Tasty Tax Relief
The 1040 EZ from
Seasons.
Whether you’re looking to mourn your tax day debt or relish in your refund, these cheap food and drink specials will help ease the pain (or prolong the triumph). Specials are applicable on April 15 only unless otherwise noted.
Zocalo
Your happy hour will be extra special tonight, as this River North Mexican restaurant offers a three-course menu for just $15. You’ll get to choose an appetizer, an entree and a dessert from among a menu including guacamole, four different types of tacos and vanilla-and-white chocolate flan. The regular Thursday-night “Dine at Nine” promotion will also be in effect, including half-price food after 9 p.m. (reservations required, and you must mention the promotion) and $20-$25 pitchers of margaritas. DJs David Chavez and Mwelwa Musambacine will spin global beats from 6-11 p.m.
HUB 51
The River North bar’s lower-level lounge, SUB 51, will erase any lingering tax-day troubles with half-price bottles and champagne all day long. DJ Konsept will spin all night.
O’Donovan’s
April 16
O’Donovan’s is rewarding its loyal patrons with plenty of tax day specials, including $1 off Harp, Guinness and Smithwick’s, $13 22-ounce cocktials, $5 Stoli cocktails and $5 Jager Barrels. If you’re looking for something to soak up all that cheap booze, try the Friday Fish Fry for just $7.95.
Cityscape Bar
Cityscape will offer a complimentary appetizer buffet including hot wings, cheddar-jalapeno poppers and grilled veggies with aged balsamic from 5-7 p.m. on Tax Day. Specialty cocktails include the IRS Blue Lemonade martini (Skyy Citrus, blue curacao and lemonade) for just $4.15.
10pin Bowling Lounge
Want to bowl away your bureaucratic frustrations? You can do it for just $4.15 a game at this River North lounge (Svedka cocktails and Sam Adams drafts can be had for the same price.
Dawali
For a taste of something different on Tax Day, try a classic shawarma or falafel sandwich at this Northwest Side eatery. The fee for this culinary journey? $4.15.
Stretch Run
Special $4.15 cocktails at this OTB bar include the Green Meenie with vodka, Midori melon liqueur, triple sec, tonic water and sour mix, served in a pint glass over ice.
Sushi Taiyo
Double your pleasure with your choice of a spicy tuna or California roll plus a glass of house wine or domestic beer for just $10.99 on Tax Day at this Streeterville sushi spot.
Tapas Valencia
The South Loop spot keeps it simple with $4.15 glasses of red or white sangria available from 4-10 p.m.
Carlucci (Downers Grove)
Not only can you get $4.15 martinis at this Italian eatery, but you can also enjoy select bottles of wine for that absurdly low price, as long as you purchase an entree. Limit one bottle per table.
The Lucky Monk
After all that work filling out forms, you probably won’t feel like cooking. A large, 16-inch pizza will run you just $10.40 (like the tax form, get it?) all day at this South Barrington bar and restaurant.
Meson Sabika (Naperville)
Glasses of red and white sangria are just $4.15 all day at this tapas restaurant.
Pinstripes
Both the Northbrook and South Barrington locations of this multi-purpose funhouse will offer all gaming, food and beverages “Tax Free” (meaning a 10-percent discount) from Tuesday, April 13 to Thursday, April 15.
Seasons
The list of tax-free “Tax-Tinis” at this lounge in the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago includes the 1040 Easy (Absolut Mandarin, Apple Pucker, Triple Sec, homemade sweet and sour and 7-Up) and the Stimulus Check (Crown Royal, Peach Schnapps, Chambord and cranberry juice). You can also write off your woes with the blueberry flavored Exemption or submit yourself to scrutiny with the fruit-fueled Auditini. All tax-free martinis are $13.
Lobby Lounge (ShowPlace Icon Theatre)
Thinking of catching a movie to dull your tax-inspired pain? Make sure to stop into this cinema lounge beforehand for $4.15 bottles of domestic beer and $10.40 12-inch pizzas.
Koi
In honor of tax day, Koi and its sister restaurant, Chen’s, will offer all Chinese Plate entrees for $10.99. Specials include General Tsao’s, Szechwan and sesame plates.
Brasserie Jo
Hopla drafts will be available for $4.01, along with complimentary tarte flambees in the bar area.
Carnivale
Guests who dine at the restaurant will receive a $15 gift certificate for use on their next visit. Complimentary gift certificates will be valid through May 31.
Taco Del Mar
Print out a coupon from the website and get a free taco at this Uptown Mexican spot.
Boston Market
Print out this coupon and bring it in to get a buy-one-get-one free offer on individual plates (valid through April 18).
P.F. Chang’s
Visit this Chinese chain on Thursday and receive 15 percent off all food purchases.
Get your food and drink tax-free at the following restaurants: Dunlays on Clark, D.O.C. Wine Bar, Dunlays on the Square, Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar and D.O.C. Wine Bar (Lombard).
The Arboretum of South Barrington offers the opportunity to shop tax free at a number of participating retailers (you must print this coupon for the 10-percent discount), including Ann Taylor Loft, Coldwater Creek, DSW, Jos. A. Bank, L’Eiffel Bistro & Creperie, Pinstripes, Sur La Table and more.
Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!
Chicago Kentucky Derby Events
The “Run for the Roses” is considered horse racing’s most prestigious event. But just because it’s in Louisville doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate here in Chicago. A number of local restaurants, bars and race tracks will be offering Kentucky Derby specials throughout the weekend (events are on Saturday, May 1, unless otherwise noted).
Division Ale House
The Ale House will screen the Run for the Roses on eight 50-inch flat-screen TVs and offer $5 Mint Juleps and a $10.50 whiskey-glazed corned beef dinner.
Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen
5-7 p.m.
Watch the race at this Crystal Lake bar and enjoy 35-cent wings and $7 Maker’s Mark Mint Juleps. And be sure to wear your festive hat, as the best one will score a $25 gift card.
Dunlays on Clark
The Lincoln Park neighborhood spot peps up race day with $5 Maker’s Mark Mint Juleps, $4 shots of Jack Daniels and a Kentucky-inspired menu including Burgood stew and a hot brown (choose any three items for $25).
Durty Nellie’s
5-7 p.m.
There’ll be tons of big-screen, hi-def TVs showing the race at this Palatine bar, which offers $5 Mint Juleps and an $8.95 Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner.
Faith & Whiskey
Noon
The Lincoln Park bar will open early for its “Talk Derby To Me” party and will show all of the day’s races on its four flatscreens with sound. Drink specials include $5 Woodford Reserve shots, $6 Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps, $7 “Derby Downer” specialty cocktails (Woodford Reserve, sparkling wine, vanilla syrup, vanilla bean garnish). F&W will also give away free 15-person private parties to both the best female derby hat and the best male derby suit after the races.
Fizz Bar & Grill
3 p.m.
Saturday, May 1 The sixth annual Kentucky Derby party at this Lakeview bar will include a complimentary buffet featuring dishes like Burgoo stew, Benedictine sandwiches and bourbon brownies, mint juleps (served in commemorative Churchill Downs glasses for $10 each; refills $5) and more. There will be prizes for the best women’s hat and best men’s seersucker suit.
John Barleycorn
Enjoy $5 mint juleps featured all day. For the ladies: Barleycorn hosts a fancy hat contest post-race (at approximately 5:30 p.m.) with a $200 grand prize and gift certificates for other finalists.
Lincoln Station
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Whether you like to drink, eat or gamble, this Lincoln Park bar has you covered. All-day drink deals including $4 22-ounce drafts of Bud Light, $4 Mint Juleps, a $3 mimosa bar and a $4 bloody mary bar – or you can spring for the $35 food and drink package from 1 p.m. to the end of the race, which includes Bud Light, Mint Juleps, wine, mimosa and bloody mary bars plus passed hors d’oeuvres. There will also be 50/50 horse bets, with half of the pot going to the Jennifer S. Fallick cancer support center.
Lobby Lounge (ShowPlace Icon Theatre)
Woodford Reserve sponsors a Derby watch party with raffles, giveaways and drink specials like $12 Mint Juleps.
Luxbar
Enjoy $5 Maker’s Mint Juleps as you cheer on the horses at this Gold Coast bar. Each guest will get a race card, and those with the winning horse will receive a $25 gift certificate to Luxbar (and even the losers will get $5 certificates). The prize for best Derby hat: a $250 cocktail card.
Mac’s American Pub
All-day Derby specials include $5 Maker’s Mark mint juleps, Jack Daniel?s BBQ-glazed chicken wings ($5) and the Derby burger: A half-pound stock yards angus burger topped with grilled onions, cheddar cheese and Jim Beam BBQ sauce, served with hand-cut fries ($5). The Pony
1 p.m.
Celebrate Derby Day for a good cause at The Pony’s fundraiser event, benefiting Equestrian Connection. Guests can enter to win a free trip to the stables, while enjoying $5 Mint Juleps and Jim Beam cocktails and a $10 Southern-style buffet featuring fried chicken, biscuits and more. Guests are encouraged to dress in classic Southern attire.
The Southern
3 p.m.
Here’s another appropriate spot to do your celebrating – and it’ll be easy with $7 bourbon cocktails like classic Mint Juleps, the Lily (lemonade with bourbon and cranberry juice), the Lazy Boy (bourbon, bitters and soda) and Peach Tea (peach schnapps, iced tea and bourbon). Chef Cary Taylor will also offer the traditional Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich with turkey, bacon and avocado covered in Mornay sauce for $12. Stretch Run
Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; $5 admission on Saturday
Guests can place their wagers starting on Friday and join Stretch Run for a pre-Derby Day celebration. Guests can indulge in $6 mint juleps and $5 20-ounce drafts of Miller Lite and Coors Light.
Timothy O’Toole’s
O’Toole’s will serve up Sweet Tea Vodka cocktails for $5.50 and Maker’s Mark Mint Juleps for $6. The pub invites patrons to don a Derby hat in honor of the occasion and take part in a Derby pool for a chance to win prizes. Stick around for the Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match afterward ($20 cover) and enjoy $15 Corona buckets. The pub’s will also offer $3 pints of Miller Lite, Miller High Life and Coors Light all day.
Tin Lizzie
You can really party hard at the Dirty Derby party, which includes giveaways (like sex toys), drink specials ($15 shot-skis) and a dirty joke contest.
Zella
2-6 p.m.; $80 in advance, $100 at the door
Party with a live band, open bar and a lunch buffet on the outdoor patio at this Lincoln Park bar, and feel good while doing it: all proceeds from this party go to Chicago Children’s Charities.
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