Oh, How Perfectly Dandy!

HALO [FOR MEN]'s Bob Patrizi (left), Celebtv.com's Kelli Zink and Nick Hansen of Nicholas Joseph Custom Suits. (Photo: Marcus Riley, NBCChicago.com)


Every girl loves a well-groomed guy, but not so much that we have to fight for mirror space as we're getting ready to hit the town.

We're talking about the type of man who'd attend tonight's party, The Modern Gatsby, at The Underground.

Hosted by HALO [FOR MEN], a male-oriented salon with several city locations, the party puts an updated spin on F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel on high society during the Roaring Twenties.

The event, of course, is also open to women (and we expect a ton of them to attend!), but geared toward guys. The highlight of the night is a midnight fashion show featuring hot spring looks from Nicholas Joseph Custom Clothing, hats from Goorin Bros. and Soulmates Chicago. Male guests will also be treated to shaves, massages and hand waxes.

Doors open at 9pm, with a hosted bar 10-11pm.

RSVP at travis@theundergroundchicago.com for free admission.

There's so much more going on this weekend for the modern man—so the women who love them know where to be:


A cigar "tweetup" happens Thursday at TESA Cigar Co.


THURSDAY

If you dig stogies, you'll want to be in attendance at the city's first-ever cigar "tweetup," happening at TESA Cigar Co. Wild Scotsman Whisky will be sampling the Wild Scotsman Black Label, a 15-year vatted scotch malt and the Blend No. 888 scotches. Plus, you'll get a "buy three, get one free" deal on cigars. The venue is BYOB, so feel free to bring your poison if you're not into scotch. RSVP here. 6-10pm.

If you and your boys are into the bubbly, the Thursday-night Champagne Table at Rebar is for you. Guests get ample samples of a designated Champagne house each month (Taittinger in March), plus hors d'oeuvres while enjoying amazing views of the Chicago River. 5:30-7pm. $25.

One of the best deals right now is Jbar's Meat Madness. They're offering the award-winning, 55-day dry-aged ribeye, an order of truffle Asiago fries and a beer for $30. Happens every Wednesday and Thursday during March Madness; several TVs will be tuned in to the game.

Big Star's taco selections are manly indeed, with toppings like marinated spit-roasted pork shoulder, crispy braised pork belly and wood-grilled chicken. But methinks guys would be way more excited about the nightly $3 whiskey shot specials, like Thursday's Old Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, Friday's Old Charter 101, and Sunday's Woodford Reserve. Open until 2am.

Speaking of spirits, new gastro-lounge Sable Kitchen & Bar opened this week in River North. More than 30 Prohibition-era and original cocktails are featured as well as one of the region’s largest selections of brown spirits, including single malt scotches and bourbon whiskeys. On the hit list: the State Street Smash, made with Busnel VSOP Calvados, mint honey and lime.

FRIDAY

You worked hard this week, so get off early and check out a charity hockey game pitting the Chicago Police Department vs. the Chicago Fire Department. It goes down at 3pm at United Center (1901 W. Madison St.), and tickets are available at the box office. $5.

Scotch lovers get their fill of drinks for an hour as the Chivas 18 ambassador hits Martini Park, offering scotch-based cocktails and shots. 8-9pm. Free.

Every Monday-Friday, if you're hanging out late night in River North, head to Pizzeria Via Stato for half-price pizza. All are made Roman-style, with artisanal ingredients and a crisp-thin crust, including popular bites like the Peppered Bacon (caramelized torpedo onion, hand-pulled mozzarella, Slagel Farm egg), Margherita (San Marzano tomatoes, hand-pulled mozzarella, basil) and Sunchoke (King oyster mushrooms, Parmigiano Reggiano, white truffle oil). 9:30-11pm.

SATURDAY

Bond with the boys over March Madness brunch at Luxbar. Every TV in the bar is tuned into NCAA action, plus the menu is full of filling dishes like the steel-cut oatmeal, USDA Prime steak and eggs, and a number of omelet dishes.

SUNDAY

Who says all guys are into the game?! For those who are not, another ideal brunch spot is The Bristol. There's plenty of great stuff on the menu, from the burger to the braised pork chilaquiles, but we highly recommend just going for the Bristol Bloody Breakfast: a Bristol Bloody Mary made with Prairie Organic vodka, horseradish and a celery stick, plus 7 oz. Miller High Life, salumi, cheese and pickles for $19. 10am-2pm.

MONDAY

And Mussel Mondays happens every week at Branch 27. For $12, guests get PEI mussels and a draft from North Coast Brewing Company (Red Seal, Pranqster or Blue Star). Dine in the bar area and catch the games on the tube.