Happy Belated Birthday Weegee's

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 6, 2008 6:00PM

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of Weegee's Lounge, one of our favorite cocktail lounges in the city. While others like Violet Hour change out the cocktail menu with the season, Weegee's sticks to the time-honored classics and does them exceptionally. On a visit Saturday night a friend read the menu and remarked, "This should be considered one of America's true contributions to the world."

Formerly a Polish bar, Weegee's is named in honor of photographer Arthur Fellig. Fellig was famous for his stark street photography in New York City and earned his odd nickname (a phonetic rendering of the word "ouija") for his uncanny ability to arrive at the scene of a crime minutes after it was committed. Deep blue walls and dark oak tones — dotted with photos taken by the lounge's namesake — convey a noir atmosphere that's almost intoxicating. Fitting since Weegee's is located in the no man's land between Logan Square and Humboldt Park, one of the more crime-ridden areas of the city.

Weegee's also has a photo booth, mini shuffleboard table and the bartenders spin their own vinyl. Saturday night saw a lively mix of neighborhood folk, hipsters, cocktail enthusiasts and friends just looking for a relaxing night out to unwind. We hope that Weegee's can make it another two years and beyond.

Weegee's Lounge is located at 3659 W. Armitage. Open 5 p.m. - 2 a.m. daily.