Just a quick note for all you deal-hunters out there: Billy Goat will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on Thursday with 75-cent cheezborgers and 75-cent beers at all locations (except O'Hare) all day long. And when we say all day, we mean it: the celebration kicks off at 8 a.m. at the 430 N. Michigan location with Guy Bauer from the Johnny B Show on 97.9 FM (The Loop).
If you see something like this on Saturday, hop aboard. (via Flickr)
Santa, looks like you can put the folks at Miller/Coors on your "nice" list this year.
The Miller Lite Free Rides program, beginning this Saturday and continuing every Saturday through December 26 (plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day), includes free double-decker buses running throughout the city from 8 p.m.-midnight, picking up inebriated passengers in the Loop, River North, Old Town, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. In addition to being a great way to prevent drunk driving, we're guessing the rides will provide some good after-hours entertainment (no word on complimentary booze).
To find out if the party buses -- ahem, shuttles -- will be passing by your watering hole of choice (or planned New Year's Eve destination), call 1-800-FREE RIDES (1-800-373-3743), text "RIDE" to 44636 or visit www.MillerLiteFreeRides.com.
Note: If you prefer to hiccup in private, you can grab a cab quickly using the Our Town-approved GoFastCab text service.
It's been a bad week for local music fans (at least, for those who like options). Over the past several days, we've learned that...
Sonotheque is closing on Sunday, having been sold to a group that includes Paul Devitt, owner of the Beauty Bar franchise. It's too early to tell what the new space will become, but you can bet that the final few shows will be packed with folks paying their respects.
Bill's Blues Bar in Evanston has closed, citing financial difficulties.
Add this to the recent news that the city would be cutting or at least downsizing some of its biggest lakefront music festivals (a move that sparked an ever-growing "Save Chicago Music" petition), and things aren't looking so hot. Here's hoping next week brings some better news...
What Chicago music venue could you not bear to lose? Tell us in the comments.
So, it's been a rough year for many Chicagoans. The murder rate is rising. The economy is tanking. The Cubs choked, again. But you know, there's always one place you can go to get away from all that, a place you know you'll feel safe and secure: home.
Of course, home usually comes with its own set of problems - annoying parents, socially awkward cousins, repressed childhood memories. So before you make that trip back, you might want to loosen up by partying on Thanksgiving Eve (aka Black Wednesday), the biggest bar and club night of the year.
We're giving away a free ticket ($25 value) to District Bar's party, which includes three hours of gourmet food, cocktails and beer (plus specials afterward). View the full menu here.
To enter, send a Twitter message ("Sign me up for Black Wednesday contest") to @CstageChicago by Wednesday, November 18 at 3 p.m.
If you've got an extra $150, and you don't feel like spending it on 1/12 of a ticket to the Second City 50th Anniversary show, consider checking out tomorrow night's Millennium Network Chicago fundraising event at the House of Blues. Your ticket includes a performance by Common and an appearance by former President Bill Clinton -- see, the Millennium Network is a project of the Clinton Foundation, with the goal of addressing issues such as global warming, HIV/AIDS and childhood obesity. Take that, Carell.
Make your donation here (VIP tickets include a reception with Clinton from 8-9 p.m.).
Artwork by Sergei Isupov looks over Navy Pier's Festival Hall during SOFA setup Wednesday. (Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)
SOFA Chicago Through Sunday at Navy Pier; $15-$25
Celebrating its 16th year, the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair hits Navy Pier's Festival Hall to present work from top international galleries and dealers. Check out the opening night preview gala on Thursday ($50) to get a first glimpse at the show's best work. Hors d'oeurves and wine are included. Tickets for the rest of the show are $15 a day, or $25 for a three-day pass. Get them here or at the door. More: Check out the Sun-Times' SOFA photo gallery.
The Rocky Horror Show 8 p.m., through Saturday at the Athenaeum Theatre; $20
Do the Time Warp (again!) at this live theater production of the musical cult classic, with shows running through Halloween night. Dress up as your favorite character (and who wouldn't take the opportunity to emulate Meat Loaf as much as possible?), but leave the props at home. There are special goodie bags you can buy at the theater to join in on the action.
Lonie Walker's not your average Chicago club owner -- which is good, because her club, the Underground Wonder Bar, is far from your average Chicago club. Since 1989, the wild child has made her Gold Coast spot a haven for local musicians of all stripes (including the rockin' Walker herself), pioneering green business practices and remaining a committed charitable donor along the way.
Sadly, making it to year 21 might prove difficult, as the club's building, at 10 East Walton, was recently bought out. If things don't work out, a lot of people will have the blues, but Walker and her pals aren't wallowing. Instead, they're partying, celebrating a different year in the club's tenure every day, starting with a tribute to 1989 (complete with de-inflated drink specials) tomorrow night. The fun continues over the next few weeks, with the big 20th anniversary bash on November 15, featuring live music from 4 p.m.-4 a.m., drink specials, food and prizes, with proceeds benefiting the People's Music School.
So whether you've been a faithful patron since the days when the Gold Coast was one of the seedier sections of town, or you've yet to make a visit, now is the time to stop in for a trip down memory lane. Lonie will be waiting.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers 8 p.m. Thursday at Cadillac Palace Theatre; $37-$75
The longtime funnyman drops the standup routine for a five-string banjo at this leg of a nationwide tour for charity. He's joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers, who are regulars on Grand Ole Opry. And did you know Martin now has three Grammys to his name -- two for comedy albums and another for his collaboration with Earl Scruggs on Foggy Mountain Breakdown in 2001.
For many people, when you say the word wings, they think "buffalo sauce." (Ok, maybe some think "Sandpiper Airlines," but they watch too much TV.) But Rockit chef James Gottwald is different. To him, a chicken wing is simply a blank slate, to be slathered with any creative sauce he can concoct. At least, that's the way he thinks during Wingfest, the weeklong ode to the chicken wing running October 19-23 at Rockit's River North and Wrigleyville locations.
The out-of-the-box flavors available all week long include truffle and foie gras (truffle butter-tossed chicken wings with foie gras gravy), sweet chile & lime (with lime wedges and soy sauce), lemon grilled wings (with wild oregano, garlic and feta fondue), pomegranate port wine (with mango dipping sauce) and, for the traditionalists, "Nuclear" (tossed in super spicy buffalo sauce). Each variety costs $10 per dozen wings. Because wings of any flavor go well with beer, there will also be $3 drafts of Goose Island Harvest Ale available throughout the week.
We're guessing "no" is a word that RJ and Jerrod Melman didn't hear too often growing up. We're not saying they were spoiled by their dad (Rich Melman, founder of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group), but it appears they do have a tough time reining in their desires.
Take their popular restaurant, HUB 51, whose menu includes everything from nachos to sushi to burgers to steaks-- it's like the brothers took a look at a list of food suppliers and said "I want it all." (Hey, if it's alright with Jessica Alba, it's alright with us.)
And now comes word of Jerrod's birthday celebrations this weekend. That's right, celebrations, plural. The soon-to-be 27-year-old will host three parties at his restaurant's underground club, SUB 51 (click for table reservations). "Dance Your Pants Off" starts tonight with DJ Jem and DJ Kiss, with Dante the Don to follow on Friday and Konsept behind the decks on Saturday (the actual b-day is Sunday). Is it too much? Probably. Should you go anyway? We're not gonna tell you "no."
Riot Fest Through Sunday, various theaters, prices vary ($70 for a three-day pass to Congress Theater)
Several rockin' shows (not to mention a bowling tourney) are spread out across five venues (Congress Theater, Metro, Subterranean, Double Door, Cobra Lounge) during this fifth-annual fest. We're talking mosh-inducing rock and punk including Chicago's own Screeching Weasel, NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Naked Raygun and more. Oi!
Your Tuesday evening happy hour (don't pretend like you don't have one) just got a little more interesting if you work in River North -- and have $50 to spare. The progressive OctoberFeast features 25 venues, split up into eight different routes featuring five venues each (yes, math majors, there is some overlap). Participants will get 45 minutes of signature food and drink at each of the venues on the chosen route, which could include restaurants like Ai Sushi, Bull & Bear, Mercadito, Sunda, Naha, Osteria Via Stato, Zocalo and others. Everyone will meet up at the after-party at Martini Park.
