CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Logan Square, Oak Park

Lakeview: Kick off Halloween week the right way at the Music Box Theatre! At 7 pm this Monday evening, the Music Box hosts “Hex-a-Long Hocus Pocus”. Hosted by Dick O’Day, this showing is family friendly and interactive, inviting audiences to shout, scream, sing, and cheer along with the Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus”. Prop bags and participation guides will be provided. Tickets are $10 for children and $13 for adults. Purchase them online in advance!

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Check out the Pulaski Park Halloween Festival this weekend! Located in Pulaski Park (1419 W. Blackhawk St.), the festival features a haunted house, hay rides, a pumpkin patch, a biplane (new to the festival this year), a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, concessions, and more. Admission is just $10! The festival is from 10 am to 4 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Find more information on the event’s Facebook page!

Lincoln Park: Barn & Company has undergone a series of minor renovations, its first since opening in Lincoln Park in 2011. Located at 950 W. Wrightwood, the spot is home to famed barbecue master Gary Wiviott, author of “Low & Slow: Master the Art of Barbecue in 5 Easy Lessons”. The restaurant has added a new, brightly colored “When Pigs Fly” mural on the facade of the building and the inside has been streamlined. They added a retractable roof to their patio, which will be shown off this upcoming Wednesday. The patio will feature a pumpkin patch, complete with hot toddies and spiked apple cider. Gino Bartucci, a new addition to the ownership team, says they plan to add old-school arcade games as well. Stop by and check out the new digs (but enjoy the same great eats!)

Andersonville: It’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Actually, it’s The Great Pumpkin Patch in Andersonville at Chase Park (4701 N Ashland). This family-friendly patch includes a corn maze, hay mountain, corn pit, hay slide, hot cocoa, carving kits, pumpkin gourds, corn stalks, hay bales, a bouncy house, caramel apples, apple cider, and apple doughnuts. Whew! Entry to the patch itself is free, but some activities have an admission fee. The patch has been open since October 12 and will stay open through October 31. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 9 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 8 pm. Check out their website for more information!

Logan Square: A hip new lunch spot is coming to Logan Square! The Little Pickle opens its doors next week at 3703 W. Fullerton Ave. Owners Lindsey Malinowski and Bradley Treusdell have been renovating the space for months and are ready to show it off to customers this Tuesday. Treusdell, formerly a chef at The Radler, is offering fillings like roast pork, chicken, and seitan, as well as house-made pickles. The couple seek to offer a neighborhood lunch spot that’s affordable, casual, and tasty. Find out more about this exciting new spot here!

Oak Park: If you’re looking for spooky Halloween fun, Oak Park has got you covered! Grab your zombie gear and get ready for a scary pub crawl. There will be drink specials, an after party beginning at midnight at Doc Ryan’s, and more! The event begins at 8 pm this Saturday; check-in is at Healy’s Westside (7321 Madison St.). Here you’ll pick up your glow-in-the-dark commemorative mug, wrist band, and map. Registration starts at 7 pm! You can also register in advance here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO