Quality & quantity: Beer on a budget with Rough Draft.

The Maproom, home to many a lost evening. Photo by JOE M500.

Drinking is one of those "recession proof" activities which actually goes up as unemployment rises. None the less, many of us developed a taste for fine beer during the recently past days of bread and roses. How are we to maintain a nose for floral hops and pallet for abbey trippels when prudence begs silo cans of Natty Ice?

Danny Smith of Rough Draft beer blog is enthusiastic advocate of the common man's right to intoxication. He is distinguished by a appreciation of the high and low brow, matching bombers of obscure craft ale with sixers of cheap lager. He offers the following wisdom to the steadfast and discerning drunkard.

1. Make the ABV work in your favor.

Using the same principle as the old Total cereal commercials, weigh the ABV of your beers against each other. Sometimes stepping up two bucks to a better beer with a higher ABV can (in theory) save you money. There is more alcohol in three bottles of Rogue Dead Guy than in four PBRs. It takes five Miller Lites to edge out that amount. A 22oz. bottle of Ska Brewing's Nefarious Ten Pin, a personal favorite, costs around $10 and carries a hefty 8% ABV which puts it right around the three PBR mark (and you didn't even have to tip three times). Of course this strategy can backfire violently and end up expensive if you don't know when to call it a night.

2. Reducing quality after a strong start.

You don't need to jump straight to the two dollar High Life just because they're on special. Make the switch after you've had something a bit stronger in flavor that will stick with you. Treat yourself to a strong, tongue-coating beer like a heavy milk or chocolate stout or a trippel ale. Once you've gotten through one of those you can make the step down without too much trouble. Also, see tip 1, you won't be having near as many of those High Lifes if you started the night with a heavy Dragons Milk.

3. A quality pregame.

Don't forget to pregame. It's the obvious recession tip, but it's the best tip out there. Sneak some good beer into the mix at home. A six pack of Dogfish Head will make even heavy drinkers start to slur, so split that pack one or two ways before going out and you'll be on your way without feeling bloated and having embarrassing beer dribble down the front of your shirt from the four Old Styles you typically shotgun.

If you like this you can get more of Danny's writing at Rough Draft beer blog.

A paupers guide to Whiskey Week.

What, no Canadian Mist?! Uncouth. Photo by cactusthesaint.

Readers attending Whiskey Fest, we admire your tastes and patriotic stimulation of the economy. For the less fortunate, there is still a wealth of malted elixir flowing freely throughout the city over the next few days.

Because you are both hedonistic and provident, I've pillaged lists by the likes of Gapers Block and The Decider and scheduled a few drinking junkets on the whiskey promoters' dime.

Monday

1. Begin after work at 1 North Kitchen & Bar where for $25 you can browse a the selection of 70 different scotches, whiskeys, and bourbons(5-7pm).

2. Travel to Fizz Bar and Grill for classic cocktail night, hosted by Templeton Rye Whiskey, free, but RSVP encouraged.(8-10pm)

3. It's a 15 min walk from Fizz to Delilah's for a free Kentucky Whiskey tutorial: a veritable candy land of brown liquor from 6pm - 12am.

[Map of all three locations.]

Tuesday

1. Five Star Bar has a free whiskey tasting and debate at 9pm, with experts from Laphroaig & Ardmore, Canadian Club and Small Batch Bourbons. This is the drinking equivalent of Sasha Gray, Stoya and Belladonna getting together to debate blow jobs. Don't miss it.

2. Almost next door, Twisted Spoke is throwing the decadent Bourbonpalooza with more Kentucky royalty than Churchill Downs. 8pm-2am

3. Delilah's travels across the pond for a night of scotch tasting from 7pm-12am. The most exciting selection is Compass Box whiskey at 10pm.

[Tuesday map.]

Weekend round-up: Spring is in the air.

Sunny day opportunist, photo by Sam Grove.

I feel like everyone's being pretty cautious about calling this spring. However, when people are starting to plan drinking events around cleaning up the park(see below), you realize being outside will no longer be a serious threat to your life for a good six months.

