Maude’s Liquor Bar | West Loop, Chicago

By pdo | Published: March 13, 2011

Yes, it has wall-length leather chesterfield sofas, and subway tiles and exposed brick, and quality cocktails and good food.  And even ‘smashes’ … but … but …

The customers.  There’s something with the customers.  They’re … they’re … just so proud of being there.  Being successful enough to pay for it and hip enough to find it.  They’re at Maude’s in the West Loop!  Aren’t we so urban!  We’re awesome.

Tour Eiffel
Creative Commons License photo credit: @rgs | Vintage Paris per Maude’s decor

Everybody seemed to be a realtor or marketeer or salesman.  They were so consciously trying to be successful and nonchalant.  It was a little disgusting.  And that’s too bad, because the drinks were good and the food was great, but it did take us 10 minutes to get the attention of our waitress.  Whatever.  There are other bars.  Maude’s gets it pretty close.  Too bad about those damn customers that love the place. Read More »

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Longman and Eagle | Logan Square, Chicago

By pdo | Published: July 27, 2010

Logan Square’s Longman and Eagle has two quirks: 1) 30 whiskeys for $3 a shot 2) an inn … in the works.

Let’s start with the weirder one.  This place eventually will have an inn above the bar.  It will be pretty convenient if you’re a suburban boozer — get sloshed downstairs, then head up to sleep — but it’s a little odd as a vacation destination.  Regardless, I like it.  There are plenty of places that serve Miller Lite.  Being different is good.

Which leads to the other quirk — cheap booze.  $3 a shot is a pretty solid deal.  You can’t get swill beer for that at most bars downtown.  Longman is right off the Blue Line’s Logan Square stop, and if you leave the loop at 5PM, you can have a glass of whiskey in front of you by 5:25.

Longman and Eagle | Logan Square, Chicago - view of bar

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Sky Ride Tap | Chicago Loop

By pdo | Published: July 4, 2010

Wow, this place is weird. May have to be my new post-work spot now that Old Timer’s has closed. The Sky Ride Tap … what’s the Sky Ride? The train?  They sell ‘packaged goods’ … what are those? And these supposed sandwiches … hell I’ll try anything once, but they seem particularly risky. Last thing to note: the bartender was about 90% cleavage. Not sure how that’s possible, but it’s true.

Sky Ride Tap

Outside the Sky Ride Tap.

Inside Sky Ride Tap

Inside the Sky Ride Tap.

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Revolution Brewery Bar | Logan Square, Chicago

By pdo | Published: July 3, 2010

For a communist-themed bar, this place has done some serious capital investments. Everything is new and slick — from the wood-carved fists to the barrel stave walls. It’s a great place to grab a beer and munch on tasty bar food.

Revolution Brewery Bar

The wooden fist of flavor.

Revolution Brewery | Workingman Mild

“Workingman’s Mild” — a ‘luncheon’ beer.

Revolution Brewery | Bacon Popcorn

Revolution’s bacon popcorn.  Decadently delicious.

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Light Beer Makes Me Sleep Badly

By pdo | Published: June 14, 2010

I don’t think I would have ever realized this if my father-in-law hadn’t said anything, but it’s true: light beer fucks with my sleep.  Something in the reduced caloric intake, it just makes me toss and turn and sleep restlessly.

A different time...
Creative Commons License photo credit: kevindooley

My father-in-law confessed that it gives him nightmares — light beer nightmares.  Maybe that’s what it is.  I’m tossing and turning trying to evade the dreaded light-beer-opolous before I find myself giving a speech only wearing my light-beer-briefs (OMG, they’re cold).  I wish I’d remember the dreams.

And it doesn’t happen with anything else — wine, booze, stout, porter, cocktails, car-bombs — nothing else does it.  What gives?  Am we the only ones?

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Old Timer’s, One Of The Best Dive Bars In Chicago, Is Closing

By pdo | Published: May 26, 2010

Dammit.  Dammit.  Old Timer’s is closing.  Rumor on the street is that their building isn’t renewing their lease.  They’re being squeezed out after 43 years — they served their first drink in 1967.

Which means going to the Elephant and Castle?  No.  The Tilted Kilt?  Nope.  Emerald Loop?  Meh.  The Gage?  No way.  Dammit.

The bartender broke the news today.  We walk in.  “No Jack,” he says to Mark shrugging his shoulders (because Mark always gets a Jack and Coke).  “No PBR,” he tells me.  I stare at the empty taps with confusion.

“Beam?” Mark asks.

“A little.”  The bartender holds the bottle up to the light.  “We closing.”

Sadness
Creative Commons License photo credit: mfajardo

The news is like a skinned knee — you look down after falling and there is no blood, no pain.  Then the neurons fire and ::::::: OW!

Friday, May 28th, 2010 will be the last day the bar is open.  I’ll be there.  Next Monday?  Who knows.

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The Three Best New Bar / Restaurants In Lincoln Park | Chicago

By pdo | Published: February 22, 2010

Something’s going on in Lincoln Park. When the economy was booming, shit-chic restaurants popped up everywhere.  Now that things are on the rocks, good places are opening up.  What gives?  Here’s the best of the latest:

Gemini Bistro | 2075 N. Lincoln Avenue

Sure, Gemini Bistro is billed as ‘contemporary American’ food, but what it really is is French.  French technique, French style, and French execution of American ingredients.  And I like that.  Just means there’s less French attitude (not that I mind that) and more reasonable prices (and I love that).

Try the three course prix fixe menu ($31) and a bottle of Segura Viudas Cava ($28).

Kith and Kin | 1119 W. Webster Avenue

Kith and Kin is my new favorite neighborhood spot.  Discovered it last Friday.  Sure, it’s filled with yuppie-hipsters (yupsters?) and the staff is dressed as if prepping for a photo shoot for LATFH, but the food is fantastic, the beers are great, and the cocktails are tempting.

Not sold?  The chef’s resumes include Alinea, the French Laundry, and Trio.  A six-pack of oysters is $8.  They have Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA … on draft.  And nearly every draft is a 16 ounce imperial pint.  Go here, just don’t take my table.  I already have reservations for this Friday.

Nella Pizzeria Napoletana | 2423 N. Clark Street

Nella Pizzeria occupies what used to be a tanning salon on Clark Street.  Instead of browned bodies, there’s a brick oven — a serious brick oven.  When they fire it up, it gets over 1,000 degrees.  They serve classic Neapolitan pizza — thin and crispy and minimally cheesed.

Pizzas top-out at $16.  Get one to spit and a couple of glasses of Italian wine.

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ROCKS Lincoln Park | Schubert, Chicago

By pdo | Published: February 14, 2010

Want Scotch?  Go here.  Want a swill beer challenge?  Still here.

NADDURA
Creative Commons License photo credit: lambda_X

ROCKS (and I think it’s supposed to be all-caps) is a whiskey place (whisky too).  They’ve got a huge booze list that includes everything from Bourbons to single-malts.  Macallan, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Ardbeg, Glenfiddich — it’s all here — along with Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, and Jack Daniel’s.  I had … something.  To tell you the truth, I enjoy whiskey, but I don’t know much about it.  I know it’s brown, it’s strong, and it’s barreled.  That’s about it.  I’m more familiar with other things.  And that led to a challenge.

ROCKS has a cheap-beer flight.  Could I tell them apart?

  1. Beer one was light, slighly nutty, and … less filling.  Miller Lite.
  2. Beer two was watery, off-favored, and … tapped the Rockies.  Coors Light.
  3. Beer three was grainier, fuller-flavored, and … luxurious.  High Life.
  4. Beer four was the most flavorful, darkest colored, and … most hipster.  PBR.

Four for four.  Was I proud?  Yes.  Should I have been proud?  Probably not.

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Eastsider | Oakland and North, Milwaukee

By pdo | Published: January 21, 2010

Shot, bar dice, shot, bar dice, shot, bar dice, shot.  There’s a group at the other end of the bar that’s getting serious about this drinking thing.  We’re waiting at the Eastsider for a table at the soon-to-burn Pizza Man Restaurant and Wine Bar nursing beers in anticipation of its mega wine list.  They’re settling in for the night.  Or just getting started.  Not sure, but the bartender is over there and he’s at least four shots in.

Here’s the other thing about this bar: the carpet.  It’s so squishy it could probably absorb kegs of beer.  It probably has.  It’s like walking on the moon.

But this is Milwaukee, not the moon, and this is a classic Milwaukee tavern — beer (including Spotted Cow), shots, bar dice, and darts in the back.  Everything else, including appealing to the ladies, is an afterthought.

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Dammit, the Pizza Man Wine Bar and Pizza Place Burned Down in Huge East Side Fire | Milwaukee

By pdo | Published: January 19, 2010

A few weeks ago, I was in Milwaukee and had a night free.  I had heard good things about the Pizza Man (an “East Side institution”) — good wine list, great pizza, fun atmosphere — and it was all true.  A great place.  And today it burned down.  Damn!

I barely knew it and I miss it.

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