Seen on the Scene

11/17/09

Weekend photos: Double A @ Mercadito

Bringing new meaning to "open bar": Double A (108 W. Kinzie St., lower level; 312-329-2444), the exclusive 65-seat lounge that launched downstairs from Mercadito last Thursday. Mixology takes centerstage at this sleek spot, where bartenders whip together elaborate drinks—dreamed up by the cocktail consultancy known as the Tippling Bros...

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11/09/09

Weekend Photos: 6 Corners Sports Bar

Champagne and DJs are out; all sports, all the time is in at 6 Corners Sports Bar (1950 W. North Ave.; 773-235-5700), a revamped spot in the former D'Vine space, just east of the intersection of Milwaukee, North, and Damen Avenues in Wicker Park. We sent our photographer over on Saturday to check out the state of play; she spotted folks with eyes trained on the 13 flatscreens and giant projection TV. Come next week, there will be even more reason to watch, owners say...

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11/02/09

Weekend Photos: Halloween at The Fifty/50

Muppets, pirates, and Hunter S. Thompson: Oh, my! On Saturday we sent our photographer to The Fifty/50, where Halloween tomfoolery included costume and pumpkin-carving contests, plus drink specials in mildly disturbing, only-on-Halloween shades. To the creatively costumed: We salute you. To the pumpkin artists, a word of advice: Next year, maybe wait to dip into the Witches' Brew until after the carving contest is over...

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10/26/09

Weekend Photos: New Line Tavern

First Sweetwater, now New Line Tavern (201 N. Clinton St.; 312-212-5463): Happy-hour options for downtown drinkers have been popping up practically every payday. On Friday we sent our photographer over to New Line, a new tap from the minds behind Seven Ten Lanes and Daily Bar & Grill in the old Powerhouse Building...

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10/19/09

Weekend Photos: Mustache and Cleavage Benefit at Amp Rock Lounge

No word on how, exactly, mustaches fit into last Friday's bash benefiting breast cancer awareness at Amp (1909 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-376-1860)—the drink specials, including a Dolly Parton margarita, we're clearer on—but with nearly $500 in donations going to two nonprofits, who cares? Our photographer snapped party-goers trying out a full array of fake ’staches at the Lincoln Park bar.

Posted at 05:28 PM in Seen on the Scene | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/12/09

Weekend Photos: Scarlet

Our hats off to Scarlet. Seven months after a February fire in the apartments overhead caused this Boystown standby to go dark, the bar reopened September 30th with a fresh dedication to cocktailing and a handsome turn-of-the-century-inspired interior. We sent our photographer over on Friday for the relaunch of the spot's...

Posted at 01:28 PM in Seen on the Scene | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/05/09

Weekend Photos: Sweetwater Tavern and Grille

In the face of a 70-strong beer list, suddenly all of your past happy hours seem sort of … melancholy. Aiming to cure your 6 p.m. beer yen: Sweetwater, a new afterwork spot from the folks behind The Boundary that opened last Monday on Michigan Avenue. We gave it a few days, then sent our photographer down to scope things out. She found a Thursday-night crowd rosy with...

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09/28/09

Weekend Photos: 'The Hills' Season 6 Premiere Party with Justin Bobby @ Lumen

When it comes to The Hills—the MTV reality show launching its sixth season Tuesday, September 29th at 9 p.m.—some things change (L. C. is out; Kristin Cavallari is in), and some things stay the same: Justin Bobby is hot. The show's bad boy was in town Friday night for a season premiere party at Lumen, where he sipped Absolut and Fuze cocktails until close. Our photographer was on the scene, along with oodles of adoring fans. We're not sure what prompted Justin's oh-so-casual over-the-shoulder tie look, but the ladies didn't seem to mind...

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09/21/09

Weekend Photos: Beckett's Public House

What's good for the gander is good for the other gander: Oscar Wilde gets his due at East Lake View's Wilde Bar & Restaurant; now Samuel Beckett earns a similar tip of the cap with Beckett's Public House (3210 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-880-9620), a new Irish pub in West Lake View from the Wilde team of Paul Sheahan ("He says it 'SHEE-han,'" explains general manager Rob Potter) and Martin Cournane ("He says it 'COR-nan': They're...

Posted at 03:32 PM in Seen on the Scene | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/14/09

Weekend Photos: Huettenbar

Lederhosen, lager, Lincoln Square: Must be the North Side hamlet's German Day Festival (a.k.a. Oktoberfest). Our photographer caught folks midpolka on Friday, the first night of the weekend-long fest, before heading inside the neighborhood tavern Huettenbar...

Posted at 02:41 PM in Seen on the Scene | Permalink | Comments (0)