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Homestead on the Roof – The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group’s rooftop garden restaurant in West Town  – will transform into “I Put A Spell On You”: a Hocus Pocus movie pop-up cocktail bar and kitchen for the Halloween fall season from October 24 thru November 8.
 
“I Put A Spell On You” will feature 13 movie-inspired specialty cocktails and 10 savory and sweet dishes from The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group chefs Chris Teixeira and Christo Vlahos – all named after Hocus Pocus quotes and key elements from the 1993 Halloween horror-fantasy-comedy film starring Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker.
 
“I Put A Spell On You” is The Fifty/50 Group’s fourth pop-up bar. They have executed three highly-acclaimed pop-ups out of The Sixth cocktail bar in Lincoln Square: “Honey, I Shrunk The Pop-Up” (a Honey, I Shrunk The Kids inspired one that is currently running), “Yippee Ki-Yay” (a Die Hard-inspired Christmas pop-up in 2019) and “As You Wish” (a The Princess Bride-inspired Valentine’s pop-up in 2020).

DINNER, BRUNCH, AND PUMPKIN CARVING RESERVATIONS/HOURS OF OPERATION

“I Put A Spell On You” will be open for dinner and cocktails starting at 5pm every night during its October 24 thru November 8 run at Homestead. A yet-to-be-released Hocus Pocus themed weekend brunch menu will be served along with the specialty cocktails and virgin drinks (hot apple cider, hot chocolate, coffee, espresso beverages) from 10am until 3pm on October 31, November 1, November 7, and November 8.
 
Seating for dinner, cocktails, and brunch will be available outside on Homestead’s rooftop patio and inside its heated interior restaurant space. Reservations for dinner, cocktails, and brunch are encouraged to be made via Homestead’s website .
 
“I Put A Spell On You” and Homestead will host a family-friendly pumpkin carving event in the morning and early afternoon of Sunday, October 25. Tickets must be purchased for the pumpkin carving via the link below that also includes all the event details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pumpkin-carving-on-the-roof-tickets-125378820427
 
Homestead is located at 1924 W Chicago Avenue – guests enter Roots Handmade Pizza on the ground floor and will be guided upstairs to “I Put A Spell On You.” 
 

DÉCOR

Both the rooftop patio and the heated interior of Homestead will be decked out in indoor and outdoor themed Hocus Pocus Halloween decor that will be perfect for socially-distant photo opportunities for guests.

Décor highlights include:
 
* A 10 foot x 10 foot outdoor moon installation featuring a custom Sanderson sisters design of them flying will be positioned high above the rooftop.

*Hocus Pocus’ cabin scene setup will be inside Homestead – complete with the spell book, black flame candle, and the witches’ cauldron. Guests can "light" the candle, cast a spell, or simply take photos of the Sanderson sisters' residence.

* Outside, diners will be surrounded by Billy Butcherson, Emily Binx, zombies, tombstones, and other nods to the movie will be in Homestead’s 1,000 square foot rooftop garden.

* Zachary Binx “Easter Eggs” will be hidden throughout the venue.

* Large-scale Sanderson sisters cutouts will be available for guests to take photos with as well.
 
FOOD
 
The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group chefs – new development chef Christo Vlahos (formerly the chef de cuisine at Portsmith and Homestead) and the group’s executive pastry chef Chris Teixeira – created a globally-inspired Hocus Pocus themed food menu of six shared plates, two sandwiches, and two desserts.
 
Shared plates standouts include:
 
* “Wanna Smash Some Pumpkins?” – roasted butternut squash soup with toasted pepitas, crema, and cilantro served in a stemless martini glass perched inside a hollowed out pumpkin.

* “Dead Man’s Toes” – grilled Teriyaki beef skewers with kimchi ailoi, scallions, and sesame seeds.

* “I Wanna See Her Turned To Dust” – tempura-fried maitake mushrooms with ramp dust, togarashi dust, and an Asian-inspired Green Goddess sauce.

* “Billy Butcherson’s Tombstone” – a beef tinga “Walking Taco” served in a black tombstone sealed bag that can be prepared vegetarian by substituting mushroom rajas as the protein and can also be made vegan as well.

Teixeira created specialty breads for both sandwiches: a black potato bun made with activated charcoal for the “Angelo” lobster roll (with green tobiko and Asian aioli) and a bright red brioche bun with black sesame seeds for “The Devil Himself” Nashville Hot fried chicken sandwich.

Teixeira’s two desserts are “Charming Young Blood” (chocolate pot de crème with raspberries, ancho-chile granola, and honey sherbet) and “Dead Man’s Fingers” (churros with mango and mango-lime sherbet).
 
COCKTAILS & BEVERAGE
The 13-strong cocktail menu designed by the Homestead bar team is comprised of ten specialty cocktails and three hot cocktails.

Cocktail menu highlights include:

* “Sanderson Sisters Last Spell” – a Last Word classic cocktail riff where each of the three Sanderson Sisters cloak colors match a shot glass filled with a corresponding colored liquor. Guests pour the three shots into a rocks glass filled with pebble ice, and, once combined, the cocktail transforms into a new spellbinding color.

* “California Laid Back Tie Dye Point Of View” – a large-format cocktail served in a bong with edible glitter that’s comprised of vodka, Cointreau, passion fruit, cranberry, and lime.

* “Black Flame Candle” – a classic Tiki cocktail variation (spiced rum, overproof rum, mango, pineapple, lime, and Angostura) served in jet-black tiki mug with a pineapple leaf set on fire to resemble a candle wick.

* “Burning Rain Of Death” – a spicy “Ranch Water” riff with blanco tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde, blackberry syrup, lime, and club soda served with a Tagin-spiced rim.

* “Hallowed Ground” – a strong and stirred “Old Fashioned” riff with mezcal, maple syrup, and Angostura served over a large meme custom ice cube.

Nine sparklingrosé, white, and red wines by the glass options; nine Midwestern craft beer and hard cider offerings; and a tightly-curated 60-bottle spirits list round out the beverage selections for “I Put A Spell On You.”

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