Here's what's happening Saturday, October 28. We've highlighted our picks (
) and the best prizes (
).
Martini Ranch: Bloody Martini
9 p.m.-5 a.m.; $10-$20
You can't go wrong with $5 martinis. Actually, you really can, but you'd be wise to control yourself so you can experience all the diverse music spun tonight: expect Latin pop and rock, house, Persian and more courtesy of DJs Burak and Isaias. If you're just dying to get started, though, there will be a hosted vodka reception from 9-10 p.m.
darkroom: Darkroom Halloween Party
9 p.m.-2 a.m.; $5-$8
DJs Jesse De La Pena and AMPM will spin the black circle all night, and you can pick up a prizes in the costume contest.
Reserve: CreepFest
9 p.m.-3 a.m.; $10-$20; (RSVP for reduced admission before midnight
There's nothing creepy about free Siroc vodka cocktails and Budweiser Select beers from 9-10:30 p.m. Following that, you should be in a good enough mood to rock out to DJs Quincy, Cullos and David Britton. Of course, there's also a costume contest.
Double Door: Halloween Bash
9 p.m.; $12
This holiday is all about being something you're not, so why should it be any different for the live entertainment at Halloween parties? This annual two-night showcase, now in its 10th year, features local bands masquerading as their rock n'roll heroes. Headliners Local H won't reveal their alter-egos yet, but you will see versions of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Daft Punk, The Clash, and others.
Fado Irish Pub: Little Pub of Horrors
10 p.m.
'80s music will be blasting, and you can win prizes for Best Themed Costume and Best Costume. Guzzle beer specials all night.
Bella Lounge: Beautiful People Little Costumes
9 p.m.
Frank Montana and Aldo Battalia host this party, which features a costume contest and music from DJ Rock City and Greg Bauer.
FitzGerald's: Ghosts of Rock Stars Past
7 p.m.-3 a.m.; no cover
Now's the time to pay tribute to Joe Strummer, or whoever your favorite dead rock star might be. As a bonus, you can lip-synch one of their songs for a shot at a cash prize.
Halligan Bar: Halligan Bar Halloween Party
8:30-11:30 p.m.; $20
This one's all about the drinks. Unlimited domestic bottles, Miller Lite drafts, select mixed drinks and Absolut cocktails. You can also get $4 bombs, $3 Blue Moon and Guinness pints, $3 Effen Cherry cocktails, Jameson shots and Pumpkin shots. Costume contest, anyone?
Red Ivy: Red Ivy Halloween Party
during business hours; no cover
Sure, you've been to plenty of friends' "birthday" parties here all year, but how can you pass up these $1 specials? We're talking $1 pizza slices on Saturday, backed by the tunes of DJ Freddie O.
The Spot: Halloween with the House
10 p.m.-2 a.m.; $5
You'll be able to spot all sorts of costumes at this annual fete. Your admission price includes beer and select mixed drinks between 11 p.m. and midnight.
Moxie: Naughty or Nice Halloween Party
6 p.m.-2 a.m.; no cover
This bash has it all: free dessert (if you buy a dinner), DJ entertainment beginning at 10 p.m., a costume contest at midnight, and drink specials including $2 select shots, $5 martinis and $6 mojitos.
Orso's Restaurant: Halloween Bash
8 p.m.-2 a.m.; $20-25; arrive in costume for reduced admission (RSVP recommended)
Celebrate Halloween, Italian-style. This party includes wine, draft beer and pizza until midnight, costume contests (best and worst) with prizes like bottles of wine, and entertainment from DJ Chilly.
Four
10 p.m.-5 a.m.; no cover with RSVP before 11 p.m.
Louie Loop, Patrick Neil and DJ Splinter drop killer beats while sexy costumed dancers do their thing. You could win $500 cash in the costume contest, plus thousands in hourly prizes.
Four Corners: Dead Rock Stars
8 p.m.
Don't worry, there'll be no scary warm beer at this pub; sip on $4 pints of Bass all night while presumably rubbing shoulders with Hendrix, Cobain and the like.
Hideout: Halloween Costume Party
9 p.m.; $8
Canadian Tuxedo and Mr. Rudy Day (for the fifth time!) perform live at this bash. There are sure to be some eclectic costumes on display (owner Tim Tuten has previously dressed as Sun Ra, not an easy thing if you know what he looks like). There's the obligatory sexy costume contest, plus dance party DJs East of Edens featuring John Ciba and James Porter.
Rodan: Messaround of the Dead
10 p.m.; no cover
This monthly DJ event takes a bit of a grisly twist; locals Intel, Maker and DQ will spin scary sounds all night.
