Halloween

Moonlight Cruise: Mystic Blue Cruises presents a Halloween cruise boarding at 8:30 p.m. and cruise to 11:30 p.m. Oct. 31 from Navy Pier. Come in your best Halloween attire. Tasty treats, a costume contest with prizes, dancing and the Halloween fireworks. $34.90 (per person, excludes taxes, service charges and other fees). Guests must be at least 21 years old to board. For more information or to purchase tickets call 877-299-7854 or visit www.mysticbluecruises.com.

Masquerade Ball: The Drake Hotel is hosting their 4th Annual Masquerade Ball on from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday, October 31 2009 at the Palm Court, Tea Room & Lounge at The Drake, 140 E. Walton Place. The Drake was known for throwing luxurious masquerade balls back in its heyday and is continuing the tradition.Event features drink specials, "Vodoo Punch", dancing floor and a masquerade mask per person. No Cover but 2 drinks minimum applies. For inquiries, Shaun Rajah at 312-932-4619, Shaun.Rajah@hilton.com.

Dead on Division: The annual Halloween revelry will take place at six Chicago institutions- The Original Mother's, 26 W. Division St.; Mother's Too, 14 W. Division St.; Bootleggers, 13 W. Division St.; The Lodge, 21 W. Division St.; She-Nannigans, 16 W. Division St.; and The Hangge-Uppe, 14 W. Elm St. Wandering freaks, zombies, psychics and jugglers will roam Division Street and these locations. Most locations will feature a costume contest around the stroke of midnight. Go to www.RushAndDivision.com for more details.

Navy Pier: Visit Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, east of the downtown area, at 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-7437 or www.navypier.com.

n The Fear Haunted House: Open 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays Oct. 2 through Nov. 1 and Oct. 28. In South Gateway Park. For more info, go to www.thefearhauntedhouse.com.

n Carnival of Curiosities: The amazing and strange Carnival of Curiosities is open Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m., Saturdays, 2 to 10 p.m. and Sundays, 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 2 through 31. Pier Park is a spectacle of mind-blowing feats and living human wonders. Navy Pier Park and Dock St. This is a free event. For more info, go to www.navypier.com/halloween/index.html.

n Fall Fireworks: Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. Sept. 18 through Oct. 31.

Chicago Attractions

Brookfield Zoo: Brookfield Zoo is located at First Ave. between Ogden Ave. and 31st St., Brookfield. Metra stop is Hollywood. 866-GoToZoo or 800-201-0784. www.czs.org.

n Dinosaurs Alive!: Multi-sensory exhibit features lifelike creatures in an outdoor forest setting. Recommended. Daily through October. Extended DinoNites will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through the end of the October.

Lincoln Park Zoo: 2001 N. Clark St. 312-742-2246 or www.lpzoo.com.

Thanksgiving Parade: The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade is now recruiting volunteers for the parade from to 6 a.m. to noon Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Opportunities in many areas are still available for individuals, 12 years of age or older, families and groups — To apply, visit: www.chicagofestivals.org/volunteer.html

Chicago Cultural Center: 77 E. Randolph St. Toll free hotline 1-877-CHICAGO.

n The White City Tour: Go back in time on this half-day bus tour and revisit the White City, Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Offered by Chicago Neighborhood Tours, Chicago Office of Tourism. Monthly tours, next tours are Oct. 31 and Nov. 21. Check in at the Cultural Center at 9:30 a.m. on Randolph. Admission (including lunch) is $50/$45. For more info or reservations, visit www.chicagoneighborhoodtours or call 312-742-1190.

Metra's $5 Weekend Pass: Unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Purchase Saturday and/or Sunday on the train or at Metra ticket offices. Weekend parking is available at all stations.

Visitor Information Centers: At Chicago Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. and the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. Toll free hotline 1-877-CHICAGO.

Music

Magners Irish Sessions: The sessions will host Chicago's best known traditional Irish musicians playing sets of impromptu songs in intimate yet lively settings. Sept. 23 through Nov. 5.

• Danny and the Defectors: 9 to 11 p.m.. at Hidden Shamrock, 2723 N. Halsted, 773-883-0304.The Holy Hour House Band, Oct. 1 at Celtic Knot Public House, 626 Church St., Evanston, 847-864-1679.

Light Opera Works: Box Office at 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Main Stage at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. 847-869-6300 or www.LightOperaWorks.com.

Lyric Opera of Chicago: 20 N. Wacker. 312-332-2244. www.lyric.org.

n Faust: Performed through Nov. 7. Tix $33 to $207. Call the Lyric Opera or go to the Web Site.

Symphony Center: 200 S. Michigan Ave. 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114, www.cso.org, or Symphony Center Box Office at 220 S. Michigan Ave.

n Latino Music Festival: As part of Chicago's 2009 Latino Music Festival, a chamber ensemble of musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, training orchestra of the CSO, presents two free concerts at 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at the People's Music School in Uptown, and at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 in Buntrock Hall. These performances are free; no tickets are required.

n Los Lobos: Los Lobos and special guests The Duhks perform on Nov. 1. Tix are $25 to $50. 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114, www.cso.org, or Symphony Center Box Office.

Films

26th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival: 265 films from 40 countries will be screened this year from Oct. 22 through Nov. 1. Kids and parents will have the opportunity to view handpicked films from around the world that entertain and educate both kids and adults at theaters across the city. For schedule and ticket information, visit www.cicff.org.

