Well, we’ve reached the final weekend of our spooky season here in Chicago as we not only close out Halloween but also welcome in November.  But before we transition to our next holiday, this weekend offers a few more scares to enjoy!

Real fear is always generated when you see one thing that suddenly becomes another and that’s what happens in Paranormal Activity this Saturday (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m. with limited availability) at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (800 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood.  This North American premiere celebrates the power of live theatrical experience by welcoming the partnership of Chicago’s Levi Holloway and the immersive theater pioneer Felix Barrett as they bring a new ghost into the world of the living.  Beware though of a healthy helping of jump scares, a dash of gore, and practical effects that will make your blood run cold.  Welcome to a Halloween haunting you will never forget!

Chicago’s favorite annual Halloween-themed extravaganza Nightmare on Clark Street wraps-up this weekend at the Stolen Saddle (3505 N. Clark St.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  This spooky season will be serving up plenty of scares with over-the-top haunted décor; spooky, creepy-themed cocktails such as Freddy’s Tequila, Monster Mash, and others; and plenty of photo ops to get you in the Halloween spirit.  Happy Hauntings!

Are you up for a spooky night of connecting with spirits, both living and dead?  You’re in luck because Chicago’s brand-new Stars & Garters Theater (3914 N. Clark St.) in the Lakeview neighborhood will be hosting their final performance of The Séance LIVE (and dead) this Saturday (7 p.m.).  This spook-house show for the smart set is an original stage show that recreates an authentic Victorian-era séance by investigating the history of the séance, telling stories of the participants, and demonstrating the exact techniques used by psychics and mediums who claim to contact the dead.  Not to worry though, The Séance is not an actual séance.  Actual demonstrations are performed, and stories are told based on the real history of séance shows from the early 1900s.  BTW, children are not allowed!  Will you be brave enough to attend?

This past week also ushered in another important celebration known as Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) which is a Mexican holiday that celebrates, and honors deceased loved ones with ofrendas (altars), cemetery visits, and vibrant festivities.  This is not a Mexican Halloween but a joyful way to remember ancestors.  Needless to say, Chicago will be celebrating the following Day of the Dead events this weekend!

The Rogers Park Business Alliance will be hosting its first-ever community celebration of Día de los Muertos this Saturday and Sunday within the Mexican Cultural District known as Camino Clark (Clark Street), which stretches from Howard Street to Devon Avenue.  Participating Camino Clark businesses will have altars on display for viewing only as well as offering specials and promotions as you celebrate culture, community, and local flavor along this corridor!

Enjoy a colorful celebration with family and friends at the Día de los Muertos Brunch this Sunday (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Carnivale Chicago (702 W. Fulton St.) in the West Loop.  Guests will enjoy a festive buffet brunch with Carnivale’s signature dishes; live Catrina characters and face painting; roaming performers and vibrant photo ops; and specialty cocktails and mocktails.  It’s the perfect way to honor this holiday and enjoy an unforgettable day filled with great food, entertainment, and culture!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“We’ve got to get to Pequod’s Pizza!” a good friend of ours said recently. “It’s my favorite pizza place in Chicago!” 

How could we resist such an enthusiastic invitation? Especially to a place named the Chicago Tribune 2022 Readers’ Choice Food Award for “Best Chicago-Style Pizza,”  made famous by FX TV’s Emmy award-winning  The Bear.

Every month or so, the four of us get together at various pizza spots around the Chicago metropolitan area. It’s so much fun to evaluate the crispiness of the crust, the sweetness of the sauce, and the delectable runniness of the cheese with good friends! 

Home of the Carmelized Crust 

Last Saturday, we trekked to the shabby-chic décor of the 40-year-old Pequod’s Pizza,  arriving to a packed house, with lines out the door. Good thing we’d made a reservation, and we advise strongly that you do the same.

