesting story! The neurodiverse ensemble – composed of 9 actors with varying disabilities and a team of facilitators – will play multiple characters as they bring Frankenstein and his Creature’s memories to life. $15+ at ableensemble.com
Oct 25
Upside Down Halloween Parade
When: Noon-2 pm
Where: Washington Park, 5531 S. King Drive Chicago children and their families will BECOME the parade when they don their costumes and join the procession down tree-lined Russell Drive (near King Drive and 60th Street). Dance teams, musicians, acrobats, sports mascots and other spectacles will dazzle them on the route – and the first 5,000 kids will receive a com plimentary candy bag and other goodies at the closing arches!
Part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Fall Fest 2025. FREE. artsinthedark. com/upsidedown-parade/
Oct 25
Zoo After Dark: Boos & Brews
When: 6-9:30 p.m.
Where: Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st
St., Brookfield
Experience the Zoo after hours, sip on seasonal brews and cocktails, and immerse yourself in a creepycrawly adventure like no other. 21+. $45 at www.brookfieldzoo.org/ BoosAndBrews
Oct 25
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ In Concert
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive
Back by popular demand! See one of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films with Danny Elfman’s score played live by the Chicago Philharmonic. $72.50+ at auditoriumtheatre.org
Oct 25 & 26
Spooktacular
When: 1-4 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Park
Trick-or-treating at businesses along Lincoln, from Diversey to Webster on Saturday, and along Clark from Ar mitage to Diversey or on Diversey from Lakeview to Orchard Streets on Sunday.
Oct 27
Trick or
Southport
When: 4-7 pm
Where:
Addison lakeviewroscoevillage. org
"TheNightmare
Oct 30
Día de los Muertos
Ritmo del Mar at the Shedd
When: 6-10 p.m.
Where: Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
¡Celebra la Vida! Join the Shedd for a especial Día de los Muertos Ritmo del Mar. Honor tra dition and revel in rhythm during a vibrant night of music, culture, cuisine and connection — all set against the glowing aquatic world of Shedd. Move to the many beats of música mexicana and celebrate life, memory and community. 21+. $30 at sheddaquarium.org
Oct 31
Haunted House
atPartythe Shedd
When: 6 - 10 p.m.
Where: Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.
House of the Fearless –Halloween Inspired Circus
When: 5 - 8
p.m.
Where: MSA & Circus Arts, 1934 N. Campbell Ave. Family-friendly, Halloweenthemed circus featuring MSA students, with a preshow and aftershow costume contest. Adult $26+, Child (515) $15, Under 4 free at msacircusarts.org
Join the Shedd for a frightfully fun night at the first-ever Haunted House Party, where house music and Halloween collide. Come in costume and dance the night away to spinetingling sets by Chicago’s own Dee Jay Alicia. Enjoy eerie eats, good vibes and plenty of surprises! $30 at sheddaquarium.org
October 31
28th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
When: 6:30-10 pm Where: Halsted St. from Belmont to Brompton Devils, drinks, and drag artists convene on Halsted Street for a free Halloween parade, ranked among Top Ten in U.S. by Fodor’s. Free-to-enter costume contest offers $4,000 in cash prizes for Character, Creative, Scary, Youth and Group. northalsted.com/events/ halloween-parade
Oct 31
Haunted Halloween Ball
When: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Where: Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave.
The Haunted Halloween Ball combines elements of a lavish VIP lounge and the terror and chills of a haunted house. Close to 2,000 costumed party-goers will dance to the dark and dirty beats of world renowned DJs and recording artists. 21+. $2000 cash prize costume. $30+ at www.hauntedhalloweenball.com
Nov 1
‘The Phantom of the Opera’ - The silent film with live orchestra
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Wilson Abbey, 935 W. Wilson Ave.
This unique production was created by composer/conductor Philip Shorey and features a symphony mixed with choral musicians, modern electronic music, a rock n’ roll light-show, and campy haunted house effects. “The Phantom of the Opera” is most widely known for the Broadway musical, but long before that, French author Gaston Leroux wrote the novel in 1909. The silent film is the original adaptation of the novel that inspired the hit Broadway musical.
28th
Affordable Housing building threatening closure
by Suzanne Hanney
StreetWise Vendor Debbie Booker says she would be homeless with her cat if she loses her apartment at the Chatelaine in Uptown, whose owner has sent 120-day no tices to tenants pending the building’s possible sale.
The century-old Chatelaine has bedbugs, roaches, water dripping from bathroom ceilings, and mice, but Booker says at least she has a place to stay. She pays $610 for a one-bedroom apartment at the 4910 N. Sheridan Road address. There are six people ahead of her on the waitlist for an affordable apartment around the corner and a twoyear wait for two similar neighborhood buildings.
Carol Collins said she received a letter in December that after 50-plus years, the family of Michael Schumacher would no longer be operating the building, which was un der contract to be sold and vacated. Collins would be entitled to $2,000 in relocation assistance and return of her security deposit. On August 22, she also received a 120-day notice.
However, Arieh Venick, a housing organizer with ONE Northside, said Schumacher violated Chicago’s SRO preservation ordinance when he offered tenants money before submitting a formal relocation plan for city approv al. “Our belief is the tenants’ rights have been violated and they are owed damages…security deposit, moving costs, first month’s rent; $2,000 in 2025 doesn’t get you very far. [Tenants] can’t take their beds because he has not pro vided court-mandated extermination services.”
During a 180-day required period through mid-June, buy ers who would preserve the building as an SRO looked at it, but declined to make offers because of its condition, Venick said.
Without a relocation agreement – and someone to find tenants housing -- the 120-day notices are void, according to a notice sent by the Uptown People’s Law Center.
Schumacher did not respond to an email asking how much work the Chatelaine needs; if he has a buyer, and why he offered his own plan instead of the official city procedure.
