Ozzie Guillen or Bradgelina? Bar bash or trick-or-treat tour? From costume ideas to party selections, making Halloween plans can be stressful, so we understand if you’ve put it off. But now you’ve waited until it’s practically the witching hour, and your scariest prospect is staying in and watching “Prison Break.” Have no fear; you can still get off your ghoulish behind and head out to these ghastly good times.
Strut in the street
Halloween. Halsted Street. Parade. You do the math. Prepare for boisterous behavior and eye-popping get-ups at the Ninth Annual North Halsted Street Halloween Parade. (Hint: It’s a great place to scope out costume ideas for next year.) After the procession, festivities include a costume contest, or drop into any number of neighborhood nightspots and keep the party going ’til you turn back into a pumpkin. 5:30 p.m. registration; 7 p.m. parade. Free. Halsted Street, from Belmont Avenue to Cornelia Street. 3200 N. Halsted St. 773-868-3010.
Crawl at your own pace
Holidays make you indecisive? Then put on your costume and Crawl with the Creeps, a traveling Halloween pub party that lets you get the boos-ing started at any one of four participating bars. For only $15, score unlimited domestic drafts and a buffet at each bar; trolleys depart every 15 minutes with stops at each spot. Plus, look for two live bands (Maggie Speaks at McGee’s, The Only Sons at Duffy’s) and two DJs. If this doesn’t sound like a good deal to you, well, that’s just scary. 8 to 11 p.m. McGee’s Tavern & Grille, Durkin’s Tavern, Duffy’s Tavern and Grill, and Wrightwood Tap. Check metro
mix.com for addresses and more information. 773-868-8073.
Dress to impress–and win
Even if you’re reluctant to throw insecurity to the wind and don a SpongeBob get-up, when prizes are involved you’ve got no excuse to chicken out. Instead, head to Innjoy’s Rockin’ Mondo Halloween Industry Show, where costume contest winners receive bar gift certificates good for as much as $100. The event features Super Diva DJ Madrid–in other words, DJ Madrid in drag–and a live performance by Roosevelt Jenkins. Specials include 25 cent wings, $2 Miller bottles, $4 Vampire Kiss shots and $5 Voodoo martinis. Drink them if you dare! 10 p.m. No cover. 2051 W. Division St. 773-394-2066.
On your mark, get set, faux!
Think you can spot a fake on his feet? At The Motel Bar’s Drag Race, watch (or join in) as female impersonators compete in a relay run on the bar’s outdoor patio. The only qualification for entry? You must be dressed in drag and wearing shoes with at least 2-inch heels. Heck, if Tina Turner can handle dancing in death-defying spikes, you can manage a meager trot. Includes prizes and an Effen cocktail reception from 10 to 11 p.m. 9 p.m. party; race begins at 010:30 p.m. No cover. 600 W. Chicago Ave. 312-822-2900.
Back-from-the-dead decade
Flock of Seagulls haircuts? Off-the-shoulder “Flashdance” fashions? Yep, the ’80s were scary. But things get even more frightening at Spin’s Crashfest Halloween Party, thanks to a costume contest dedicated to the “me” decade and a short-film fest of indie horror flicks. Shaking in your leg warmers? Jameson shots and Newcastles for $4 should take the edge off the spine-tingling sights on screen. 8:30 p.m. $5-$7. 800 W. Belmont Ave. 773-327-7711.
Verse cursed?
If a holiday centered on partying, dress-up and debauchery doesn’t motivate you to wax poetic, think again. For the Something Wicked This Way Comes poetry slam and costume contest–featuring HBO Def Poets Joel Chmara and Tim Stafford–open-mic participants are encouraged to pen poems about stalkers, nightmare dates, jinxed jobs or anything else that creeps you out. Slam winners score free drink tickets and prizes. 8 p.m. $5. Funky Buddha Lounge, 728 W. Grand Ave. 312-666-1695.
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mpais@tribune.com
