Chicagoist: Sobering

Mister C

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:48:59 -0600

Oh yeah, spence, so unlike the sophisticated Parisian Salon it is normally.

Erik

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:27:52 -0600

Frat house? I only wear one collared shirt at a time (company dress code), and the collar is defintiely not "popped." Then again, we Maroons don't have the best idea of what a real frat house is like, anyway.

spence

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:27:29 -0600

Chicagoist has turned into a frat house.

Mister C

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:04:49 -0600

I laugh at the sheltered definition of binge drinking. I know that when I lived in Madison (way back in the day) and during my younger days in Chicago, six drinks was called "cutting back" "taking a break" or "Tuesday" but definitely not "binge drinking." You'd have to drink continuously for at least 48 hours to even hear the word "binge" uttered. Not that this was a healthy thing, mind you, just that these straight arrow researcher types have no idea what lurks beneath the surface of the drinking culture.

SPD

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:59:18 -0600

Chuck: I'm from Chicago, FYI. Grew up here, spent some years away after college, returned a few years ago. Now go back to your scribbling with your I'm-such-a-hip-in-your-face-Chicagoist-staff-member 'tude.

Nellie

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:36:59 -0600

Fargo totally needs to be on the list. Nothing else to do when it's 40 below than drink.

Erik

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:30:37 -0600

As a UofC alum, I can say that I certainly contributed to the "drunken idiot arguing with a mugger" factor. Actually, I contributed to all sorts of "drunken idiot" things. Not always down in Woodlawn and HP, though.

Erik

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:15:59 -0600

I competed with Madison once on Halloween. ...I lost.

Mason

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:15:31 -0600

Sounds like the only way to settle this dispute is.... DRINK OFF!!!! Oh yeah, and as a UofC student, I can reasonably say that we are not contributing to the "college town" factor.

SPD

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:11:23 -0600

My point is not moot. I don't have a link to the story available, but I read a report once that Wisconsin led the country in per capita alcohol consumption. The naming of Milwaukee as the most drunken city jibes with that. Also, the report said that Dane County, where Madison is located, was the most drunken county in Wisconsin. It's not simply the presence of the University that gives the city its high rate of alcholism. Drinking pervades the culture of that area, and the state of Wisconsin, more than it does here. By the way, I've lived in Champaign-Urbana too. It doesn't compete with Madison when it comes to drinking.

MJK

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:42:12 -0600

SPD, I'm pretty sure that Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Charleston, and especially Macomb would beat the crap out of Madison when it comes to per capita alcohol consumption. Of course towns with colleges will do that (not saying the Madison is just that, but let's be real). Seeing as Depaul, Loyola, and UIC make up just a fragment of the population of Chicago, your argument is moot. Erik, Baseball, Beer, and Binge drinking. A great reason to get behind the wheel.

Chuck

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:26:21 -0600

Then go back to Madison with your size complex, SPD.

SPD

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:16:59 -0600

These ratings are a bit misleading since only large cities were looked at. I'm sure that Madison, Wisconin, where I used to live, would beat the crap out of Chicago in the area of per capita alcohol consumption.

Chuck

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:35:41 -0600

If the corner taverns really want to flirt with danger, they should serve foie gras, as well.

Bill V

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:23:53 -0600

Wait until Daley finds out about this. He'll be after the rest of the corner taverns he's yet to close down. My personal rule, everything in moderation! (ok that was a rule my mom gave to me regarding ice cream, but it works with drinking too)

kt

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:59:57 -0600

lots of cold weather cities and college towns, unsurprisingly.

Erik

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:57:22 -0600

MJK- road trip?

MJK

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:41:28 -0600

5 of the top 10 cities are in the Midwest. All in driving distance. I love it.

james

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:28:04 -0600

love the google ads that accompany this piece. alcoholics anonymous, alcohol recovery, et al., priceless.

geekgrrl

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:16:29 -0600

i don't 'spose anyone's, you know, a tad alarmed that we're such boozehounds? @ seth: that mental image just made my day.

Seth Anderson

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:51:31 -0600

In my neighborhood, everyone is running down the street chanting, 'we're number six, we're number six!", with gigantic foam hands with 6 fingers.

Erik

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:28:03 -0600

Man, that's some stiff competition above us. I think we can take Austen, though, if we all believe in the dream! Throw your old Less Than Jake or Social Distortion in the tape deck and let's rock! (Or should we turn this into a "best drinking music" thread?)

james

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:10:29 -0600

can you tell us more about that photo? it's hilarious. was it staged or is that an actual grumpy old beggar?