What makes the pizza so special? In an area with literally thousands of pizza options to choose from, Pequod’s claim to fame is their caramelized pizza crust. As they say on their website, (the late) Burt Katz first started making deep pan pizza with a caramelized cheese crust in 1963 at The Inferno.

Pequod’s method involves pressing the dough flat in the pan, letting it rise, then placing sliced cheese all the way around the edges. They cook the cheese at high heat until it crisps against the edges of the pan. That leaves a unique flavor that some describe as nutty, sweet, and bitter. 

I found it “nutty.” And crunchy. 

The other truly unique aspect of the Pequod’s experience was the ubiquitous presence of Sean Asbra, general manager of Pequod’s Pizza. The day we were there, I observed his personal commitment to customer service as he ran a virtual marathon, checking up on customers in the two-story, brick-walled building and coming to our table personally to make sure we were happy. 

And no, we didn’t tell him we were reviewing his spot!

He also offered helpful suggestions to would-be diners without reservations. “You can order for takeout,” he said to one walk-in, “It’ll be ready in 45 minutes.”

Deep Dish Delights

I’m sure their thin crust pizzas are great, but we were there for the personal pan pizzas that made Pequod’s reputation. 

Our pizzas arrived hot and fresh, cut in fours, in a timely manner. One friend ordered sausage and an array of fresh veggies on a 10-inch pizza. The sauce was thick and rich, the sausage plentiful. He shared this about his experiences with Pequod’s, since he was the one who suggested it: “Pequod’s pizza is unique with a delicious caramelized sauce and a great choice of toppings. It’s been my favorite for many years.” 

His beautiful wife kept it simple with a sausage and cheese 10-inch pan pizza. She was similarly impressed, “Pequod’s pizza is a must-try, with incredibly fresh, hot pizza that was cooked perfectly,” she began. 

“The caramelized crust was just right, and the toppings were abundant” she continued. “The atmosphere was great, making it a fantastic spot to get together with family and friends. Highly recommend!”

For me, my 10-inch spinach and mushroom was a dream combination. The chunky tomato sauce balanced the sweet and tangy, the spinach cooked neither too mushy or left raw, and the mushrooms mixed with the crunchy carmelized crust for a great bite. While the carmelized crust was unusual at first, I soon enjoyed it. 

While the toppings and tomato-based, chunky-thick pizza sauce earned universal praise and extra love at our table, the crust proved difficult for one friend, who ordered a tasty sausage and black olive 10-inch pan pizza. He observed that the crust was “very hard to cut through, especially when it cooled.” But he very much enjoyed the sausage and black olive combination. 

While we concentrated on the pizzas, there’s plenty of other options at Pequod’s Pizza. Appetizers include their Cheese Corners, Jalapeño Poppers, served with ranch dressing, and for a completely balanced meal, their Caesar Salad with romaine and spring mix lettuce, croutons, cherry tomato, and shaved parmesan, or the Pequod’s Salad, a mix of romaine, spring mix, cheese, pepperoni, pepperoncini, green pepper, carrots, mushrooms, tomato, onion and shaved parmesan. 

It’s very likely you’ll have leftovers, as we did, but if you have room, or want a sweet midnight snack, try their desserts. A Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cookie, or Sugar Cookie would do the trick. Or, try a Bananas Foster or Key Lime Cheesecake.

Pequod’s Pizza is located at 2207 N. Clybourn Avenue. They are open Monday – Saturday, 11am – 2am, and  Sunday, 11am – 12am. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

For many homeowners, their home is more than just a place to live—it’s one of the biggest financial assets they’ll ever own. But what exactly is equity, and how can you make it work to your advantage? Let’s break it down in simple terms and explore the smart ways you can turn your home’s value into opportunity.

What Is Home Equity?

Home equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage.

Here’s a simple example:

If your home is valued at $900,000 and you owe $500,000, you have $400,000 in equity.

Every time you make a mortgage payment, you’re chipping away at your loan balance—and as home values rise, your equity often grows faster than you realize.

