Wedged between the warehouses and meatpacking plants on Fulton Market are these hidden gems...

Jupiter Outpost
1139 W. Fulton Market

Pivot Boutique
1101 W. Fulton Market

Carnivale
702 W. Fulton Market

Otom
951 W. Fulton Market

The Publican
845 W. Fulton Market

Lumen
839 W. Fulton Market

Local brewers Goose Island have developed the perfect beer for this time of year: Harvest Ale. It's a brew that falls into the style known as ESB (extra special bitter)... or what the Brits normally refer to as "bitters."

If the first "Don't Vote" video didn't drive the point home, a buttload of celebs (and Steven Spielberg) want you to go out an make your voice heard!

Hope this clip inspires you to scare the living bejesus out of a loved one. Nothing says I care like sitting in a garbage can all day just to see someone wet themselves.

These guys are ready for Halloween. Are you?

All month long, we've been highlighting ways to celebrate Halloween - from area haunted houses, the best candy and where to find the best masks. Below are all the clips in one handy spot.

One of our blog readers, Bill sent us a link to this video someone with way too much time threw together of Barack Obama singing Kanye West's "Stronger."

Obviously he's never really sang the song on tape, so the editing here is all over the place. The editor takes some liberties with the actual lyrics of the song, don't say we didn't warn you.
Enjoy!

The Chicago International Film Festival held a "surprise screening" at the Music Box tonight. No hints were given as to what the movie would be - you just buy a ticket, and you're stuck with what starts playing. So, fun-loving moviegoers purchased their seats, hoping to see one of the year's most anticipated new films. And the surprise movie WAS......

Guy Ritchie's "RockNRolla?" Ugh. Let me add to the collective groan echoing throughout the theater. As I was sitting there awaiting the movie's start, people around me were speculating as to what they were about to see.

One man was crossing his fingers for J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." Another was hoping the next "Harry Potter" film would be getting another Chicago test screening. Heck, one guy even hoped that it would be one of the two previews we saw before the main title (Vince Vaughn's "Four Christmases" and the "Watchmen" graphic novel flick). But nope, we got "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 3." If I could understand half of the dialogue in the movie, I'd tell you how much I liked it.

OK, so maybe the movie wasn't THAT bad, but it definitely wasn't what I was looking forward to seeing. I do hope that the CIFF continues this practice, however. It was good fun until the curtain opened!

CHICAGO, Illinois (MX) - In a bizarre ratings ploy a Chicago television host tattooed his face with the shows "M" logo. Movie critic / reporter Marcus Leshock appeared on the cable television program "Metromix on CLTV" donning his new body art on Thursday. Friday he made a statement on his blog saying he thought he was doing what was best for the show and station.

It's not like I spent $22,000 on a make-up artist, or $150,000 on a new wardrobe. All I did was try and generate some hype for the show. If that's wrong I don't think I want to be right.

Turns out Leshock was wrong, He has been suspended from his hosting duties until the tattoo could be removed with a laser. When reached for comment, CLTV did not return our phone calls.

More after the jump...

I met Jennifer Hudson in 2006. She held a press junket in Chicago to promote her upcoming film "Dreamgirls," where she would hopefully make a big enough splash to jumpstart an acting career. After screening the film, I was pretty much sold that she would win every major award out there, and that her life would change forever.

Who knew that just two years later, now an Academy Award winning actress and full blown pop star celebrating her debut album, her life would change again. Last Friday when we got the news that Jennifer's mother had been killed in an apparent domestic shooting, we were shocked. But to hear that she also lost her brother, and now possibly her nephew? Well, we are left speechless.

These are tough times in Chicago. As the news broke over the weekend, popular news websites like The Drudge Report had headlines calling Chicago the "murder capital of the U.S." It's hard to argue, right now we're beating both New York and Los Angeles in homicide numbers. We have to remember that however tragic the blow to Jennifer Hudson may be, there are many others in our city who are mourning as well. Let's hope that something good can happen here. Maybe the conversation will create such demand, that we will finally figure out some way to stop this. We have to stop killing each other, and we have to do it now.

