We often fantasize about chaining Mike Ryan (of Sable) or Stephen Cole (of Violet Hour) to one of our radiators and forcing them to teach us bartending. A wholesome dream, shared by every Chicago booze lover, but also probably illegal and dangerous - after all, what if you got drunk and they escaped? Now, you can get the same results without the possibility of arrest, violence and property damage. more ›

If you are out any night this weekend in the Gold Coast be on the lookout for the Ketel One Canteen for some free late night vittles and a ride home. The vodka brand food mobile is serving complimentary gourmet food from Top Chef Master Rick Bayless including pork tinga tacos, roast poblano and potato tacos, and black bean/chorizo tortas. It sounds like music to our bellies especially after a night of holiday drinking. To sweeten the deal even more, Ketel One will offer complimentary rides home on a first-come-first-served basis in high-end vehicles. more ›

We didn't attend the fireworks display downtown Tuesday night. But we did see waves of humanity flocking to the lakefront as early as noon flowing off the trains with their coolers and lawn chairs, staking their claims to Monroe Harbor like it was the Oklahoma land rush. We wonder what time most of those same folks made it back home Tuesday night, because the elevated tracks were shut down for over an hour. The shutdown... more ›

If you've been reading Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week" series from its inception, you'll remember that one of our primary rules of alcohol consumption is if you're old enough to legally order something like Sparks, Long Island iced teas, vodka and Red Bull, frozen cocktails, any drink that ends with the word "bomb," or any cocktail containing Southern Comfort, you're old enough to know better. So where does that leave all you folks who... more ›