Staff Writer
Oct 16, 2026
Quote Of The Day |
“In Skokie, belonging is built the everyday way: one neighbor making room for another.” |
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MOVIE REVIEW OF THE WEEK : Other Mommy
Other Mommy wastes its strong premise and Jessica Chastain’s dual-role hook on a generic script, leaving the film feeling undercooked even at a brisk 90 minutes.
The story follows seven-year-old Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), her distant mother Ursula (Chastain), and her doting father Russell (Jay Duplass), as Bela bonds with a real “Other Mommy” who pressures her to let it “into her heart,” but the movie never explains the stakes well enough to build dread.
The parents quickly accept something supernatural is happening and keep fleeing to new locations, but the film rarely uses setting to create fear, relying instead on Other Mommy’s reality-warping tricks.
Those effects feel inconsistent and often cheap, with unconvincing computer-generated imagery like an extended neck-stretching shot contrasted with brief, more effective practical body horror, which blunts the scares.
The movie never develops a clear identity, borrowing from It, Smile, Coraline, and The Conjuring (with James Wan producing) without landing an original visual or concept of its own.
Chastain’s dual-role conceit is diluted because Other Mommy uses disguises, and the film does not exploit the obvious suspense angle of characters being unsure who in the room is real.
The finale hinges on a “dark family secret” explaining why Bela was targeted, but the reveal arrives too late to justify what came before, and the drama feels emotionally hollow.
Chastain’s performance as a “maternal Deadite” is the main draw, but heavy facial visual effects and rapid cutting often smother her physical work, while Ursula is written as a bundle of inattentive-mother tropes with little inner life to contrast the monster’s clinginess. |
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Step into a glowing forest at the China Lights Wisconsin Festival on October 21.
This outing for adults 60 and older features more than 40 larger-than-life handmade lantern displays across nine acres of Boerner Botanical Garden in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, celebrating a centuries-old tradition of Chinese lantern festivals.
The self-guided route is about three-quarters of a mile and includes some uneven surfaces.
The outing runs from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. and is listed at Oakton Community Center in Skokie.
Transportation and admission are included; dinner is available from food vendors at your own expense. Dress for an outdoor evening. Tickets cost $38 for residents and $49 for nonresidents. |
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Skokie Area News & Headlines |
1. Skokie Community Solar Reaches 100 Subscribers 📅 Date: October 9, 2026 📍 Location: Skokie 📄 Details: Skokie Community Solar has surpassed 100 participating residents and small businesses. The program allows eligible ComEd customers to receive credits on their electricity bills from a community solar project without installing rooftop panels
2. Village Updates Short-Term Rental Rules 📅 Date: October 8, 2026 📍 Location: Village of Skokie 📄 Details: The Village Board approved changes to its short-term rental pilot program. Owner-hosted rentals may now be booked for stays of at least 24 hours without a booking limit, while unhosted rentals retain a five-night minimum and a limit of 18 bookings under the pilot program.
3. Residents Can Weigh In on Accessory Dwelling Units 📅 Date: Public feedback period through October 28, 2026 📍 Location: Skokie 📄 Details: The Village is seeking input on proposed zoning rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or smaller independent homes on the same property as a primary residence. Proposed standards cover unit size, height, parking, rental registration, design and safety
4. Halloween Events and Trick-or-Treat Dates Announced 📅 Date: October 24–31, 2026 📍 Location: Downtown Skokie, Oakton Park and other Village locations 📄 Details: Skokie's Halloween lineup includes free Downtown Skokie Trick-or-Treat on October 24 from 1–3 p.m., the Kooky Spooky Candy Trail from 3–5 p.m., and official neighborhood trick-or-treat hours on October 31 from 3–8 p.m
5. Fall Leaf Collection Is Underway 📅 Date: October–December 11, 2026 📍 Location: Residential streets throughout Skokie 📄 Details: The Village has started its seasonal leaf collection program. Residents can rake leaves into the street beside the curb, where crews collect them approximately every five to seven days, depending on weather and volume. The last day to rake leaves to the curb is December 11. The final weekly yard-waste pickup is November 11. |
Classic Pic- Hollywood Legends In one Frame |
 Classic Hollywood |
🍂 Fall Activities Around Skokie |
1. Things That Go Bump in the Night 📅 Date: Friday, October 16 🕒 Time: 6:00–8:15 PM 📍 Location: Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St. 🎟️ Admission: Registration required 📄 Details: A spooky fall evening at Emily Oaks featuring nighttime nature activities and seasonal fun. A great choice for families looking for Halloween atmosphere without going straight to a haunted house.
2. Fall Family Play Day 📅 Date: Friday, October 23 🕒 Time: 4:00–5:30 PM 📍 Location: Emily Oaks Nature Center 🎟️ Admission: Check registration details 📄 Details: Families can enjoy an afternoon of fall-themed play and outdoor activities at Emily Oaks.
3. Kooky Spooky Candy Trail 📅 Date: Saturday, October 24 🕒 Time: 3:00–5:00 PM 📍 Location: Oakton Park 🎟️ Admission: Check registration details 📄 Details: Kids can dress up and enjoy a Halloween-themed candy trail at Oakton Park.
4. Halloween Skate & Costume Contest 📅 Date: Friday, October 23 🕒 Time: 7:15–9:15 PM 📍 Location: Skatium Ice Arena 🎟️ Admission: Check with Skatium 📄 Details: Celebrate Halloween on the ice with a costume contest and seasonal skating fun.
