Chicago this weekend (Aug 4 - 7)

[Kilted Taper]

The wife and I are heading to Chicago this weekend for Lollapalooza and were looking for some advice on what to do after the shows (the end at 10:00 PM each night). Any kilt "friendly" pubs near Grant Park? Staying on W Adams between LaSalle and Clark. Thanks in advanced!

[auld argonian]

Okay...now you're in my territory...although Lolapalooza is no my cup o'tea.

Downtown Chicago doesn't really have any really real Irish or Scots joints in it. I hate to say it but if you show up in most joints in a kilt you won't get, "Oh...a man in a kilt! How wonderful...right this way sir...we have an excellent table waiting for you." but rather, "What are you dressed up for?" I mean you won't get hostility or anything like that but it's still out of the ordinary. I usually make the point that this IS a city with a kilted pipe band attached to its police force, so what's the big deal?

If you want to eat, do skip the Elephant and Castle (on Madison St. around Clark St. I think)...drink but the food is marginal. That's my one caveat. You would do better just stopping at Wendy's...no foolin'.

Otherwise, depends on whether you're "dressy" or not. Not a whole lot of "casual" places downtown these days. Peterino's (attached to the Goodman Theatre, Randolph and Dearborn): nice bar, theatre crowd but somewhat dressy. The Park Grill in Millenium Park has a bar...nice casual to dressy. There's a Fado (seems to be a franchise...thought it was just one bar) on Clark Street North of the River at about Grand Avenue...never been in there (always mean to but I'm usually in those parts way too early in the day) but it is a Pub type joint. If you venture out of the "Loop" there are three on the North Side: The Red Lion (been there, English pub...the current landlord's late father was a great guy...English WWII vet, architect and raconteur...haven't been up there since he passed away but it's always held out as one of the better "neighborhood-y" places in Chicago...it's on Lincoln Avenue), The Duke of Perth (haven't been there, can't comment) and the Hye Bar (up in "Wrigleyville", again, haven't been there yet but I hear that kilts are not so uncommon there).

Gee, I just realized that I don't get around much any more...

Expect to go about $5-6 for a pint of the black stuff wherever you go downtown or on the North Side...my locals down here on the far South Side usually go $3.50-5 as a reference between what the neighborhood places charge vs the places in the "hip" areas.

Just remembered that there's a joint called Kitty O'Shea's in the Hilton on South Michigan Avenue (720 South...and Michigan Avenue is the big boulevard that faces on Griant Park)...I have been in there for a pint but haven't partaken of the menu. It's a hotel bar...looks like a pub...one of my buddy's bands has played there now and again. A kilt might actually be welcomed in there...it'd be a novelty, mind you...but they'd probably be pleasantly suprised to see a guy in a kilt.

Lemme know where you're going to be...if I can get away I can lend some kilted support...probably easier for a couple of kilts to get served no questions asked than just one.

Best

AA

[Kilted Taper]

Wow, thanks for that reply. The Elephant & Castle is actually attached to the hotel we are staying at (we went to Lollapalooza last year and we are staying in the same place this year). Decent beer selection, but I agree with you that the food wasn't all that great.

Have you ever heard of the Govnor's Pub & Public House? Supposedly on N State Street between Wacker and Lake?

Not sure what our plans are, and who knows, after a full day in the sun and hopping between stages, we may be ready to hit the sack at 10PM (doubtful, but ya never know).

[auld argonian]

10 PM? ....how I long for the days of my youth when they'd close the bar we were in at 2 AM and we'd all head for the one place on Lincoln Avenue with a 5 AM license and then close that place, go out for breakfast and head home for a few hours sleep...

Govnor's I haven't heard of yet...I will ask my still partyin', high livin' mom, who stops in a lot more places downtown these days, about it. Or if I get down to the Loop some time this week, I'll case the joint. My problem is that I usually have at least one of the kids with me when I go downtown these days so going into a bar becomes problematical...I suppose that I could just say, "Stay out here while dad goes in for a couple of pints." but that would be entirely too "Angela's Ashes", wouldn't it?

Anyway, looks like the beastly weather is going to abate some by the weekend, so you're lucking out. Son went to Pitchfork the other day and I'm suprised that he survived...he was motivated, I guess.

Best

AA

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

KT, have fun! As AA says, the weather should be much better by the weekend. It has been extremely hot the past 5-6 days. I am looking forward to the rains coming in tonight or tomorrow.

I don't know if you will make it that far North, but there are a bunch of bars/restaurants in the Rush and Division area. Been in a couple kilted and no problems. I seem to recall one with an Irish name, but can't remember it now. Of course, that is the touristy area of bars, etc..

[Kilted Taper]

Sorry for the late notice, but I the wife and I are heading to Celtic Crossings @ 751 N. Clark for a few pints. It's 9:50 right now and I imagine we will be leaving in the next 15mins. I'll have on my X-Marks kilt and a black T-Shirt. If anyone can make it....we'll see you there.

Brian