#21 - Try 12 New Restaurants in Chicago

Covid-19 put a damper on this one, as I usually only include restaurants where I dine in person. I counted delivery and take out this year because those were my (safe) options! I still only hit 9 new joints, but that makes sense since I was in Michigan for maybe 6 months this year and couldn't afford to order takeout every night.

1 - El Pulpo Loco

1/6/20, delivery

I was craving tacos, and El Pulpo Loco filled that craving!

2 - Little Bad Wolf

1/31/20 with Laura Masters

I have been wanting to try Little Bad Wolf for awhile now, even more so after reading Megan Stielstra's The Wrong Way to Save a Life where she gushes about what a delight this place is. I was thrilled when Laura Masters suggested it for lunch plans we had made.

Shrimp bao <3 

Little Bad Wolf has two rooms, both dark and adorably decorated. After seeing the amazing Caesar salad at the neighboring table, we decided to share that and then get some baos and tacos from the bites menu. Everything was really good, but the shrimp bao really stood out to me as a favorite.

The servers were quick, attentive, and knowledgeable. They also let us take our time, even during the lunch rush.

Just a lovely first new restaurant of the new year!

3 - Lawry's
1/31/20 with Chris and Beth

Early into the new year, Beth sent a text to Chris, Dan, and I asking if we wanted to do Restaurant Week there. I'd never even considered setting foot in Lawry's, with it's well-known name and pretentious facade, just blocks off Michigan Ave. But $48 for a 3-course steak dinner, why not?

The day of, Dan was sick, so it ended up being Beth, Chris, and I. They had been to Lawry's before, both for Restaurant Week and because it was such a cool experience.

They were right. Dining at Lawry's is an experience.

3 - YATAI Asian Street Food

2/6/20, delivery

I have been looking for decent delivery wings, so I tried out YATAI. YATAI was pretty good. I would try it again, though maybe not for wings, as I found some others for that option.

4 - Pizzeria Aroma

2/24/20, delivery

I had a hankerin' for a filling sandwich. I'd had pizza from Pizzeria Aroma when I happened to be at The Boxcar on a night when they had free pizza, but I'd never ordered myself. I tried out the chicken parm, krinkle fries, and a chicken caeser salad (for multiple meals). The sandwich was awesome. The fries were quite good. So filling. So flavorful. So fast for the delivery. 

5 - Clarke's
2/28/20 with Holly Zann

I've tried to make it a habit to ask someone to lunch each week to get myself out of the house now that I work from home (and do my best work actually from home). I asked Holly and likely will again soon because she's also at home, taking care of a newborn, and I like that newborn, so he was invited too.

She suggested we go to Clarke's in Rogers Park. I had no idea there was a Clarke's in Rogers Park. This is probably semi cheating because I've been to the former Belmont location of Clarke's so very many times. However, that location is closed (how, I don't know), and I'd never been to this location, so I'm counting it! We had a great diner-style lunch. Holly had some soup and grilled cheese and I had a bagel and lox. Totally a great spot for a diner lunch.


6 - Irazu
2/29/20 with Marcy Gonzalez, Denisse Ocasio, Nelly, and Chelli

This spot reserved a private space for Marcy's bachelorette party. They took great care of us, not only serving great Costa Rica food but being super attentive about our drinks.

I loved Costa Rica food while we were there, and I can't wait to go back to Irazu to find some of those tastes again!

7 - Big G's Pizza

3/6/20, delivery

I cannot find decent hand tossed pizza in Chicago. I love Paulie Gee's for woodfired and Detroit style, and there are a few others that have decent woodfired or Italian-style pizzas, but I just can't find a New York nor just hand tossed that I like. I tried out Big G's. It was fine. The dough was still a bit pasty but everything else was fine.

8 - Mrs. T's Southern Fried Chicken

5/2/20, delivery

I was craving really good chicken fingers. Mrs. T's was it. So damn good. I had chicken fingers with hot sauce, biscuits, and coleslaw. Fantastic.

