Let’s Play a Drinking Game!

The Veep debate is finally here, but let's have some fun with it! Every time Sarah Palin says "maverick" or "country first," let's do a shot (my mom says I'm trying to get y'all drunk as hell!).

Anyway, probably every bar in town with a TV will be tuned into the wildly anticipated, 90-minute match between Dem Joe Biden and Repub Sarah Palin. You, of course, want to be in the hot spot, such as:

Enoteca Roma Ristorante is showing the debate on a 50-inch plasma in the outdoor garden as well as in the dining room. Food and drink specials available, too. 6-11pm; early arrival recommended. $5 donation goes to the Obama-Biden campaign.

Obama-rama occurs also at Red Kiva as the Chicago Lawyers for Obama host a free party in the West Loop. No drink specials, but should be a stimulating crowd of folks with plenty of opinions. 7pm-until. No cover.

The Chicago Republican Party, Chicago Young Republicans and Young Professionals for McCain throw their own shindig, but this one's gonna cost you. The $30 tix gets you three hours of premium open bar to drown out all those Sarah Palin-isms. That starts at 7pm in the Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Boulevard Room.

And for a non-partisan party, head to the Sheraton’s Chi Bar for specialty cocktails and desserts. Instead of my proposed "drinking game," they're planning a Lingo Bingo event, where guests listen for key words like "health care" and "global" to win prizes (zzzzzzz). Also, indulge in sweets (Baked Alaska or Cup of Joe tiramisu served in a coffee cup) and specialty sippers (Maverick Martini and Barack on the Rocks). Party starts at 8pm. No cover.

Also happening this weekend:

THURSDAY

It's not your fault if you've never heard of Pamela Fernandez. But all that's about to change! Turns out the house-music diva—who's a Chicago native—is a sensation in Europe as her voice has been sampled on numerous re-workings, bootlegs and compilations. The glamorous songstress is bringing her live show, Floorgasm, to par-lounge for one night only. 8pm. No cover.

Look who's getting on the bandwagon . . . for baseball. Juicy Wine Co. is offering guests $2 microbrews if either the Cubs or White Sox win a playoff game. They're showing all the games on plasma screens, and you can pair those suds with panini sandwiches. Mmmmmmmmm.

The Bacardi Flavor Exchange is happening at the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. Shore Dr.), with enough fruit-flavored cocktails to make your head spin. Free parking at 63rd and the beach (east lot), with shuttle buses to and from the event. 8pm-midnight. No cover, but RSVP is needed here.

Beginning tonight and every Thursday in October, Coach House hosts Pink Party, raising funds to benefit breast cancer research. There's a $5 suggested donation at the door, plus $1 from every Girlygirl or Lincoln Park Trixie (are people really still saying this?!) martini goes to a non-profit organization. Also, karaoke and those wearing pink get a free gift. 7pm-2am.



Celebrate "National Vodka Day" this weekend at the Knickerbocker Hotel's lobby bar. (Photo: Knickerbocker Hotel)


FRIDAY

Bright Pink ushers in Breast Cancer Awareness Month in La Vie En Rose style at Bon V. Party includes cocktails, treats from RA Sushi and Berry Chill, as well as cool raffle prizes. 8-11pm. $45-$60 (VIP).

Watching your budget?! A Mano brings back its $5 pizza specials, happening every night in the bar and lounge after 5pm. Specialty pies include traditional Margherita, fennel sausage, prosciutto, house-smoked salmon or grilled seasonal veggie.

Did you know that Saturday is National Vodka Day?! Start toasting today (through Sunday) as the classic Knickerbocker Hotel offers a special "shaken and stirred menu" with vodka-infused cuisine and cocktails in the lobby bar. Chad Willets’ jazz piano plays two sets Friday and Saturday 5-7:30pm and 9pm-midnight.

SATURDAY

Local band Lubriphonic, which has been best described as offering a rousing mix of blues, funk and rock, performs at Subterranean. Its members get props for performing with the likes of Koko Taylor, Mary J. Blige, Otis Rush, Buddy Miles and Lenny Kravitz. See what's up before they hit it big. Estelle’s host a pre-party at 8pm featuring $2 beers and ticket giveaways for the show. 10pm. $7.

Eat & Drink Club strikes again!

The red arrow points to "Greg Walsh," the newest member of the "Eat & Drink Club." (Photo: Anonymous)


If you thought the notorious Jerry "The Party Crasher" Berliant was bad, get a load of this cat—the newest inductee of the Eat & Drink Club—who's been pushing his way into nightclub and restaurant openings lately:

From a tipster:

"Here's someone who goes by the name 'Greg Walsh' and says he's from NBC-5. Never has a business card on him and pushes HARD to get into events. NBC-5 never heard of him. Actually says 'Yeah, my cameras should be here a bit later' to try and get in."

What is really going on with these people?!

Chick licks?!

Do women's taste buds differ from their male counterparts? Epicurious ponders the question and asks whether companies and restaurants are targeting women with certain foods, drinks, etc. French wine company WineSight has come up with a new vino specifically targeted to women, but it's not yet in Chicago's bars and restaurants.

Also, all those local spots selling Effen Black Cherry vodka to female patrons by the boatload figured out this trend a few years ago . . .

How did we NOT make this list?!

Obviously the editors of Men's Health didn't hang out in Chicago on the weekend when they took this study of the Top 10 most dangerously drunk cities in America.

Rush Street, Division Street, Lincoln Avenue: Stand UP!

Smoking ban killing biz for Rogers Park taverns

The Rogers Park Bench sounds off on how the new Illinois smoking ban is affecting night spots in Rogers Park, including Morseland (1218 W. Morse Ave., 773-764-8900), Duke's Bar & Grill (6920 N. Glenwood Ave., 773-764-2836) and Oasis (6809 N. Sheridan Rd., 773-973-7788).

Cheers to these craft beers

Sam Adam's Utopias is the most expensive beer in the world.


After a year of waiting, I finally got my hands on Samuel Adams’ Utopias this week. Wrigleyville’s beer-focused spot Risqué Café (3419 N. Clark, 773-525-7711)—which appears to be the only bar in the city serving it (let me know if I’m wrong!)—sells the rich, port-like beer for $30 for two ounces.

This is truly the king of beers, with 25 percent alcohol content and every beer connoisseur’s dream. Sam Adams only makes 12,000 bottles a year of what’s considered the world’s most expensive beer (it starts at $125 a bottle). Curious?! Check it out for yourself.

Specialty beer is also the focus at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St., 312-645-6000), which recently changed its weekly TasteIt Mondays to focus on America’s finest craft beers. Through June, The Beer Dudes (read Chicago magazine columnist Sarah Preston’s interview with them here) and Rockit Sous Chef Amanda Downing pair suds and supper. In January, they’re featuring various beers from Colorado that complement a three-course dinner of a cheese-and-sausage plate, baby green salad with dried figs, and a surprisingly amazing buffalo meatloaf with white cheddar mashed potatoes. Guests can order the featured beers only or the three-course dinner paired with beer for $40.

More beer-focused options:

Bluebird (1749 N. Damen Ave., 773-486-2473). The Bucktown newcomer (owned by the husband-wife team behind Webster’s Wine Bar) offers a lengthy list of beers from around the world to drink while you chow down on flatbread pizzas and charcuterie. Word to the wise: Plan to wait awhile on weekends for seating; weeknights are easier.

Custom House (500 S. Dearborn St., 312-523-0200). The bad news: The Unibroue all-inclusive, ale-pairing seminar and tasting menu happening Sunday, Jan. 20 is sold out. The good news: They’ve added another date, Monday, Jan. 21 at 6:30pm (yay!). So make those reservations today if you don’t want to miss out! Chef de Cuisine Richard Camarota prepares a special menu to complement that includes a rabbit stew, smoked pork loin and braised lamb shoulder. $35.

Paramount Room (415 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-829-6300). Every day the new River West tavern offers a daily beer flight of three for $7, which is selected by the bartender. Try it with small plates like the Scotch Egg (hard-boiled egg rolled in Italian sausage) or delicious hand-cut fries, or do a main entrée like the hand-dipped fish and chips.

Deal of the day . . .

In West Town, Five Star Bar and Grill's (1424 W. Chicago Ave., 312-850-2555) got it all: a pool table, plenty of plasmas to watch the game or news, one of the largest selections of bourbons in town and that infamous stripper pole in the back room.

But it's their nightly specials driving the crowds earlier in the week, such as tonight's: 50 cent mini sandwiches (cheeseburgers, pulled pork or Sloppy Joes), ribs ($6.75 half slab/$10.75 full slab) and the $2 Old Style cans. No takeout.