Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Head to this Rogers Park Mediterranean restaurant and prepare for a night of indulgence. There will be free appetizers and candy, as well as drink specials all night. You don't even have to have the best costume to win a prize (though there will be a contest).

Get a practice run in your costume at this Thursday-night party at Angels & Kings. It's a free event, so you don't have to worry about paying cover to get into a dead club. Practice your dance moves to a live Mic Terror performance and DJ sets by Willy Joy and Hiroki and you'll be nice and warmed up for the upcoming weekend debauchery.

If you haven't cooked up a costume yet, you can find one on the fly here. Or get last minute accessories like wigs, shoes and baubles of all sorts. You'll also find props like book cases, benches, chairs, decanters and dishware. Pay a buck at the door and go wild.

The only talk-show host who's more appropriate to judge a Halloween contest than Jerry Springer apprentice Steve Wilkos (he was the director of security for Jerry) is Chicago's own Jenny Jones. If she did, the event would be full of club kids, candy ravers and freaks dancing to horrible, high-energy techno in 20-inch platform heels. But tonight, DJ 33 1/3 and guests play hip-hop and everyday Joe Six Packs can come in their best costumes and have a fair chance at winning a prize and/or being yelled at by Wilkos. He's no Jenny Jones, but I guess it will do.

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

All month long, Brasserie JO will feature a wide-ranging display of pumpkins. Patrons can take a shot at winning dinner for four by guessing the collective weights. See if you can figure out the giant one from Michigan. Dine at Brasserie JO on Halloween, when a winner will be announced and kids (under 12) wearing costumes score free French confections.

Tony Macey presents Crescendo's 12th annual Halloween celebration with DJ Jernell Geronimo. Crescendo will be serving complimentary Belvedere vodka and Pamatinis, as well as a small selection of passed hors d'oeuvres from 10-11:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.

Devilish darlings and those with an evil streak should head to Crimson on Halloween. The swanky downtown lounge will feature beats by DJ Homicide and Tomeo. Costumes are encouraged, as a contest will take place later in he evening. Crimson also promises a special guest appearance by the devil himself.

Be sure to bling it to the extreme, as the hottest pimp and ho will leave with a $1,000 cash prize. B96 Mixmaster Dan Morrell, PJ da DJ and Brad Altman will throw down the beats.

What would you expect from the Life During Wartime DJs besides a scary election-themed party? Makes perfect sense, except for the fact that special guest headliners Shout Out Out Out Out are from Canada. Regardless, you can expect the recession-rejecting dance-party to have great music from residents Mother Hubbard, Bald Eagle and special guest Rocktapussy (Hubbard's DJ group with A-Cup from Office) performing as The Fabulous Stains. They also promise candy for all, glowsticks for the chosen few, a costume contest and a Patrick Swayze dance-off.

Kyle McHugh's brand new beer, wine and spirits boutique is offering guests free tarot and palm readings by Ms. Caroline and Crystal. Ms. Devon will give candle readings.

This frightening art collective takes place at Evil Olive nightclub on the eve of Halloween. Artists will include Joyce Vallejo, Ryan P. Young, Kenneth Allan Carrano, among others. A panel of artists will sketch with spooky subject matter, while art enthusiasts will be encouraged to decorate paper pumpkins. Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite artist or art object.

Swing by Excalibur on a Friday or Saturday night and you can catch Neil Tobin's one-man show, Supernatural Chicago. Tobin will feature a frightening blend of creepy stories, psychic magic and interactive activities. Tobin will take a night off on Halloween to make way for a traditional Houdini Seance.

Put on your best Freddy Krueger costume and head over to Fado for its '80s horror movie party. You'll enjoy the sounds of Selective Recall (an '80s retro party band) as well as drink specials.

Executive Chef Kevin Hickey will be whipping up a monstrous feast for the Four Seasons Spooktacular Sunday Brunch. The special menu will feature items like loch ness monster beef stew, jack-o-lantern soup, Transylvanian fungus salad and Tasmanian devil fish. Kids (12 and under) who come in their Halloween costumes will dine free, and can also get creative with the arts and crafts station inside the Harry Potter castle. The restaurant will also be featuring a fall prix-fixe dinner Tuesday through Saturday, all month long. The three-course menu is $42 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Additionally, Four Seasons will be shaking up a selection of autumnal cocktails. Try the Vampire's Bite with black cherry vodka, gin and homemade sour mix, garnished with black licorice or heat things up with the Fireside martini, a mix of vodka, Bailey's and white Creme de Cacao. Other signature drinks include an apple pie a la mode, the democrat and the republican, and C'est la Veev, $13 each.