9 - The Budlong Hot Chicken

6/1/20, delivery

I'd been wanting to try the hot chicken sandwich at The Budlong for awhile. I was not disappointed. The sandwich, slaw, and biscuits were all so damn good. Just writing about it makes me crave fried chicken in all forms.

#26 - Visit 52 New Buildings in Chicago (Fail)

I'm sure those of you who are taking the time to read this think this is a strange item to add. However, every time I enter a cool space in Chicago, I think, "Wow. This city has limitless amazing spaces." So I made it a list item to see them. Not all of the following are amazing. But some really are.

Outside of The Pink Squirrel & Deadbolt

However, this was a really tough list item to track. I remembered at the start of the year but slowly forgot this was one of my list items. So it's possible I hit it and just don't remember other buildings I visited! And part of the point was to take pictures to show the range, and I definitely didn't do that. Oh well!

1 - 2412 N. Milwaukee
1/9/18, with Stephanie Souvenir and Denisse Ocasio
This building spans a few addresses and houses several businesses. I walk by it weekly on my way to host trivia. It's not what I had in mind when I wrote this item, but I'm counting all of the buildings. This building houses both The Pink Squirrel and Deadbolt, which I wrote about in my post about going to 12 new bars. It's a pretty basic one-story business, but the spaces within it are really different and well designed.

2 - 5625 N. Broadway
1/13/18
Again, not the space I was imagining when I went to Northside Toyota to get my oil changed. Their garage is a huge indoor space. It was a frigid day, and even though the two garage doors were constantly opening, heaters were coordinated to blast just the right amount of heat to keep it comfortable. I couldn't believe how many cars they fit in such a tight space. There was constant movement. And so much light from above. Really quite a lovely space that I wouldn't have otherwise noticed.
n I came up with this list item, but the first where I was aware of being in a new space. It was actually quite fascinating once I took notice.

3 - 1100 W. Bryn Mawr
1/13/18
While waiting for my oil to get changed, I ran down the street to get some food. Nookies Edgewater was right there, so I gave it a try. This space is way different than Nookies Too. It has a more modern, upscale vibe, though the service felt more like a slow-paced diner. Lots cooler spaces out there, but big enough that it didn't feel overwhelmingly busy and rushed.

4 - 5050 N. Sheridan
1/15/18
I tried out Crossfit at Primary Crossfit. A big, open, Crossfitty-type space.

5 - 2524 N. Orchard St.
1/16/18
I was assigned to observe my class at St. Clement's School in Lincoln Park. It was exactly what you'd think: an old, urban, Catholic school. But with a gym with a TON of sweet equipment.

6 - 2607 W. 17th St
1/16/18
I went to a fundraiser at Lagunitas Chicago for 826 Chicago. What a really cool space. I've been to a lot of breweries, but this. was. huge. It's playfully painted all the way through. When you walk in, you're greeted by a host and a loooonnnggg underwatery hallway with the chimes from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory song. There are a few event spaces. We were in the bar area, on the third floor, but the third floor hallway windows overlook another space, a huge, purple game room where another event was taking place. The bar looked like a cozy bar, except the windows overlook the warehouse floor and all the brewing space. It's like being in a bar in a treehouse above a sea of beer. Then, there are catwalks all the way through the warehouse space where you can wander and watch people checking the giant casks, packing things, fixing things... Really a brewery wonderland. This is the kind of new space I had in mind when I made this list item. So glad I now know of yet another amazing place to visit and take visitors here in Chicago.

7 - 1102 W. Webster
1/25/18 with Nicole Garton and John Washo
We deviated from our usual happy hour spots this week, including a stop at Local Option with Nicole & John. It's definitely a bit craft beer, dark references (lots of 666s around the bar) pretentious but also great beer options. The server asked me what kind of beer I like, and I said whiskey, and he said they only had Maker's Mark and Jameson. So apparently they're not whiskey snobby. Or they're so whiskey snobby that that's what the owner likes so that's all there is. Either way, I made do.

8 - 2728 W. Armitage
1/30/18 with Drea Stoit
Chicago Restaurant Week at Table, Donkey, Stick with Drea Stoit! Detailed here.

9 - 1800 N. Lincoln
2/13/18 with Nicole Garton and Stephanie Souvenir
Another 2 Bar Tuesday in the books! Laura Masters made the suggestions but couldn't make it to join us. The happy hour drink specials here are decent $5 bubbles and drafts. The food looked interesting but was a little more than I was looking to spend. The space was very modern and clean. Lots of lines and low, almost 70's style decor. I really liked one wall that had keys hung on it like an old timey hotel. I would definitely go back for the ambiance.

10 - 1612 N. Sedgewick
2/13/18 with Nicole Garton
Second stop for 2 Bar Tuesday with just Nicole. The bar itself was my kind of bar. A little divey but still interesting. I think it's a rugby bar, which could be good or bad. Not an impressive space but a bar I'd like to return to.

11 - 2357 N. Milwaukee
2/15/18 with Laura Masters and Beth Jager
Always gotta grab one more week when out with Laura Masters!

12 - 401 N. Morgan
2/23/18 with Laura Masters, Megan Morrison, Missy Liebs, and others
Tickled Pink Gala!

13 - 4229 N. Lincoln
3/13/18 with Leanne Surmin and Drea Stoit
Oops. Misplanned 2 Bar Tuesday but wound up in a new place!

14 - 737 W. Wrightwood
4/23/18 with Norris Narsa, Angela Howard, Edric Cruz, Jessica Ornelas, and Ahmed Atia
What a cool little event space for such a bittersweet event: Wishing Norris and Angela best wishes on their journey to life on the west coast. I miss them dearly!


15 - 108 N. Green
4/2/18 with Laura Masters, Alan Lee, Theresa Chen, and others
A night out watching the NCAA Men's Basketball final.

16 - 113-125 N. Green
4/2/18 with Laura Masters and Alan Lee
A pop over to Fox Bar after a tough Michigan loss. What a cool space. Really beautiful and pockets that vary in look, from bright and spacious to small and cozy.

17 - 1851 W. Addison
4/10/18 with Missy Liebs and Holly Zann
I love this bar.

18 - 1055 W. Argyle
4/19/18
Pho. Yum.

19 - 1604 W. Chicago
4/22/18 with Laura Masters, Alan Lee, Missy Liebs, Megan Voss, Megan Daly, Stephanie Loring, Brandon Loring, Scott Jensen
Brunchin' at Beatnik with some of my favs!

20 - 724 W. Wrightwood
4/27/18 with Nicole Garton
We stopped at Burwood Tap on a walk further north just to see what it was like. It was a bigger space than I thought. It had a combo cabin-dive bar vibe, which I dug.

21 - 2728 N. Milwaukee
4/27/18 with Nicole Garton and Stephanie Punda
When transitioning from happy hour into a night out, it's always best to stop for dinner! We stopped at Renaldi's After Dark this week. It was fine. Actually I really liked the space. We went to the bar side, which is dark and small but has a large bar in the middle with stools circling. Then, upstairs, there's a little lounge that they've decorated interestingly with space for live music. I dug the space. Not the pizza.

22 - 1901 N. Clybourn
5/16/18 on recommendation from Leanne Surmin
My first trip to the chiropractor. I love this space. If I had an office not on a campus, I'd love to be a redesigned, old Chicago building with old hardwood floors and bare, brick walls. Such a pretty space.

23 - 150 N. Dearborn
5/17/18
Petterino's for a DePaul School for New Learning alumni night


24 - 3166 N. Clark
5/26/18 with Nicole Garton, Stephanie Punda, Leanne Surmin, Stephanie Souvenir, and John Washo
Wing Woman Night lunch at Ceaser's Killer Margaritas

25 - 815 W. Van Buren
6/7/18 with Matt Specht, Dave Merrill, Christian Kopp, Stephanie Souvenir, Nicole Garton, Stephanie Punda, Maureen McGonagle, Gale Stewart, Scott Vandermoon

Loved the Google Chicago spaces

25 - 320 N. Morgan
6/19/18 with Justin Phillips, John Washo, Leanne Surmin, Maureen McGonagle, Gale Stewart, Sarah Hardin, Scott Vandermoon, Rees Grant, Stephanie Souvenir, Stephanie Punda, Courtney Griffin, Nicole Garton
Such a cool trip to the Chicago Google Headquarters. I LOVED the local graffiti-type art. Gorgeous. Just a really cool space.

26 - 1200 W. Randolph
6/19/18 with Robin Heggum
We saw Roxane Gay!

27 - Unsure
6/19/18 with all the folks listed above at Google.
We had part of our summer retreat the Brailsford and Dunlavey offices in Chicago. The conference room was small, but the views were incredible.


28 - 1307 S. Wabash
6/24/18 with Laura Masters, Nicole Garton, and Jerry Munk
We had dinner at Lobo Rey.

29 - 1454 S. Michigan
6/23/18 with Laura Masters, Alan Lee, Eileen, Nicole Garton, and Jerry Munk
After dinner, we had a stop at Vice District Taproom in the South Loop. We played Taboo. I enjoyed the space in that it was a comfortable place to hang out and there were chalkboards everywhere. I wish they had fresh pieces of chalk for easier writing, but I enjoy a place that lets its guests leave their mark.

30 - 5358 N. Clark
7/8/18 with Ryan Groth
So happy to have a little Sunday Funday with my SD buddy Ryan. We hit up a few spots I knew but then also stopped in Replay in Andersonville to take advantage of the open windows on a gorgeous day. We did not take advantage of the free game play but maybe next time!

31 - 12  S. Michigan
7/15/18 with Grace Bagunu
We popped up to Cindy's in the Chicago Athletic Club. The inside was cool but I was expecting a bit more from the "rooftop" everyone raves about. It's just a balcony, though granted, a balcony with a beautiful view.


32 - 212 N. Green
8/3/18 with Nicole Green
A stop at the new Ballast Point location that I had no idea existed until Nicole came to town with some beer-knowledgeable friends. I don't really drink beer anymore but I had a taster or two in honor of my former San Diego life where I did drink beer.

33 - Unsure
8/22/18 with Rebeca Matus and friends
I was in a church somewhere on Ashland(?) for Rebeca's wedding. I can't seem to find the exact location. It was the only church I was in all year, and it was incredibly beautiful.


34 - 820 W. Lake St
9/1/18 with Laura Masters, Alan Lee, Megan Daly, Beth Jager, Missy Liebs, and Scott Jensen
I hit up Momotaro for Masters' birthday with some delightful company. What a gorgeous space. We were seated upstairs where we could look through the glass wall to the staircase and down at the bar. I didn't take any photos but I should have! The dinner details are here.

35 - 3123 N. Clybourn
sometime in September with JJ
A trip to the emergency vet with JJ: she's fine.

36 - 1136 W. Lawrence
11/9/18
A fun night out with Souvenir!

37 - 1550 N. Fremont
12/1/18
I got to meet Stephanie Izard in a Williams Sonoma that looks way bigger on the inside than the outside!

38 - 2936 N. Southport
I went to a show with Michael Bigelow at The Athenaem. The space itself was not as nice and as I thought. I wish it had the old theater specialness, but it just seems like a run-down theater.

39 - 108 N. State St.
12/6/18 with Laura Masters, Missy Liebs, Megan Morrison, and Carrie Kalita

#25 - Try 12 New Bars in Chicago

1 - The Pink Squirrel

1/9/18 with Stephanie Souvenir and Denisse Ocasio

Before I moved away from Chicago, I had a tradition with friends called Three Bar Thursday. Every other Thursday, we would pick a neighborhood and go to three bars we'd never been to before. It forced us to explore the city and we found some real gems. 

In November, I started it up again with a little modification. It's now Two Bar Tuesday and happens the second Tuesday of each month. Three bars is a bit aggressive for someone my age, and Chicago now has happy hour, so Two Bar Tuesday is no longer a late-night activity.

In January, I met up with Steph Souvenir and Deni Ocasio to Logan Square. We started at The Pink Squirrel, a small, new bar on Milwaukee. It was a delight. It has a retro diner vibe with a wide menu of craft cocktails (all $10) and one item on the food menu: turkey club. What I didn't know is that there's a mini bowling alley in the bar, two lanes with a candlepin-like thing going on. They're still working out what/how to charge, but on slow weeknights, you can bowl for free. All of the drinks we tasty and fun, and I would love to go back! 

The Pink Squirrel

2 - Deadbolt

1/9/18 with Stephanie Souvenir

Bar two from Tue Bar Tuesday in January (Described above) was Deadbolt, The Pink Squirrel's neighbor. I imagined it as a hipster joint but was actually more genuinely cool than I thought it would be though it's definitely more of a late-night joint that showcases DJs, so on a Tuesday at 7pm, when they open, we were the only ones there besides the bartenders... for 2 hours. Still a cool spot.



3 - Kubo
1/13/18


I took myself on a date to Sketchfest at Stage773. (Shows are hit or miss, but the tickets are so cheap, it's worth trying a few. I loved The Comedy Dance Collective and may try to see them again sometime.) After, I took myself for a drink. I was going to stop across the street at a favorite spot of one of my friend's, Cooper's... but it was gone! Tragic, yes. I decided to check out the new place that took it's spot, Kubo. I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine. The selection is way better than Cooper's. One of the staff (maybe one of the owner's) suggested I come back for dinner sometime, so I took a look at the menu. It's a Filipino place (also with American-style options), and I'm really curious to go back! 3/3 in new bars in the new year!

4 - Lagunitas
1/16/18

I used to volunteer regularly with 826 Chicago. Now, I just can't seem the time to make it work. It could be due to the location. It's not easy to travel south-west/north-east in Chicago, but it probably has more to do with me working 4 jobs. Either way, I got an invitation for a fundraiser at Lagunitas Chicago, and I could make it. I've never been to Lagunitas, and it's definitely a fully functioning, gigantic brewery, but the event was held in a bar area, so I'm counting it.

In general, Lagunitas Chicago is an amazing space. I describe it in detail in another post, so I won't here. It was a nice event: $10 suggested donations for tickets, $6 beers, and free food from a variety of Chicago vendors. I even had my first vegan Gyro. It was just okay. I hope to make a trip back to explore the rest of Lagunitas as it's a huge space with a lot going on.

5 - Local Option
1/25/18 with Nicole Garton and John Washo

After over a year of walking by Local Option, which is just down the street from where I work, I stopped there for happy hour with coworkers. There is a decent selection of decent beer, but I haven't been much into beer since leaving San Diego. I asked for whiskey and they had Maker's Mark and Jameson. Definitely a beer bar. But I made do just fine. It's tough to describe the ambiance but my best effort is a combination of beer elitist, demonic, and divey.

Sedgewick Stop hurricane

6 - The Kennison

2/13/18 with Nicole Garton and Stephanie Souvenir

A 2 Bar Tuesday stop! It had a decent happy hour: $5 bubbles and draughts. The food menu looked pricier than I was interested in at the moment, but I really liked the vibe. I would definitely go back and sit at the bar.

7 - Sedgewick Stop

2/13/18 with Nicole Garton

The second 2 Bar Tuesday stop after the above. Nicole and I both liked this spot. The only reason we didn't stay longer is that it was Fat Tuesday and they were having a... thing. I mean, I'd love to see a burlesque show at a rugby bar on a Tuesday night, but the $20 cover was a little more than we were looking to spend. I do hope to go back!

8 - The Heavy Feather
2/15/18 with Laura Masters and Beth Jager

What's a night with Laura Masters without trying one more place? Masters, Beth, and Alan came and played on the bar team for trivia as I hosted at Paulie Gee's, so of course we had to go get a drink after. We were heading down Milwaukee when Laura suggested The Slippery Slope. It wasn't quite the right timing for Slippery Slope, so we headed upstairs to The Heavy Feather.

What a cool little spot. Super seventies lounge vibe with great craft cocktails. I would love to sit at the bar there one night, have the bartenders do their magic, and chit chat the night away.

9 - Monty Gael's

3/13/18 with Leanne Surmin and Drea Soit

This was an accident. It was 2 Bar Tuesday and I was all psyched to try 2 new places, so Leanne and I walked there from work, and right as we were about to go in the door, I remembered I'd been to that bar before. I looked around and realized we were actually in my old neighborhood and when I'd picked the places I thought it was further west on Montrose. Oops.

So, we went across the street to Monty Gael's. There had been another bar in that spot when I'd lived in that area, but it'd gotten replaced with Monty Gael's. They had a delightful happy hour that gave us plenty of time to Yelp a second bar because, again, I used to live in that neighborhood, and at that time had been newly single and tried every bar in the North Center area.

10 - Kitsune Restaurant and Pub

3/13/18 with Leanne Surmin and Drea Stoit

Not Fox Bar but the lobby of Soho Club

Well, as described above, I kinda picked 2 bars for 2 Bar Tuesday that I'd already been to, so Kitsune was a bit of an improvisation and not quite a bar but more of a very tiny restaurant, even though the title does say "pub." The food looked great, but we just had fun cocktails. I would love to go back and eat sometime.

11 - Fox Bar

4/2/18 with Laura Masters and Alan Lee

I checked out Fox Bar for a 2 Bar Tuesday but decided to save it for a later date. But then, Michigan played in the MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, which was completely unexpected. So I went to watch with Laura, Alan, and friends. While the game didn't give us much to celebrate, we still decided to have one more drink, as is standard of a night out with Laura. (At this point, it seems like I'm teasing, but I LOVE my random nights out with Laura where we explore new places!)

Laura said Fox Bar was right across the street and then wasn't sure if we could get in because she wasn't sure if it was a part of Soho Club. I had no idea what Soho Club was and what I was missing out on, but good news, you do not need to be a member of Soho Club to get into Fox Bar. It is this really tiny room on the second floor of the lobby area. Swinging doors. Great music. A pay phone. Awesome cocktails. Even on a Monday night, it had a nice vibe. I'd love to go back... but I imagine it gets packed at any reasonable time to go.

12 - Wooden Nickel

4/10/18 with Missy Liebs, Stephanie Souvenir, and Holly Munk

Another successful Two Bar Tuesday! Lots of gratitude to Nicole who found these places... and then couldn't come along after all.

The Wooden Nickel has a decent location and a happy hour (half-off drafts), but wasn't ideal for those of us who aren't big beer drinkers and weren't hungry. I'm not sure if I'll go back but I wouldn't be made if someone else suggested it.

Melissa, me, and Holly about to fully dive into our new favorite bar.

13 - Kite String

4/10/18 with Missy Liebs and Holly Munk

We'll call this a baker's dozen... and likely many more to come as it's only April.

This is the Two Bar Tuesday champion so far. What a great find. Thanks, Nicole! It's a new place, very small, only 4-5 high-top tables plus the bar. Cute neon kite above the bar. And what. A. De-LIGHT!

For drinks, they have a full bar, plus "bubblers." You know, those things that used to be full of lemonade at the roller skating rink and are still at a lot of pool concession stands? When we were there, there were four different pre-mixed cocktails bubbling around in there. I know what you're thinking, "Pre-mixed? Gross." But you're oh so wrong. They were delightful. I started with the bourbon horchata, but I believe by the end we'd tried them all--passion fruit punch, hibiscus negroni, limonada maragrita--and invited The Melissa. They were all tasty and quite quite strong.

They also have great little Mexican-style snacks: chips and dip, taquitos, and and alfajores. I know again, you're like, "Okay." The chips include both homemade corn chips AND beet chips, which were SO good. The dips, all flavorful and I can't remember which was my favorite. For taquitos, think the rolly machine at 7 Eleven, but then flavors like pork & pineapple and seasonal vegetable. The alfajores were from Lucilla's Home Made Alfajores down the street.