Crobar: Deadman's Ball
10 p.m.-5 a.m.; $30
If you didn't get enough on Friday, come back to Crobar for this Saturday night party presented by Chicago Scene. Half the DJs, but the same amount of fun. Tickets at crobar.com.
Cobra Lounge: Helloween Costume Party
10 p.m.; no cover
Ssssscary times here. DJ Van Alan presides.
Weegee's Lounge: Pumpkin Carving
5 p.m.-2 a.m.; no cover
Weegee's provides all the necessary ingredients to get you in the Halloween spirit: pumpkins, knives and...beer. We suggest you carve up your gourd before digging into the $3 bottles of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.
Lucky Strike Lanes: RedEye/metromix Halloween Party
9 p.m.-1 a.m.; $35
Those in costume are eligible for prizes, including a skiing trip for two to Boyne Mountain in Michigan. The admission price includes a premium open bar, appetizers, DJ sets, giveaways and psychic readings from 10 p.m.-midnight. Get your ticket at Lucky Strike by Wednesday and get $5 off.
Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club Shakin Not Scared: The Resurrection
7 p.m.; no cover; (also October 31)
Need a break from the everyday? How does it sound to have Marilyn Monroe as a waitress, WGN broadcaster Dean Richards as a judge (in the costume contest on the 31st) and a chance for a $500 cash prize or $250 in liquor products? If that's your normal day, well, good for you.
RiNo: Fade to Black
10 p.m.-4 a.m.; $20 for men after midnight
Once it goes black, you can't go back...and you won't want to, with specialty martinis like the Dirty Rino and Halloween cocktails including Creepy Cola, with Effen Black Cherry, grenadine, Coke and a cherry garnish. DJ Splyce sets the scene as you unleash your inner demons. RSVP for reservations at (312) 735-7182.
Edison Park Inn: Welcome to Our Nightmare
8 p.m.-midnight; $45
We're not worthy! We're not worthy! Well, we might be worthy of an Alice Cooper tribute band. The Inn features live music plus top shelf liquor (no shots) for the price of admission. There's also a costume contest with prizes.
Avenue Tavern: Halloween 54
8 p.m.-3 a.m.; no cover
Take a trip back to the days when it was encouraged to load up on drugs and indulge in anonymous sex. Ok, Avenue Tavern might not be quite that risque, but its Studio 54-theme costume party will at least bring back some nostalgia for a time when Mike Myers was somewhat relevant. DJ T-Spoon spins disco, house and retro, and there's a costume contest, $5 cosmos and $3 Patron shots.
Molly Malone's Irish Pub & Eatery: Eat, Drink and Be Scary
8 p.m.-3 a.m.; no cover
A DJ will rock the house all night, and you can win a pretty penny in the costume contest. Leprechaun costumes will probably be plentiful, so try to be more creative. Drink specials, too.
Green Dolphin Street: Thriller 2006
11 p.m.-5 a.m.; $20 (RSVP here for free admission before midnight)
If you usually stay away from this hotspot because you're scared of jazz, fear no more. DJs Rick Guerrero, Luis Segura, 33 1/3, Mighty and Omar Perez will spin a mix of salsa, meringue, reggaeton, hip-hop and more. You can also win $500 cash in the costume contest.
Moe's Cantina: Fright Fiesta
8-11 p.m.; $40-$50
Get spooked south of the border at this event benefiting Special Olympics Chicago. Admission includes unlimited beer, cocktails, sangria and margaritas, as well as Mexican food, a costume contest and a raffle.
Mad River Bar & Grille: Halloween Bash and Costume Ball
9 p.m.-midnight; $40-$45
Here's yet another way to do good while having a good time; this party benefits Christopher House, which helps individuals, families and children in need through a variety of social, educational and human service programs. Enjoy appetizers, draft beer, house wine, select mixed drinks and a costume contest. Just make sure your costume doesn't get stuck on the antlers.
John Barleycorn Wrigleyville: Halloweve
9 p.m.-midnight; $25
Chicago Sport and Social Club presents this costume party with all-you-can-drink Coors Light, Finlandia, SoCo, wine, soda and well drinks. A DJ will be rocking the crowd all night.
Rockit Bar & Grill: Hollywood Halloween Rock in Peace
8-10 p.m.; $20 suggested donation
Never made it as a Hollywood celeb? At least you can dress like one (or a character they played) while helping out the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And if your wish is a Belvedere cocktail reception, you're in luck...appetizers and DJ entertainment, too.
