Best Haunts for a Ghoulish Good Time This Weekend

Hubbard Inn [Photo: Reader, Eric Futran]

Eater Chicago intern Katie Johnson contributed this article.

It is upon us. The weekend where the streets will be crowded with those a little too old for dressing up, but who do it anyway. Yes, all Hallow's eve is this weekend and Eater Chicago has put together a list of your best bets for tricks and treats. These drink deals, cuisine steals and overall abundance of specialty holiday-themed festivities will make anyone want to dress up and go out for a good time.

1) Hubbard Inn
Where: 110 W. Hubbard
What: The Hubbard Inn transforms into the Haunted Inn this Saturday with eerie European country inn themed decor along with an early evening tapas party and cocktail bash later at night. The tapas festival runs from 7 to 10 p.m. for a ticket price of $50 and includes seasonal tapas and wine. Have other plans? Come later in the evening from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a cocktail party and live DJ. Tickets for the late-night party are $40.
Call: 312-222-1331

2) J Bar
Where: 610 N. Rush St.
What: Join the Crowd at the James Hotel lounge, J Bar for a New Orleans-style soiree Saturday night. Serving up food and cocktail specials from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., some notables include the French Quarter fries, Bourbon Street meat (mini Kobe beef corn dogs), along with Bloodshot bombs and Nightfall Sangria, both being offered on the cheap for $6.
Call: 312-660-7200

3) Tuman's
Where: 2159 W. Chicago Ave.
What: Do you like dressing up for a chance to win cash? Tuman's will be the place to go. The Ukrainian Village haunt is having a costume contest this Saturday with the first place winner receiving a $100 cash prize. Second place will still earn you a $50 gift card and a $25 gift card goes to third place.
Call: 773-782-1400

4) Roots Handmade Pizza
Where: 1924 W. Chicago Ave.
What: Roots Handmade Pizza will be kicking off a bar crawl along Chicago Avenue on Saturday starting at 10 p.m. Start the night at Roots then make your way a few doors down to High Dive at 11:30 p.m. and finish the night out at Cleo's at 12:30 p.m. Each will offer a $100 cash prize for the best costume along with a cash raffle and drink specials.
Call: 773-645-4949

5) LuxBar
Where: 18 E. Bellevue Pl.
What: LuxBar will not charge cover on Saturday night in honor of the weekend's festivities. Celebrate in costume with beats by DJs Madrid and Sadie Woods along with drink specials. DJ Madrid and the LuxLounge staff will be the judges of who has the best costume at the stroke of midnight, with the winner receiving a $250 LuxBar cocktail party of their very own.
Call: 312-642-3400

6) Chicago q
Where: 1160 N. Dearborn St.
What: Get into the Halloween spirit with a spooky q potion available only at Chicago q. Served on the rocks, their specialty holiday cocktail features Maker's Mark Kentucky bourbon, apple cider and ginger ale and comes garnished with a gummy worm.
Call: 312-642-1160

7) Quartino
Where: 626 N. State
What: Quartino will host a traditional "Beggars' Day" Halloween party complete with pumpkin carving on their al fresco patio from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Attendees will carve out their jack-o-laterns while sitting upon bales of hay and will also be offered complimentary pumpkins, stencils and a tutorial from chef John Coletta. Not to mention the complimentary candy apples and candy corn that will be served. (First come, first served.)
Call: 312-698-5000

8) Native Foods Cafe
Where: 1484 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 1023 W. Belmont Ave.
What: The Wicker Park and Lakeview locations of Native Foods Cafe will serve a "Ghoulish Goodtime Halloween Meal" from Friday through Monday in honor of the holiday. The special menu items include a vampire burger of blackened, shaved seitan topped with Native chili and Native cheese (both vegan). Comes with a side of killer beet salad and Dracula fries for only $9.95. In honor of the recent filming in the city, free dessert will be offered for those who come in to the restaurants in full Superman or Playboy Bunny costume.
Call: 773-489-8480; 773-549-4904

9) Sunda
Where: 110 W. Illinois St.
What: This Saturday, Sunda's "dim sum in the dark" is back for a third Halloween season. Their dim sum menu will be served for $8.88 with the restaurant decked out in mysterious holiday decor. Chef Jesse DeGuzman's special recipe butter ponzu-steamed honey mussels will also be served at a special market price for the event.
Call: 312-644-0500

10) Chalkboard
Where: 4343 N. Lincoln Ave.
What: Chalkboard chef Gilbert Langlois will offer a special three-course Halloween menu for $31 Friday through Monday. The first course features a pumpkin cognac bisque with your choice of count Dracula steak or creature from the black lagoon cod as your entree. Round out the meal with a dessert of jack o' lantern bread pudding. Sounds so good, it might even give you chills.
Call: 773-477-7144