I've noticed these round-ups are harder to write because I'm out at night getting an early jump on the weekend rather than hunkered down with a wool blanket and space heater, trying to rub the frost off my laptop. Fortunately, this round-up practically writes it's self...

Friday

Do you ever get tired of seeing sassy girls whip their bras off? I don't. Best of all, there's no commitment. Broadzilla @ Exit, 10pm, free.

The beard versus a fifty pound boy. Charitable madman Eamon Daly is at it again, this time hoisting a small child using an apparatus attached to his beard. Emmit's, 8pm.

Update- I don't know how it slipped by me, but the "Week of Whisky" starts today! There will be more talk of this here on Monday.

Saturday


Rabbid Rabbit, via their myspace.

Rabbid Rabbit @ Ronnys. It's true Ronny's is awful, but Rabbid Rabbit is spectacular. Pre-game this one.

Blue City Cycles are your new favorite bikeshop in Bridgeport. They are also the only bikeshop in Bridgeport, so you're lucky one of the owners happens to be a frame builder and the other a vetran of commuter bike retail. Grand opening at the shop! (Eveningish)

Sunday

Reverse dumpster diving. Join a group of civic minded folks for bloody marys, mimosas and eggs, then spend a couple hours picking up trash in Humboldt Park. I'm going to start a collection of crack baggies. 1350 N. Kedzie Ave., 10 AM, $5 booze donation or BYO.

Nones @ Empty Bottle $3. Someone in this band is probably one of your favorite bartenders. Think of this as the smallest tip you will ever give them for a night out. 9:30 pm.

Let me freshen up your drink...

Photo by ulterior epicure

Citrus cut through the barroom air as grapefruit flesh crushed into juice. My Old Fashioned was satisfying, but the Greyhound captivated my senses.

The best drinking experience I've had in a while was at Bar DeVille last week. I ordered a Greyhound and an Old Fashioned. Rather than cracking a can of juice, the bartender sliced through a big juicy grapefruit, plopped it into a die-cast juice press, and drained it into a glass.

I'm going to make a leap here. Most of us don't have bar-mounted presses at home, and most bars aren't Bar Deville. What we do have, in every neighborhood produce market, is a ample supply of cheap citrus fruit. Cocktails are in full blown style (Violet Hour, Drawing Room, Whistler) and if you're going to make them at home, take advantage of fresh, high quality fruit this summer.

Example: I received a hand-held citrus press as a gift the same night as the fancy Greyhound. Limes in my neighborhood cost ten cents each, so I've prepared a sample list of lime based drinks. After you read them, maybe you can add your favorite fresh-ingredient-based cocktail.

Gimlet - Half ounce lime juice, two ounces of gin. (Phillip Marlow killed a few of these.)

Caipirinha - Half a lime, a half teaspoon of sugar, two ounces of cachaca. (Dangerous, seductive things come from Brazil.)

Dark and Stormy - Two ounces of dark rum, three ounces ginger beer, a half ounce lime juice. (Naval tradition- like rum, sodomy, and the lash.)

Ok, you get the idea. Spend the rest of this summer smashing delicious fruit and mixing it with booze!

Welcome, Chicago Tribune readers!

Photo by vijayal.

Thanks for stopping by.

If this is your first time here, this site is about getting the most out of Chicago by way of food, drink and riding bicycles- along with a few choice extras. If you're looking for the Recessionista post, just scroll down the page.

Enjoy the rest of my posts and add me to your feed reader if you like what you see!

Summer preview: Chicago track stars

First day at the track 2009 by never drown out.

This cinematic shot features Half Acre Cycling team member John Cline training at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome. Fast, high-stakes and physically grueling, track cycling was once a major spectator sport in Chicago. For the first time in recent history the sport is popular again.

Visit Northbrook this summer for some Friday night racing glory.

Check out more local track photos here(Flickr), and information at Chicagotrackracing.com.

If you can't wait for summer, Hipster Nascar should have something to keep you busy until then.

Recessionistas, part two: Look expensive for cheap.

Amber, Painfully Hipster.

Last week I introduced the BTSIC recession series, where Chicago bloggers explain how they stay fresh while everyone else is trading food stamps for booze or diving out their executive office windows.

Today I'd like to introduce you to Amber Mortensen, who though not a Chicagoan, has taken our dance floors, house parties and thrift stores by storm on many an occasion. Her passion is making you look good for less and she's the kind of internet-famous most people only dream of. Amber has the uncanny ability of convincing her readers to take risks with style and save their money for important things like amazing beer, epic road trips and rocking the shit out of ukuleles. She's the powerhouse behind Painfully Hip and a stand-up kinda lady.

I asked Amber to share her top strategies for looking good in hard times:

1. A good fit is by far the most important aspect of looking pulled together. If you find something you love in the wrong size/shape, go directly to your sewing machine or a tailor - you'd be surprised how affordable your new favorite wardrobe staple can be!

2. Keep an eye out for statement accessories! A well-fit Little Black Dress can be transformed into a formidable showstopper with the addition of an oversized art deco belt and a pair of multicolored vintage pumps!

3. Slaves of fashion can continue trend-spotting! Recreate modern silhouettes out of thrifting finds. Formerly awful 90s patterns and florals are totally coming back in style - mix them up! Have fun and make them your own by combining them with tried and true closet staples.

4. Most of all? Don't take yourself so seriously. Hard times call for fashion levity - it's amazing what a exuberant outfit can do to a well-worn rut.

Enjoyed this post? Make sure you read Painfully Hip and my other recession-ready interviews.

Six steps to legally ride a motorcycle in Chicago.

Photo by manganite.

You found a '70s CB 350 on Craigslist and have already bought the cafe racer kit, flat black paint and perfect jacket. If this motorcycle won't get you laid, nothing will. There's only one thing standing in the way of your rebel-without-a-cause summer: the City of Chicago.

Based on my frustrating experiences last year, I've put together this quick list for navigating the labyrinthine bureaucracy.

1. Get a motorcycle permit. You'll need a valid Illinois driver's license to do this. I didn't have one, so I went to the Thompson Center with a big stack of identification (including a valid out-of-state license) and $10 to take the written test.

Once you have an IL driver's license you can take the written motorcycle permit test. This is another $10 and you can do it in the same visit. Brush up on your skills with the official manual. Sit at a little desk and answer all the questions correctly, then wait in a couple lines. Get a stern warning from the woman who issues your permit about how you will become a vegetable. Congratulations, you have your learning permit.

2. Apply for a title. This is easiest if you got a title when you purchased your super-deal on Craigslist. Make sure the title actually matches your vehicle (you should have done this when you bought it, but double-check now). The title fee is $65. You'll also need to fill out a tax form and pay sales tax. You now legally own your bike and the title will be mailed to you.

3. Purchase insurance. You'll need it to get a licence plate and ride in Illinois. It's surprisingly inexpensive.

4. Get a licence plate. They cost $38 and you'll need an ID and proof of insurance. The lady behind the bulletproof glass will hand you the plate and sticker, then send you across the street to City Hall.

5. Register your bike with the City. Pony up $35 for a little metal tag that allows you to park in any legal residential area. Registration is mandatory and you'll get tickets for skipping this step.

Now you can ride on the streets, enroll in riding school and practice for your motorcycle endorsement. Remember the nice lady at the Secretary of State's office? Heed her warning and take it easy! 80% of motorcycle accidents occur in the first six months of riding.

6. Test for your license. Practice riding around cones. A riding class helps. Once you're confident, go to a DMV and take the test. You'll need a street-legal motorcycle, your permit, and proof of insurance. It's no big deal if you fail, but you'll have to wait a day to re-try. If you pass you'll get a license card on the spot.

Ok Johnny, get out there and show them what you're rebelling against...

Weekend Round-up: Booty bumps from across the ages.

Gutter Butter DJ Logan Bay, photo by Oscar Arriola.

This roundup is late, but the weekend will still be fun. Especially Saturday night at the Hideout, which is Logan Bay's last DJ set before moving to Thailand. There's a (warning, gigantic) flier here.