Why do I know what everything tastes like, because in the middle of the menu on the wall it says "ENTIRE MENU $20." So we were like, um... yes please. And tried it all.



Also fun, it's apparently already a Tinder meetup spot, so if you're lucky like us, you might be quite tipsy on your bubbler drinks, look over to see a couple making out at the bar, in the middle of this very tiny bar, and ask your friends, "Wait? What day and time is it?" And they'll reply, "Tuesday, 8 o'clock." And you'll lose yourself in the wonder of this life.

THE ENTIRE MENU IS $20

________________________________________________

And it continues... but with briefer reviews

13 - Burwood Tap
4/27/18 with Nicole Garton

After the regular happy hour spot, we stopped at Burwood Tap. I liked it. I would like to go back place.

14 - Renaldi's After Dark
4/27/18 with Nicole Garton and Stephanie Punda

Meh.

15 - Theater on the Lake
6/5/18 with Laura Masters, Missy Liebs, and Holly Zann

Gorgeous view. Mediocre food, drinks, and service.

16 - Drawl
6/5/18 with Laura Masters and Missy Liebs

One of my new favorite sports in town. Whiskey bar with great bartenders and decent food.

17 - Waydown
6/19/18 with Nicole Garton, John Washo, and Stephanie Punda

I dig this rooftop bar in Fulton Market. Cool space, great drinks, fine views.

18 - Vice Brewery
6/23/18 with Laura Masters, Alan Lee, Eileen, Nicole Garton, and Jerry Munk

19 - The Green Lady
6/28/18 hosting trivia for Dan Burns

Cool spot for people who like beer and great spot for trivia on Thursdays 

20 - Replay (Andersonville)
7/8/18 with Ryan Groth

When a friend is only around for one day, and it's a Sunday, Chicagoans gotta show off their neighborhood with a Sunday Funday! We hit a few spots, but I'd never been to Replay in Andersonville. Huge open windows on a nice day plus free game play!

21 - The Monkey's Paw
8/7/18 with Drea Stoit and Stephanie Souvenir

Cool little spot. I hope to go back.

22 - The Boxcar
9/3/18

My new fav local spot. So great.

23 - Fort Willow
10/23/18 with Stephanie Souvenir, Danielle Arens, and Delaney Cherveney

2BT! Really cool space in a really strange part of town. Great happy hour if you can get there in time: you buy your first cocktail and the house buys the second. Super interesting cocktails.

24 - J9 Wine Bar
10/23/18 with Stephanie Souvenir and Laney Cherveney

We were planning on another spot for our second stop of the night and then ended up here. Great little spot. There was a free wine tasting of awesome Lebanese wines. We had a great cheese plate and a glass each and rounded out a nice little night!

25 - Navigator Taproom
10/27/18 with Chris Zann, Holly Zann, Ashley Russell, JP Palmares, Drea Stoit, Dan Burns, Jerry Munk

What a great time with so many of my favorite people celebrating someone's 40th!

26 - Innjoy
10/27/18

Best night ever? Maybe!

27 - Sparrow
11/20/18 - with Laura Masters, Missy Liebs, Megan Morrison, Beth Jager, and Stephanie Souvenir

Another 2BT! This time as a pre-party for my birthday. Sparrow was a great spot. Cuban bar with a great vibe and awesome happy hour specials.

28 - The Albert
11/20/18 with all of the above

Stop 2 for the night: the hotel bar in the new hotel EMC2. I dug the vibe. The server was also really great with us, even calling over the bartender to make sure he was putting int he right drinks for us. My only complaint is that I wish there were books everywhere, but it's just that one wall.

29 - Bellwether Meeting House and Eatery
11/20/18 with all of the above

Stop 3 (it was my birthday): super weird spot. Kind of a clubby vibe but then also not? Weird people. Weird music. Decent food and drinks.