What better place to celebrate Halloween than this aptly named lounge? Ghostbar's costume party will highlight a bevy of specialty cocktails like the ghostini, a blend of vodka, melon liqueur and a splash of sour mix; and the spider cider, a mix of Busnel Calvados, peach vodka, Cointreau, agave nectar and pomegranate juice. A DJ will provide live entertainment. Reservations are recommended.

Kids can join in on the fun by marching in costume at this annual extravaganza. After the parade finishes, there's trick-or-treating, a performance by Midnight Circus and a costume contest.

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

About 30 minutes west of downtown Chicago is Hotel Massacre, where you can check in but will most likely choose not to stay the night. Make your way through more than 16 haunted rooms and stop in on Halloween night for a haunted dance party. Their waiting areas are outdoors, so come prepared in case of bad weather. Visit their website for more info.

Speakeasies are no longer a thing of the past, at least not at this Andersonville lounge. In Fine Spirits is celebrating Halloween 2008 with a classic 1920s-themed party and costume contest. Prohibition-era drinks and food specials will be available and a DJ will provide entertainment throughout the evening.

Latex, fetishes, fake blood and so much more. If you've ever wanted to meet a dominatrix but were too afraid to peruse Craigslist, or if you've already spent hundreds of dollars on a creepy, super-scary costume, don't miss this Halloween event. This is truly the place to be for the "freaks" and goths of Chicago (a strict dress code is being enforced). There's a fetish fashion show, burlesque performances and a Day of the Dead costume contest. DJs Peter Propaganda and End the DJ spin all night and the party goes until 4, if you can make it that long.

Chicago Park District hosts Pumpkins in the Park, a 5k run for all ages. A kids race starts at 3 p.m. and the regular race will be at 4 p.m. Runners and walkers are encouraged to dress in costume, and make it good 'cause you'll have a chance to win a post-race costume contest. Other activities include pumpkin painting, food, refreshments, live music and dancing. For more information, call Fleet Feet Sports at (312) 944-4113.

The Chicago Park District hosts this family-friendly event at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center. Rummage through a field of pumpkins of all sizes. Pony rides, petting zoos and hay rides are also on site. And of course, take a walk through their haunted house filled with creepy clowns and fun house mirrors.

Surprise DJs and special guests provide the sounds for what is sure to be a Halloween event filled with ladies in sexy, chic costumes. If you're not the type to go for the sexy-nurse look, there will also be cash rewards for the scariest and most creative costumes. RSVP to info@lumen-chicago.com and get there early to take advantage of the hosted bar from 9:30-10:30.

On Halloween, Merkle's will be throwing a celebratory bash and costume contest. The entry price gets you unlimited domestics, well drinks and house wine—and you can win all your money back (plus $175 more) if you've got the best costume.

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

Come dressed in your best to this North Center restaurant. The top costume-wearer will win a bottle of Absinthe and a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant. Drink specials abound.

This mobile costume contest is not to be missed...some of the craziest getups you'll ever see will be on display, and anyone is welcome to register and join in for free. There will be over $5,000 in costume contest cash and prizes, including airline tickets for two. There will also be post-parade musical entertainment.

This North Center neighborhood pub will be hosting a Monster Mash Bash Halloween party on Oct. 31. Costumes aren't required, but they're certainly encouraged, as there will be prizes for the most unusual getup. Admission is $40 per person and includes unlimited beer, wine and call cocktails. An appetizer buffet brimming with Chef Victor DeLeon's spooky selections will also be available.

O'Donovan's will be offering an all-you-can-eat Halloween Hangover brunch buffet for all those ghouls who were out too late trick-or-treating all weekend. Bring your Mash Bash ticket stub and score a free brunch cocktail.

Take the tykes on a nature walk with the fright-free trails at Peterson Park. The North Park Village nature Center will let families keep it low key with a downplayed version of Chicago Park District's popular Trails of Terror. Rather than garish ghouls and meddling monsters, colorful life-size cartoon characters will greet children.

During the last two weekends of October, the Chicago Park District will host terrifying trails. Wind your way through nearly one-half mile of spine-tingling terror, crawling with creepy characters.