5. Scream Scene Haunted House 📅 Date: October 23–25 and throughout the Halloween season 🕒 Time: Evening hours 📍 Location: Skokie Water Playground, 4715 Oakton St. 🎟️ Admission: Ticketed 📄 Details: The seasonal Scream Scene haunted house returns to Skokie Water Playground with new characters, sets and scenes. The Park District advises that it is not recommended for children under 10. |
From Vivaldi’s dark-hued violin concerto to Haydn’s impassioned Symphony No. 80, Music of the Baroque traces the energy and invention of 18th-century orchestral music.
Concertmaster Gina DiBello takes the spotlight in Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin, while Bach’s dance-driven Orchestral Suite No. 1 brings a buoyant contrast.
Conducted by Nicholas Kraemer, the program also features music by Telemann and C. P. E. Bach, with Mary Stolper on flute and Laura Osterlund on recorder.
The orchestra performs Sunday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Tickets are $62–$125. |
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Joke Of The Day |
Skokie has an outdoor mall called Old Orchard. In January, “just browsing” counts as an extreme sport. |
LongHorn Steakhouse Offers a Casual Steakhouse Dinner in Skokie |
LongHorn Steakhouse in Skokie is a sit-down option for diners in the Skokie–Lincolnwood area looking for a steakhouse meal. The chain is known for grilled steaks, with other hearty entrées and sides for those who want something different. It’s a casual choice for dinner with family or friends. Hours, menu items, and availability may vary, so it’s worth checking current location details before heading out. |
From candy trails to chainsaw scares, Halloween in Skokie has something for every fright level. Families can enjoy Oakton College’s free Trunk or Treat on October 23, Downtown Skokie’s free trick-or-treat afternoon on October 24, and treats among the Skokie Farmers’ Market vendors on October 25.
For a spookier outing, the Skokie Park District’s Scream Scene haunted house runs on select nights through November 1, while walking tours uncover eerie stories from the village’s past.
Costumed kids can join the Skokie Public Library’s parade on October 30.
On Halloween itself, official neighborhood trick-or-treat hours are 3 to 8 p.m. |
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Up Comming Events |
1. Things That Go Bump in the Night 📅 Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 🕒 Time: 6:00–8:15 PM 📍 Location: Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St., Skokie 🎟️ Admission: $9 per person 📄 Details: Enjoy a family-friendly nighttime trail adventure featuring costumed characters, fascinating creatures, a campfire, cider, and songs. The event is designed to be fun and educational rather than frightening. Advance ticket purchases are recommended.
2. Holiday Gift Market 📅 Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 🕒 Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM 📍 Location: Oakton Community Center, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie 🎟️ Admission: Check with the organizer for visitor admission details. 📄 Details: Get a head start on holiday shopping at this market featuring unique, handmade items from local artists and crafters. It's a great opportunity to discover special gifts while supporting local makers.
3. Skokie Health and Wellness Fair 📅 Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 🕒 Time: 9:00–11:30 AM 📍 Location: Weber Center, 9300 Weber Park Place, Skokie 🎟️ Admission: Free 📄 Details: Explore wellness resources, hear short presentations, meet health-industry vendors, and enjoy fitness demonstrations and giveaways. Free fitness activities are also scheduled as part of the event.
4. Guys and Dolls at Devonshire Playhouse 📅 Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 🕒 Time: 7:00 PM 📍 Location: Devonshire Cultural Center, 4400 Greenwood St., Skokie 🎟️ Admission: $25 📄 Details: Enjoy a lively musical comedy filled with gamblers, romance, memorable characters, and classic Broadway-style entertainment. A fun evening out for theater fans.
5. Scream Scene Haunted House 📅 Date: Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026 🕒 Time: 7:00–10:00 PM 📍 Location: Skokie Water Playground, 4715 Oakton St., Skokie 🎟️ Admission: Paid tickets; check the official event page for pricing. 📄 Details: Ready for a scare? This seasonal haunted house features frightening characters, themed sets, and spooky maze experiences. Parental discretion is advised, and the organizers do not recommend it for children under 10. |
 SPONSOR : https://www.skokiefitnesstrainer.com/ |
Interesting Facts |
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Big laughs and spontaneous music take the stage when Roxy Bellows performs at The Skokie on Friday, October 16, from 8 to 10 p.m. Expect ribald wit, improvised songs, show-stoppers and sweet ballads from the high-octane entertainer.
Roxy is performed by Patricia Musker, known for Chicago’s long-running Late Nite Catechism and the interactive comedy Flanagan’s Wake. At the piano is Laura Hall, musical director and improvisational pianist for all 21 seasons of the American Whose Line Is It Anyway? The lobby and bar open at 7 p.m.; general admission is $25. |
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Wisconsin’s fall colors look even better from the water. On October 15, adults over 60 can take a 90-minute cruise aboard the Lake Lawn Queen, with views of Delavan Lake’s historic shoreline, lakeside homes and wooded landscapes dressed in crimson, gold and amber. The Skokie Park District outing runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes transportation, the boat tour and lunch afterward. The event is listed at Oakton Community Center in Skokie, making it an easy way to spend a day enjoying autumn scenery beyond town. |
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Q/A Questions |
Q: Can you reach Skokie by train from Chicago? A: Yes. The CTA Yellow Line runs from Howard to two Skokie stops: Oakton-Skokie and Dempster-Skokie. Q: Where can you find art outdoors in Skokie? A: The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park places public artworks along a path beside the North Shore Channel. Q: Is there a place to explore history through personal stories? A: The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie features survivor testimony alongside exhibits about the Holocaust and human rights. |