Happy Hour International

Thanksgiving Eve Events

photo: courtesy of Bridget Cicenia

So, it’s been a rough year for many Chicagoans. The murder rate is rising. The economy is tanking. The Cubs choked, again. But you know, there’s always one place you can go to get away from all that, a place you know you’ll feel safe and secure: home. Of course, home usually comes with its own set of problems – annoying parents, socially awkward cousins, repressed childhood memories. So before you make that trip back, you might want to loosen up by partying on Thanksgiving Eve (aka Black Wednesday), the biggest bar and club night of the year.

Heaven and Hell at Fifty/50
Halloween may be over for most of us, but it’ll be back in full swing at this Wicker Park club on Black Wednesday. The venue’s upstairs bar will be heaven, while the basement transforms into a devilish den. The Fifty/50 is encouraging guests to dress in costume for the chance to receive prizes throughout the evening. Drink specials will also be offered, as well as a 30 percent discount for industry folks.

In Fine Spirits Thanksgiving Wine Tasting
In Fine Spirits boutique will host its annual Thanksgiving wine tasting, giving guests a slew of insider tips on the shop’s favorite holiday picks. Andersonville local Timothy Gorton will pour samples from a laudable lineup of wineries, including Two Brothers, La Spinetta, Hahn and Paul Prieur.

The DVDJ’s at NV Penthouse Lounge
9 p.m.-2 a.m.; $25 after 11 p.m.
NV Penthouse is celebrating Thanksgiving the night before the big feast with a live performance from the DVDJ’s. The official party kicks off at 11 p.m., but we recommend stopping by for an early reception (between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.) hosted by Belvedere.

Turkey Jam 2008 at Stardust
8 p.m.-4 a.m.; $20 cover
New York-based pop singer Chris Willis, in collaboration with David Guetta, will kick off Thanksgiving 2008 with a live performance at this chic late-night lounge. Stardust will also offer its guests a pre-Thanksgiving dinner beginning at 5 p.m., just before the high-energy bash begins.

CHEER at In Fine Spirits Lounge
Doors open at 3 p.m., Dinner is offered from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; $5 cover
Andersonville’s favorite wine bar is hosting its first annual Thanksgiving Eve celebration, titled CHEER. The lounge will open is doors at 3 p.m. for those in need of a head start. Early birds can sip on In Fine Spirits’ culinary cocktails while they wait for dinnertime to roll around. Beginning at 6 p.m., a prix-fixe menu will be offered, complete with holiday drink specials. Once the crowd is good and full (dinner ends at 9 p.m.), DJ Craig Alexander will take over. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Growing Power, a nonprofit focused on agricultural sustainability.

Drink Packages at Brownstone Tavern & Grill
9 p.m.-midnight; $25
Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, and Brownstone is allowing guests to spread the love with its $25 drink package. Grab a few of your best pals and show ‘em how much you care by picking up the tab. The package includes import and domestic drafts, call liquor and house wine.

Sully’s House
11 p.m.-2 a.m.
This Old Town bar and grill is taking Black Wednesday to the extreme with its dark beer specials and black-themed films. Sully’s will take $1 off select beers including stouts like Rogue Chocolate and Samuel Smith Oatmeal, as well as a few hard-hitters like Johnny Walker Black, Effen Black Cherry and Jack Daniels. Movies will play on mute, and anything with “black” in the title is fair game (e.g. “Men in Black” and “Black Dahlia”).

Moonshine
8 p.m.-2 a.m.; free
Moonshine has made a promise to its loyal patrons that this year the roadside pub will turn Black Wednesday into “gold.” The Thanksgiving Eve bash features live music from DJ Soul Foundation featuring Brenda D, Brian Gardner and special guests. Drink specials include $5 Jack Daniels mixers and shots and $3 Moonshine microbrews, including the new Chronic, which is brewed using natural, organic hemp seeds. With prices that cheap, you’ll need something to soak up all the alcohol and Moonshine’s half-price pizzas should do the trick.

Martini Park hosts Soda
8 p.m.; $10 for dudes, ladies get in free
Everybody loves a good cover band, especially when the songs are paired with $7 specialty cocktails. Guests can enjoy both at Martini Park’s Black Wednesday bash, with a live performance by Soda and drink deals all night long. And because cover songs can only last so long before you lapse into bad memories of family road trips, a DJ will take over at midnight.

Mark Knight at Spybar
10 p.m.; $10 after 11:30 p.m.
This River North lounge brings in a new DJ nearly every night, and Black Wednesday is no exception. Mark Knight will kick off Spybar’s pre-Thanksgiving marathon along with DJ Inphinity and Dino G. Expect humble-house beats and a too-hot-to-handle crowd. Show up before 11:30 p.m. to skip the $10 cover.

Noche de Fuego at Zocalo
10 p.m-3 a.m..; $10 after midnight
Entourage and Don Julio present a posh pre-Thanksgiving bash at Zocalo Lounge. Expect global beats like Latin, salsa, merengue and bachata, as well as a mix of house and hip-hop. In addition to offering $3 Bud Light, $5 Don Julio shots and $6 margaritas, the lounge is slashing all bottle service down to $150. Show up before midnight and skip the cover.

David Guetta at Crobar
Move over Mark Ronson, David Guetta returns to Chicago’s Crobar on Black Wednesday. The world-renown DJ will throw down a full set of house tracks for underground and mainstream junkies alike.

Black Out at Lumen
9 p.m.
Lumen turns out the lights for its second annual Black Out Wednesday party. The usually illuminated West Loop club becomes a dark playground with DJs Lo Pro and White Shadow providing the dance sounds.

Rebirth of the Funk at Sonotheque
9 p.m.; $5
If you’re not looking for a rowdy night out with college kids, and you’re not into bottle-service-and-dress-code clubs, head for the funk sounds at Sonotheque. Tonight, the club pairs with the Silver Room for Rebirth of the Funk. Eric Williams of the Silver Room and Sonotheque’s Joe Bryl lay down the funk and funk-influenced sounds for a fun dance party.

Pre-turkey workout and drinks at Whirlyball
Prevent the top button-pop of your jeans this year with a pre-Thanksgiving workout at WhirlyBall. All three locations (Chicago, Vernon Hills and Lombard) will whip you into shape with this eclectic and energetic sport. For those who’ve never played whirlyball, it’s a combination of bumper cars, lacrosse and basketball. The game goes down like this: two teams (each player in a bumper car) use oversized scoops to gain control of the ball and maneuver it to their respective goal. Sound complicated? Well, it isn’t ? you don’t even have to be in shape for this one. Each WhirlyBall facility will also offer arcade games, pool and several big screens. Call ahead to reserve court time; walk-in rates (when available) are $12 per half hour. Oh, and (thank God) a full bar.

Odyssey Cruises Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise
6 p.m-10 p.m.; $92.90
Dip into your Christmas fund and splurge on Odyssey’s pre-Thanksgiving dinner cruise. The luxurious celebration will help you unwind with unlimited champagne (during boarding hours; 6 p.m.-7 p.m.) skyline views and live entertainment. You and your friends will get a private table for the full three-hour cruise, where you’ll enjoy a four-course meal.

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Be thankful for Centerstage Chicago’s Thanksgiving Guide
Get Cookin’ ~ Eat Out
Buy a Pie ~ Volunteer and Give Back
Eat at O’Hare ~ Munch Near Midway

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

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Chicago Sazerac Month
Sip the country’s oldest cocktail for charity at five local bars.

Cafe Heavens
If you have been feeling a pulling sensation lately, then doubtless this is because of the magnetic power of Tokyo's Heaven's cafe. Positively awash with trendy Tokyoites, give your eyes a much needed holiday as you soak in the quiet Zen-like simplicity of Kazusane Iwase's furniture, its gleaming wooden floors, and the clever use of space…

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Half-off well drinks at Barney’s Beanery – West Hollywood
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Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe – The Rocks
The only licensed Chocolate Cafe in Australia with harbour views. Indulge your passion for the finest Belgian chocolate and exquisite cakes and desserts. Each one is carefully prepared by hand using premium Guylian chocolate and the finest ingredients. Enjoy a glass of champagne or a coffee as you take a delicious journey of discovery, and experience the rich, luscious flavours that only Guylian promises. Guylian’s chefs have also created a range of delicate and extravagant petit fours and individual desserts that will leave you tempted.

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I have ONE extra ticket to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival Grand Tasting Village on Sunday Feb 22, 2009. Come taste the food and see the chefs. If interested please send me a private message here.  The cost of the ticket is $200 which is below the retail cost if you can find one.  This is pick up only, cash only

Thank?s,
Dave

Churchill?s Curry

I went to a Refresh Miami meeting the other night in the Wynwood district.  (That?s social media and tech meeting where startups and others present their work.) We ended up staying very late so had no where to eat nearby?Soyka?s kitchen closed at 11pm.  We ended up at Churchill?s Pub up in Little Haiti, just in the nick of time to enjoy their curry buffet.  I had never tried it before and let me tell you it was one of the most delicious things I?ve eaten in a long time!!!

Churchill?s Pub has been around for 30 years! It is a divey-looking place that hosts many independent, alternative bands.  It?s definitely worth checking out, even though it?s in a sketchy neighborhood.  Be warned, there?s a ?parking mafia? of locals that will ask you for tips just to guide you to a space in the lot next door, even though parking is free.  You end up having to give them tips just so, you know, they?ll ?take care? of your car.  (You can?t miss the parking lot, it has two abandoned double decker buses.)

Anyway, the curry included some very fragrant basmati rice, chicken biryani (that?s rice with chicken, cardamom seeds and other fragrant spices), lamb, beef, chicken prepared in a variety of styles, like korma (coconut milk). 

This has got to be one of the best Indian food deals in Miami.  I was told this was typical Pub fare in London.  I wish more bars served food like this!

The Juice: Celebrating the Opening of Diane Von Furstenberg at Bal Harbour Shops

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Around-the-World Wines

Naughty or nice, you’ll want to check our list twice.
We have the goods on holiday giving and festive fun. »

photo: Kate Schwartz; pictured: Kafka

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast with a great palette and skinny wallet or a habitual connoisseur of Two-Buck Chuck, choosing the right wine for a special occasion can be tough.

This pressure increases exponentially with the onset of cocktail party season. You’re expected to bring a bottle and have a sneaking suspicion that everyone else noticed that sale on Yellow Tail, too. To aid you in your quest for vino-supremacy, I’ve compiled a handy guide to party-ready bottles from Chicago’s best independent wine shops. They come from all over the world, and not a single one costs over 15 bucks. All you have to do is take the credit.

Picada 15 Blend 2007 at In Fine Spirits
Not only does this bottle scream, “Hey, I know my wine,” it also offers proof that you know where the hell Patagonia is. The kind folks at Andersonville’s In Fine Spirits pulled out a map for me?but I was already sold at the 15-percent alcohol content. This all-purpose red doesn’t slack on character; with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir and malbec all making cameos in it, the profile is practically schizophrenic. A decanter does wonders for this Picada blend, which transitions subtle fruit flavors into a huge red that remains effortlessly drinkable.

Fairvalley Chenin Blanc 2007 at Kafka Wine Co.
Ideal for those who prefer cider to wine, Fairvalley’s Chenin Blanc explodes with ripe pear flavors and has an almost-tropical finish. The fruity simplicity of this South African wine is likely because these precious grapes never touch oak. A product of the Fairvalley Workers Association, this golden tipple is promoting a progressive worker-owned environment and helping to build a fledgling South African community.

Massaya Classic Vin Rouge 2006 at Fine Wine Brokers
Here’s a wine that can weather the most eclectic crowd. In fact, it’s been doing just that since Biblical times. Dubbed “the bread basket of the empire” by the Romans, Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley is a fertile nest of gorgeous grape varietals. Massaya Classic’s mix of cinsault, cabernet sauvignon and syrah reflects this diversity, and the resulting blend pairs perfectly with any cuisine. Hearty berries mingle with distinctive floral tones, an odd perfume brought together with dashes of pepper and anisette. It’s a great transitional red for people who prefer docile wines, but would like to venture onward.

Palmina Tocai Friulano 2006 at Lush Wine and Spirits
Tocai Friulano is a big hit in northeastern Italy, but criminally unpopular stateside. American palates would do well to think of this varietal as similar to a sauvignon blanc, but infinitely more kind to food pairings. The impossibly crisp, dry nectar offers a bold lemon taste, balanced nicely with bits of honey and spice. Grown in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, this distinctive white is ideal for pairing with Italian antipasti. Oddly, Tocai Friulano also happens to be one of the few varietals that lends itself very well to asparagus. Yep?asparagus. If you’re hosting, try wrapping blanched stalks in prosciutto and serving them alongside the Palmina. Your guests will think you’re a genius. Literary bonus: Kerouac loved to drown his sorrows in cheap bottles of the Tocai varietal.

Naughty or nice, you’ll want to check our list twice.
We have the goods on holiday giving and festive fun. »

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Carnaval in Chicago
Mardi Gras is a great day for partying, but that’s just the problem: It’s only one day. So get the party started early with Carnaval (or Carnival, or Carnivale), the five-day period (February 20-24) that, like Fat Tuesday, is a way to say goodbye to all those naughty habits before Lent begins. But don’t expect five days of drunk bead-bartering; Carnaval is all about infectious samba beats, hypnotic hip shaking, unique food and a massive melting pot of a party. Cheap flashes or sexy dancers? Beer or an exotic caipirinha? Keep the king cake, we’ll take these events instead.

Mmm…feijoada.

Bossa Nova Brunch
Saturday-Sunday at C-House
Marcus Samuelsson’s C-House is known for tasty, artfully prepared food; but at brunch this weekend, the main attraction will be the customized caipirinha bar. Guests can enhance the traditional Brazilian cocktail (made with rum-like cachaca, sugar and limes) by choosing a fruit, like blood orange or pineapple, and a rim (sugar and blank are just two choices). Each cocktail is $9; you can up it with a champagne floater for an additional $3 and if you’re not into rum-like cocktails, there are plenty of other libations to go along with C-House’s classic brunch fare. The food gets its time to shine, too, with special Brazilian dishes like the country’s national favorite, feijoada (a stew of beans with beef and pork).

Braziliance Carnaval
Friday, February 20 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $5, free with RSVP to nick.lambrou@gmail.com
Start off the Carnaval celebration on Friday with a special Carnaval installment of Sonotheque’s popular monthly Braziliance party. DJ/Musical Programmer Joe Bryl will be spinning unique Brazilian beats and samba music while images of Carnaval parties from Rio display on the various screens throughout the club. There’s also a special menu of yummy sounding cocktails like the Cococabana, a mix of coconut rum, pineapple juice, Amaretto and Grenadine garnished with an orange slice for $8. Get there early and receive a free compilation CD put together by Bryl for the special event.

SushiSamba’s Carnaval cocktail.

SushiSamba Rio
With vibrant decor, sexy design and infectious world dance music, it feels like Carnaval every night at SushiSamba Rio, the Chicago outpost of the Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese upscale fusion restaurant. SushiSamba is using the celebration to gear up for its 10-year anniversary (the first location opened in New York in 1999) and turning up the Brazilian vibes from February 21-24 with special menu items and the Carnaval cocktail, a mix of Cabana Cachaca (a specialty Brazilian rum), honey, strawberries, cinnamon, lemon juice and cayenne. A blowout party takes place on February 24 with samba dancers and batucada drummers.

Chicago Samba
Saturday, February 21 at Logan Square Auditorium, 10 p.m.; $15
If you’re looking to party with Brazilians and true appreciators of Carnaval, head to the official Chicago Samba event, which will make up for what it lacks in fancy decor with sheer authenticity. This fete features the popular Chicago Samba dance troupe, capoeiristas and so much more. DJ Nando Brasil provides the tunes, while Chicago Samba instructor/MC for the evening Edilson Lima teaches samba dance steps. Expect dancers in full, extravagant costumes, $5 caipirinhas and authentic Brazilian food provided by Sinha Elegant Cuisine. The party is 16-plus, so young party-goers can also get in on the fun.

Carnivale
Jerry Kleiner’s West Loop spot is a no-brainer for celebrating this festival, and this year the restaurant hosts a 3-day extravaganza with a specialty menu and more. The festivities start with family night on Sunday, February 22, featuring face-painters, stilt walkers, a special menu and mocktails for kids. Monday offers a sexy Masquerade Ball with music from DJ Monna 3 and complimentary masks and beads (you may want them for walking the special red carpet); the usual Monday night $5 mojito drink special will be enhanced with four specialty mojitos from around the world. Finally, the restauran closes things out on Tuesday with live music by Angel Melendez, samba dancers, a tableside mojito cart and more.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

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Cafe Heavens
If you have been feeling a pulling sensation lately, then doubtless this is because of the magnetic power of Tokyo's Heaven's cafe. Positively awash with trendy Tokyoites, give your eyes a much needed holiday as you soak in the quiet Zen-like simplicity of Kazusane Iwase's furniture, its gleaming wooden floors, and the clever use of space…