Author Archives: pdo

Longman and Eagle | Logan Square, Chicago

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 [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sky Ride Tap | Chicago Loop

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 [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Revolution Brewery Bar | Logan Square, Chicago

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. The wooden fist of flavor. “Workingman’s Mild” — a ‘luncheon’ beer. Revolution’s bacon popcorn.  [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged | Leave a comment

Light Beer Makes Me Sleep Badly

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. photo credit: kevindooley My father-in-law confessed that it gives him nightmares — light beer nightmares.  [...]
Posted in Home | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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 [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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 [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

ROCKS Lincoln Park | Schubert, Chicago

Want Scotch?  Go here.  Want a swill beer challenge?  Still here. 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 [...]
Posted in Chicago | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Eastsider | Oakland and North, Milwaukee

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 [...]
Posted in Milwaukee | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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 [...]
Posted in Milwaukee | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Google Cloud Bar | The Interwebs and Internets

There’s a lot of chatter on the web about the new Google Phone, the Nexus One.  People speculate about what Google is doing; if Google will buy Sprint; if Google’s phone will be free … but they’re missing the bigger picture.  What if Google opened a bar??? photo credit: Simon Aughton Well, there will obviously [...]
Posted in The Internets | Tagged , , | Leave a comment