The Chaser - July 2011

07/28/11

Sneak Peek: Paddy O’Fegan’s, Coming Soonish to the West Loop; Plus, The Abbey Pub on TV

As of two weeks ago, Patrick Fegan was predicting an August 1 opening for his in-the-works West Loop pub, Paddy O’Fegan’s (not actually named after himself; read the legend here). But when I stopped by yesterday afternoon to check in on the bar’s progress, the general manager Cathy McDonagh delivered an all-too-familiar update...

Posted at 03:07 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/21/11

Be Your Own Brewmaster: Brew Camp Opens Today in North Center

Attention, beer geeks: You now have yet another reason to head north. Just a few blocks from Half Acre Beer Co. and not so far from Metropolitan Brewing, the friends and business partners Jared Saunders and Whit Nelson are opening Brew Camp, their temple to homebrewing tucked into a cozy North Center storefront, today...

Posted at 04:08 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/20/11

Tasty Freeze: Beat the Heat with Icy Drinks

My friend Joan, recently back from a vacation in Cuba, messaged me on Facebook last week: “Amalie—serious work-related question. Where can I find a good frozen daiquiri in Chicago? We had so many good ones on our trip, but it seems every place here tells me they don’t have a blender!” The first thing that came to mind...

Posted at 01:28 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/15/11

Pitchfork Deals, Specials, and Afterparties: Music Isn’t the Only Thing That Wristband Gets You. Shots, Anyone?

I swear I saw rock stars at Cirque du Soleil last night. There they were, slouching around under the big top in their faded black skinny jeans, cool bed-head haircuts, and rumpled vests over V-neck tees. As we sipped $8.50 Bud Lights during intermission, I jabbed The Creative Director in the shoulder and pointed: “Look! I bet they’re here for Pitchfork...

Posted at 12:21 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/14/11

Low-Cal Cocktails and Big Ideas at Hoyt’s, in Hotel 71—the Real Star of ‘Transformers’

Cutting calories and carbs has been my mission in June and July, but that’s no easy feat when you write about bars for a living—and also when every summer weekend devolves into a giddy, three-day festival of beer and encased meats...

Posted at 10:49 AM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/08/11

New, Fresher, Later: Telegraph Opens Tonight, The Empty Bottle Spiffs Up, and Rooftops Get an Extra Hour

Need a little direction this non-holiday weekend? Go west, my friends. Telegraph, the Logan Square wine bar from the team behind The Bluebird and Webster’s Wine Bar, opens to the public at 5 p.m. today...

Posted at 12:01 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/05/11

5 Secrets of The Office, Grant Achatz’s Uber-Exclusive Speakeasy

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more difficult to snag at table at a Grant Achatz/Nick Kokonas joint (Alinea, Next), now there’s The Office: a clubby VIP bar filled with art, antiques and only 14 seats, tucked behind a locked door beneath the Fulton Market cocktail lounge The Aviary...

Posted at 02:52 PM in The Chaser | Permalink | Comments (0)

	07/28/11 Sneak Peek: Paddy O’Fegan’s, Coming Soonish to the West Loop; Plus, The Abbey Pub on TV As of two weeks ago, Patrick Fegan was predicting an August 1 opening for his in-the-works West Loop pub, Paddy O’Fegan’s (not actually named after himself; read the legend here). But when I stopped by yesterday afternoon to check in on the bar’s progress, the general manager Cathy McDonagh delivered an all-too-familiar update... Posted at 03:07 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/21/11 Be Your Own Brewmaster: Brew Camp Opens Today in North Center Attention, beer geeks: You now have yet another reason to head north. Just a few blocks from Half Acre Beer Co. and not so far from Metropolitan Brewing, the friends and business partners Jared Saunders and Whit Nelson are opening Brew Camp, their temple to homebrewing tucked into a cozy North Center storefront, today... Posted at 04:08 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/20/11 Tasty Freeze: Beat the Heat with Icy Drinks My friend Joan, recently back from a vacation in Cuba, messaged me on Facebook last week: “Amalie—serious work-related question. Where can I find a good frozen daiquiri in Chicago? We had so many good ones on our trip, but it seems every place here tells me they don’t have a blender!” The first thing that came to mind... Posted at 01:28 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/15/11 Pitchfork Deals, Specials, and Afterparties: Music Isn’t the Only Thing That Wristband Gets You. Shots, Anyone? I swear I saw rock stars at Cirque du Soleil last night. There they were, slouching around under the big top in their faded black skinny jeans, cool bed-head haircuts, and rumpled vests over V-neck tees. As we sipped $8.50 Bud Lights during intermission, I jabbed The Creative Director in the shoulder and pointed: “Look! I bet they’re here for Pitchfork... Posted at 12:21 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/14/11 Low-Cal Cocktails and Big Ideas at Hoyt’s, in Hotel 71—the Real Star of ‘Transformers’ Cutting calories and carbs has been my mission in June and July, but that’s no easy feat when you write about bars for a living—and also when every summer weekend devolves into a giddy, three-day festival of beer and encased meats... Posted at 10:49 AM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/08/11 New, Fresher, Later: Telegraph Opens Tonight, The Empty Bottle Spiffs Up, and Rooftops Get an Extra Hour Need a little direction this non-holiday weekend? Go west, my friends. Telegraph, the Logan Square wine bar from the team behind The Bluebird and Webster’s Wine Bar, opens to the public at 5 p.m. today... Posted at 12:01 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)
	07/05/11 5 Secrets of The Office, Grant Achatz’s Uber-Exclusive Speakeasy Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more difficult to snag at table at a Grant Achatz/Nick Kokonas joint (Alinea, Next), now there’s The Office: a clubby VIP bar filled with art, antiques and only 14 seats, tucked behind a locked door beneath the Fulton Market cocktail lounge The Aviary... Posted at 02:52 PM in The Chaser \| Permalink \| Comments (0)

July 2011