For a city that raises its bartenders to the level of some chefs, Chicago put on a decidedly weak display last year for World Cocktail Week. The anemic list of events was not lost on Drinks Over Dearborn's Kyle McHugh, whose "Speakeasy Over Dearborn" was, by default, the best of last year's events. more ›

Drinks Over Dearborn was transformed into a modern speakeasy last night, in honor of World Cocktail Week. All guests at the event had different passwords to gain entry to the boutique liquor shop. Owner Kyle McHugh set up a blackjack table, an absinthe room, a blues band in the main room and had bartenders mixing some very potent cocktails. Guests were given a gambling chip to use at the blackjack table. The top three winners won his or her choice of the liquors used to make the cocktails. Meanwhile, the backing band for Shirley King (B.B.'s daughter) played in McHugh's main room. more ›

World Cocktail Week 2009 started yesterday, and what's shaping up to be the major local event in honor of this is "Speakeasy Over Dearborn." From 9 p.m. until midnight Monday, Kyle McHugh is turning his Drinks Over Dearborn boutique liquor store and salon (650 N. Dearborn, 312-337-9463) into a speakeasy, complete with password entry. If you don't know the password, you don't get in. more ›