Nightlife News You Can Use . . .

Zach Friedlander of soon-to-open Gilt. (Photo: Carlos Enrique Cuarta)


Relax Lounge has been sold, according to an Ultimate Insider, but it's more interesting to find out who's behind the sale of the West Town tavern.

Our source says it was bought by the owner behind Witt's in Lincoln Park and Jefferson Tap—the West Loop bar that became notorious in 2006 when three off-duty Chicago cops allegedly beat several patrons.

He plans to keep it open until at least mid-March when he'll shut it down to transform it into a new concept. My guess is that it'll be another neighborhood sports bar like his other projects.

Speaking of Relax, former mixologist Zach Friedlander is part of the mixology team at Gilt when it opens Feb. 16. The restaurant has been getting lots of buzz thanks to the resume of owner/chef Brendan Sodikoff (a French Laundry alum), so we're expecting their mixology program to rival the likes of The Drawing Room and The Violet Hour.


SmallBar Fullerton open its doors to the public Friday. (Photo: Urban Daddy Chicago)


Also, Alinea's hot shot chef Grant Achatz stopped by brand-new lounge The Exchange to get a lesson in "the history of gin" from mixologist Peter Vestinos on Wednesday. While there, he sampled a number of cocktails, including The Firefly (made with New Holland Knickerbocker Gin, Alpine liqueur, chartreuse, lime, egg white, bitters) and The Challenge (Tanqueray gin, Antica vermouth, cynar).

We're not sure if he tried The Exchange, a smooth sipper comprised of Death's Door vodka and a fruity new soda from Half Acre Brewery that was created by former Alinea pastry chef Mike Carroll.

SmallBar owners Ty Fujimura and Phil McFarland (who are also behind The Exchange) can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Their long-awaited SmallBar Fullerton debuts Friday night.

WhiskeyFest, going down April 23 at Hyatt Regency Chicago, features more than 200 of the world's finest, rarest and most expensive whiskies. High-end rums, tequilas, beer and other spirits will be repped as well. Get tix here.

And Karyn's on Green—the latest in Karyn Calabrese's vegan-focused empire—opened in the West Loop with an impressive list of market-fresh cocktails. She's pushing a number of classic and contemporary drinks, but also some non-alcoholic, healthy elixirs like El Gallo Bravo (pineapple syrup, fresh lime, cilantro, jalapeno, club soda), Aloe-Kombucha Cooler (Acai juice, aloe vera, fresh lemon, agave nectar, fresh basil, hibiscus Kombucha) and Clip On (coconut water, fresh lime, almond-spice syrup, flamed orange). Yum.

Hot Doug's is Taking a Vacation

(Photo: Hot Doug's)


For those who love Hot Doug's, the offbeat encased meat shop on the North Side, 312DD just found out that owner Doug Sohn decided to shut down Feb. 18-23.

A manager tells us that Sohn will be taking some well-deserved time off to visit relatives in Washington, D.C. He added that they typically don't close the restaurant this time of year, but when you're the owner you can do whatever you want, right?!

Plus, as hard as they work over there with lines snaking down the street on the coldest of days, they definitely deserve it!

One Last Call . . .

. . . before Valentine's Day rolls around, so are you all set with a date?!

If so, then great for you, but if not 312DD can point you in the right direction.

One of the weekend's coolest events is Paint-n-Palate, going down at Avram Eisen Gallery (5202 N. Damen Ave.).

It's a wine-tasting party where the main attraction is visual artist Nathan Jalani Taylor, who will paint a series of works on the spot. It should make for interesting conversation as guests attempt to re-create his work as they're all given paintbrushes, blank canvases and easels. Thank god he'll be walking around giving instruction so you don't look too bad in front of the others.

Your ticket also includes a $20 gift certificate toward custom framing at the gallery, appetizers and wine. 4-7pm Saturday. $45; advance tickets only at 773-574-5410.

More events to find a possible mate:

THURSDAY

I typically don't plug "speed dating" sets, but the fact that this one offers you a glass of wine to loosen you up could make for some fun times as you plunder among the participants (26-40 only). It's happening at Salute, in the Gold Coast, and it's free! Appetizers are also comped, but just make sure you're carrying a tin of Altoids. There's also a "secret admirer message exchange game." Hmmmmm. 6-7:30pm.

For 'sho there will be a bunch of guys circling SmallBar Wicker Park as they tap a firkin of Bells' HOPSLAM! Cask Ale Jam, which is supposed to be a rare sighting in Chicago. All unattached women in the area should be there. Yes. 8-11pm. No cover, but they're charging $7 for a 10oz snifter til it's gone.

Tonight's No Bull Thursday at Bull & Bear will be a full-on benefit for UNICEF's Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. We have to give props to Outfit Chicago for hosting, as they've arranged for half of the proceeds from 3-6pm (when you order appetizers) to go to this worthy organization. Additionally, a $20 donation 6-8pm will also benefit and guests will get comped apps and drinks. A good mix of men and women. The party continues until 1:30am.

FRIDAY

The First Fridays that started it all in the early 1990s happens this time at Crimson Lounge. Get there right after work for half-price admission, and stay for the dance party. That means that you'll need to wear something extra cute to work. 6-11pm. Cover varies.

It's Millionaire's Flight Fridays at D.O.C. Wine Bar, not Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker," so don't go digging for $$$. Instead, take advantage of a number of wine flights that are only offered by the bottle. Each Friday, sommelier/wine director Greg Sorrell hand selects three glass pours for $25. This week, they're doing Turley Zinfandels: 2007 Turley “Presenti Vineyard” Lodi, Ca; 2006 Turley “Dogtown Vineyard” Lodi, Ca; 2006 Turley “Ueberroth Vineyard” Pasa Robles, Ca. 5pm-2am.

SATURDAY

For those not looking to club it up on a Saturday night, here's your best alternative in River North. Epic's massive first-floor lounge is the latest to collect a fashionable crowd of singles on the prowl. The best things: No bottle service and first-come seating. Deejay starts spinning downtempo tunes at 9pm and the mingling goes on until 2am. No cover.

SUNDAY

Surprised these guys never did this before. 20/30 Club—composed of mostly single professional men in their 20s, 30s and ahem, 40s—throws a Super Bowl party where $10 of the admission price goes to a local charity. You'll get endless food (corn dogs, sliders, hot wings) and an open bar for $35. What's really cool is that if you're not drinking it's only $10. Party happens in Lakeview at Rockwood Place. 5-11pm.

Expect to call in sick Monday if you plan to go to LaSalle Power Co.'s Super Bowl bash. They'll have drink deals like $4 domestic bottles, $5 bomb shots and $15 mix-and-match buckets (five bottles each, includes domestic and imported). For an extra $15, you can chow down from the buffet (Angus beef sliders, turkey sliders, sloppy Joes, tater tots, boneless chicken strips) until the party ends. LaSalle will show the game on a 167-inch plasma video wall and 10 50-inch flat-screen TVs. 4pm-2am.

Sound-Bar Made the Most $$$ in Chicago in 2009

(Photo: Sound-Bar)


Only two Chicago venues cracked the Top 25 in Nightclub & Bar and Technomic Inc.'s annual Top 100 Bar & Nightclub List.

Sound-Bar and Crobar came in 23rd and 25th places respectively for grossing between $10 million-$20 million in 2009.

Vision was 34th on the list, yet also grossed between $10M-$20M, but we think it was on the lower end of the scale.

Further down the line was Cubby Bear (#64; $5M-$10M), Rockit Bar & Grill (#70; $5M-$10M), Excalibur (#74; $5M-$10M) and Underground (#89; $5M-$10M).

Are you surprised of the placement of these bars on this list?! What about how much they made in 2009?

UPDATE: Several sources have emailed me to question the validity of this story, including one former publicist/marketing director for one of the venues:

"(The magazine doesn't) really have a fact checking department," she says. "I once wrote a release they used as the story."

Gino's Delivers 10,000 Super Bowl Pizzas to Troops

Super Bowl is only days away and to insure our troops could participate in the festivities, DHL teamed up with Gino's East to deliver 10,000 free deep-dish pizzas worldwide to bases in Iraq as well as VA hospitals across the country.

Say what you will about the war, but our guys—and girls—need every bit of home they can get!

Gemini Bistro Chef One of TCW's Hottest Singles!

Jason Paskewitz is executive chef/partner at Gemini Bistro. (Photo: Gemini Bistro)


Looking for a Valentine's Day date?!

Our friends over at NBCChicago.com created a slideshow of Today's Chicago Woman's Top Singles of 2010, which is 40 of some of the city's most accomplished, fascinating and attractive folks around.

We're extra excited because a number of Chicago's dining and nightlife elite made the list, including Jason Paskewitz, executive chef/partner at Gemini Bistro; Andreas Schreiner, GM of restaurant operations for the Elysian's Balsan and ria; Anthony Fiore, owner of Elate; David Dworshak, executive sous chef at Carnivale; Patrick Brown, GM at Underground; and Dominic Gaziano, owner of Salute Winebar & Café.

If you wanna check out these guys in person, head to Enclave for a party that includes an open bar, appetizers, deejay and the chance to meet the singles.

7-10pm March 13. $50 in advance; $60 after March 5. Proceeds benefit Today's Chicago Woman Foundation.

February is National Sweet Potato Month

Everyone's psyched because hipster coffeehouse Filter is back, but we're excited for a different reason.

They've expanded the menu at one of the city's only LEED gold certified coffee houses, which includes the intriguing Thanksgiving Wrap, stuffed with turkey, cranberries and sweet potatoes. Pair that up with the sweet potato fries that come with a horseradish dipping sauce, and you're in the mix.

Mmmmmmm, sweet potatoes. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water for Mom's homemade pies rich with handcrafted, buttery crusts. Feb. 1 marked the beginning of Sweet Potato Month, so you've got a long time to celebrate at spots serving them up right:

Make your reservation now for Everything's Better with Bacon, a cooking class happening at the Lincoln Square location for The Chopping Block. You'll be whipping up a frisee, Prosciutto and poached egg salad; sausage and mushroom stuffed pork loin with apple-bacon compote; sweet potato and Canadian bacon gratin; and bacon cornmeal bundt cake with bacon ice cream. 7pm Feb. 18, 27. $40.

Get half off on a number of sushi delights during HUB 51's Super Happy Sushi Fun Time. Ultra-fresh rolls include the signature miso-glazed salmon roll, as well as the rainbow roll and sweet potato roll. 3-6pm daily.

Wicker Park newcomer Sabor Saveur introduced a nightly prix-fixe menu in January that's $40. The French-Mexican menu is five courses and includes pumpkin flower-and-cream cheese taquitos and a filet mignon served with sweet potato-and-coconut croquettes over amaranth green beans. 5-7pm daily.

Sweet potato fries are on the menu at BBQ gem Smoke Daddy as well as at the brand-new Corner41, which pairs theirs with a lobster burger.

Winners of the Jean Banchet Awards!

Blackbird's Michael Sheerin took home "Rising Chef" honors at the Banchet Awards on Friday. (Photo: Anthony Tahlier)


Friday was a big night for a number of Chicago's top culinary folks as they took home awards at the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence ceremony during the Cystic Fibrosis' annual Grand Chefs Gala.

The event took place in the Fairmont Hotel's grand ballroom following an amazing cocktail party where more than 30 chefs whipped up signature appetizers for several hundred guests.

Here are the winners, who were selected by all participating and nominated chefs voting by secret ballot:

Best Catering Co: Blue Plate; Best Sommelier: Scott Tyree of Sepia; Rising Chef: Michael Sheerin of Blackbird; Rising Pastry: Stephanie Prida of Blackbird; Best Neighborhood Spot: Piccolo Sogno; Best Fine Dining: Paul Virant of Vie; Celeb Pastry Chef: Cindy Schuman of Sepia; Celeb Chef: Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/Xoco; People's Choice Award: Curtis Duffy of Avenues.

Congrats to all!