The Violet Hour Is Turning 10 & Bringing Back Some All-Star Alums To Celebrate

By Stephen Gossett in Food on Sep 27, 2017 8:10PM

Via The Violet Hour's Facebook

Few bars in Chicago have been as influential over the last decade as The Violet Hour, in Wicker Park. They simultaneously helped pioneer the craft-cocktail movement and the neo-speakeasy trend—not to mention the Lynchian-hideaway interior design aesthetic—when few others in town were board, 10 years ago. That's right, the uber-acclaimed now-institution is already hitting the tin anniversary, and they'll be welcoming back some alumni mixologists, and serving up past favorites, to celebrate.

On Monday, Oct. 2, The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave.) will host its "Bending the House Rules" party with a one-night-only roster of favorites, including the Six Corner Sling, Woolworth Manhattan, Coffee & Cigarettes, The Libertine and the famed-in-cocktail-circles Art of Choke. Each drink will run $10.

Here's the who's who of bartenders who will be mixing 'em up again to help celebrate:
- Rachael Thompson (Josephine Estelle)
- Ira Koplowitz (Bittercube)
- Brad Bolt (Bar DeVille)
- Henry Prendergast (Analogue)
- Robby Haynes (Letherbee Distillers, Apologue Spirits & Liqueurs)
- Nandini Khaund (Cindy’s)
- Alyssa Heidt (The Aviary)

Our advice to any Violet Hour trip is to get there early if possible, but that would go doubly for Monday, which will be first-come, first-served, as usual. The anniversary party, which runs from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. will also feature an a la carte menu and DJs.