Weekend Planner: Last-Minute Halloween Edition

Live Tattoo Artist at Henry's Swing Club

Seeing as Henry’s Swing Club derives inspiration from a John Lee Hooker song, it's apt that the River North bar throw a "Sex, Drugs, & Rock 'n' Roll 1977" party for Halloween. A more specific theme they could not have surmised. This includes tattoos from an on-site tattoo artist, clove cigarettes from the "Pharmacy" corner, "liquid heroin" shots made with 151 and Coke, "Speedballs" made with shots of bourbon and powdered sugar doughnuts, and "Yellow Jackets" comprised of candy corn and Red Bell. There will also be beer-filled pumpkins, which seems downright quaint by comparison. '70's music will be on hand courtesy of DJs Chess and Matt Roan on both Friday and Saturday. The event runs on October 31 from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. and on November 1 from 8:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. 
 

Halloween Screenings at Parts & Labor
 
If scary movies and no-frills food are more your vibe, head to Parts and Labor in Logan Square for a spree of horror films all weekend long. Projected on two large HD screens visible to all guests, the bar will broadcast 22 films over the course of the weekend, served up along with featured cocktail specials. Movies to be screened include The FlyThe Thing, The Cabin in the Woods, and Poltergeist on October 31; Bram Stroker's Dracula, Night of the Living Dead, American Psycho, and The Shining on November 1; and Pan's Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm StreetCarrie, and The Descent on November 2.  


Henry's Swing Club
(Henry's Swing Club is about to get raucous)
 

Mingle With the Green Fairy at JIMMY

Green fairies come alive at JIMMY this Halloween weekend, as the clandestine bar dons an alluring green outfit to transform into an enchanted forest filled with absinthe. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Halloween (costumes encouraged!), the bar will roll out a slew of special absinthe cocktails for the night. These include Blackheart's Revenge made with Journeyman Blackhearts Gin, Corsair Red Absinthe, Cherry Heering, lime, simple syrup, soda, cherry, and lemongrass flambe; Raven Tracks made with Rittenhouse Rye, La Muse Verte Absinthe, Creme de Cassis, allspice syrup, and shiso leaf; and Buried in Lace featuring Olmeca Altos Tequila Plato, La Muse Verte Pastis, Galliano, lemon, vanilla and cauliflower syrup, egg white, and a cauliflower slice. For $25, guests can also partake in a cocktail flight with bites from David Burke's Primehouse. Reservations are recommended and can be made by emailing info@jimmychicago.com. 


Haunted Punch House

Haunted houses are a lot more fun when they are haunted punch houses. As is the case at Punch House this weekend, wherein the subterranean Pilsen bar offers spooky "experiences" alongside special beers and punches featuring Lagunitas beer and Letherbee Gin. Hosted in conjunction with Salonathon and The Inconvenience, a $22 ticket earns you access to a drink of your choice and access to all haunted experiences. A DJ will be spinning tunes long into the night, and costume contests take place at 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. The bar opens to the public at midnight. Purchase tickets here
 


Bonus, Non-Spooky News: Wine Auction at Tru

It's not all ghosts and absinthe this weekend. Actually, there's a pretty spectacular and noteworthy non-spooky event happening at Tru as well. The revered fine dining mainstay is serving lunch for the first time in conjunction with a wine auction hosted by Hart Davis Hart on October 31 and November 1. The Celebration of Bordeaux Auction, the first-ever all-Bordeaux showcase for the venerable auction house, is to feature top-tier wines and dishes from the region. As guests peruse bottles of wine, they can get their fill from various food stations. Food items include cheeses, charcuterie, foie gras, duck confit, gougeres, escargots, macarons, profiteroles, and more. The auction kicks off at 10:00 a.m. both days and it free to attend, though reservations for lunch during the auction costs $75 and can be made by calling 312-854-0096 or emailing info@hdhwine.com. 


Matt Kirouac

 

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