Theater

Cut to the Chase—A Lunar Troika: A series of one-act productions produced by The Artistic Home's Acting Studio is presented Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 21 at The Artistic Home, 3914 N. Clark St. The three original plays include "Late Afternoon, July 20th," "Smilin' Jack" and "Purgatory." Tix are $10 at 866-811-4111 or www.theartistichome.org. Red Line El Sheridan stop.

Dooby Dooby Moo: Lifeline Theatre KidSeries presents the world premiere musical adaptation based on the popular bestseller by Doreen Cronin. The County Fair is coming, and the grand prize in the talent competition is a trampoline! Duck wants that prize. Will they get it? For kids ages five to ten. Runs Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 6 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. $12 kids and adults. For Tix or info, 773-761-4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com. Red Line Morse stop.

End Days:Next Theatre Company presents "End Days," Deborah Zoe Laufer's comedy about one family's adventure to find faith and renewal. At the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Tix $25 to $40 available at the Next Theatre Box Office, 847- 475-1875 ext. 2 and at www.nexttheatre.org.

Fake: In 1914, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous "Piltdown Man," who rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science.Through Nov. 8 at Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tix $20 to $70 at box office, 312-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org. Highly recommended.

Holes: Fourteen year-old Stanley Yelnats' bad luck lands him in Camp Green Lake where every day he is forced to dig holes under the hot Texas sun. Presented at The Theatre School at DePaul University, Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive at Michigan. Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Oct. 27 and runs through Dec. 5. Additional performances Dec. 2 and 4. Tix are $8 and are available at www.theatreschool.depaul.edu or the Box Office at 312-922-1999.

The House on Mango Street: Steppenwolf for Young Adults season opens with "The House on Mango Street" based on the novel by Chicagoan Sandra Cisneros. A coming of age story of a young girl growing up in tiny home on rundown Mango Street in one of Chicago's culturally diverse neighborhoods.Through Nov. 8 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Weekday matinees are reserved for school groups, additional performances available to the public. Tix $20/$15 students at the box office, 312-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org.

Spoon River Anthology: To open their 29th season, The Saint Sebastian Players look to their Illinois roots through author Edgar Lee Masters classic, opening Oct. 23 and running through Nov. 15 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey. Fridays through Sundays. Tix at $15/$10/$7. For more info, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org. Tix also at www.ticketweb.com.

Supernatural Chicago: Interactive tales of Chicago's paranormal history. Special Halloween shows in October. 7:30 p.m. Fridays in the basement of Excalibur nightclub, 632 N. Dearborn. The $25 admission price includes the show, two beverages and admission to the club for those over 21. All ages are welcome to the show. www.SupernaturalChicago.com. 312-266-1944. Good value. Recommended.

Tell It & Speak It & Think It & Breathe It: The Ruckus Theater company present an evening of short plays inspired by great lyrics. Co-curated by Allison Shoemaker, Mitch Vermeersch and Melissa Pryor, Oct. 25 through Nov. 4 at The Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave. Tix are $10. Tix and more info at www.RuckusTheater.org, tickets@ruckustheater.org or 773-769-RCKS(7257).

Comedy

Zanies Comedy Club: 1548 N. Wells St. 312-337-4027 or www.ZANIES.com.

• Dan Chopin: Oct. 27 through 31. $22.

• Rising Star Showcase: Nov. 2. $10.

The Chicago Improv: 5 Woodfield Rd., Schaumburg, (inside Woodfield Mall). (847) 240-2001 or www.improv.com.

• Jeremy Hotz: Oct. 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 1. $17/$20.

Comedy Sportz Theatre: An interactive improv experience. 929 W. Belmont. 773-549-8080. www.comedysportzchicago.com. Late-night comedy, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

n Improv Fun: Guest players from Ensemble member of Stage Left Theatre, Oct. 29.

Museums/Galleries

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-922-7827 or www.adlerplanetarium.org.

n Telescopes — Through the Looking Glass: From the earliest telescopes used by Galileo, to the Hubble Space Telescope and into the future with leading-edge technologies. www.adlerplanetarium.org.

Art Institute of Chicago: At 111 S. Michigan Ave. 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 312-443-3600 or www.artic.edu.

n Exhibits at SAIC: School of the Art Institute of Chicago presents free and open to the public exhibits in October and November. For more info and gallery locations, visit www.saic.edu. "Hypothetical Planets," Oct. 13 through Nov. 20, Rymer Gallery; "Ingrid Olson & Olivia Wendel: Together Apart," Oct. 20 through Nov. 6, Gallery X; "Clare Rosean: Good Clean Fun," Oct. 22 through Nov. 6, LG Space; Fall Undergraduate Exhibition, Oct. 31 through Nov. 14, Sullivan Galleries.

The Field Museum: 1400 S. LakeShore Drive. 312-922-9410 or www.fieldmuseum.org.

n The Nature of Diamonds: Explores all aspects of the diamond, from its geolocical origins, to its place in history, art, modern technology and science. Open Oct. 23 through March 28 on the museum's main level.

n Grainger Hall of Gems: The newly remodeled Grainger Hall of Gems permanent exhibit on the second floor reopens on Oct. 23.

n Ernst and Young 3D Theater: Mummies — Secrets of the Pharaohs. Opened Oct. 9. $5 with basic admission.

Frank Lloyd Preservation Trust: Wright's Home and Studio, 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park. Robie House, 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave. 708-848-1976. www.GoWright.org.

• Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House: Tours Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tix — House tour: $15/$12; House and neighborhood tour: $25/$20, and are available at the museum shop or at GoWright.org.

• After Hours at Robie House: Coctail soiree and a casual tour of Wright's icon of modernism. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 in Hyde Park. $30/$35. Advance tix recommended, but walk-ins welcome. Tix at wwwGoWright.org.