Motel Bar: Monsters of Rock
4 p.m.-2 a.m.; no cover
Jimi Hendrix. Kurt Cobain. Janis Joplin. What do they all have in common? Dressing as one of them, or one of dozens of other dead rock stars (Mick Jagger doesn't count) will give you the chance to win a gift certificate to the Motel Bar during a contest at midnight. Everyone in costume will get a free shot of Malort, and you can enjoy $5 Satan's Whiskers and Blood & Sand cocktails, and $4 Brain Hemorrhage shots. Don't ask what's in 'em, just drink.
Murray's Pub & Grill: Murray's Pub Halloween Bash
9 p.m.-1 a.m.; $30
The price of admission includes an open bar, appetizers, DJ entertainment and a costume contest.
Casey Moran's: Nightmare on Clark Street
8 p.m.-midnight; $30
Don't worry; there'll be no senseless killings here. Just lots of Miller Lite bottles, cocktails, wine and an enormous buffet. A DJ spins the hits and you can win $1,000 in the costume contest.
Transit: Pimp and Ho Halloween Party
9 p.m.-5 a.m.; $25-$35
Porn star Janine hosts this sixth annual event, which features complimentary cocktails until 10:30, DJ entertainment, and a performance by humorous hip-hoppers Too White Crew.
10pin Bowling Lounge: Masquerade Bowl
11 a.m.-3 a.m.; no cover (21+ after 8 p.m.)
This one's a perfect strike. Enjoy "Hallowtini" cocktails, appetizers, bowling, DJ entertainment (9 p.m.-2 a.m.) and scary movies and music videos projected onto a 128-foot HD video wall (how much you want to bet they show "Thriller"?). Come dressed in costume and try to win the grand prize: a cruise to Aruba.
Dick's River Roadhouse: Dick's Slaughterhouse
9 p.m.; $5
Ramble over to Mount Prospect for food and drink specials and a costume contest at 1 a.m. Also drop by for Sunday Bloody Sunday to watch the Bears massacre the 49ers and enjoy $2 burgers and Miller Lite/MGD drafts.
Alumni Club (Schaumburg): Halloweekend
7 p.m.-3 a.m.;$5 (also October 31) For scary suburban fun, it doesn't get much better than this. For two nights, there's DJ entertainment and costume contests with cash prizes. Plus, on Tuesday night, some drinks are only 50 cents! Yup...that's the sound of plenty of car engines revving up for the trip to Schaumburg.
Excalibur and Vision Nightclub: X-Ecutioners Ball: The Devil's Rejects
$10 before 11 p.m., $15 after ($45 for a VIP ticket including 2-hour hosted bar)
Two of Chicago's hottest clubs come together for the 5th Annual X-Ecutioners Ball, and it's fittingly crazy. There will be three costume contests (at 11 p.m., 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.) with $1,000 cash going to the winners. Dance your way around animatronic monsters and chilling cryogenic fog-blasts until 5 a.m.
Apartment: Satan's Sublet
9 p.m.-3 a.m.; no cover Even if you think there's plenty of hell here every weekend, there are 1,000 reasons you should brave the crowds for this event. That's right, the winner of the costume contest takes home a cool G, with an additional $4,000 in cash and prizes to be given out. Enjoy $2 Pilsner Urquell and DJ Hitman on the decks.
Deja Vu Deja BOO!
9 p.m.-4 a.m.; $5
Think you went here last year? Try it again, just to be sure. Just wear a different costume, because a good one can net you hundreds of dollars in cash and prizes in the late night contest.
Finn McCool's and The Loft: Finn McGhoul's and The Haunted Loft: BOO-ze Bash III
$5
The characters you'll meet at Division Street's biggest Halloween event are gonna be drunk and disorderly, that's for sure. But guess what? There's a costume contest, with $500 in cash and prizes. Besides, you've gotta give them credit for the unabashedly pun-filled name.
O'Donovan's: Halloween Bash
5 p.m.-3 a.m.; no cover
Costume contest, check. DJ, check. Food and drink specials, double check: $5 bombs, $9.95 strip steak dinner. If you really want to party, you can get the party package, which includes unlimited domestic beer and cocktails from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. for $30.
Zella: Saturday of Sin Halloween Party
9 p.m.-midnight; $30
Enjoy DJ entertainment and unlimited cocktails. Kim Sikes, Ryan Golden and Landan host.
Cabaret: Halloween Bondage Bash
9 p.m.-2 a.m.; $20
This one ain't for the bashful. Madams will be roaming around ready to tie you up and have their way with you if you're into it, and there will also be an ample supply of sex toys for entertainment. You can definitely get away with that slutty leather costume here. If you're just in it for the music, DJ Jernell Geronimo has the goods.
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