The Chicago Traveler

• After enjoying cocktails at Plan B, hop on a bus for a tour of four allegedly haunted bars as part of Boo & Brew. (Oct 30)
• Traverse the Trails of Terror, a half-mile of wooded trails in Peterson Park filled with creepy characters. Not suitable for small children. (ends Oct 31)
• ‘The Fear’ at Navy Pier is a tented, outdoor haunted house aimed at teens and adults, featuring zombies, werewolves, vampires, and more. (ends Nov 2)
• The Halloween Bash at Murphy’s Bleachers includes food, drinks, live music, a costume contest, and raffle prizes. Proceeds benefit the North Side Housing …read more

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Chicago may be known for its warm and friendly Midwestern ways, but the city has plenty of spooky tales and creepy locations. Here are just a few that have been featured right here on The Chicago Traveler.
• The site of the Eastland Disaster is marked by a historical plaque, but some visitors to the historic location have reported hearing screams and cries for help coming from the Chicago River. In addition, the old armory building where most of the dead bodies were stored is still in use today. Many of its inhabitants have reported unexplained voices, sounds of crying, and …read more

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• The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open presents drawings, paintings, photographs, and more by nearly 300 artists at Merchandise Mart. (ends Oct 19)
• Several local spas are taking part in the Pretty in Pink Fundraiser and offering fixed-price ($31) massages, facials, and other beauty treatments. Every participating spa and salon has made a donation to Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Be sure to mention “Pretty in Pink” when booking your appointment. (ends Oct 31)
• Want to see something spooky? Take the Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour, featuring Hull House, the sites of the St Valentine’s Day Massacre and Eastland Disaster, and …read more

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For many of us, our daily lives consist of coffee, going to work, come home for dinner, watching television, and going to bed, only to wake up to do it all over again the next day. Some people long for a life less ordinary. The 1999 thriller Stir of Echoes shows just how appreciative we should sometimes be for our “ordinary” lives.

Stir of Echoes (1999)

Directed by:
David Koepp

Produced by:
Judy Hofflund
Gavin Polone

Starring:
Zachary David Cope
Kevin Bacon
Kathryn Erbe
Illeana Douglas

Distributed by:
Artisan Entertainment

All Movie Guide
IMDb
Amazon.com

The film takes place in a blue-collar Chicago neighborhood, where everyone on the block is friendly and familiar with each other. One …read more

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On February 14, 1929, seven men gathered at the SMC Cartage Company garage on Clark Street: Johnny May, Frank and Pete Gusenberg, James Clark, Adam Heyer, Al Weinshank, and Reinhardt Schwimmer, all friends of George “Bugs” Moran. Moran himself was scheduled to be there as well, but he was running late.
Two men in uniform exited a police car out front and entered the garage, declaring they were on an investigation. The mobsters cooperated and lined up against the wall, their backs to the uniformed men. The two “policemen” then opened the front door for two men in plain clothes, and …read more

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I’ll come right out and say it: I don’t watch a lot of horror films. It’s not because I don’t enjoy being spooked on occasion. I watch a lot of television about supposed paranormal activity, and I’ve read plenty of books by Stephen King, Clive Barker, etc. But, in my opinion, many horror films take the easy way out, throwing an ugly monster, blood, and guts at the screen, yelling “Boo!” It’s the equivalent of a bratty little brother jumping out at you from behind the door. I much prefer what I would classify as “suspense” or “thrillers”: films that …read more

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 I have to admit, I love this time of year. While I’m not a fan of chilly weather or candy-greedy kids, I can’t get enough of all things creepy and spooky. If you enjoy an adrenaline rush and want to potentially bust some ghosts, grab a tour with Chicago Ghost Investigations. This paranormal research group will teach you how to use authentic ghost-hunting equipment, including cameras, sensors, and thermal scanners. CGI investigators will be there to guide you, but for approximately two hours, you are the ghost hunter. This mind-altering experience is incredibly fun but also very intense, so be …read more

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My best friend and I went out last night to a small pub I had wanted to visit for a long time. It’s classic, cozy, and even haunted! The Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Park is full of Chicago history and is a must-see for history buffs and ghost-seekers.
There are several bars that line Lincoln Avenue in the neighborhood but you can’t miss the bright white sign with the red lion figure. The wood and brick building was originally built in 1882, and at the time it was on the northern edge of the city, surrounded by countryside and farms. …read more

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