Back in the 1970s, long before anyone pitied the fool, there was a bouncer at the Chicago nightclub Dingbats named Laurence Tureaud. Today, that address (622 N. Fairbanks Court) is a pub called Timothy O'Toole's, and Laurence is better known as Mr. T.

In celebration of Mr. T's 57th birthday on Thursday, the staff of Timothy O'Toole's will be dressed in the garb the sweet-but-menacing T-man made famous: mohawks (OK, many will be faux-hawks), overalls and lots and lots of gold chains. The pub's chef, Sean O'Brien, has even created themed food and drinks — Mr. T appetizers, a B.A. Baracus Burger, a Mrs. T-ni Thunder Punch Cocktail — and there will be trivia games. (Q. On what TV sitcom did Mr. T play bodyguard to a spoiled rich kid? A. after the jump ...)

The Mr. T's Birthday Bash begins at 9 p.m. Thursday. Maybe he'll show up. We know he's around: Just a couple of weeks ago, our photographers caught him coming out of the Cook County Courthouse after serving jury duty ...