Halloween is still a week away, but here in Chicago we have so many pre-Halloween events in abundance that we need to begin this weekend!  Come join us for a spooky good time!!

Returning for its 11^th year, the Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade takes place in the heart of the Chicago Loop on State Street from Randolph to Van Buren Streets this Saturday (6 p.m.-8 p.m.).  This magical evening parade celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” by featuring world-renowned institutions, celebrated Chicago cultural organizations, youth programs, and aspiring artists in every field.  It’s a dazzling production that delights the crowds with unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances.  In fact, it’s called ‘one of the best Halloween celebrations in the world’ by UK-based Wanderlust Magazine.  Check it out for yourself!

Here in Chicago, Halloween wouldn’t be complete without our 4-legged family members getting in on the festivities!  So, this year’s Halloween Pup Crawl 2025 takes place this Saturday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) on Halsted Street from Aldine to Cornelia Avenues in the Northalsted neighborhood.  A $5 advance registration includes a Pup Crawl tote bag; a raffle entry; additional pup swag and treats from local businesses; a photo op with Miss Foozie at her photo booth for all registered pets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and an after-party brunch hosted by Miss Foozie at the Lark Patio (3441 N. Halsted St.) which includes treats, gift bags, and raffle prizes.  Costumes are highly encouraged to truly make this a special Halloween event for all!

This next event is not for the faint of heart, as the 12^th annual Rosehill Cemetery Crypt 5K Run & Walk takes place this Saturday (7 p.m.) at the Rosehill Cemetery (5800 N. Ravenswood Ave.) in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.  This sprawling 350-acre Victorian-era cemetery established in 1864, takes runners and walkers for a thrilling nighttime adventure on a course illuminated by candlelight adding to the creepiness as the runners/walkers pass stunning monuments, intricate headstones, and the final resting place of some of Chicago’s most notable figures.  Afterwards, keep your spirits high at the post-race celebration, conveniently located right across from the start/finish area, at the Fireside Restaurant where the party continues with a complimentary sponsored beverage, delicious food, announcement of the overall winners, and spook-tastic tunes spun by a DJ.  Afterall, it’s fall’s most ‘Spirited’ event!

The kids, and I’m sure many adults, would love to celebrate Sloomooween this Saturday and Sunday at the Sloomoo Institute (820 N. Orleans St.) on the Near North Side.  This annual Halloween event transforms the institute into a spooky, family-friendly haunted house with themed activities such as designing your own custom slime at their DIY Bar; trick-or-treating with special trick-or-treating swag bags and candy stations; costume contests where participants can win prizes; meeting Sloomoo; getting slimed at Spooky Falls, and much more.  It’s the world’s #1 Halloween slime experience especially if you like getting slimed!

Sunday (12 p.m.-6 p.m.) brings the Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party to Roscoe Street between Damen and Hoyne Avenues.  It’s an all-ages event transforming the block into a Halloween haven with trick-or-treating, kids’ crafts and activities, a costume parade, plenty of seasonal surprises, live music, food vendors, and more.  Get ready to have a spooktacular day!

After Monday night’s nail-biting finish, what could be more scarier?  Well, the Chicago Bears are hosting the New Orleans Saints this Sunday (12 p.m.) at Soldier Field (1410 Special Olympics Dr.) in the South Loop.  Come cheer on the Bears, if you dare!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“Let’s get one thing straight—Chicken Vesuvio is as Chicago as deep-dish pizza, the Cubs, or the Sears Tower.”

Barstool Sports, 2024

My inspiration for this week’s Restaurant Review comes from finding out that one of my favorite dishes, Chicken Vesuvio, has is roots  in Chicago. My search led me to West Town’s  La Scarola, a cozy, rustic, intimate dinner spot with framed photos covering the walls, serving classic Italian comfort food. They’re celebrating 25 years here in 2025. 

Chicken Vesuvio history 

Chicken Vesuvio’s Chicago roots are widely disputed. According to Xtreme Foodies, the Capitanini family, owners of Italian Village (aka, ‘The Village’) founded in 1927, say it was on their menu very early on. “The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink”,  says an Italian cook inspired by the Mt. Vesuvius volcano, created the dish in Chicago after WWII. Another story has Nick Giannotti claiming his father, Vic, invented it in the 1960s. While its origin remains in dispute, some suggest the dish was popularized by the now-shuttered Vesuvio Restaurant in the 1930s.

What is clear is that the dish was called Chicken Vesuvio because the skillet smoked like an Italian volcano as it cooked. This delicious dish has crispy pan-fried chicken and potatoes, which are roasted in a white wine sauce,  garlic, peas and white wine. 

Why is it special at La Scarola?

La Scarola’s Chicken Vesuvio has been tagged as one of the best in the city, and I can see why, as it’s served traditionally, with vesuvio potatoes, wine and peas in garlic sauce. It bubbles. It steams. It’s fragrant with garlic sauce. Your taste buds will be fully involved in a mouth explosion of flavorful, crispy chicken, tender peas, and roasted Yukon Gold potatoes (my favorite because of their buttery flavor.) It’s available with a breast of chicken or ½ chicken. Either way, portions are huge, so be prepared to take some home!

Celebrity Dishes at La Scarola

A few Chicago celebrities have made their way to La Scarola…so much so that Chefs Alberto and Jorge  Padilla have created dishes in their honor.

Take, for example, Bistecca alla Zorich, created for and named after former Chicago Bear turned lawyer Chris Zorich.  A 10-ounce peppercorn filet mignon is pan-seared with herbs and garlic, and set over a bed of sliced potatoes, with garlic, shallots and arugula, then topped with sautéed mushrooms. Another celebrity dish is Pollo a la Man Cow, presumably named for former radio and television host Mancow Muller. This dish features a chicken breast sautéed with shallots, artichokes, black olives, asparagus, fresh garlic, hot giardiniera in tomato sauce, and baked with gorgonzola cheese.

Rigatoni Chiaverini, likely named after ABC7 sportscaster Ryan Chiaverini mall meatballs in creamy vodka sauce.Sharing honors is WGN sports anchor Pat Tomasulo, whose Gnocchi Tomasulohas roasted sausage, rapini or spinach, and sun-dried tomatos in roasted butter garlic sauce, tossed with gnocchi and light romano.

Other Italian delights 

Pesce Lemon has Lake Superior white fish, baked with potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini in lemon butter sauce, while several reviewers had good things to say about their Penne alla Vodka, with a tasty combo of shrimp, mushrooms, asparagus, and arugula in creamy vodka sauce, tossed with penne pasta.Pollo Italiano pairs a chicken breast with garlic, eggplant, tomatoes, roasted sausage and escarole in lite wine sauce, topped with melted fresh mozzarella.

For those who want to combine the joy of Pasta and chicken, you can’t go wrong with Pasta Vesuvio,  a mix of chicken strips, mushrooms, garlic and wine cooked in broth and set over linguini.

La Scarola is located at 721 W. Grand Avenue.  They are open Tuesday-Friday, 5pm–11pm, Saturday from 4pm–11pm, and Sunday from 4pm–10pm. They are closed Monday. PLEASE NOTE: They accept dinner reservations by Phone Only. Call (312)-243-1740.

The holiday season is around the corner — and whether you’re welcoming guests, decking the halls, or simply want your home to shine a little brighter, now is the perfect time to give your exterior a quick refresh. The best part? You don’t need a big budget or a full renovation. These five simple weekend projects can make your home look warm, inviting, and ready to impress (neighbors and buyers alike).

1. Refresh Your Front Door

Your front door sets the tone for your entire home — it’s the first thing guests see and often the last impression they remember.

• Give it a fresh coat of paint in a bold, welcoming hue like deep red, navy, or sage green.
• Swap out old hardware for something modern and polished.
• Add a seasonal wreath or greenery for a festive touch.

A door makeover takes just a few hours but can make your home look brand new.

2. Light the Way

As the days get shorter, good lighting makes a big difference. Replace outdated or dim fixtures with stylish new sconces or lanterns. Solar-powered pathway lights add instant charm (and safety), especially if guests will be arriving after dark.

Bonus: Warm white bulbs give your home a cozy, welcoming glow — perfect for the holiday season.

3. Clean Up the Landscaping

Before winter sets in, take one weekend to tidy up your yard:

• Rake the leaves, trim overgrown shrubs, and edge the lawn.
• Plant cool-weather flowers like pansies or ornamental kale for color.
• Add fresh mulch for a crisp, finished look.

Even small landscaping touches go a long way in making your home feel cared for and ready for holiday curbside photos.

4. Update House Numbers and Hardware

Details matter! New house numbers, a modern mailbox, or matching hardware on your door and lights can give your home an instant upgrade. Choose finishes that complement your home’s exterior — matte black, brass, or brushed nickel are timeless picks that work in any season.

5. Add a Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, a few festive touches bring everything together. Think classic, not cluttered:

• A doormat with personality
• A pair of potted evergreens or pumpkins by the door
• Simple string lights or lanterns for warmth and glow

The goal is to make your home feel *inviting*, not overdone — like the perfect mix of cozy and curb appeal.

The Takeaway

You don’t have to wait until spring to give your home’s exterior a little love. These quick, high-impact projects can be done over a few weekends — and will make your home the standout on the block just in time for the holidays.

And if you’re thinking about selling soon, these updates don’t just look great — they also help make a strong first impression with buyers when that “For Sale” sign goes up.

“The center’s plaza…puts a modernist spin on the courthouse’s traditional role as the center of the town square”

Blair Kamin, Former Architecture Critic, Chicago Tribune 

Walk downtown any day of the week on Washington Street between Clark and Dearborn Streets, and you’ll find a bustling  center alive with activity… commuters rushing to their jobs, buskers creating a rhythmic beat,  and in the middle of it all is Daley Center Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street, the courtyard adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, occupying the southern half of the block.

It’s also been the center of democracy for Chicago, a well-known spot since the beginning for public gatherings and public discourse, including a number of significant protests over the years, including ICE occupation, reproductive and immigrant rights.  

Meet Me at “The Picasso!”

Daley Center Plaza’s most distinctive feature is a 50-foot landmark best known as “The Picasso,” the first monumental abstract public artwork in Downtown Chicago. According to Wikipedia sources, architect Richard Bennett wrote Picasso a poem asking him to make the sculpture. Picasso accepted, saying “You know I never accept commissions to do any sort of work, but in this case I am involved in projects for the two great gangster cities” (the other being Marseille, France).

Before the Picasso sculpture, public sculptural artwork in Chicago consisted primarily of historical figures. The sculpture was commissioned in 1963 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), one of the architectural firms that designed the plaza and the Chicago Civic Center (now known as the Richard J. Daley Center), as a companion to the modernist government office building.

Picasso completed the sculpture in 1967, as a gift to the City of Chicago. Though controversial for its abstract form, it quickly became a Chicago landmark. 

Picasso told neuropsychological researcher and writer Stanley Coren that the head of the sculpture is an abstract representation of his Afghan Hound named Kabul, according to Wikipedia sources.

The Picasso was the site of an August 23, 1968, press conference in which Yippies Jerry Rubin, Phil Ochs, and others were arrested after nominating a pig — Pigasus — for president of the United States. This event was held days before the opening of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which became known for its anti-Vietnam war protests.

The Fountain 

Another distinctive feature of Daley Center Plaza is the in-ground fountain and eternal flame memorial to the dead from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Each day, according to several sources, it serves more than 10,000 people taking lunch breaks by the fountain.

During holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, the fountain is dyed in various colors in celebration (green, of course, for St. Patrick’s Day). It was dyed team red in honor of the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup run in 2010.

The Farmer’s Market 

The plaza serves as a location for many civic functions including the city’s longest running Weekly Farmers’ Market, held on Thursdays from May through October, regular ethnic festivals, and Christkindlmarket, a outdoor German market, in the winter. 

Noontime Events

Every weekday from 12pm-1pm, Richard J. Daley Center offers free cultural programming,  including singing, dancing, flag raisings, cultural ceremonies, and much more. 

In The Movies

Daley Center Plaza was used extensively in the climactic scenes of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. The interior of the building, as well as the plaza, the Picasso, and the neighboring James R. Thompson Center are also featured in the 1993 film The Fugitive and in 2006’s The Lake House. The plaza also was used in 2006’s Stranger than Fiction.

Upcoming: Christkindelmarket Returns!

From November 21-December 24, Daley Center Plaza becomes a European Street Market with the return of Christkindlmarket for the 28^th year. Open Sunday through Thursday from 11am – 8pm, and Friday through Saturday, from 11am – 9pm, visitors are treated to a shopping experience complete with the fragrance of roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst and hot spiced wine, the sound of festive music, and the glimmer of sparkling Christmas ornaments, all in a cozy atmosphere – a visit to the market takes all your senses on a journey! 

Visitors can explore vendor products from around the world, participate in special events, and enjoy the unique shopping experience! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Now is the best time to plant new trees and shrubs, but you may feel a little lost on how to go about it. Here are some practical tips based on my experience:

Buying

Be careful choosing trees and shrubs for your landscape. Most garden centers and big box stores will reduce the prices on their inventory by as much as 50%. They want to sell as much as possible now so as not to carry it throughout the winter. Granted, some specimens will look a bit tired—but if they look generally healthy, they should do fine when you get them into the ground!

Make sure you research different types to find what fits your space. You don’t want to plant an oak tree in a small backyard. Some shrubs too will have growth that may be wider than you want for say, a privacy hedge. Just be informed, a good deal on a tree may be hard to pass up but it won’t be worth it in five years, and it’s taken over your space. 

Planting

Directions for planting will come with the tree or shrub, or are easily found online. Make sure your hole is deep enough and wide enough. Loosen the soil at the bottom and sides for easier root spread. If directions indicate, remove any cover on the root ball, including cloth and any wires. Score around the ball to loosen the roots a bit. Fill in the hole, firming and watering as you add more. This will eliminate air pockets. Use regular topsoil, not soil with fertilizer added. It’s never good to fertilize young trees and shrubs! 

The hole should be at least twice as wide as the root ball but only as deep. You want the flare of the trunk, which is where the trunk widens at the bottom above the roots, to be above ground. Add 2-3 inches of mulch leaving a six-inch ring around the trunk. This will prevent fungus and pest damage. Prune sparingly until the tree or shrub is at least a year old.

Maintenance

The new planting will need to be thoroughly watered weekly until the ground freezes. The best way, especially with new plantings, is just to let the open hose trickle a foot away from the trunk. Let it go at least an hour or so. You usually only need to do this for trees and shrubs in their first year, as rain is sufficient after that. 

Unfortunately, around much of the country and certainly around Chicagoland we are in a drought situation this fall. A lot of rain is needed for established trees and shrubs to get through the winter healthy. Since we have yet to get that rain, we deep root water all our trees and shrubs weekly and will continue to do so until the ground freezes. The best way to do this is a root waterer. That’s a long pole with holes on the bottom that connects to the garden hose and directs water deep into the roots. Do this at the drip line. No root waterer? Do the hose trickle, also at the root line.

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago