All dressed up with nowhere to go? Consider these last-minute suggestions for a happening Halloween weekend.
1. Ahoy, matey!
Picking up on what will surely be one of this year’s most popular costumes, the Pirates of the Chicago River bash rages in five warehouses and on a heated courtyard along the river just south of the Home Depot on North Avenue. Not only are costumes required at this 18th annual party, they’re taken very seriously. So don’t even think about being a yawn-inducing naughty schoolgirl or a played-out vampire. The biggest eye-catcher at the party–and there are sure to be many–is a staged collision scene between a burning police car and taxi. There’ll be live bands, a costume contest, a hosted bar with well liquor and domestic beer, and food to munch on all evening. If you want to feel like a high roller, shell out $100 for admission to the “RIP Room” (clever) and get top-shelf liquor, imported beer and premium eats on top of everything else. 8 p.m. Saturday. $35-$100. Tickets: www.atomicimaging.com. 1501 N. Magnolia Ave. 312-649-1800.
2. From Gaelic to ghoulish
Irish-owned and –operated J. Patrick’s is decked out for Halloween, complete with a glowing spider and other creepy effects. Stop by Friday night for some serious debauchery: For $20 you’ll get free domestic drafts and free well drinks. Soak up all that alcohol with the complimentary buffet–the spread includes burger bites, quesadillas, wings and other appetizers. Wear your Halloween best and enter the costume contest, and you could walk away with a cash prize. Festivities kick off at 8 p.m. and continue until 2 a.m. 1367 W. Erie St. 312-243-0990.
3. Old-school scares
Tired of the overdone, gory mutilations and buckets of fake blood? Take in the classic “Nosferatu” at the Music Box. Long before digital special effects, the 1922 silent film version of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” (starring the spooky Max Schreck) scared the pants off of audiences worldwide, inspiring dozens of other “Dracula” films. $6.75. 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 3733 N. Southport Ave. 773-871-6604.
4. There’s something about Harry
Ever make contact with the afterlife? The Houdini Seance may be your chance. In life, escape artist Harry Houdini challenged the claims of mediums who purportedly communicated with the dead. Before he died on Halloween in 1926, he promised his wife that if it were possible to communicate from beyond the grave, he’d send her a message. For years after his death, she held a seance every Halloween, but never heard a peep. Around the world, magicians have continued that tradition. Excalibur will host two seances performed by self-described “necromancer” Neil Tobin in the club’s intimate upstairs penthouse. If Houdini doesn’t drop in, Tobin will try to contact any of the many ghosts said to haunt the River North nightclub. Each seance will be limited to 50 people, so call early to reserve your space. Includes a free appetizer buffet. 7 and 8:30 p.m. $13. 632 N. Dearborn St. 312-266-1944.
5. Masked musicians
“Most people who join rock bands do so because they want to live out the fantasy of emulating their musical heroes,” says Fig Dish guitarist-songwriter Rick Ness. He and his bandmates will get their wish at the annual Halloween Bash at Double Door, where for the past seven years local bands have dressed up and performed as their favorite music icons. This year, Fig Dish is going as The Cure. This year’s lineup also features Local H as Bruce Springsteen, High Planes Drifter as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Giant Step as David Bowie, Woolworthy as the Scorpions, The Last Vegas as The Ramones and Blackbox as Eminem. 8 p.m. Friday. $10. 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-489-3160.
