Frank Brichetto

Chicago Correspondent

Autumn is upon us now, and the signs are everywhere. The trees are wearing their robes of brightly colored leaves, The days, sadly, are getting quite short, and by the end of the month, cooler days and crisp nights will be the norm.  No matter, we will, as we always do, enjoy the company of friends while we travel about, and be grateful for every sunrise. As usual, many of our destinations require advance purchase tickets, or online registrations, please read ahead and secure your spots early.

Let’s jump right into October this evening, Saturday, October 3^rd, with Elton Rohn at the MAC, www.attthemac.org. Sir Elton John, as we all know, won Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and a host of other awards. This world-class tribute act brings the music of Elton John to the Belushi Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m., complete with dazzling costumes, powerful vocals and a band that features full harmonies and all musicians playing and singing 100% live (no backing tracks). Even Davey Johnstone, John’s long-time guitarist and musical director, has called the band “the best ‘70s Elton John tribute in the world.” This will be a lively way to begin the month. It’s at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Thursday, October 8^th, marks the beginning of Chicago Fashion Week, https://chicagofashionweek.com, with events taking place throughout the greater Chicago area over the following ten days. Many events are designed for the fashion industry, but others are open to the public. We’ll be at one in a few days, and you can check the link for the schedule to see if any interest you.

This evening, that spectacular gem of Chicago’s dance scene, Giordano Dance Chicago, will host the 19^th Anniversary of “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” ballroom dance competition starting at 7:00pm at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. This is an annual fundraiser which benefits GDC’s transformative initiatives through the GDC Youth Arts Education Fund.
A group of Chicago A-listers, each with their Giordano professional dance partner, will compete for a shot at winning the coveted Disco Ball and the title of Best Male Dancer or Best Female Dancer. The stakes are high with each couple performing only one dance for one chance to impress the guest judges.
You can check out the contestants and their Giordano Dance partners here: giordanodance.org/dwtgs, or call 312.922.1332.  This is a fund-raising event, so individual tickets begin at $150. The bar will be open for four hours, with small bites and light fare included. We are always enthralled by the GDC dancers, and this will be a chance for us to give them some support. Let us know if you’ll attend; we’ll meet up beforehand.
Let’s spend the whole day together, today, Saturday, October 10^th.  Where should we go for brunch? Afterward we have our chance to attend a Fashion Week event, the Open House @ ALL WE REMEMBER, https://allweremember.com/. This special event celebrates their new location, 2949 W. Armitage Ave, Floor 1, and will give us a chance to converse with the founders, and get a first look at new collections that are innovative, gender-neutral, and responsibly made. Seres Footwear and Realm Books will also be on hand, so this should be interesting. We’ll be just in time for the 1:00pm opening, so we can take a few hours exploring the world of fashion (something we have never done before).

There are many fine restaurants in this Logan Square neighborhood, some that we haven’t yet visited. This afternoon let’s pop into Paulie Gee’s, 2451 N. Milwaukee Ave., https://pauliegee.com/restaurant, and order a couple of the signature, flamboyant, and really tasty pizzas. We can share a bottle of wine, take some deep breaths, relax and chat for a while.

But not for too long, because, at 7:30 p.m., we’ll be going back to the MAC, www.atthemac.org. Ballet Hispánico, one of Spain’s premier dance companies, is presenting CARMEN.maquia, a contemporary interpretation of Bizet’s Carmen inspired by Picasso and infused with contemporary dance, pasodoble and flamenco. Remember the excitement of flamenco as performed by Ensemble Español? I’m sure this evening will bring that same energy to the stage.

For something totally different, please meet us today, Sunday, October 11^th, at Dovetail Brewery, https://www.oktoberfestiversary.com/, 1800 W. Belle Plaine Ave. They and Begyle Brewing Company are teaming up once again for their annual fall bash in celebration of Oktoberfest. Taking place outside in the shared lot between the breweries, “Oktoberfestiversary” features special beer tappings (alongside favorites from Dovetail and Begyle), live music and delicious bites from food trucks, including Bad Johnny’s, El Zorro Tacos and Soul & Smoke. A $5 suggested donation benefits local food pantry The Friendship Center. They had me at “beer”.

Friends, I’ve been thinking, Halloween is approaching quickly, and no, we are not ready. Let’s fix that tonight, Friday, October 16^th, at The Lion Theatre, 182 N. Wabash.  Let us begin by preparing with an encounter with Drunk Dracula, https://drunkdracula.com/.  As their website tells us:

DRUNK DRACULA HAS RISEN

He’s hot. He’s thirsty. He’s on sale now. This Spooky Season, one actor takes five shots of whiskey and attempts an epic retelling of Transylvania’s thirstiest bachelor… DRACULA!

The premise is simple, but no less hilarious: Dracula gets drunk, unsuspecting citizens fight for survival and Bram Stoker’s vampire classic gets a boozy makeover that’s equal parts unhinged and fun.

The actors are actually drinking shots of whiskey and who knows what else. Naturally, the show is not for kids and a photo ID is required. We might just Uber to this one…

Tonight, Friday, October 23^rd, sounds like a good night for dinner at Osteria Langhe 2824 W. Armitage Ave., https://www.osterialanghe.com,  This is an old-school Chicago neighborhood restaurant that celebrates the age-old traditions, cuisine and wine of Italy’s northwest Piemonte region.

This is a tiny Logan Square storefront. The wine list is excellently curated, so let’s order a bottle for the table. The plin, which are miniature agnolotti filled with cheese, are beautiful to look at and wonderfully light; the perfectly seasoned carne cruda is tempting, but it’s the prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin that has my complete attention. Please don’t argue. For my dessert I will be ordering that panna cotta plate of creamy deliciousness. You should too.

We need to come back for one of the monthly three-course dinner journeys through Italy’s many beloved regions, each with it’s own take on cuisine. These dinners are filled with seasonal plates, chef’s creations, and a few off-menu surprises—a way to bring Piemonte’s spirit home and help sustain their neighborhood table.

Can you feel the spirits beginning to awaken? Today, Sunday, October 25^th, join us please for something quieter and a little mysterious. The guides who lead the annual Oak Brook Cemetery Walk will lead us along a half-mile, lantern-lit path through Bronswood Cemetery, 3805 Madison St. where costumed spirits will rise from the past to share the stories of remarkable pioneers buried in this historic location. We’ll be in a small group, and frequently come upon actors from GreenMan Theatre Troupe who will take the roles of both women and men, pioneers with bold visions and lots of grit. Their real stories tell of the folk who built and shaped this community.
Today, Saturday, October 31^st, is Halloween, but it is also the last day for the South Loop Farmers Market at Printers Row Park, https://www.southloopfarmersmarket.com, 632 S. Dearborn St. It opens at 9:00am, so meet us then, and we’ll thump melons, pick up fresh food for the next few days, and select Fall flowers to brighten our kitchens. There are lots of locally made goods as well, so maybe some seasonal décor will be appropriate. Bring the kids, and pets are welcome too.  Perhaps we can stock up on some Halloween treats for tonight’s trick-or-treaters that aren’t just gobs of sugar.

Today, Sunday, November 1^st, All Saints’ Day, is a day of rest, thank God and all the saints.  Let’s sleep in late, then meet for lunch, because no one wants to cook. At Francesca’s on 95^th, 6248 95^th St., Oak Lawn, https://www.miafrancesca.com, we can start with some well-deserved Italian-style coffee, dark and strong. Then leisurely sip and talk, and linger over a fine, late lunch.

Our last adventure is one we try hard to never miss. Giordano Dance Chicago’s autumn engagement, “untamed passion” will be on stage at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, northshorecenter.org., 9501 Skokie Blvd., at 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 6^th, and we truly hope that you will join us. This company never ceases to amaze, so if you have yet to catch a performance, now is your chance. If you cannot join us tonight, there is another show tomorrow, Saturday, November 7.

And just like that, October carries us into November. It never fails that we sail quickly through the month and even taste what’s in store next month. It won’t stop now, so until next time, friends and readers, good bye, good luck, and keep adventuring.