■ Boykin runs for 7th District seat PAGE 6
FREE Vol. 39 No. 38
September 24, 2025 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyNews
@austinweeklynews
@AustinWeeklyChi
Open House Chicago adds Austin location, page 4
West Side couple has high hopes for its vampire TV series History and myth part of the story By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
A husband and wife duo on Chicago’s West Side, already making notable strides in the film industry, are now working to get a media outlet to pick up their supernatural, vampire-based television series. Created and directed by Margaret Mojica, the wife portion of the West Side team, the film “Shadows, Chicago Underworld” features a cast of Black vampires with a storyline that fuses history and myth while following the story of twins Zaria and Kofi Waya who were turned into vampires during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The vampire twins find themselves in a city divided by supernatural factions and corrupt politicians pulling them into a dangerous fight for survival, power and identity. Inspiration for the series stems from Margaret’s love of vampire movies and learning that See FILMMAKERS on page 12
HECTOR CERVANTES
Not everyone is a fan of Riot Fest Douglass Park festival last week drew about 50,000 but some residents wish it would go away
By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
To some it’s a joyous music festival that encourages fun and community engagement. To others it’s a noisy threeday event in their back yard that they
wish would go away. Rock Fest returned to Douglass Park Sept. 19-21, bringing about 50,000 fans to Chicago’s West Side. The three-day festival, known for punk, rock, and alterSee RIOT FEST on page 11
SEPT. 26-27 / FREE LIVE MUSIC * CRAFT BEER & WINE * FAMILY FUN * LOCAL FOOD