Room 21 celebrates its one-year anniversary with flapper girls, live music, swing dance lessons and a vintage car display. Music will be provided by Miss Rhythm and the Makers, while dancers from Gallaxie take over the dance floor from 7-10 p.m. Guests will have a chance to learn from the pros with a 45-minute basic swing lesson to kick off the evening. In addition to select beer, wine and signature cocktails, appetizers from Room 21's regular menu will be passed for all to enjoy. Highlights include buttermilk fried chicken wings, crispy duck rolls, sun-dried tomato, spinach feta wontons and bite-size desserts. Cuisine and cocktails not included in the party package will be available for an additional fee. Flapper girl and bootlegger costumes are encouraged.

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

There's trick-or-treating during the day, but at night, Six Flags Great America turns into a land of ghosts and ghouls, with haunted houses, freaky feasts and more.

Here's another one for the babes. Skinner Park will host a two hour-long Halloween party for kids of all ages. The bash will feature games, arts and grafts and refreshments.

To quote directly from Blaqstarr's biggest hit: "I can feel it in the air, I can feel it in my feet" that this is going to be a hot Halloween event. Diplo breezed in and out of town a week ahead of his hand-picked Mad Decent rising stars, but if you're a fan of his sound, Blaqstarr and the South Rakkas Crew won't disappoint. Rakkas does its own form of Canadian ragga, reggae and dance, while Blaqstarr has been promoting the Bmore sound for years (he even helped Lil' Rye Rye get fame). Come dressed in a cool Halloween costume (that you can dance in, of course) and admission is just $10.

Looking for a haunt with a good cause? The Saint Pascal Haunted House has been scaring locals for 21 years and as a non-profit organization, all proceeds go directly to their school. Come along with a group of friends and family for a discounted group rate.

> Wind your way through 30 maximum-security cells on a tour of this haunted prison where you will encounter 200 of its most terrifying inmates that include Hannibal the Cannibal and its demonic warden. Children under 10 years of age are not allowed in while those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Check out the website for more.

The production, at the Chicago Cultural Center's Storefront Theater, combines puppetry, masks, live actors, shadowplay and projections. This darkly comic tale, inspired by F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film "Nosferatu," is intended for adult audiences.

Dave Roberts brings his Planet Earth New Wave dance-party back to Subterranean and since it's Halloween, the flyer lists suggested costume ideas like New Romantic, Blitzkid and masquerade. Finally, a place to wear that Prince "Purple Rain" suit with ruffled shirt you've had in the back of your closet.

DJ Mweiwa will host a spooky Halloween bash at this neighborhood wine bar. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and guests can save money with drink specials all night long.

Swissotel Chicago will be hosting a kid-sclusive event this Halloween. The costume-clad cuties will meet in the lobby, where Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum and Alder Planetarium will provide hands-on activities. Pumpkin carvings, arts and crafts, mask decorating, and costume contests are high on the list.

Usually, everything costs just five bucks at this Lakeview bar and restaurant. But tonight, you'll pay a little more for a good cause: the Concordia Avondale Campus, a community center serving low-income families. For the price of admission, you'll get unlimited cocktails, domestic beer and wine as well as a buffet. And of course, there will be a costume contest with a $200 cash prize for the winner.

The Burlington is hosting a Warriors party as in the "Warriors" movie, which is now a definitive part of hip-hop/youth culture and fashion for the 25-35 set. Come dressed as your favorite character from the movie or create your own warrior-inspired costume (which, depending on the night, isn't a stretch for most Burlington regulars). There'll be surprise DJs, lots of candy and a fog machine. In other words, it's going to be nuts. Can you dig it?

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

Six local bars including The Original Mother's, Mother's Too, Bootleggers, The Lodge, She-Nannigans and The Hangge-Uppe will host this annual Halloween bash. Each location will feature a costume contest with a $500 cash prize for the top winner. Bud Light bottles will be available for $3.50 and Malibu rum cocktails will be marked at $5.

Gone are the days of trick-or-treating with mom and dad. It's time for the teens to branch out, mom and dad can rest assured that this is a safe bet for the young adults. The dance is open to 11 and 12 year olds.

Chicago's infamous Haunted Sanitarium is back with even more spooky features. Take for one, the Egyptian tomb - or, better yet, the demented clown's test lab. Stop in on opening night, Friday, October 10 and get in for half the regular price. Recommended for ages 13 and up. The Theater on the Lake will also provide a waiting area with concessions and spooky movies.

Bring a blanket and cozy up to a hot crackling fire. Guests will listen to spooky nature tales while indulging in fresh apple cider and face painting. Storytelling is open to all ages and no registration is required.