Roe Conn Halloween Show with Svengoolie more like Oktoberfest!

 

Walking into Hofbrauhaus Chicago (actually in Rosemont) is like teleporting to Europe. The German restaurant/microbrewery is highlighted by giant kettles of beer, Bavarian décor, an alphorn (those long horns from the ricolo commercials), and folks dressed in traditional Oktoberfest clothes. Here the alcohol flows freely with shots served on a wooden paddle they’ll smack your butt with upon request. Having already gotten whupped by the $15 parking fee, I decided to skip the additional beating an opt for a glass of water instead. I do love a good novelty restaurant though this wasn’t the sort of place I’d have ever visited if not for the annual Roe Conn Halloween show. This was my third year attending the occasion with the last two having taken place in the south suburbs where I live. After an hour’s drive I brushed past their gift shop (loaded with collectible steins) and took a seat as close to the stage as I could get. The room was huge with rows of long tables and I tried taking in as much as I could while the waitress handed me a menu.

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Horrorhound Weekend the Final Chapter: Jason takes Indianapolis!

What would a fan convention be without a bit of cosplay? In the world of expos, these daring men and women guarantee we all go home with fun photos to commemorate the occasion as well as spice up our social media pages. For years I’ve stopped them for photographs while having no real appreciation for the amount of work that went into it. Thanks to my friend, Chris Carr, this would all change during last month’s Indianapolis Horrorhound Weekend. That Saturday, Chris would don his Jason Voorhees costume while I’d act as escort. In the end it would prove a fun experience while providing numerous positive interactions with fellow fans I’d of never had otherwise. It also offered some much-needed illumination regarding the creative world of cosplay.

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Kirk Hammett’s IT’S ALIVE Exhibition Is To Die For!

Salem at Halloween time has been an almost annual event for me for the past 7 years. With Halloween being my favorite holiday, there is no place better to celebrate. Everything about Salem is perfect from the museums, stores and haunted houses to the people watching.

I had heard about It’s Alive! Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection but until we arrived in Salem, and went by the Peabody Essex Museum, I had forgotten that it was actually in Salem! How excited was I to see that not only was it in Salem but was in fact still available to be viewed.

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Fans ‘Flood’ Chicago’s Fantasy Costumes for Svengoolie!

 

Photo courtesy of Jim Roche

Last Saturday I was sitting at my work desk while gazing at the tempest outside. Since it was the weekend, I had the whole office to myself and decided to turn off the main lights in favor of a small one hanging over my computer. With the dark clouds and rain pounding on my window, it seemed to make the otherwise chaotic place cozier; something you could never accomplish during normal business hours. With Halloween only a couple weeks away, we Chicagoans can be sure of two things; the weather will be erratic and our local/national TV horror host, Svengoolie, will be amidst a busy schedule of appearances. In fact, it almost seemed like this year’s list of events rivaled that of his ultra-busy 2012. I’d covered almost all of those and remember being thoroughly exhausted by the time it was over. This year, however, my “Svengoolie-stalking” activities were clearly lacking as my schedule never seemed to be in sync with his. On this rainy day, however, he was slated to make two appearances with one starting just when my shift ended. I decided it was high time I broke out of my Svenertia. and braved the elements to see him at Fantasy Costumes – the largest costume shop in the windy city!

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The George A. Romero Official Tribute and Memorial

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Join us with George’s close family and friends as we celebrate the life and career of the legendary horror filmmaker, who passed away on July 16th, 2017 at the age of 77.

Romero, who pioneered the zombie film genre with the 1968 feature, Night of the Living Dead, made an indelible imprint on the industry and inspired a multitude of influential directors and actors.Help us celebrity his legacy with a Q&A with celebrity fans and friends, followed by a screening of George’s classic Warner Bros. film Creepshow, starring Ed Harris, Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Stephen King, Hal Holbrook, and Adrienne Barbeau, among others.

The George A. Romero Official Tribute and Memorial
Live at the historic 1400-seat Alex Theatre in Glendale
Wednesday, October 25th
8:00 p.m.

VIP tickets are $50 per person and include a VIP reception at 7 p.m. and preferred seating.
GA tickets are $30 per person.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.alextheatre.org.