Not sure what to do this Halloween? Here are a few ideas:
—Before you go out to scare the bejesus out of people (or be scared yourself), have a drink. SKYY Vodka has recipes using its Infusions. One is the Jack-o-Lantern, which combines 2 ounces SKYY Infusions Citrus; 1 ounce mango nectar or juice; half an ounce of orange juice; and half an ounce of fresh sour (fresh lime juice and simple syrup). Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Another is the Black Widow (1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Raspberry, 0.5 oz. triple sec, 2 oz. pomegrante juice, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and raspberry syrup). Enjoy!
—You could always hit Chronicles of the Cursed: Hades Emerges, at 560 W. Grand (open through Nov. 1; www.ChicagoCursed.com). The haunted house is the largest in Chicago with more than 20,000 square feet of bone-chilling monsters, ghouls, zombies, hellions and other frightening beings. (No jokes about Republicans, okay?) On Oct. 28, “Beast Feast” will take place, complete with a drag show and a costume fashion show. Also, there is the very scary “Fear” Haunted House at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand (www.TheFearHauntedHouse.com). Everything from zombies to maniacal clowns are in the 20-room structure that features 70-plus actors; it, too, runs through Nov. 1.
—The Neo-Futurists are offering their own brand of scariness with Fear (www.neofuturists.org). As Windy City Times theater critic Catey Sullivan put it, “Edgar Allen Poe’s nightmare-inducing story The Fall of the House of Usher serves as the spooktacular starting point for the Neo-Futurists’ Halloween-centric show—staged, but of course, above a funeral home.” It runs through Halloween (of course).
—Of course, no spooky day would be complete without the Northalsted Halloween Costume Parade which will take place Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than usual. Free registration for the costume contest and parade for adults and groups will be at SPIN Nightclub, 800 W. Belmont, at 4 p.m. The parade route is Halsted from Belmont to Addison with a main stage at Halsted and Roscoe. (By the way, the theme is “Mad Hatter’s Ball,” so don’t be surprised if you see a lot of grinning cats.) See www.lakeviewcitizens.org/halloween.asp.
—Check out Zombies Attack Chicago. Nothing Without a Company lets audiences decide who will survive through Friday, Oct. 30, at The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway; $15; call 773-728-8934 or www.spotchicago.com.
—Joel Hall Dancers will hold a Halloween party to launch the 2nd annual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser; 9 p.m., 773-293-0900, Victor Hotel, 311 N. Sangamon. See www.joelhall.org.
—The Heroes, Horrors & Whores Comedy Show, starring The Sarcastic Squad, will take place at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, on Friday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 p.m. DJ Greg Haus will spin electronica and alternative dance afterward. See www.berlinchicago.com.
—You can frighten people with your costume or your singing at the 7th Annual Scary-oke Costume Party (with karaoke by Creaoke) at Scot’s, 1829 W. Montrose, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Call 773-528-3253 for more information.
—Just in time for the holiday (if you have an iPhone), try out the new Zombie Pizza app ($0.99; www.appyzombiepizza.com/main/appyzombiepizza/main.html). The object of the game is to create pizzas for zombies outside the door (using toppings such as brains and eyeballs) before the monsters get upset and attack you. The app has been described as very addictive.
—You can be a Poe folk and take in the 23rd Annual Edgar Allan Poe Readings Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5 and 8 p.m. at the Glessner House, 1800 S. Prairie. Pre-paid reservations ($20-$25) are required. RSVP to 312-326-1480; see www.glessnerhouse.org.
—Lastly, you can always just curl up in front of the TV. Although it’s not Halloween-themed, there’s the Madonna concert Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires, which shows the Material Mom in Argentina (Oct. 30 at 9:10 p.m. on the new pay channel EPIX), and promises enough costume changes for a thousand Halloweens. You can also see our favorite lesbian financial advisor in action on a special The Suze Orman Show (Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. on CNBC), and there’s out English muffin Graham Norton on his eponymous show (Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. on BBC America) with special guest Michael Bublé. Moreover, you can enjoy the shows even more with your SKYY drinks!