After the jump you'll find my story with Jennifer Hudson before "Dreamgirls" opened in 2006. She is one of Hollywood's best success stories, and despite these recent events, she still remains the symbol that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Dive! Dive! Marcus takes on fast food subs in his latest fast food.

Halloween is always a good time to break out the ol' horror films. Last year we hit the streets to find out your favorites. I posted the video on YouTube - nearly 50,000 people have watched it, and more than 220 viewers left text comments with their picks. The demand was there, so I hit the streets and made a sequel. What is the best scary movie of all time - PART 2!!!!!....

In case you missed last year's segment, you can find it right after the jump....

The organizer's of the Chicago International Film Festival are getting a jump on Halloween - tricking their audience and then treating them to the debut of a major film. The 'Surprise Film' will be held at the Music Box Theater on Monday night, but no one in the crowd will know what film they're seeing until the opening credits roll.
And like any good surprise, the fest has released several hints about several different big movies - just enough to drive you completely nuts. Read their press release below - your guess is as good as ours.

Want to hit a haunted house this weekend? That and much more in our web-exclusive Metromix planner.

A guide to Chicagoland's best haunted houses after the jump...

Wanna taste the forbidden flavors from Cuba?

90 Miles Cuban Cafe
3101 N. Clybourn Avenue

Cafe con Leche Bucktown
1732 N. Milwaukee Avenue

After two years of campaigning, it looks like this is what passes for breaking election news. Barack Obama has indeed sneezed on a reporter, allegedly not on purpose. I was unable to confirm a rumor that Mr. Obama's sneeze can cure cancer. One thing we know is true - this fortunate news reporter will now live three years longer after being blessed by "The One."

And remember, don't forget to vote early!

Happy Halloween from the Drunkins!!! A few people sent me this (including my Mom, strange). It made me laugh so I thought I'd pass it along.

Ever have someone put a song in your head and it just won't go away? In the Metromix office we try to stick crappy songs in each others heads on a daily basis.

To spread the agony we thought it would be a good idea every Wednesday to burn a song into your subconscious. This week is a good one, Patrick Swayze's "She's Like the Wind."

You can thank Marcus for this one... He actually thinks Swayze can sing.

Video of our favorite actor / singer after the jump.

We're number one! We're number one! Okay, well some of us are number one. Mainly chef Laurent Gras of L20, which Esquire Magazine just named Restaurant of the Year. I have yet to treat myself to the upscale seafood at the fine dining restaurant inside the Belden-Stratford, where a four-course prix-fixe menu will set you back $110! But, one of my favorite newbies also made the esteemed list. Congrats are in order to the folks at Mercat A La Planxa, as well as Takashi Yagihasi for this namesake spot in Bucktown.

A lot of records come across the Metromix desk. The one we're spinning this week is Meaghan Smith. She just dropped an EP, "The Cricket's Quartet" last week on iTunes. Check out the videos for "I Know" & "A Little Love" and let us know what you think.

I'm trying a new segment here on the blog called SIGN OF THE WEEK. I love places that get creative with their signage, and since I pass so many on a daily basis, I figured I'd share them. If you know a local place that has a good one, let me know in the comments! My first entry comes courtesy Weiche's Inn at Rt. 83 and Hwy. 60 in Ivanhoe. Maybe not the "classiest" sign, but if there were ever a time to use censored profanity, the 2008 Chicago Cubs season is it:

On this weeks show we counted down the best presidential movies of all time. The countdown is as follows, if you think we are crazy you need to tell us why.

#4. My Fellow Americans

More after the jump...

Animator / film-maker Dustin McLean is a really funny guy. He's been featured on G4, Rollingstone & Bravo. In his latest projects he's taking old music videos and writing words to literally go with what is happening. Check out his takes on Tears For Fears & A-Ha

Weird Al is back! This time putting rapper T.I. through the parody machine. There isn't a music video for this one yet, we'll keep you posted when it hits YouTube.