Friday

Strange Happenings gallery opening at Rotofugi, one of my favorite stores ever.

Saturday

Show up before Gutter Butter and check out Killer Wales and Happy Salmon.

Sunday

Goose Island Stout Fest at Goose Island Clybourn's Siebel Hall (1800 N. Clybourn) from 1-5pm.

Welcome, Printed Blog readers!

Being Totally Sweet In Chicago, dead tree edition...

Thanks to everyone who read my article in The Printed Blog and clicked through to read the full site. If you want to read more about commuting, part two of the article is here.

If you're new to BTSIC after reading The Printed Blog, this site is about getting the most out of Chicago by way of food, drink and riding bicycles- along with a few choice extras.

I'm excited to be included in this new media phenomenon. Enjoy the rest of my posts and add me to your feed reader if you like what you see!

Describe your ride to work.

Photo by nonFormat.

I don't care if it snows again, it was 70 out and I'm stoked. Everyone is on their bike, and I forgot the were so many of us or what people looked like under all of those clothes.

The are so many pretty girls on bikes; I've nearly run into a moving truck and a parked car from the distraction. Everyone looks awesome. We may be pale in the places covered by winter gear, but riding without a jacket or gloves feels like dipping into warm bathwater; completely relaxing. Riding in short sleeves reminds me how it feels to be in your environment, not insulated from it.

I'm painfully aware how slow I've become over the winter, despite riding nearly every day. Every time a young messenger zips around me on the street I grumble a little and feel like an old man. Even this does nothing to kill the unhinged grin on my face. Every year, this time of year, I remember why I love to ride and how the bicycle commute home is without a doubt my favorite part of the work day.

Leave a comment if you feel inspired, or don't. I'll see you on the street.

Recessionistas: Getting fame in the Midwest.

Every time I see a national media article about the recession teaching us "responsibility" or preaching the hipness of thrift, I feel proud. Chicago has been rolling this way forever, and we're finally getting some recognition.

How many times have you complimented someone on their shirt and they responded, "Thanks, it was only five dollars!"? The bargain is as, if not more, important than the look. Midwesterners seek value like Jack Bauer fights terrorists- it's not a means to an end, it's a passion.

While everyone is cinching up their belts bemoaning lost buying power, a certain stable of trend-setters are sharpening their price-cutting knives. I asked my favorite local and national bloggers to share their recessionista secrets.


Photo by ooh_food.

Katherine Raz writes BackGarage, where she trains aspiring apartment therapists to find high design in low places. These are her top-three suggestions for furnishing your space for less.

1. Thrift early, thrift often.

Don't expect to go to a thrift store once and find a Danish Modern slat bench. I recommend picking one or two favorite thrift stores and visiting them a few times a month. Be a regular.

Similarly, if you're going to a flea market, garage or estate sale, get there when it opens, because after a few hours all the worthwhile stuff is gone.

2. Live better through technology.

Harness the power of RSS and email alerts to find the stuff you really want on eBay and Craigslist. My advice on how to use RSS with Craigslist is here.

And how to set up eBay alerts.


3. Know the terminology.

Furniture and housewares are just like anything else: they have their own language. Want a pierced compote with a ruffled edge? While the "vase" you saw in a design magazine might be $100 or more, you can find a similar one on eBay or Etsy if you know how to describe it. So learn the difference between a coffee pot, a chocolate pot and a teapot and you'll be more likely to find one for 5 bucks. I have some examples here.


Photo by edwardolive.

Garin Pirnia is the editor of Myopenbar Chicago. A prolific writer and self-described cheapskate, Garin delivers a caustic guide to free booze every week.

Top three strategies, eh? Like going to open bars?

1. One way to save money is to get on the list to avoid paying a cover charge. I do live concert reviews, so I can usually get on the list and get a +1. There are a lot of events if you RSVP, you can avoid a cover...or just show up before the cover kicks in. That goes along with be someone's +1 for stuff. Find a cool friend who gets to go to things for free and mooch off them.

2. I'd also suggest smuggling cans of beer into some events. I've shamefully brought some PBR to EvilOlive before to share with friends.

