Posted in Candy Corn Carne Episodes Halloween Melrose Park

‘We don’t just sell rubber Halloween masks. We sell characters’ – Zagone Studios (Episode 893)

Every year, Halloween fans scramble to find the perfect masks and costumes to represent themselves through Spooky Season. For decades, a local mask maker has been there for them. Zagone Studios in Melrose Park has been making handmade (!) masks…

Posted in Candy Corn Carne Episodes Halloween haunted house

A visit with Tim Virgin to favorite haunt HellsGate (Episode 892)

Let me just get this out of the way: The annual opening of HellsGate is one of my most anticipated events of the year. The immersive, engaging haunt is world class, and I leave there smiling and giddy every year….

Posted in Halloween Avondale Candy Corn Carne Episodes horror Small business

Horror House scares up business in Avondale (Episode 891)

The Horror House (2911 W. Belmont) has been open for just over a year, and has quickly established itself as an essential part of Chicago’s pop culture landscape. As Halloween approaches, I sat down with Horror House co-owner Vinny Malave…

Posted in Halloween Candy Corn Carne Episodes

Halloween season is ‘go time’ for monster band The Ooozin’ Ahhhs (Episode 890)

I’m joined by members of monster band the Ooozin’ Ahhhs for this Halloween/Candy Corn Carne episode. Maximilian, Mx. Supreme, Boris and Icfos packed their scary selves into my car to talk about their origins in Romania, the rich history of…

Posted in Episodes Halloween

A visit to 13th Floor Haunted House with You Died (Episode 786)

This episode finds Car Con Carne at 13th Floor Haunted House (5050 River Road, Schiller Park). Featured in this episode: Fred Frey (frontman/songwriter, You Died), Zach Spangler (video producer, ZSpang) and Bryan Kopp (Senior General Manager, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group)…

Posted in Episodes Halloween

A visit to Old Joliet Haunted Prison with James the Boneless (Episode 785)

It’s that time of year! Car Con Carne hit the road to visit the The Old Joliet Haunted Prison (401 Woodruff Rd, Joliet, IL 60432). Sharing in the spooktacular with me were James Farber and Patrick McDermott of local band…

Posted in Episodes Halloween

B-Movie themes collide with Chicago in George Zak’s latest artwork (Episode 677)

Artist George Zak is back with new paintings to show off. See them in person at the Liar’s Club Spooky Day Kickoff on Thursday 10/28!

Posted in breweries Brewpub Episodes Halloween

Is Wolfden Brewing haunted? (Episode 674)

Is Wolfden Brewing haunted? There’s an awful lot of lore around the 170 year-old house to support that belief. Wolfden GM Kyle Brauch joined me to talk about the unexplained phenomena at Wolfden, as well as the brewery’s “Murder Den”…

Posted in cinema Halloween

The Chicago International Film Festival ‘After Dark’ (Episode 670)

Pictured: “The Sadness,” part of the “After Dark” series at the Chicago International Film Festival

Posted in Episodes Halloween

Haunted house time! Let’s go to 13th Floor and the Old Joliet Haunted Prison! (Episode 669)

? Spooky season is here! ? Halloween season is my favorite time of the year, and haunted houses are a big part of it. Bryan Kopp, Senior General Manager of 13th Floor Chicago and the Old Joliet Haunted Prison, joined…