The real song & video after the jump...

With Halloween just around the corner, why not imbibe in a beer that brings the spookiness of the season to your tastebuds? Great Lakes (out of Cleveland) has the perfect brew for any adult trick or treater: Nosferatu. A tribute to the 1920's vampire classic, it's label depicts the eeriee Count Morlock staring back at you, beckoning his victim to partake of his wicked concoction.

Usually, it takes months of planning and an entire weekend for ladies to schedule a shopping trip, a massage session and a night out dancing with the girls. But the people at 'Blush: Celebrating the Power of Pink' managed to throw all this and more into one night while at the same time benefiting charity.

The event kicks off this Thursday, October 23 from at 6:30 pm River East Art Center 465 E. Illinois and benefits American Cancer Society and Imerman Angels. Tickets are $35.00 at the door. $25 for runners from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k on October 19. Portion of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign and Imerman Angels.

Because it's all going down at Noon today...which is in, like, 45 minutes! To celebrate their one year anniversary, the Jersey Boys will give away nearly 4,000 pieces of Home Run Inn pizza at various downtown between 12-1 p.m. today. The locations are as follows:

Bank of America Theatre (18 W.Monroe St.)

Couch Place – James M. Nederlander Way (State St. between Lake and Randolph), Pioneer Court (401 N Michigan Ave)

Illinois Center Plaza (111 E. Wacker)

Cast members will be handing out the slices....be sure to tell them that "metromix TV" sent you there.

Rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg and Rapper-turned-actor-but-still-rapper-too Ludacris chat with Marcus about their upcoming film, Max Payne - which hits theaters Friday. Who knew Luda was from Chicago?

Uber Cubs fan, Chicago-native and Saturday Night Live alum Bill Murray made an appearance on SNL's prime time special Thursday night in the opening debate sketch. He asked the candidates one of the hardest issues facing America: Can the Cubs ever win? (Note: Bill asks his question when the timer hits the 3:30 mark)

Indulge in some seasonal apply delights...

~The (Ginormous) Apple Pancake
Walker Bros Pancake House

~Apple Cider-Glazed Sweetbreads
Graham Elliot

~Warm Apple Pie Cocktail
Silver Cloud

~Hot Apple Fritters
Dorado

Yes she is - according to the National Enquirer. They've got breaking news running on their website about the matter. As the stock market continues to tumble, apparently the Spears family isn't too worried about their retirement assests and college funds!

Bear in mind this is the National Enquirer here, but as of late, they seem to be hitting it big with some bombshell stories. And I apologize for writing about this, but with all of this "looming great depression" coverage we've been hammered with lately, we could use the break!

Jackie sat down with the stars of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Michael Cera and Kat Dennings.

Dennis Quaid was in town promoting his new film 'The Express.' Marcus sat down with the actor and discussed football, Ditka and raising twins.

Who's got the looks? Who's got the brains? Who's got everything?
Why you do! If you have tickets to Ben Folds at the Congress Theater on Friday night. And - bonus! - Aussie songstress Missy Higgins is opening for the loquacious piano man. Higgins' earthy sound and personal lyrics could be the background songs for scenes on The Hills - if, you know, The Hills was a show of substance. So save your mascara tears for whatever band Audrina is 'discovering' and instead, head to the Congress Friday for a fun night - and don't forget to wear your black t-shirt.

Fall has been officially here for the last few weeks and that means it's time to putaway the summer kolschs and wheat ales... or at least drink them down already! Dark and heavier beers are the way to go for the darker and colder days to come. While recently musing around the local liquor store, I came across an interesting 22oz. bottle of Three Floyds Moloko Milk Stout. As their brew master has told us before, "we're not known for our subtlety." Not only does that go for their beers, but also their wacky label art. Attached to the bottle is strange japanese-style psychedelic pop art label depicting the their iconic Alpha King.