THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Welcoming November and Its Local Events!

Now that our “special” Halloween is behind us, it’s time to begin planning for our “special” Thanksgiving. But before we do that, let’s welcome in November with its autumn local events and enjoy the mild weather it’s bringing with it this weekend!

Don’t let your Halloween pumpkins rot in a landfill. Bring your jack-o-lanterns to the annual Pumpkin Smash this Saturday (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) to be composted (nature’s method of recycling). There are 20 SCARCE locations statewide to either smash your pumpkins yourself or just drop them off to be smashed by them. To find your nearest location, just click here. Also, any pumpkin decorations such as candles, stickers, yarn, or other decorations need to be removed prior to drop-off. However, those painted with acrylic paint are acceptable. I heard it’s going to be a smashing good time!!

Help support local businesses through these difficult times by attending Share Your Harvest: An Outdoor Fall Marketplace held Thursdays through Sundays from November 5 to November 22 at Recess (838 W. Kinzie St.) in the West Loop neighborhood. This is an open-air, walk-through market featuring local Chicago vendors, such as Uncooked, Sisterly Cakes, Sky Lyte Candles, and others, as well as fun fall activities, such as a s’mores station, turkey bowling, bobbing for apples using claws, and more! Attendees are required to purchase tickets in advance. Each ticket allows entrance to the market and activities for a 1-hour block of time. All guests are required to wear a face mask for the duration of their visit unless seated at a table, which also needs to be reserved and cannot have more than six people.

The Andersonville Farmers Market has been extended for four additional Sundays, November 1, 8, 15, and 22, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Catalpa Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. This extension will have no onsite sales but rather be pre-orders only beginning Mondays at 12 p.m. and ending Fridays at 11 p.m. for Sunday pickup. There will be no curbside pickup, either. To place an order, shoppers just need to go to the WhatsGood app or online. And, in order to offer customers fresh, local food, everything sold is grown or produced within a 200-mile radius. Be sure to check out the website link above for participating November vendors!

Actors play dozens of characters in a 90-minute live virtual audio experience of a new adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds on Tuesdays through Saturdays (8 p.m.) and Sundays (7 p.m.) through November 21. While this adaptation follows Wells’ story of a Martian invasion, it moves the action to present-day Chicago and has been critically acclaimed for its elaborate, innovative, and viscerally compelling storytelling! And, all tickets are pay what you can!! Will you be finding out if life on Earth is doomed?

If you’re looking for something new to watch on TV, here are some great New Shows and Movies streaming this month for families: The Mighty Ones (Hulu, November 9), Trash Truck (Netflix, November 10), Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix, November 13), I Am Greta (Hulu, November 13), Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (Disney+, November 17), The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (Disney+, November 18), Animaniacs (2020) (Hulu, November 20) and The Christmas Chronicles: Part 2 (Netflix, November 25).

Our Chicago Bears (5-3-0) will be heading to Tennessee to take on the Titans (5-2-0) at Nissan Stadium this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Watch it on FOX. COME ON BEARS – LET’S GET A WIN!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago