Spirits of Christmas Present
photo: courtesy of Bridget Cicenia
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is?blah, blah, blah. You need a drink. And you need it now. With all the caroling, ornaments, good tidings and all that jazz, downing a cocktail?or eight?is necessary to keep up your spirits during this season of good cheer. Sure, sipping some eggnog will work, but if you need to sneak away from the holiday hot spots, you need to know where to go. This is where the well-trained professional Humbuggers of Centerstage come into play. If you’ve been stuffed to the ears with Santa talk or packed up to the rafters with Rudolph, sneak away and grab a beer while your spouse dawdles at the wrapping paper exhibit. Shopping at Macy’s on State Street
Drink at Infield’s
With 10 floors of merchandise, Marshall Fie?err?Macy’s is still Ground Zero for holiday purchase power. And in a brilliant move, the suits that ran Field?s put a bar in the basement. Just steps from the Chicago Pedway and nestled between the kitchenware and sportswear departments, InField’s stocks a full bar to occupy Dad while the womenfolk go spend-crazy. Or vice-versa, of course.
Sports-themed with numerous televisions to prove it, Infield’s offers a small selection of draft beers, with the usual suspects of domestics and imports (like Sierra Nevada and Heineken) on tap. Walnut Room slammed as usual? You’ll find a sizable bar food menu, with pizzas, burgers and the like, here.
On (or off) the Rink at Millennium Park
Drink at Gage
Strapping on a pair of skates and going for a spin on the ice is one of the coolest things to do during winter in downtown Chicago. That is, of course, if you know how to skate. If you can’t join in the reindeer games because of bad ankles, lack of skill or an aversion to falling down, shuffle to the Gage.
One of the newest additions to the near-Millennium Park dining options, Gage bills itself as a gastropub. It is, quite simply, a good bar with some tasty grub. For $12, the Winter Classic cocktail, a mix of Bacardi and pumpkin-spiced cider, rimmed with sugar and nutmeg, should not be missed. Beer and wine are on hand, but cold weather often calls for a good scotch or whiskey, which the Gage has in spades.
Checking out Christmas Around the World at Museum of Science and Industry
Drink at Cove Lounge
Don’t let the two-block walk deter you from stopping by this favorite watering hole of University of Chicago students and Hyde Park locals. It’ll take plenty of time for your family to check out the 50 Christmas trees, each honoring different cultural communities, decorating the expansive museum?time enough to sneak away and have a couple cocktails in the company of scholars and drinkers alike.
The Cove has very few frills: darts, a jukebox, cheap pitchers of beer ($8.25 pitchers of Blue Moon daily!) and other low-priced drinks. But the pub?s cozy interior, decked with nautical wall fixtures, makes for the perfect place to hide out from the world on a cold afternoon or evening.
Wandering the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights
Drink at Ravens
After all that exposure to brightness, this subterranean bar’s dim environs provide a welcome respite for your eyes, not to mention some cheap pints and talkative bartenders. Just make sure you’ve had your fill and gotten on your way before one or so; otherwise, you’re sure to experience your second ‘zoo’ of the day, courtesy of lots of drunken Lincoln Parkers looking to prolong their buzz with loud jukebox tunes and shots. Or maybe that’s your thing.
Shopping the Mag Mile
Drink at Pippin’s Tavern
Out of the hundreds of stores on the Mag Mile, you’re going to need at least one place to order a beer after you drop a hundred bucks on Aunt Matilda’s special sweater. Yes, a cocktail will definitely be in order after dropping that kind of coin?and Pippin’s is your place.
A lone outpost of sanity in a sea of near-Viagra Triangle priceyness and pretension, Pippin’s keeps it surprisingly uncomplicated and inexpensive: The domestic bottle-of-the-month will usually only put you back $3. The dark interior makes for a great escape from the throngs of shoppers and tourists. It calls itself an “Irish tavern,” but it’s really just a good place to watch the Gold Coast go by?and mutter “bah humbug” from your barstool.
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Distraction-Free Drinking
photo: courtesy of the Violet Hour
I used to wait tables at a local Italian restaurant. The place is no longer open and I can’t help thinking its closing had a little something to do with the two always-on flat-screens slung above the bar. The number-one complaint I received during my table-waiting days was always in regard to those pesky TVs, which cranked out an endless stream of outdated music videos. Inspired by those patrons who preferred to focus on their meals rather than Sheryl Crow’s mug, I set out to find a few Chicago spots without screens.
Violet Hour
Distractions are a thing of the past at this new-age speakeasy. Violet Hour takes its lack of televisions to the extreme by tacking on a no-standing, no-cell phone policy. And then there are sleek, teal, high-backed chairs that dull the sounds of surrounding chatter. Focusing on your company and cocktails here is easy, unless you’re parked at the bar?as you should be, if it’s your first time. Watching Violet Hour’s mixologists in action is a must. These guys are the real deal with their to-the-count shakes, stoic expressions, the ability to make everything you’ve never heard of and the genius to put new spins on your favorites. Oh, and did I mention that they do it all on the fly, in strapping suspenders?
California Clipper
There’s plenty of fun to be had at this classic cocktail lounge, none of which involves the playoffs or bad B-sides. Fridays and Saturdays reel in local music junkies with live entertainment from bands like The Hoyle Brothers, Fulton County Line and The Blue Line Riders. Mondays are especially interactive (and competitive) with Clipper Bingo, beginning at 9:30 p.m. If you’re lucky, you might even win a trinket-stuffed “Bag of Crap”, straight from Uncle Fun, whose fine goods are purportedly “designed to restore the whimsical nature with which you arrived on this planet.”
Duke of Perth
Should Duke of Perth ever decide to install a telly, its loyal patrons likely wouldn’t notice. They’d be far too busy downing whiskey and noshing on European fare. The pub’s extensive malt list alone makes for solid reading material and its trio of Glens is more than enough to keep you entertained all night. The chill crowd of regulars and authentic Scottish vibe has made the Duke a Lakeview staple for more than fifteen years. Though it seems the real draw here isn’t in the whiskey, beer or atmosphere so much as it is the fish and chips. And you can have all you want of the pub’s favorite dish on Wednesdays and Fridays during the all-you-can-eat special.
Hopleaf
Hopleaf couldn’t place a television in its intricately crafted bar if it tried, because there’d be no room for it. The restaurant’s walls are already stacked and lined with bottles upon bottles of Belgium brews, and that’s about all it takes to keep the crowd here pleased. It doesn’t hurt that the food is just as good as the beer. Start with the popular mussels and then move on to something extremely unhealthy with the CB n’ J (that’s cashew butter) or sink your chomps into the restaurant’s steak and frites.
Long Room
If Long Room isn’t already on your list of favorite Chicago bars, you’ve clearly never been. But that’s OK, there’s no finger-pointing here; it’s not the easiest to find. Here’s a quick tip for next time, though: look for Popeye’s on the corner of Irving Park and Ashland. You might even want to stop in and grab a small tub of death, as Long Room doesn’t have a kitchen. It does, however, have frequent visits from Chicago’s beloved tamale guys. It’s also got a stellar rotating selection of beers on tap and local, imported and domestic brews by the bottle. The crowd here is a mix of young professionals and seasoned cats. A photo booth in the bar’s backroom is the closest thing to a TV you’ll find.
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Monty Python’s Spamalot
Film and TV actor Richard Chamberlain stars as King Arthur in the return of Eric Idle and John Du Prez’s 2005 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, which includes three songs from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” men in tights, a legless knight and killer rabbits. Mike Nichols directs.
Holiday Cocktails
If ever there were a time to drink, it’s the holiday season. Whether it’s your family pushing you to the brink of insanity or the never-ending lines at Macy’s, these drinks will help take the edge off without (completely) draining your wallet.
Narut’s Nog offers an antidote to the winter blues.
Narut’s Nog at David Burke’s Primehouse
Sous chef Nolan Narut arrives to work at 6 a.m. every morning just to make a fresh batch of his famous egg nog. Affectionately named after Narut himself, the traditional treat combines brandy, 10 Cane Rum and lots of “Nolan love.” The texture is just what you’d expect from a classic egg nog, except this one gets an upscale twist when it’s served in a snifter glass, $9. Narut’s nog is sweet enough on its own, but is exceptionally decadent when paired with Executive Pastry Chef Jove Hubbard’s warm chocolate beignets. David Burke’s Primehouse is also offering a warm concoction with sommelier Rachael Johnson’s cider, which is spiced with star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon and black pepper, $9. Try it with Hubbard’s Apple Cheddar Pie and salted caramel ice cream.
Cantique de Noel at Graham Elliot
Sometime in the mid-1800s, Frenchman Adolphe Adam composed the popular Christmas carol, “Cantique de Noel” (“Oh Holy Night”). A couple centuries later, mixologist Lynne House is composing a carol of her own, one that’s guaranteed to make guests sing with glee. House’s version of the Cantique de Noel combines crème de menthe, bourbon, cream rum and half and half. The drink is served up in a classic cocktail glass and garnished with a candied mint leaf, $11. Pair the lyrical libation with Graham Elliot’s reconstructed Snickers bar for a sweet duet.
Ginger Smash at In Fine Spirits Lounge
The understated, yet upscale In Fine Spirits has added a notable list of holiday tipples to its well-crafted cocktail menu. The regular lineup here boasts rye and absinthe-tinged classics, while the lounge’s limited holiday selections turn traditional ingredients into playful libations. The Ginger Smash, for one, is a palatable marriage of tart and sweet with its mix of gin, Pommeau, fresh ginger and in-house candied cranberries, $11. And then there’s the Pomegranate Royale, which puts plain-old champagne to shame with its addition of pomegranate reduction and orange liqueur. Chef Marianne Sundquist is also offering a limited menu of winter-inspired treats like stout-braised beef brisket and crispy flatbread pizza with thyme, truffle and spiced-apple preserves.
The Guild Meeting is great for groups.
The Guild Meeting at The Drawing Room
Master mixologist Charles Joly is bringing people together for the holidays with a drink meant for sharing. The Guild Meeting, modeled after classic punch service (we’re talking early 1800s) is built entirely in the bowl in which it’s served. Sticking with the punch’s five-basic-ingredient rule (the word punch derives from the Hindi word for “five,” paunch) this one consists of Canton Ginger Liqueur, vanilla sugar, orange oolong tea, 42 Below Manuka Honey and a heavy dose (five ounces) of Rittenhouse 100 Rye. Joly serves the drink in vintage punch bowls that he found while scouring antique stores and other resale shops. The Guild Meeting is $34 and serves four, or two very thirsty rye-lovers.
The Flippin’ Holidays at Sepia
You’ve almost got to say this one with force. And you’ve certainly got to drink it with gusto. Crafted by mixologist Peter Vestinos, this modern take on the classic flip features walnut liqueur and dark rum, $10. The addition of sugar and spices helps round out the drink’s rough edges, while egg adds texture and seamlessly pulls everything together. Garnished with grated nutmeg, the end result is strikingly similar to egg nog without cream.
You’ll start early for the Chai Toddy.
Chai Toddy at Le Colonial
Instead of waiting out in the cold for an empty taxi, pop into Le Colonial and warm up with a hot chai toddy. The restaurant’s steamy mix of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Peppermint Schnapps, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, honey and hot chai tea will wash away any seasonally induced blues, $12. And because it’s never too early to start drinking (ahem, celebrating), Le Colonial’s upstairs bar will open at 3 p.m. every weekend in December for holiday shoppers in need of a merry little break.
Warm Banana Pumpkin Pie at Fulton’s on the River
If you haven’t already had your fill of pumpkin pie this season, you can get it in liquid form at Fulton’s on the River. Served warm in a coffee flute, the dessert-inspired cocktail consists of pumpkin pie filling, banana liqueur, rum and steamed milk, topped with a cloud of fresh whipped cream and sprinkled with brown sugar, $8.95. The pumpkin pie filling brings in a thick consistency to the drink’s otherwise smooth texture and the subtle banana flavor adds a unique twist.
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