Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies-LIVE Concert Video & Trick or Treat Roscoe Village and Clark Street Spooktacular

ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama today.   We have loads of fun, Halloween themed footage from Mr. Singer's show at Beat Kitchen yesterday.   We'll be posting new clips all day, so check in like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.


We'll have photo filled recaps soon from Redmoon Theatre's Halloween Party Friday and Punkin' Prom at Lincoln Hall with Miss Mia, Ratso, and Chic-A-Go-Go Saturday.


In this post we're featuring Saturday's Spooktacular on Clark, and Sunday's Roscoe Village Trick or Treat.   



We got some fun shots at Clark Street's Spooktacular this year.   Check out the slide show above.   Sage shared her mad circus skills from CircEsteem with a street performer we happened upon, "Circus Boy".   And there were some creative costumes.


Unfortunately, Spooktacular wasn't so spectacular this year.   They've finally reached the critical mass point where it was uncomfortably crowded, more than half the merchants were out of candy two hours before the slated end of trick or treat time, and the costume contest was poorly run.   


The past two years, the contest was in a spacious, outdoor area.   This year someone had the boneheaded idea to move it into a storefront where everyone was standing on top of one another and the kids were crabby, hot and unhappy about long waits for the judging.   There were a huge number of entrants and the age categories were far too big with 6-10 year olds all lumped in together.   Even the awesome animal (the Muppet drummer) costume didn't even place in 1st-3rd!    We'll be skipping this one next year and can no longer recommend it in good conscience.


****Note to parents:   If you don't have a homemade costume, PLEASE skip entering costume contests (unless it's stated every entrant gets a consolation prize or there's some very compelling reason).   Sure that princess dress you dropped mega bucks on may be cute, but these contests are meant to reward creativity and originality and all the mediocre store bought costumes are gumming up the works with hundreds of kids with no hope of winning, and making these things drag on far too long!    





Roscoe Village Trick or Treat the Merchants & Mr. Singer's Halloween Show at Beat Kitchen With Hot Glue Gun DIY Dragon, Du-Jay, and Rock Star Ghost, Ember, Sagezilla.




Roscoe Village's trick or treat and costume parade was also well attended and crowded but run much better.    The Lane Tech marching band lent a joyous air to the festivities.   Check out Lane Tech's creative video here and vote as often as once a day through 11/7 to help them earn a grant to buy new instruments.   They've made a hilarious and heartfelt parody to the tune of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.   Lane Tech's entry in the Glee Give a Note Contest, "New Instrument Rhapsody", is super creative and well worth a look and a daily vote.


There were also quite a few merchants out of candy here, but I have a bit more sympathy for them after talking to our long time friend, Patty, who owns the funky, fun salon, Big Hair.   She said she spends $500 every year on candy for the event.   That's a serious investment!


Remember to check back in early and often for more live footage and holiday fun.   Happy ChiILoween.   Enjoy!

More ChiILoween Fun Today

How bout a little Punk Kin Pie?!

Top Pick:   Punkin' Prom

Chic-A-Go-Go Punkin' Prom A pumpkin carving, costume dance party for kids of all ages

RSVP on Facebook

Since its 1996 debut, CHIC-A-GO-GO has been one of the most original and entertaining shows on Chicago television. People of all ages, colors, and backgrounds, linked by their love of music, dance togetherin harmony on the CHIC-A-GO-GO set. The dancers, who range in age from newborns to youthful seniors, move to the latest Hip Hop music, as well as classic R&B, Rock & Roll, Punk, Funk, and all points in between.

Lincoln Hall is thrilled to present a CHIC-A-GO-GO Halloween event, hosted by Ratso, the rat puppet, with his human side kick, Miss Mia. Miss Mia and Ratso will lead kids of all ages through group dances like the "Limb-Oh", the Zombie and the Monster Mash. There will also be a costume parade along with a costume contest and a pumpkin carving contest. This all ages event is a great way to wear your costumes as much as you can this Halloween season, although coming as yourself is just as fun. http://www.roctober.com/chicagogo/

THE BIG BAD SPOOKTACULAR: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

by Ike Holter

The Big Bad Spooktacular is back again to take over Chicago in this terrifyingly funny, family friendly, hip hop musical. Who will stop her? Zeke the friendly neighborhood monster is on the mission with or without the help of The Roustabouts, a gaggle of hipster dancers.

Directed by Mary Williamson
Produced by Hannah Michaelson
Presented by Nothing Without a Company

Featuring Patty Corcoran, Rashaad Hall, Conor McCahill, Valerie Lyvers, Amanda Powell, and Ryan Tang

Play date: October 29, 2011
Times: 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm
Lincoln Park: Northeast corner of Clark and Belden

Wheelchair and stroller accessible

Free to the public

Check out other cool Halloween events at

Haunted Illinois Halloween Website

and

Visit Clark Street

For more information regarding casting and auditions please e-mail:
casting.nothingwithoutacompany@gmail.com

Halloween Spooktacular Returns! To Clark Street!!

Oct 29 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Clark Street in Lincoln Park, between Armitage & Diversey, Chicago, IL, 60614

Driving Directions >

Ghouls, Goblins, Tricks & Treats for ... All Ages!

On October 29, it happens mysteriously and miraculously...Clark Street in Lincoln Park is transformed into a ghoulish wonderland! Why? Because...It's Baaack! The popular, appropriate-for-all-ages, fun for all, ever FREE of charge, colorful, candy-filled, costume-loving CLARK STREET SPOOKTACULAR returns! In fact, the Huffington Post calls it a Must-Do fall festival in Chicago, and while we're blushing, we do agree!

For those of you who celebrated with us before, you know what the Spooktacular is all about: street magicians, jugglers, balloon artists, Halloween inflatables and costumed characters strolling Clark Street in Lincoln Park (from Armitage to Diversey and the south side of Diversey from Orchard to Lakeview), all serving to engage pedestrians in good old-fashioned Halloween fun. If it's your first year at the Spooktacular, well, you're in for a (ahem) treat!

Spooktacular attendees, bring your family, bring your friends, bring your pooch if you'd like, but be sure to come on out! Just register at "Halloween Headquarters" (2260 N. Clark Street) and delight in FREE refreshments, crafts, and games before embarking on a trick-or-treating trek to participating businesses all along the street!

While loading up on tasty treasures, trick-or-treaters will encounter ple

nty of surprises along the way: in addition to street performers and balloon artists, there will also be performances by theater group Nothing Without A Company: Electric Boogaloo! And, of course, Scarecrows On Parade will delight and amuse our costumed revelers during their tour. Lots of local businesses will offer special discounts and surprises, too. And, at 4:30, join in the rousing costume contest, where "best dressed" in a number of age categories will win fabulous prizes. Word to the wise, for those donning costumes: originality and creativity are key! And remember: it's a family event...!

Schedule of Activities:

1:00 – 5:00 pm	Trick-or-treating check-in, refreshments, crafts, games SPOOKTACULAR Headquarters, 2260 N. Clark Street
1:00 – 5:00 pm	Trick-or-treating along Clark Street in Lincoln Park (At participating establishments. Maps available at check-in.)
1:00 – 5:00 pm	Live entertainment along Clark Street in Lincoln Park
1:30, 2:30, 3:30 pm	'The Big Bad Spooktacular: Electric Boogaloo' presented by Nothing Without a Company and written by Ike Holter (At the corner NE corner of Clark and Belden.)
4:30 pm	SPOOKTACULAR COSTUME CONTEST for children and adults 'BEST OF ScareCROW' winners announcement SPOOKTACULAR Headquarters, 2260 N. Clark Street

*Du-Jay won a prize in this one for his Ska-Crow Costume a couple years ago!   We did a DIY scarecrow with Ska bands on all the patches-including The Toasters who are playing Subterranean this Thursday at 10pm-celebrating 30 years of NYC SKA!   http://subt.net/cal-events/?e=306 

Participating retailers will be offering specials and in-store activities for shoppers all day long. Maps will be available at SPOOKTACULAR Headquarters, 2260 N. Clark Street.

**Du-Jay took 2nd place in this one as a little guy, with his DIY Punk Kin costume featuring a green mohawk stem, a giant fabric pumpkin with a pierced nose and all our favorite 80's punk bands all over it.    He topped it off with a flannel, ripped knee jeans and Chucks hi-tops.

Despite our aversion for the paloozafication of all things non-Lolla....this is a pretty good event.   Check out the full line up here.    We've hit this one up for 3 years and it just gets better every time.   Now if someone would just rethink the name....

If you make it down, check out our favorite toy store for the future rock star set--Psychobaby.    These guys rock!