Why Equity Matters

Think of equity as your home’s hidden savings account. The more you build, the more financial flexibility you have. Over time, this growing value can open doors to new opportunities, whether it’s upgrading to your dream home, funding renovations, or even starting an investment portfolio.

Building equity gives you both stability and options—it’s what turns homeownership from simply living somewhere into a long-term wealth-building strategy.

Smart Ways to Use Your Home Equity

Here are a few ways homeowners put their equity to work:

1. Buy Your Next Home
   If you’ve outgrown your space or are ready for a lifestyle change, the equity from your current home can become the down payment on your next one. It’s how many homeowners “trade up” without dipping into savings.
2. Invest in Home Improvements
   Strategic upgrades—like a modern kitchen, new roof, or energy-efficient windows—not only make your home more enjoyable but can also increase its value, boosting your equity even more over time.
3. Consolidate High-Interest Debt
   Some homeowners use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay off higher-interest debts, freeing up cash flow and simplifying monthly expenses.
4. Build Wealth Through Real Estate
   If you’ve built significant equity, you might consider using it to purchase an investment property, creating a new income stream and expanding your portfolio.

Building Equity Faster

Even small steps can make a big difference over time:

• Make extra mortgage payments when possible.
• Refinance to a shorter loan term if rates are favorable.
• Keep up with maintenance to protect your home’s value.
• Stay aware of market trends to understand how your neighborhood is appreciating.

Your Home, Your Wealth

Owning a home isn’t just about having a roof over your head—it’s about building a foundation for your financial future. Whether you’re planning your next move or simply looking to make the most of what you have, understanding and leveraging your home equity is one of the smartest ways to make your home truly work for you.

On the Magnificent Mile, there’s no more storied place for weary travelers than the elegant, 125-year old Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Place, a property of Hilton Hotels since the 1980’s. 

Though the Drake Hotel is notorious for being one of the most haunted hotels in the United States, its elegance, spectacular views of Lake Michigan, convenience, and historic landmark status continues to lure guests and dignitaries from around the world. As the Deep Cleaning Chicago blog site says, many guests come precisely because of its ghost stories, hoping to have a paranormal encounter.

Princess Diana stayed here and had afternoon tea at Palm Court. It’s said that baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and iconic screen star Marilyn Monroe carved their initials in the bar of the hotel’s Cape Cod Room (now closed) on their honeymoon. 

With Halloween coming up next week, and Chicago being such a historic city, it probably comes as no surprise that the Drake Hotel is inhabited by ghosts, not unlike The Congress Hotel, its neighbor to the south. 

Ghosts in the Darkness 

As CBS Chicago wrote, you will not find the ghosts of Princess Diana, Bing Crosby,  Frank Sinatra, or even Walt Disney. But you just might run into the ghost of one of those 2,000 people who attended the Drake’s opening gala in 1920.

The Lady in Red

As Windy City Ghosts recalls, The Drake Hotel came about during an odd point in American history. Society was eager to forget the atrocities and turmoil of World War I. Everyone just wanted to have fun in the ‘Roaring 20’s!’ Brothers John and Tracy Drake financed the hotel in 1919, and the grand opening took place in their Grand Ballroom on New Year’s Eve, 1919. 

The story goes, according to Windy City Ghosts, that an unnamed woman in a red dress was at the grand opening, enjoying the extravagance with her new fiancé. At some point in the night, the couple lost one another.

The clock was nearing midnight, and she was determined to be with her love to celebrate the new decade. She searched for her groom-to-be but could not find him anywhere.

She managed to find her way back to her room on the 10^th floor, only to find it unlocked. Opening the door, she was shattered to see her fiancé in bed with another woman. With all hope lost and her heart in pieces, she flung herself out of the window to her death.

Since then, guests and staff alike have reportedly seen glimpses of a lady in a red dress all over the hotel, from the 10^th-floor hallway to the Palm Court.