If that's gotten your stomach rumbling, head to the River North Business Association site for tickets or call (312) 645-1047.
Hey, kids. In case you didn't know, that ruggedly handsome Brit who sometimes tags along with pop star Gwen Stefani isn't just some boy toy. He's Gavin Rossdale, and he headed up a pretty popular grunge-rock band in the mid '90s called Bush. The group hit it big with albums like Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase, but mainly faded from the spotlight at the end of the decade. Rossdale's still around, though, and starts up a solo tour soon that will hit Chicago's House of Blues on November 5. The show will double as a benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Illinois, part of Platform One Entertainment's Dare 2 Dream series.
The concert still needs an opener, and it could be you. All you need to do is submit your songs at SonicBids by October 9, and Platform One will pick a winner. We're guessing that covers of "Glycerine" are discouraged.
8 Bold Souls are among the many jazz acts performing on Saturday.(Photo: via www.aacmchicago.org)
Hyde Park Jazz Festival Saturday in Hyde Park; free
This 14-hour, multi-venue event is like a marathon for music fans, and, like any long race, the true rewards are near the finish line, with exciting performers like 8 Bold Souls, Garaj Mahal and Dee Alexander. Remember to pace yourself and stay hydrated as you travel to unlikely music spots like the International House of Chicago, Hyde Park Bank and Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center.
"Shut Up and Let Me Go" -- it's not just the name of The Ting Tings' hit single, it's also what you'll be saying to anyone who tries to keep you from going to the U.K. duo's exclusive performance on Friday night at Rockit Bar & Grill. The 7:30 p.m. show is free, just make sure to RSVP to VIP@rockitranch.com to get on the list get there early because entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If they really won't let you go, maybe you can get away for Saturday night's Allstate Arena concert, headlined by Pink. Tickets are still available.
The Blacks reunite at Saturday's Bloodshot Beer-B-Q.(photo via bloodshotrecords.com)
Bloodshot Records 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q noon Saturday at Hideout; $10
Ok, so there's no Hideout Block Party this year. Done crying yet? Good. Because the popular fest's replacement ain't so shabby: local (and nationally acclaimed) alt-country label Bloodshot Records will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an all-day "Beer-B-Q". The lineup is predictably strong and diverse; along with the more high-profile appearances from Alejandro Escovedo and The Waco Brothers, we're excited for the reunion of The Blacks, whose two albums rank, for us, among Bloodshot's finest releases to date. There will also be food from Honky Tonk Barbecue, an art show, kids' area and more. Sounds like a fest to us.
Looking for a cheap drink downtown this weekend? You won't be able to do much better than the $4 glasses of wine at BIN 36. The deal's actually available all month, as part of the restaurant/bar's ongoing 10th anniversary celebration. If you're skeptical of the quantity and quality of the wine, consider this: BIN offered $5 glasses of wine in August, and were convinced to bring back the deal this month due to customer demand.
Already thinking about what October's $3 deal will be? While we don't know that, we can tell you that BIN 36 will be a good spot for wine lovers to check out early in the month. The annual Harvest Festival takes place October 4, offering a chance to blend your own custom wine using a Cabernet Sauvignon base and adding proportions of Merlot or Syrah. If you like your creation, you can purchase bottles of it for around $15 each. The event costs $36 and advance tickets can be purchased at www.bin36.com.
We may be competing with Rio for the 2016 Olympics, but that doesn't mean us Chicagoans should ignore Brazil's Independence Day (September 7) -- especially when it's a great chance to get some sweet food and drink. SushiSamba Rio is celebrating throughout this weekend with a special menu including braised pork belly a la pancha ($15), casquinha se siri (stuffed blue crab, palmito and acai vinaigrette, $17) and an Amazon roll (alligator tempura, smoked soy, chiles and bacon farofa, $18).
Come Sunday, guests can enjoy performances from samba dancers and live drummers at 7, 8 and 9 p.m., as well as sample the Sambista (Leblon Cachaca, Strawberry-Cinnamon "Conserva," sweet basil and pop rocks).
It's ok -- on Tuesday, you can go back to chanting "Let Friendship Shine."