3. Finally, you can combine food and booze. Certain bars like Map Room, Cleo's and Mahoney's have deals where if you buy a drink, you get a free food buffet. Mahoney's is the best. Every Tues, they offer $2 PBRs and a free tater tot buffet with toppings. You can get unlimited tots that actually fill you up. Maybe not the healthiest, but only spending $2 on dinner is pretty cool.


If you like these tips from Katherine and Garin, read their blogs and check back soon for more recession-friendly suggestions!

Ulterior timing, Epicurean fare.

Duck fat fries by ulterior epicure.

Just when I'd got the urge for Hot Doug's out of my system, Flickr user ulterior epicure comes along and posts a seductive little number like this. This is the first time I've noticed his photostream, and it appears to be a complete fluke:

"Taken on March 13, 2009, uploaded March 16, 2008 " -Flickr

Thanks to an apparent flaw in temporal logic I've stumbled across this beautiful pairing of Dr. Brown's soda and golden brown frites. You can peruse the rest of Ulterior Epicure's photos here, and read his blog here.

Weekend Round-up: Kiss me, I'm drunk.

The full Irish, by MacGBeing.

Saturday

It's St. Patty's Day...

• Get up early, put on some green and head downtown.
  
• Do green jello shots on the train.
  
• Get some of those green beads with flashing-LED Guinness pints on them.
  
• Locate faux-Irish pub of your choice. Stand shoulders-deep and pound beers, interspersed with shots of Jameson.
  
• Squat in an alley.
  
• Grope someone.
  
• Vomit on the sidewalk by 2 pm, then stumble to the House of Blues and check out Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers on the back porch stage(Free!).
  

Irish breakfast and all-day drinking at the Abbey Pub, one of the more tolerable Northside destinations.


Photo by VROG in Bristol.

On a completely different note, Menupages Chicago reminds us March 14th is Pi day, and outlines your best options for something sweet encased in a pastry crust.

Also: Black Lips are tearing up the Logan Square Auditorium.

Sunday


Photo by funkweedajones.

Southside Irish Parade - The most public drinking and urination in Chicago outside of Wrigleyville. There are multiple party buses (courtesy of 312 Dining Diva).

Scotch eggs, an ode.

Photo by chotda.

Egg wrapped in sausage, wrapped in perfection.

In a quest for foods which pair well with whiskey, I have become obsessed with the Scotch Egg. Concentric spheres of protein and fat form the cradle in which within my stomach, hardwood-aged corn liquor will rest.

Epicurious provides the recipe which I will make tonight. Mr. Breakfast's recipe is astonishingly baked, and suggests:

"Scotch Eggs are a favorite hunting, fishing and tailgating breakfast in the Southern USA. They are portable and delicious."

Portable and delicious. Who in this fast-paced, under-enjoyed world could not do with more of each in their lives?


Photo by a06987(CGN Services).

Finally, a last-minute morsel from tweatingout, Chicago's favorite micro-reviewer:

"Crispy and meaty with a liquid gold center this culinary puzzlebox's simplexity and face-melting awesomeness is...a texture-gasm of flavor."

And there you have it.

How to bike in the city, part two.

Photo by Señor Codo

Thanks to feedback on Monday's post about bike commuting, I've written a second installment. You wanted to know about riding safely and securing your bike. These two issues huge in Chicago, thanks to our hectic traffic and random assortment of criminals.

Most people don't want to run you over or steal your bike. In fact, you will be safe and secure when others are around and you are communicating with them. The following lists are common sense:

Personal saftey.

• Pay attention. Put away the cellphone.
  
• Ride like drivers can't see you, because they probably can't.
  
• That said, try to make eye contact whenever possible.
• Put a flashing white light on the front of you bike, and use it at dusk or night.
• When in doubt, obey traffic laws.
• Choose a helmet you'll actually wear.
  
• It would be a boldface lie to claim I don't endorse drunk cycling, but know your limits and show common sense. Classy drunkards walk their bikes home from the bar.

Lock 'em up

• Sooner or later, part(or all) of your bike will be stolen. Don't ride anything you can't replace.
  
• Sometimes this ends triumphantly, as your tough friends encircle the thief. Most often it doesn't.
  
• Buy a U-lock and use it wisely.
  
• When possible, lock in a public place. It will not save you, but it makes rookie thieves nervous.

Don't freak out. In general, you don't have much to worry about and will probably be OK.

[Click here for part one]

Sweet Spots: Zakopane

Photo by billeguerriero.

"This place is 100% Chicago and 100% Polish, that's for sure." - Brant W.

Zakopane(sock-oh-pahn-uh) wouldn't stand out from other Polish dives if it wasn't located 3 blocks from Ashland on Division. The area has metamorphosed into Lincoln Park lite, complete with fish-bowl health club, Starbucks, multiple baby-boutiques and just as many multistory bar/danceclubs in rapid succession.

Next to all of Babylon, Zakopane and a few notable others are the primordial generation of a mutating neighborhood.

The bar area is unusually well-lit, to the extent it patrons can occasionally be seen reading books will drinking their Zyweic. The stark, wood-paneled rear section is dark and surprisingly empty on most nights, providing an essential counterpoint to the meatmarkets down the street.

"I've been a regular at the Big Z for 11 years and I have to say, it sure has changed. Back in the old days it was me, Tommy and Mikey in a race to see who could drink themselves to death first." - Dwight E.

As always, the sign a Chicago bar has history is when old regulars write this kind of review on Yelp. Dwight continues:

"Anyway, it used to be a place where an ex-major leaguer and an old Polish guy could get a beer and not have to listen to the wife and kids, even if they're dead...I walked in there Friday night and didn't get the memo that it was Cockblock a Former Gold Glover You Yuppie Fuck Night. It was bad enough when the skinny fuck hipsters who escaped from the Strokes stunk up the place."

I could end this post right here. I'm sure some of you are aggressively googling for Dwight E.'s biography, which is surely a sordid tale.

Highlights

• Rarely crowded
• Pool table
• $2.50 Oldstyle
• Interesting regulars
• Stiff drinks
• Many reviewers find a certain barmaid quite attractive. Thanks to Flickr user billeguerriero, Monika is one of the most well-represented hostesses in Chicago.

How to bike in the city without a lifestyle change.

"Super model" is this years' fixed-gear. Photo by Zakkaliciousness.

Spring is right around the corner. The freezing wind and black slush are gone and biking to work(or the bar!) seems more appealing than it did a month ago.

The goal of this post is to help anyone who wants to commute by bicycle, or who has just started and is still figuring it out, have an easy and awesome time. Commuting is easy once you've convinced yourself it's even possible. The key points are how to pick the right bike, carry your things from home to work, and to arrive in presentable shape.

The right bike: The only thing you really need to commute is a bike which fits and is in good working order. The main thing to consider, above all, is fit. The style, weight and quality won't mean anything if your bike is uncomfortable to sit on. If you're starting out, you should only buy a bike you've had a chance to ride. Whether your bike is new or used, it's important to have a mechanic look it over. You'll have a safer, longer lasting bicycle if everything is in tune. Many shops will help you with these things. Two who make a business of it are Rapid Transit and Boulevard Bikes.

Carrying stuff: Lunch box, purse, briefcase, toolbox, laptop; whatever you bring to work will probably fit on your bicycle. You may need a bag and/or a rack. Your bag should be waterproof and large enough for everything you carry. You'll be most comfortable if the bag is attached to the bike, not you.

Arrive in style: Glowing complexion aside, you probably don't want to show up looking like you just hopped off a bike. The best form for any technology, bicycles included, is to be as invisible and low-impact as possible. Consider the following:

• Fenders and a chain guard will keep grease, grime and water off you and your bike. They also look classy(Honjo Flickr pool).
• It's not a race. Know how long it takes to get to work and leave on time. You'll be calmer and less sweaty when you get there.
• You'll be surprised how easy it is to ride in normal clothes. If you sweat a lot, carry an extra shirt and change when you arrive. For further evidence, read Copenhagen Cycle Chic.
  
