HotHouse Town Hall Forum: The 2004 Election - The Last 7 Days and Beyond

With one week to go, where does the nation stand as it gets ready for the Big Day? Will there be any surprises before the nation goes out to vote? How do the two parties stack against each other in these final hours? Besides Kerry-Bush, what other elections are key this November? And what effects if any will these elections have for the future of the USA? Together with curator Larry Bennett, Political Science professor at DePaul University, HotHouse will be hosting a series of free discussions building up to election night. Guest panelists from media, universities, and the public at large will present all aspects related to the coming elections, with ample time for debate and discussion to follow. Voter registration will take place at all events. Panelists tonight include: Laura Washington, Ida B. Wells Professor, DePaul University; former editor of The Chicago Reporter, Alan Gitelson, Professor of Political Science, Loyola University; author of American Political Parties: Stability and Change (Houghton Mifflin) and American Elections: The Rules Matter (Longman), and Gil Gott, Assistant Professor of International Studies, DePaul University. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is free and is open to all ages. HotHouse is located at 31 East Balbo, Chicago, IL. Limited parking is available at meters on the street. Secure discounted, indoor parking is available at the 7th Street Garage at 710 S. Wabash Ave. for $8 with a coupon available at the Box Office.

And I Should Vote Because... @ Schubas

Tonight the Chicago Council On Foreign Relations and Schubas present: GOAt-- Globally Occupying The Attention Of Chicago's Untapped Audience featuring Jan Schakowsky (IL Rep., 9th Dis., U.S. House of Representatives) with Dan Brady (Rep., 88th Dis., IL General Assembly) and Moderators & Performers The Aluminum Group. Brought to you in part by: WLUW 88.7 FM. In October, GOAt brings you "And I Should Vote Because...?" once a month through the November election, CCFR and Schubas will bring to the Schubas' stage two diverse speakers, who will debate, discuss and take questions on various topics connected to one common theme. Schubas is located at 3159 N. Southport, call 773-525-2508 or 312-821-7529. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Haunting History in Evanston

This Halloween, Evanston’s Charles Gates Dawes House will once again take on a spectacularly spooky atmosphere as magician and Halloween expert David Parr returns to lead visitors on eerie interactive tours of the historic mansion. From Oct. 22 through 31, at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, Parr will lead small groups on dramatic tours of the mansion during which each room offers an encounter with the uncanny and supernatural. Objects move on their own accord, cryptic messages are written by invisible hands, and shadowy forms lurk in hallways. Equal parts history and mystery, Parr’s spooky tours offer visitors a side of the historic home that few ever encounter. The Dawes House, built in 1896, is an essential part of the show. The three-story historic mansion, once the home of U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes, is distinguished by its dark oak woodwork and majestic stained glass. Chosen because of its massive, foreboding appearance to be the home of mob boss John Rooney (portrayed by Paul Newman) in the feature film Road to Perdition, the house’s vast spaces, dim lighting, and shadowy corridors make it the perfect setting for Parr’s type of eerie Halloween event. The Charles Gates Dawes House is located at 225 Greenwood St., Evanston. Performances are at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, with additional performances at 9 p.m. Oct. 28–31 and at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. Spectators attending performances at 8 p.m. or later should park only on Greenwood Street. Tickets are $20 per person. For reservations or more information, call 847-475-3410, email evanstonhs@northwestern.edu or visit Parr's website.

The Bushy Plays @ The Hideout

The Bushy Plays, four short plays about a man, a woman, and the Leader of the Free World take place tonight at The Hideout, at 1354 W. Wabansia. This is the fourth installment from The Clowny Collective: a group of four leading Chicago playwrights (Lisa Dillman, Rebecca Gilman, Mark Guarino and Brett Neveu) who joined forces in 2002 to create hilarious short pieces surrounding a common theme. Tickets are only $5, doors open at 6:30 pm., 18 and over. Call (773) 227-4433 for more information.