Chicago Fully Embraces Fall

BEST DATE NEWS

Oct. 23, 2025: Best Date News Volume #149

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s edition, you’ll read about the “Warm Blob’”, the Salt Shed’s expansion plans, restaurant openings and closings, the Foo Fighters, weekend plans and more!

Oct. 23: National Holidays

• National Horror Movie Day

• National Boston Cream Pie Day

• National iPod Day

• National Croc Day

• National TV Talk Show Host Day

Sponsored by our friends at Jack O’Lantern World

Must-Do Halloween Activity

• Jack O’Lantern World: This one-of-a-kind fall experience deserves a spot on your October must-visit list. Jack O’Lantern World is one of the most unique activities you’ll find in the Chicagoland area this Halloween season.

• You’ll walk through an interactive world filled with thousands of hand-carved pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, featuring incredible designs and impressive displays that light up the night. Each section is created by talented artists who turn pumpkins into glowing works of art.

• There are two Jack O’Lantern World locations this year: Paulus Park in Lake Zurich and The Forge in Lemont. Both offer the perfect fall date night or family outing surrounded by the sights, sounds and spirit of Halloween.

• Jack O’Lantern World is open through Nov. 1 and tickets start at $17.99.

Chicago News

• The Blob: Chicago could be in for its coldest and snowiest winter in years. According to CBS News Chicago, a weather phenomenon called “The Blob” is creating record warm ocean temperatures that could send Arctic air straight into the Midwest. The only similar event on record happened during the winter of 2013 when temperatures fell below zero more than 20 times and nearly six feet of snow hit the city. If forecasts are right, this year could bring a winter Chicago hasn’t seen in a long time.

• The Salt Shed: The team behind The Salt Shed is exploring plans for a major expansion along the North Branch of the Chicago River. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, developers from Blue Star Properties, 16” on Center and Skydeck Capital are eyeing a five-acre site next door for a new open-air venue that could hold up to 15,000 people for concerts, street festivals and large music events. The project is still in early stages but the group is evaluating what would be a $60 to $70 million investment that could host 30 to 40 events each summer. Drop a comment on our post with what you think they should name it.

• Portillo’s: Wrigleyville is set to get its own Portillo’s with plans for a new location at 3519 N Clark St, just south of Addison and steps from Wrigley Field. The site was previously home to a 7-Eleven and would become the chain’s fourth restaurant within city limits. The project is still in early planning stages, but Portillo’s says it’s continuing to explore new opportunities to expand across Chicago and beyond.

• Restaurant Closings: There have been several notable restaurant closings in Chicago this month including Etta, Yolk and Amber Agave in Wicker Park. Etta is quickly being replaced by Dēliz Italian Steakhouse, which is expected to open in December. Parson’s Chicken & Fish is also closing its Andersonville location, Gino & Marty’s in the West Loop has shut down and Big Star West Town’s final day is tomorrow.

• No CTA Trains: The Loop elevated tracks will shut down this weekend as the CTA pauses all Brown, Green, Orange and Pink line service downtown for major track work. From 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Monday, crews will replace key switching equipment at the Tower 18 junction and complete other repairs. Free shuttle buses will run in place of trains, and riders should plan for longer travel times throughout the weekend. Service along the Red and Blue lines will be unaffected.

Just For Fun

• Foo Fighters: The Foo Fighters just announced that they are returning to Chicago next summer as part of their 12-stop Take Cover Tour. The band will play Soldier Field on Aug. 8, marking the third stop on the North American stadium tour, which kicks off in Toronto and wraps up in Las Vegas. Fans can register for presale access now, with early access beginning as soon as Oct. 28. General public tickets go on sale Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.

• Knife Edge: A new Apple TV+ docuseries called Knife Edge is shining a spotlight on Chicago’s fine dining scene as chefs chase or fight to keep their MICHELIN stars. From Executive Producer Gordon Ramsay, the eight-part series follows chefs around the world as they build and refine restaurants in cities across the United States including Chicago, New York and California, as well as in the Nordic countries, Great Britain and Ireland, Mexico and Italy. Featured Chicago restaurants include Cariño, Esmé and Feld.

• Chicago Bulls: It was a happy opening night for the Chicago Bulls as they began their 2025-2026 NBA season with a 115-111 win over the Detroit Pistons at the United Center. It was a strong team performance with Nikola Vucevic, Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey leading the way. The highlight of the night came from rising star Matas Buzelis, who electrified the crowd with an incredible posterizing dunk.

• 6 p.m. Sunsets: This past Monday marked the final 6 p.m. sunset of 2025 in Chicago, officially signaling the start of the darker months ahead. From now until early March, the sun will set before 6 p.m. each day, making evenings feel a little shorter. There are 139 days between 6 p.m. sunsets, with the next one not arriving until March 8, 2026.

• Tacotlán: The popular birria spot Tacotlán is expanding with a new location inside Time Out Market Chicago in Fulton Market. The original restaurant, located at 4312 W Fullerton Ave in Hermosa, has built a loyal following for its flavorful tacos and quesabirria plates. The new spot will celebrate its grand opening on Nov. 2, giving Southsiders and downtown diners an easier way to get their Tacotlán fix.

Weekend Plans

• Dog Halloween Party: The 38th annual Streeterville Dog Halloween Party returns Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago near the Lake Shore Park back gate. More than 300 dogs and their owners will take part in a costume parade at 9:45 a.m., with treats, photo ops and even a virtual cat costume contest for feline friends. Admission is free with an optional $10 donation to PAWS Chicago, and the rain date is Sunday, Oct. 26.

• Howl-o-ween: In other Halloween, animal-themed events, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Adults Night Out: Howl-o-ween returns tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Guests 21 and over can explore the zoo after hours with a jump-scare haunted trail, animal chats, face painting, a live DJ and seasonal bars throughout the grounds. Costumes are encouraged, though full face masks and large inflatables may be restricted in some areas.

• Spooktacular: Lincoln Park’s annual Spooktacular is back Oct. 25-26 from 1 to 4 p.m., turning Clark Street and Lincoln Avenue into a neighborhood-wide trick-or-treat route. Families can enjoy activities like face painting, photo booths and a pet costume contest while collecting candy from local businesses along the way. See the Lincoln Avenue map for Saturday stops and the Clark Street map for Sunday stops.

• Meet Me On Milwaukee: The last Meet Me on Milwaukee of the year is happening this weekend on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event transforms Wicker Park’s Milwaukee Avenue between North/Damen and Ashland into a pedestrian-friendly stretch filled with outdoor dining, live music, local vendors and activities for all ages. Here is a reminder of what it looks like.

• Free Vinyl Event: Music Direct is giving away free records this Saturday, Oct. 25, at its store in Andersonville at 1811 W Bryn Mawr Ave as it phases out its used record division. LPs will be pre-sorted by genre into sealed mystery boxes of about 35 to 40 albums, with categories like rock, country, classical, jazz and more. Each person can take up to two boxes per round and get back in line for more while supplies last. The Free Vinyl Event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last week we asked if you had your Halloween costume picked out yet, and 71% of you said you didn’t. A few readers who are ahead of the game told us they are dressing up as a cowboy, the Joker and Batman duo and a scary clown.

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 7:12 a.m. (8 minutes later)

• Sunset: 5:56 p.m. (10 minutes earlier)

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