Chicago’s International Film Festival – the longest running competitive film festival in North America

The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual festival held every fall. It was founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, and is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America.

This year, the festival takes place from Oct. 11-22, and is the 59th installment of the festival.

Kutza started the Chicago International Film Festival as an alternative to the commercial Hollywood movies that dominated Chicago’s theaters. Seeking out the best of international cinema, the festival has made it possible for a world of film previously unavailable in Chicago.

This year, there are more than 100 feature films and 60 shorts films from around the world. There are 60 movies in English being played at the festival this year, from animation, documentaries, comedies, dramas, horror and more.

This year’s line-up of movies is full of contenders for Academy Awards and box office hopefuls.

Some highlighted films at the festival this year include “The Boy and the Heron” directed by Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, “Eric LaRue,” which is actor Michael Shannon’s directorial debut, “All of Us Strangers” from David Fincher, and “Poor Things” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

There was also a free block party, in commemoration with the festival, on Wednesday Oct. 11. The party took over Southport Avenue with live music, festival highlights, food, and goods from local vendors.

The Chicago International Film Festival is a great opportunity every October to enjoy a bit of Chicago’s culture and explore new films.

The Lake Michigan sea monster – real or a hoax?

Chicagoans have reported spotting a sea serpent in Lake Michigan for more than 100 years. The monster is described as “eel-like,” and somewhere between 30 and 60 feet in length.

However, it has also been pointed out that the “sea-serpent deception” has been used often to draw tourism to towns. For example, months after a sea serpent was alleged to be spotted in 1904, an observation was made that more people were using Lake Michigan as a summer resort than ever before.

The Great Horned Serpent is a legend told by many Native American tribes. The creature is said to resemble a huge dragon or snake, is covered in large scales, and has prominent horns and long teeth. The creature is also said to have supernatural powers, such as the ability to control the weather, shapeshift, and turn invisible.

When settlers from Europe started showing up in the Great Lakes region in the late 1600s and early 1700s, stories of monstrous beasts started to creep through surrounding settlements.

In August 1867, three articles were published in newspapers about sightings of a strange creature in Lake Michigan.

A shift in believability started to appear within reports on the Lake Michigan monster, starting in 1885.

H.R. Brinkerhoff, a lieutenant for the Ohio Infantry, observed a “very large” black speck among the waves of Lake Michigan in March of 1893. He described his depiction of the monster as having an alligator’s head and being about thirty feet long.

In 1903, a fisherman reported seeing a sea serpent in the lake. However, the Chicago Tribune reported 90 years later that the creature had actually been a sea lion named Big Ben, which had escaped from the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Then in September of 1934, Captain G.E. Stufflebeam of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt spotted the sea serpent. He said that the serpent was wriggling and twisting around, and swimming faster than the ship was going.
Various reported sightings of a sea monster have been made since 1934, but the reports largely dwindled.

But in the summer of 2019, a video went viral of the South Haven Pier, where a large, dark snake-like figure is seen slithering through the water’s current.

The Lake Michigan sea monster has also been the star of a 2018 movie, “Lake Michigan Monster.” This black and white adventure comedy horror film is about an eccentric man that creates a team to track down and kill the Lake Michigan monster out of revenge for the death of his father.

So, what do you think? Is the Lake Michigan sea monster real, or a hoax?

Celebrating Illinois agriculture on National Farmer’s Day

National Farmer’s Day serves to honor the hard-working farmers that dedicate their lives to supplying food across the nation. Farmers are responsible for the plowing, sowing, growing and harvesting of crops while maintaining the sustainability of the land and securing the safety of consumers.

In Illinois, farmland accounts for 75% of the total land area equaling 27 million acres. Farms in Illinois are the leading producers of soybeans, corn and swine. Illinois farms also produce other grains, livestock, fruits and vegetables including pumpkins.

In the spirit of the fall season, Illinois is the top pumpkin producing state and has been for many years. The pumpkins grown in Illinois are shipped across the country and are used for all our favorite fall activities such as carving, painting, baking and more. Thanks to Illinois farmers, families can enjoy the best parts of the fall season.

Thank a farmer today!

Ten must-visit Haunted Houses in Illinois

Halloween is just around the corner – and thrill seekers couldn’t be more excited. Below is a list of the ten must-visit haunted houses across Illinois that are not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for creepy, eerie and ghoulish experiences when visiting one of these haunted attractions this season!

• Bartonville - Aura Haunted HouseAura Haunted House has been operating for four decades providing its visitors with a chilling horror experience. The haunted house is part of the old Bartonville Hospital Complex and is claimed to be truly haunted.
• Bloomington - Mind Trap Haunted Attraction Mind Trap Haunted Attraction is celebrating 10 years of frights. The haunted house also has a rapid escape room and a zombie paint ball experience.
• Creal Springs - Hile Farms Haunting in Little Egypt Hile Farms Haunting in Little Egypt is an outdoor experience that includes a walkthrough the haunted woods and a tractor ride to the entrance of the trails. This will be their third year open.
• Effingham-Night Terrors of EffinghamNight Terrors of Effingham is central Illinois’ newest haunted attraction. This year they will present their main attraction Carn-evil along with other spooky sights.
• Lockport - Hells Gate Haunted House Hells Gate Haunted House is the No. 1 rated haunted house in the Chicagoland area. This season the cast from Statesville Prison will be featured alongside the house staff of Hells Gate for the ultimate experience.
• Montgomery - Massacre Haunted HouseMassacre Haunted House is the largest haunted house in Illinois. With over 35,000 sq. ft. of fear, it is one of the highest rated houses in Illinois and features dozens of areas for photo-ops and almost 100 actors.
• Orion - Torment at Twelve HundredTorment at Twelve Hundred has been a top rated haunted house in Illinois for multiple years. Celebrating 20 years of making nightmares, they are prepared to reach the depths of our minds.
• Rantoul - Necrosis Haunted House Necrosis Haunted House has been a top rated attraction since its opening in 2018. This year will be their best show yet with live actors, professional sound and more for their fifth season.
• Roodhouse - 217 Terror haunted house217 Terror Haunted House features four haunted houses in one location and an escape room. This season visit Molly’s Play House, the Vampires of the Nest and more.
• Round Lake Beach - Realm of Terror Haunted HouseRealm of Terror Haunted House is the No. 1 rated haunted house in Illinois. It has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, the Huffington Post and more. It is the only haunted house in Illinois to have an onsite bar.

Happy haunting!