The Woman in Black

As Chicago Magazine retells it, one of Chicago’s weirdest unsolved mysteries occurred on January 19, 1944. “WOMAN SHOT AT THE DRAKE,” screamed the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune the next morning. As documented by the archives of Chicago Tribune, and reported by CBS News Chicago, Adele Born Williams – the wife of U.S. State Department attaché Frank Starr Williams – was a guest at the hotel along with his adult daughter, Patricia Goodbody. In January 1944, Williams and Goodbody were coming back to the suite where Williams lived in the hotel – only to find the door unlocked and slightly ajar when they had left it shut. 

All of a sudden, a woman wearing a black dress, a black fur coat, and a white wig stepped out of the bathroom and took out a tiny pistol. She fired two shots at Goodbody and missed, but then fired two shots at Williams and killed her.

Multiple witnesses saw the “woman in black” flee the scene on the eighth floor, but police never solved the case. To make things even weirder, the gun used in the crime was found several days later, at the bottom of a stairwell that police had searched thoroughly, and a spare key to Adele’s room that had gone missing turned back up at the front desk.

She’s said to haunt the eighth floor. 

Bobby Frank’s Ghost 

Perhaps the most poignant ghosts,  according to Chicago Magazine and Choose Chicago, are those of the parents of Bobby Franks. Franks was kidnapped and murdered by his cousin Richard Loeb and his accomplice Nathan Leopold in 1924. The two said they did it “for the thrill of it.” 

It was the “Murder of the Century,” at the time, and reports at the time noted that the Franks family left their home to avoid gawkers, moving to The Drake, where they spent the rest of their days. The father, Jacob M. Franks—retired president of the Rockford Watch Company and a millionaire—died of a heart attack in his suite in 1928, just four years after his son was beaten to death. The mother, Flora, also died in the hotel nine years later. Both are interred in the Franks family mausoleum, along with their son Bobby, at Rosehill Cemetery in Lincoln Square.

However, they remain at The Drake in the afterlife, and have been witnessed wandering the hotel, mourning their murdered son.

The Drake Hotel is among the many “Haunted Chicago “ Tours. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

We are all trying to eat healthier. What you may not realize is that even if you are incorporating a lot more vegetables and fruits into your diet, the way you’re preparing them may be lessening the nutrients! Here are some ways to get the most nutritional value from your diet. 

Peel your produce a lot less. The outer peel of fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, apples and pears are rich in fiber. They also have antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect against cell damage and reduce inflammation. Worried about pesticides? Wash thoroughly with a vegetable brush and keep that skin on. Fruits can be blended in smoothies and vegetables can be roasted to make those peels delicious. 

Don’t over boil. Over-cooking vegetables by boiling loses water soluble vitamins like C and some B. Boil only until the vegetables are brightly colored and just fork tender with a little firmness in the center. Steaming, sauteing, and roasting are even better methods. Another good idea is to save the water from boiling and use it in soups, stews, and sauces to recapture some nutrients.

Save the fat. Fat has earned a poor reputation for the last few decades. But do you realize fat is a macronutrient? It also supports the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are fat soluble, and they need fat present to be absorbed. Fat also triggers your system to release bile and carriers to bring these nutrients to your bloodstream. Add healthy sources of fat to your cooking. Roast vegetables with avocado or olive oil and use these healthy oils in salad dressings. Throw some chia or flax seeds in your smoothie. Add a bit of avocado or nut butter to your sandwiches and wraps. 

Try not to cut your produce too far in advance. As soon as produce is cut, oxidizing starts that breaks down nutrients. It’s tempting to cut ahead to save time and have healthy choices in the fridge, but wait if you can. That’s why I detest bagged cut salad greens! It takes only a little time to cut your salad fresh. 

Pair iron-rich vegetables with vitamin C. Iron rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, and legumes are not absorbed easily. Vitamin C aids with this absorption. Add citrus juice to your salad dressings and some chopped bell peppers to give a vitamin C punch. Add nuts to vegetables high in vitamin C like Brussels sprouts and broccoli. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago