Chicago Neighborhood News: Virtual, West Loop, Wicker Park and Bucktown, Lincoln Square, Streeterville

Virtual: Halloween is right around the corner, so why not spend some time with America’s first master of the macabre – Edgar Allen Poe. On Monday, October 26, join Chicago’s AstonRep Theater Company for a free streaming radio broadcast of Twisted Tales of Poe. Adapted by Philip Grecian and directed by Aaron Mays, this haunting presentation, streaming on SoundCloud, will feature some of Poe’s spookiest offerings, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Raven.” The run time is 45 minutes, and the link to enjoy these terrifying tales will be available from the 26th until Halloween. Find more info here.  

West Loop: Fans of director/writer Kevin Smith are in for a treat with the debut of the Mooby’s Pop-up in the West Loop. The fictional restaurant from Smith’s films comes to life at Saint Lou’s Assembly, located at 664 West Lake Street, from October 30 through November 6. Tickets are $30 per person and include a Mooby’s Meal featuring your choice of a burger, chicken sandwich, polish sausage, or egg sandwich (vegan options are also available) and tater tots, cheese curds, or onion rings for a side. Snap pics amidst backdrops from Smith’s beloved films like Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot and purchase merch on-site. Find more info here.

Wicker Park and Bucktown: Trick or treating isn’t going to be the same this year due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean it’s canceled. Head over to The Bucktown Green, located at 1714 North Hoyne Avenue, for the Wicker Park & Bucktown Trick-or-Treat festivities on October 31 from 2 pm to 4 pm. Tickets are $5 for a 15-minute time slot for up to five family members. Dress up in all your Halloween gear and collect candy from twenty-five Wicker Park and Bucktown businesses at this special event. Find more info here.

Lincoln Square: Make your way to one of our favorite Chicago neighborhoods on Halloween for the Trunk or Treat with Community Lincoln Square event. Taking place in the parking lot of the Gateway to Learning located at 4925 North Lincoln Avenue, this free walkthrough trick or treating event runs from 10 am to noon on October 31. Registration is limited for the 30 minute timed slots to ensure safety and social distancing. Come decked out in your costumes, get some treats, and take a photo at the end to remember the event. Find more info here.

Streeterville: Feeling connected these days is no easy feat. Thankfully, the Museum of Contemporary Art, located at 220 East Chicago Avenue in Streeterville, has brought together a collection of art spanning generations and cultures with a focus on the themes that bring us all together. Featuring the work of George Segal, Emeka Ogboh, Wesley Willis, among many, many more, this exhibit runs until November 8 and costs the price of admission to the museum. Find more info here.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO