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City Cast Chicago

Sidney Madden

” premiered in Chicago ahead of its national release, becoming one of the highest-grossing comedies ever.

And that’s all thanks to filmmaker 

 at the thought of leaving a kid behind on a family trip in 1989, his son James wrote for Chicago magazine. Hughes worked on the script two weeks after coming home.

More than a year later, Kevin, the Wet Bandits, and the rest of the McAllisters were on our screens, running around the North Shore in the Christmas comedy.

The "Home Alone" house at 671 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, Illinois. (

Emily Mack

Early voting begins today at 9 a.m. in all 50 wards. Get ready to cast your ballot!

 Election Day can visit any early voting site in any ward. Find your nearest early voting site 

 at the Supersite at 137 S. State St. and the Chicago Board of Elections Office on the sixth floor of 69 W. Washington St., with expanded hours beginning Oct. 26.

These sites remain open to all Chicago voters on Election Day as well.

No ID is needed to vote if you’re registered, but it’s helpful to bring in case of any challenges.

The deadline to register to vote online has passed, but 

 at any of Chicago’s early voting sites or at your local site on Election Day.

To do that, you’ll need two forms of ID, one of which must include your current address. 

 can be used as an ID. Without proper identification, unregistered voters may cast a provisional ballot.

The deadline to update your registration online has passed. However, you can change your voting address or name on file in person at an early voting site or on Election Day at your local site. To do that, you’ll need 

, one of which must include your new address. 

If you update your registration, you must also vote at that time at that site.

 can also drop their ballots off at early voting sites. If not, the ballot must be postmarked by EOD Nov. 3.

 is 5 p.m. Oct. 29. Once you receive and fill out your ballot, make sure it’s postmarked by Nov. 3, 

 you can drop it off at any early voting site.

In addition to the top-of-the-ticket races for 

Its first-ever fully elected school board — and all 

The replacement of four U.S. congressional incumbents

And more … Stay tuned to City Cast Chicago now through Election Day for in-depth coverage on the rest of the ticket!

City Cast Chicago's Guide to Voting Early

Your Early Voting Guide

Everything to know about Chicago neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Chicago Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

Have you been following the news in Chicago this week? Prove it! Take the City Cast Chicago news quiz.

Looking for a previous City Cast Chicago news quiz? Find it here.

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events in Chicago? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

Your Weekly News Trivia Quiz

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

Haunted houses, big parties, buckets of fake blood … that’s what spooky season means to me. But don’t worry, we’ve also got leaf-peeping recs for the faint of heart.

, expert Yareni Murillo popped off with an extensive list of cool Halloween parties. We’ve got our eye on:

 | The Giant Penny Whistle | Oct. 17 | Pilsen | Free

Chicago’s absolute scariest haunted house, La Casa de Satanas, did not return this year 😭 But if you’re craving an off-beat scare, I like 

 in West Chicago, which was started by a local teen. It’s full of massive animatronics and ‘80s-esque scenescapes.

Don’t worry, Chicago has family-friendly fall affairs, too:

 | Oct. 15-18, 21-25 | Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe

West Chicago Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch

 | Through Oct. 30 | Sonny Acres Farm | Free on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

 | Oct. 17 | North Park Village Nature Center | Free

I personally recommend the Fall Festival at the North Park Village Nature Center; you can build your own scarecrow. Growing up, I won the Zaniest award twice, but never the coveted Most Likely to Scare a Crow … 

 due to warm weather, so there’s time to plan your nature getaways.

Haunted houses, big parties, leaf-peeping … It's spooky season!

Guide to Halloween in Chicago in 2026

Your Guide to Halloween Season

Kayleigh Padar

Whether you want to celebrate October by drinking coffee based on a horror movie, buying a T-shirt to show off your favorite monster, or exploring a museum of true crime artifacts, there’s somewhere in Chicago for you!

, 177 N. State Street, you can explore more than 6,000 square feet of torture devices that have been reconstructed from historical documents. The fully interactive exhibits are designed to allow visitors to “enter the minds of fanatics, madmen, and murderers.”

👻 Your ticket includes a ghost-hunting experience where you can use an app to find and 

The Horror House / Cryptic Closet (Avondale)

 at 2842 N Milwaukee Ave. is a one-stop shop for scary movie merch. They have countless 

 with original designs featuring monsters from all of your favorite movies, plus a wide variety of trinkets to match.

 at Revolution Brewing, 3340 N. Kedzie Ave., Oct. 24 from 12-6 p.m. The free market will feature over 25 vendors, and the first 100 attendees will receive a free Halloween tote bag.

After you’re done shopping at The Horror House, head across the street for coffee at 

. Obviously, the drinks are on theme here! For example, they’re currently serving a corn milk peach cream soda called 

. The creepy cafe at 2843 N. Milwaukee Ave. is also packed with vintage horror collectibles and retro decor.

 to attend their next horror flick screening!

 at 1829 N. Milwaukee Ave. blends a museum experience with a 

 full of retro horror DVDs and clothing. The exhibits explore the dark and underrepresented parts of history. It’s also home to the 

 of Chicago-born serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s artwork and personal belongings.

🌙 If visiting in the daytime isn’t spooky enough for you, they offer 

 with experts who’ve investigated paranormal activity at the museum.

From a medieval torture museum to a horror-themed cafe, these spots serve up scares.

Chicago’s Spookiest Spots

Your Guide to Chicago’s Spookiest Spots

Keep It Local

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Chicago

If stepping back in time to live out your mystical dreams in a century-old mansion sounds like the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit, stop by the Colvin House in Edgewater during 

Every year, the Chicago Architecture Center invites visitors to explore more than 200 architectural sites throughout the city. Among them is the 

 on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Built in 1909, the Colvin House is a prairie-style mansion that sits on a one-third acre of land along Chicago’s lakefront in Edgewater. The landmarked building features sixteen rooms, a grand staircase with a crystal chandelier, three fireplaces, and adjoining sunrooms.

Nowadays, the building is also home to the Colvin Coven, a group of spiritual people who regularly host witchy community events. (It’s also a co-working space and private events venue, run by 

One of the Colvin Coven’s recurring events is 

, when people gather at the Colvin House for tarot readings, crafting, and enjoying refreshments. Attendees are encouraged to BYOS (Bring Your Own Spell), which they can work on in community with others.

On Oct. 24 at 8 p.m., the historic mansion will transform into Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s lab. Attendees can expect an immersive theatrical horror experience, complete with actors, curated decor, gourmet appetizers, and drinks. There’s even a dance floor!

| The Colvin Coven is gathering to honor Samhain, a Pagan holiday that marks when it’s believed that the veil is thinnest, on Nov. 1 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. During the event, attendees will build a group altar for their ancestors. (Make sure to bring an object or photo that represents your loved one!) Then, everyone can create an ancestor candle to use for similar rituals at home.

🕯️ Tickets cost $33.85 and include a 

facilitated ancestor ritual and spellwork

, plus materials and instructions to take home.

Stop by the Colvin House in Edgewater during Open House Chicago.

Take a tour at the Colvin House

Open House Chicago Spotlight: Get Witchy at the Colvin House

“Chicago is, and always has been, a native place.” This belief is at the heart of the 

 project, a collaborative effort uniting the Newberry Library, the Chicago American Indian community, and tribal nations with ancestral ties to the city.

To expand the way we think about Chicago’s Indigenous history, the group developed a collection of 

. Here are some of the major takeaways from this project’s exploration of our city’s Indigenous heritage.

 the Neshnabé (Potawatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe), Illinois Confederation (Peoria, Kaskaskia, and others), Myaamia, Wea, Sauk, Meskwaki, Kickapoo, Mascouten, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee peoples.

Today, the city is home to a diverse Native community representing hundreds of different tribal nations. More Chicagoans identify as Native American today than they did ten years ago, but 

collecting accurate data can be complicated

 as assimilation policies “systematically stripped” Indigenous people of their identities. In 2020, 34,543 identified as Indigenous compared to 13,337 people in 2010, according to census data.

The Chicago area has been a crossroads for Indigenous nations for thousands of years. Some lived here permanently, while others traveled seasonally in cycles tied to plant growth and animal migration. Indigenous Chicago’s 

 shows where these tribal nations lived through the mid-19th century.

What are the origins of Chicago’s name?

It’s been said that Chicago is named after the Algonquian word for wild onions — but 

. “Algonquian” refers to a large group of different languages, so there’s no single word for the plant or for the place now called Chicago.

 of shikaakwa, an Indigenous word from the Miami-Illinois language for wild onion, according to the American Name Society.

What animals and plants were significant to Indigenous communities?

In her piece, “A Myaamia Artist's Map of Chicago,” 

artist Megan Sekulich of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

 used the waterways of northern Illinois as an outline and filled the space with plants and animals that are culturally significant to myaamiaki, the Myaamia people.

You may recognize animals like the sandhill crane (cecaahkwa), the painted turtle (mihšihkinaahkwa), the gray squirrel (anikwa), and the white-tailed deer (moohswa). Some of the plants featured include wild onion (šikaakwa), corn (miincipi), and elderberry (wiiphšalwi).

 of the illustration that you can print out and color in.

Chicago has always been a Native place. See which nations call it home and the real story behind its name through the Indigenous Chicago Project.

Explore Chicago's Native History With the Indigenous Chicago Project

Explore Chicago’s Indigenous History

The American Indian Association of Illinois

 is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming Chicago’s Indigenous communities through education, policy reform, cultural preservation, and more. They orchestrate the 

, which regularly presents dances and drum performances throughout the city.

🥁 The Black Hawk Performance Company’s next show is Nov. 11 at noon at the Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.

Jessica Walks First, a classically trained chef and member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, started the 

 pop-up and catering service “to bring Indigenous cuisine to the forefront of Chicago’s culinary scene.” By serving traditional and modern Indigenous dishes, they aim to show how many familiar dishes originated with Indigenous people.

 to find out where they’ll be popping up next! You can also schedule private cooking classes, chef services, cultural presentations, and more on their 

 at 56 W. Adams St. is Chicago’s only all-Native artist-led arts nonprofit that advances Native art by fostering contemporary artists. Many of their exhibits feature Indigenous Futurism(s), a movement that aims to expand possibilities by imagining realities without colonial limitations.

 explores the shared kinship of collecting shells along the Shinnecock shore and, in contrast, a reference to military shells and how communities resist. It will be on display through Jan. 16.

 at 3401 W. Ainslie St. was originally founded in 1953 to help Indigenous people cope with moving to Chicago as federal policies forced thousands of people off reservations and into urban centers. Now, it’s dedicated to fostering bonds between Natives and non-Natives by hosting a variety of celebrations, workshops, food distribution events, and other community gatherings.

🪡 The American Indian Center hosts weekly free cultural classes where you can learn traditional Indigenous techniques, such as 

Support Chicago's Indigenous community and catch a dance and drum show, enjoy Indigenous cuisine, view Indigenous Futurist art, and learn beadwork and sewing at these local spots.

Indigenous-Owned Businesses and Organizations in Chicago

Your Guide to Chicago’s Indigenous-Owned Businesses and Organizations

Because I do, and I love it. Fall sometimes feels just as fleeting as summer. Luckily, we have a full guide on how to make the most of October in Chicago.

Get a head start with Tierra Colombiana Dance Ensemble’s 

 with dance, music, and storytelling at Harrison Park on Oct. 10. Then, visit the recently

 Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum in Evanston for their 

 on Oct. 12 to learn more about Indigenous histories and for guided craft activities.

Watch a Blackhawks game at the United Center.

 against the Wizards Oct. 24. Congratulations to the White Sox, who have – as of now – 

 at Soldier Field this month. The Bears only have two as they prepare 

, followed by our arch-nemesis, the Packers, on the road at Lambeau Field. Chicagoans have been chanting “Green Bay sucks” all year long. I’m sure that weekend won’t be any different.

Estimated peak times for Chicagoland are around the second week of October. Here are 

 the seasonal changes. Don’t sleep on broader Illinois’ fall colors. 

Check out this interactive fall foliage trip planner

 kicks off Oct. 16, but there’s plenty of autumn celebrations happening across the city.

 returns to Columbus Drive Oct. 24 after outgrowing State Street. Here are some more spooky events going down:

Haunted Halsted Halloween Fest and Parade

Upside Down Halloween Parade at Washington Park

All month long, we’ll continue following City Hall’s 

, the race for Chicago’s first fully elected 

Every month, the City Cast Chicago team tells you what we’re eating, where we’re shopping, and what else we’re planning for.

Michelle: Halloween and Día de los Muertos

I love walking around different neighborhoods, admiring the Halloween decorations. I’ll be setting up my altar throughout the month and visiting the National Museum of Mexican Art’s 

. I’m excited to check out the stunning 

Hooligan, Chef Christian Hunter’s Neo-Midwestern Bistro

. This is the Michelin-awarded chef’s first brick-and-mortar. Funny story: I booked a table for Hunter’s previous version of Hooligan inside Time Out Market back in January, but it was cancelled at the last minute with little explanation. A week later, Time Out Market announced they were shutting down. So this is a resy 10 months in the making.

This month, I’m looking forward to overdue friend dates and solo side quests to discover new hobbies. I can’t wait to see my friends perform in “

. And the Chicago Public Library’s maker spaces are gonna hate to see me coming because once I take 

Tickets to Get Now (Before It’s Too Late)

Wishing you a festive, cozy, and spooky October!

A full guide on how to make the most of October in Chicago.

Your guide to October

🎃 Your guide to October

On Nov. 10, 1990, “Home Alone” premiered in Chicago ahead of its national release, becoming one of the highest-grossing comedies ever.

This Week in Chicago History: 'Home Alone' Premiers

People, places, and scenes from Chicago's past.

Chicago History

Michelle Navarro

If you are like me, all your family history lives within multiple photo albums and VHS tapes stored in your parents’ living room cabinets. I love the rare occurrences where we pull them out and talk about the day that the photo was captured, who was still around, and how the block used to look.

What if you could share that family history with the city? These three archival projects are keeping Chicago family stories alive through photographs and videos past and present.

Black Film Club Collective’s new archival project, Making Meaning, partnered with photographer Kenn Cook Jr. to take 

beautiful black and white portraits of West Side families

 like photos and home movies that reflect life on the West Side to their collection.

 is dedicated to digitizing and showcasing Chicago’s Latine history. The project, founded in 2024, hosts photo-scanning events where Chicagoans can digitize their memories. They accept submissions of photographs taken before 2008.

📷 This collection makes me so nostalgic of my childhood in Chicago because it showcases backyard parties, kids playing in open fire hydrants, posing outside of storefronts that no longer exist, or the everyday gatherings with family and friends.

This searchable catalog has over 700 digitized home movies shot by South Siders from 1929-1982. The project started over two decades ago with the mission to preserve and celebrate personal histories on the South Side. If you are or were a South Sider, you can 

How are you preserving old family photos and home movies? 

If you are like me, all your family history lives within multiple photo albums and VHS tapes stored in your parents’ living room cabinets.

Who’s Preserving Chicago Family History?

, Chicago’s first non-indiginous permanent settler, arrived in 1779 and set up shop — er, trading post — along the north bank of the Chicago River. Along with his 

, DuSable did business with Native Americans, plus British and French explorers.

 had thriving trade networks across the Great Lakes region. (

Chicago's official incorporation was in 1837, but Native American tribes had thriving trade networks across the Great Lakes region going much farther back.

Chicago History

This Week in Chicago History: 'Home Alone' Premiers

Sidney Madden

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The latest in Chicago

Your Early Voting Guide

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

Your Guide to Halloween Season

Your Guide to Chicago’s Spookiest Spots

Open House Chicago Spotlight: Get Witchy at the Colvin House

Explore Chicago’s Indigenous History

Your Guide to Chicago’s Indigenous-Owned Businesses and Organizations

🎃 Your guide to October