• You don't have to ride every day. This sounds obvious, but a lot of people think commuting is an endurance contest. If it stresses you out to ride in the rain, for example, take the bus on those days. Cycling should be fun.

I hope this helps you get on the streets and enjoy it. Please weigh in with your experience and opinions!

[Click for part two]

Weekend round-up: Movie night.

Predictable, I know.

Spring, which everyone thought was lost in the mail, is here. It's too bad this weekend begs to be spent indoors eating popcorn.

Friday

Sonic Youth: Sleeping Nights Awake (trailer). 9:30 pm, St. Paul's Cultural Center.

Can you dig it? The Warriors at the Music Box, midnight. Friday and Saturday.

Don't forget about Watchmen.

Get on your bike. Bicycle, motorcycle, whatever. It's so effing gorgeous outside; why are you holed up like a hibernating vampire?

Saturday


Photo by jaymce

Fourth Annual Chiditarod. Shopping cart, duct tape, bolt cutters, nerds.

El Circo Cheapo 4. They're famous.

Sunday

Obligatory Bloody Mary offering: Sushi Samba, $16, food and 3 cocktails.

What am I forgetting?

Please post suggestions, as usual.

Get back in the bus!

Photo by Chris Dilts.

Allison, who I met on the pub crawl, posted this good-times picture from the 2009 Stupor Bowl bicycle race.

It's old news to anyone who raced or pays attention to alleycat racing at all, but what you see here is a bunch of Chicago kids on their way to cycle around Minneapolis in some shitty winter weather. They're in the back of a repurposed school bus called the "Cuttin' Cruiser"(after the Cuttin' Crew cycling team). Chris Dilts, who took the photo, captured a cozy, awesome party feeling in this shot.

You can tell by the frosted windows it's a zillion degrees below zero outside, but inside the bus looks like the perfect place to be.

Top three ways to see badass women in Chicago.

Readers who appreciate ladies with beauty, brawn and bawdiness: there are some amazing opportunities coming up.


Shayna Swanson. Photo by Josh Hawkins, via El Circo Cheapo.

1) Run away with the Circus. Chicago's thriving acrobatic and aerial scene is home to physically improbable renegades with a high tolerance for pain and defiance of gravity. You'll be shocked by the power and grace, and they'll steal your heart with bravado and balance. You've never seen anyone this flexible.

Best bet this week: Aloft presents El Circo Cheapo 4, Saturday the 7th.



Manic Attackers, photographed by runjenrun01.

2) Fall in love with the queen of the roller derby. Flat-track roller derby has returned to its 1922 birthplace, and this year it's actually in the city. You will find women with bruises, knee-pads and a surplus of punny names. Add party buses full of booze and halftime entertainment and you've got quite a weekend.

Best bet this month: Windy City Rollers at the UIC Pavilion, March 21st.


Bloody Belle, photographed by techne.

3) Get back to the (smutty) basics at a Burlesque show. Let the twirling pasties take you back to a Chicago where cocktails were made from gin, women wore stockings and everyone was at high risk of lung cancer. The skin show is tame by modern standards; the dancers are anything but.

Best bet this week: Erin Go Braless (free!) at the Blue Bayou, Thursday the 5th.

Poster children for a sunny summer.

Haley, by Wes Sumner

I could go on about crappy weather, but this blog is about being sweet, not bitter. Instead I've posted some get-right-for-the-summer bicycle photos suggested to me by the perennially fashionable Bex.


Joy and Alphonso, photo by Wes Sumner.

Last Thursday, quite a few of you braved torrents of rain on our Facebook group pub crawl. I was completely floored. I arrived at the Green Eye saturated, expecting to have a beer, drip on the floor by myself and go home. I ended up riding with an enthusiastic group and visiting two new bars, Relax on Milwaukee(free popcorn and pizza, thanks Corey!) and the Metal Shaker(black metal cds on the bar and awesome bartender Jackie). Everyone who had cameras, show me your pictures! Thanks everyone for being such troopers.

Update: Evan F posted this Flickr set from the rainy pub crawl.