Of all the gin joints in town...

The Last Word Photo: Ulterior Epicure

I went to our liquor cabinet for a cocktail after work and was dismayed to find no gin. It's been too long (cold weather is to blame) since I've made a non-whiskey cocktail and all we had was an ounce of Junipero. Booze is like women- sometimes you prefer spicy to sweet. After shaking up a shot-glass-sized Aviation to satisfy my taste, I took stock of my favorite gin drinks around town and added a couple bottles of juniper spirits to the shopping list.

Cocktail that inspire me:

• The December Morn (Hendricks Gin, Luxardo Marachino, Cherryy Brandy, Lime, Egg White) - Blackbird.
  
• The Last Word (Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino, Lime)- Longman and Eagle
• Welcome Back (Broker’s Gin, St. Germain, Lillet, Lemon, North Shore Absinthe) - The Whistler
• 20th Century (Death's Door, Lemon Créme de Cacao White, Lillet) - Violet Hour
  
• Bonus drink I though was made from gin until I asked- Winter of '75 (based on a French 75, which I prefer with gin, and flavored with pine cone syrup) - Lula

Be proud of your thermals.

State of the union suit. Photo: *mle*

I can't think of the last time I left the house without long underwear under my clothes. Sometimes I don't take it off at the house, I just remove my pants and relax on the couch with my laptop like a rugged blogger from the Northwoods. Like the Brawny Guy, when he gets home from a long bicycle commute through the pine forest. Because I commute in this stuff every day, I spoiled myself and bought the Smart Wool next-to-skin shirt and tights. It's toasty while pedaling through down Milwaukee in a snowstorm but just right while lounging on the couch in my previously mentioned state of manliness.

Are you feeling me on this? Who loves their long johns?

Weekend Round-up: Gonna be a big thing.

Photo: Chris Dilts

Friday

Windy City Soul Club may have traded Sonotheque for the Empty Bottle but it's still a great place to ogle skin byrds.

Bike Winter Art Show @ New Wave Coffee. The line-up looks great this year.

Varietease Cabaret @ Lakeshore Theatre. Don't let the "theater" part fool you: This place has a full bar and brandished breasts.

Saturday

Bike Winter Swap Meet @ Jaks Tap. That milk crate full of cut-down riser bars, Aerospokes, Oury grips and white saddles isn't going to turn into beer money by itself.

Ghetto Heros - Complimentary vodka and PBR plus house music for $8 with "password". You could stay home an watch some dude play with a laptop while you get hammered for less than eight bucks, but you'd miss waiting in a long line somewhere near Cabrini. (811 W. Evergreen St.)

Sunday

For those of us who couldn't care less about the Superbowl, it's still a great reason to eat buffalo wings and get wasted on a Sunday.

Afterwards watch The Devil and Daniel Johnston at the Hideout. (7pm, free)

A Revolution is Brewing...

Photo: obakadan

I can't wait to see you at Revolution Brewing Company tonight! It will be jammed and we'll probably have to shout to hear each other, but how exciting is it to have another brewpub in Chicago? I can almost smell the bacon fat popcorn and hoppy pints.

Three Dinners on a Dime.

Weight-loss plan not included. Photo: Julia W.

Last Sunday Erin Osmon interviewed me on Radio DePaul for her"Dining on a Dime" segment of the Curious Sophisticate. The show is about cheap eats in Chicago, the first thing on many minds since the abrupt economic nosedive.

I opted for three low-brow standbys with cheap, delicious fare:

Chicken Planet - 21 W Jackson Blvd. I've mentioned them before but CP deserves recognition as possibly the best cheap lunch downtown. Square meters of roast chicken.

Taco Veloz - 1745 W Chicago Ave. This is my first pick for Mexican comfort food and ranked number one in the Favorite Chicago Tacos post.

Suzie's Drive-thru - 4126 W Montrose Ave. Suzy's has the dubious distinction of playing fast food Frankenstein (gyros cheese fries in a taco bowl, anyone?) but makes up for it with luscious milkshakes and a perfect hot dog/fries combination.

Audio of the show should be available soon and will be posted here.

Weeked Round-up: The late edition

Photo: Rudy Malmquist

It's Saturday afternoon already....here's the scoop on tonight.

Saturday

I've Been to Europe - New Factual Paintings by Jay Ryan is up at the Rotofugi Gallery.

Drinking and Writing @ the Hopleaf. No, not like that!

The Masked Winter Ball @ Kimball Arts Center. Need a costume suggestion?

Full Moon Fiasco with the Fucking Bike Club. In addition to a rollicking "drink and ride", this offers a similar chance of bare asses as the current American Apparel contest.

Sunday


BBU Photo: Clayton Hauck

Every Drop Counts Haiti Benefit Concert feat. FM SUPREME, The Cool Kids, Mic Terror, BBU, Jean Grae, and M-1 (Dead Prez)

We built a diorama...

Photo: Curtis Gregory Perry

Of the city in Hamm's cans tonight. I'll have a weekend round-up in the afternoon tomorrow.

Love,

Ira