Halloween rules at children’s film festival

There’s nothing tricky about it: The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival has plenty of treats in store this year for filmgoers. Running Oct. 26 to Nov. 4 at seven venues scattered across the city, it’s only natural for the 29th edition of the family-friendly fest …

The Mix — Cool Things to Do ... 10.26.12

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

Actor Rick Springfield (“General Hospital”), Grammy-winner (“Jessie’s Girl”) ’80s heartthrob and author (“Late Late at Night — A Memoir”), performs at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Joe’s Bar, 940 Weed. Tickets are $39. Visit joesbar.com .

DOWNTOWN BROWNE

Rock and Roll Hall of …

Clug Hopping 10.26.212

JACKSON BROWNE

The acclaimed ’70s soft-rock singer-songwriter boasts a career that started high (“Doctor My Eyes,” “These Days”), sank low (“Lawyers in Love”) and boomeranged back to elder statesman status in recent years. Earlier this year he even played a Woody Guthrie tribute show backed …

Speaking With... Arrival From Sweden 10.26.12

ABBA’s “Arrival” may have been an instrumental offering, but for one tribute band, the song spoke volumes. So much so, that Arrival From Sweden — perhaps the ultimate ABBA tribute band in the world — took its moniker from the aforementioned cut (and title of …

Gavin DeGraw dancing to happy tune

Contemporary pop singer-pianist Gavin DeGraw has been a commercial success for less than a decade, yet that was good enough to land him a spot on “Dancing With the Stars.” DeGraw was axed from the popular ABC series after only five weeks, but the 35-year-old …

Hard lives of itinerant actors, junkies on display in ‘Trainspotting’ and ‘Pigeon House’

Heroin addicts in the contemporary Midwest, and traveling players in Ireland and England over many decades. Let it never be said that Chicago theater doesn’t run the gamut of human experience, or have something for everyone. Here’s a look at two recently opened productions that …

At 21, Rita Ora’s star rising rapidly

Life moves fast for Rita Ora, and since the August release of her self-titled debut album in August, it’s showed no sign of slowing down. Ora signed with Roc Nation, one of the country’s premier labels, at just 18, joining Rihanna, J. Cole and MIA. …

Indigo Girls back on the road with full-out band

Although the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls has performed together in some capacity for more than 30 years, the fact that they lead separate lives has cemented their relationship on and off stage. “We lead very distinct, independent lives,” said Emily Saliers, who along with Amy …

Sara Evans slated for two shows in Naperville

Take off the high heels and makeup and country music star Sara Evans can quite easily transform into just another ponytailed mom trying to keep everything from crashing down around her. Heading a blended family of seven children with football-star-turned-sportscaster-turned-hubby Jay Barker, Evans’ real life …

Phillips and Phillips find common ground

Singer, songwriter, and now tour mates Glen Phillips and Grant-Lee Phillips are not related when it comes to their family tree. Yet, when it comes to their musical paths through the shadows of today’s ever complex music industry, they have much in common. While both …

LEO uses gravity, video to tell its story

Audiences can expect to have their worlds turned upside-down — and sideways — when the Elgin Community College Arts Center welcomes the innovative and critically acclaimed one-man show, LEO, this weekend. A combination of video effects and old-fashioned physical performance, LEO is the story of …

With bellyQ, Bill Kim’s restaurants hit the spot third time around

My honesty came down hard the last two times Bill Kim opened restaurants (Urban Belly and Belly Shack). I thought the flavors were muted and the food was expensive at the former, and I thought the questionable decor at the latter was a bad parody …

New season for Norton show

British wit Graham Norton never set out to be a talk-show host. “It’s more fun to be a guest,” says Norton, host of his own long-running, self-titled chat fest. “All a host does is come out and have a few minutes of jokes. The guests …

The Big Deals 10.26.12

From upscale to low-cal, the Sun-Times’ “Big Deals” column brings readers the dish on food and drink specials that will not break the bank.

Reel smart

Zest Bistro and Lemon Tree Grocer, 935 W. Burlington, Downers Grove. Present a same-day movie ticket stub from a …

The Guide — Theater Listings 10.26.12

OPENING

CHICAGO CASTING AUCTION. Anyone can be a star — for a price. Bailiwick Chicago Theater will auction off more than 60 roles for a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” to be performed Jan. 30-Feb. 2 after five weeks of rehearsal. Oct. …