Easy Bar turns one; Do-Division Holiday Walk

Easy Bar (1944 W. Division St.) celebrates its first year anniversary with $1 cocktails all Saturday. Yes, that's right, you won't get your typical bargain basement brew offerings as the lineup includes Jameson cocktails/shots, Stoli cocktails, Fat Tire and Miller products. And as the clock ticks the dollar drinks change on the hour.

But if you head to that area during the day, you'll want to take part in the "Do-Division Holiday Walk" from 11am-6pm. The event takes place along Division Street between Leavitt and Ashland, and even though it's pretty family friendly, guests can take advantage of drink and specials along the way at such places as Bravo Tapas Lounge, Crust, Vintage Wine Bar, Gold Star and Moonshine.

There will also be free live musical theater, Santa taking pictures with kids, acapella groups singing to passersby, and deep discounts from boutiques and shops along the Division Street Corridor.

What the critics are saying. . .

. . . about:

Exposure Tapas Supper Club (1315 S. Wabash Ave., 312-662-1082): "As the name suggests, the changing menu focuses on small plates (most $4-$14), though there are a few entrees available. Oysters and clams from the raw bar were everything they should’ve been, but my favorite cold dish was charred beef tenderloin carpaccio paired with a salad of fresh baby artichokes drizzled with truffle oil and balsamic syrup." Anne Spiselman (Chicago Reader)

La Madia (59 W. Grand Ave., 312-329-0400): “I can spot an inferior pizza even before the first bite (the color of the tomatoes, the melt of the cheese, the puff of the crust). La Madia comes through with flying colors on all counts. The Margherita pizza here is easily among my top five for best Margherita pizza in Chicago.” Pat Bruno (Chicago Sun-Times)

Niu Japanese Fusion Lounge (332 E. Illinois St., 312-527-2888): "One of the better choices: crouching tiger lettuce wrap ($9). Tempura shrimp and spicy tuna are laced with mayonnaise and served with delicate soy sauce." Laura Bianchi (Crain's Chicago Business)

Prost (2566 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-880-9900): "This split-personality bar is at once old worldly with its heavy oaken tables and wrought-iron chandeliers juxtaposed with 10 flatscreens hung on the walls of its narrow hall. With three satellites broadcasting games for every kind of sports fan, Wisconsin alums can often be found catching a Badger's game, eating the bar's famed soft pretzels and drinking one of 12 German beers on tap." (Citysearch.com)

Big props for Bin 36

Raise your glass to BIN 36 (339 N. Dearborn St., 312-755-9463), the River North wine bar/restaurant/retail store, which just received the coveted Award of Unique Distinction by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in the annual Restaurant Awards, for its "dedication to delivering the most wine-friendly experience to [its] patrons." In recognition, BIN 36 will appear in the magazine's upcoming February 2008 issue and will be listed on its searchable online restaurant database throughout the year.

In a congratulatory letter, Editor/Publisher Adam Strum noted, "BIN 36 is one of a select number of restaurants in North America, out of thousands of applicants, to be honored in 2007 with this level of recognition."

As a winner, BIN 36 is recognized for displaying excellence, creativity, knowledge and vision in its wine offerings, from Wine Director Brian Duncan's nightly pairings from the restaurant's extensive selection of 50 wines by the glass and more than 400 by the bottle, to special wine promotions, to the multitude of wine-centric classes and events the restaurant offers its guests each year.

DJ Kiss puckers up tonight, plus other events around town

DJ Kiss performs tonight at NV Penthouse Lounge.


Tonight's an especially busy night, but one of the events I'm looking forward to is New York's DJ Kiss, who's flying in to spin at NV Penthouse Lounge (116 W. Hubbard St., 312-329-9960). You may not have heard of her yet, but Puffy (or whatever he's calling himself these days), Big Boi of OutKast fame, actress Kerry Washington and Salt N' Pepa are many of the high-profile stars who have called on her to play their parties. I checked her out a few months ago when she stopped in to spin at J Bar (610 N. Rush St., 312-660-7200), and was so impressed that I profiled her for Playboy.com. See what all the fuss is about when she plays 9pm-2am for a Chambord-sponsored event. Free.

Also on tap:

TK Men, Haberdash and Halo [For Men] host an event you don't want to miss. An all-male fashion show (!!!!!) happens with some of the sexiest local male models swaggering down the runway. It's free to get in, but you must email rsvp@zapwater.com for guest list. There's complimentary cocktails, and a silent auction benefits the Howard Brown Health Center. 9-11pm at Crimson Lounge, 333 N. Dearborn St.

Make-a-Wish Foundation's Associate Board holiday social set takes place at Underground (56 W. Illinois St.) from 7-10pm. The party includes a deejay spinning contemporary tunes, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and a raffle. To register: undergroundwishes.kintera.org. $30 (online)/$35 (at door).

Or you can "Ring in the Red" at the American Red Cross of Great Chicago's Auxiliary Board benefit at Kerryman (661 N. Clark St.). Get there for complimentary appetizers, plus a host of drink and beer specials for $2 (!!). 6-9pm. $20 in advance; $25 at door. Call 312-729-6130 for more info.

And the "Kimpton Red Romp: A Red Hot Night Benefiting AIDSCare" is what's up over at Hotel Monaco (225 W. Wabash Ave.). For a $5 donation, attendees can expect the red-carpet treatment, including one red-themed cocktail and tasty appetizers. They’ll be able to shop for the season’s hottest red fashions from SHE and Flirt boutiques and jewelry from local Chicago designer Dana Rebecca Designs, with 10% of all purchases benefiting AIDSCare. Also on the docket is a silent auction featuring a little black dress by Sweetface from SHE (retail value $502), a private shopping party at Flirt for you and your 10 girlfriends and more. 5-7:30pm. RSVP at lbredfeldt@korshak.com or ddugo@korshak.com.

Deal of the day . . . (as seen on 'WGN Morning News' today)

Consider swanky sports lounge WestEnd for your co-worker sponsored holiday bash.


How about ditching that corporate-sponsored holiday shindig this year and hosting your own? Or perhaps you just want to cut loose after the main festivities with a crew of the coolest co-workers from the office.

Regardless, as the worker bees, it’s not like you can bankroll one of those fancy fetes yourself, so I’m recommending one of these spots where you don’t have to worry about room rentals, deposits, package deals, etc.

Just show up and hang at:

Junior’s Sports Lounge (724 W Maxwell St., 312-421-2277). Massive sports bar has great deals every Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s game night features $10 Bud Light pitchers, $13 buckets of Bud bottles, plus free pool, a hilarious bean bag game, Wii bowling and board games; or head here Wednesday for half-priced appetizers (excluding wings), $5 mojitos and specialty martinis.

Landmark (1633 N. Halsted St., 312-587-1600). Weekly “Wino Wednesdays” at this trendy Lincoln Park lounge offers half off on bottles of wine from the “50 under $50” list, $5 Skyy vodka martinis and free pizzas from their wood-burning oven.

Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron St., 312-664-2727). Or you can always test your co-workers' skills on the dance floor (or show off yours!) with Latin Street Beat Thursdays with South American appetizers and cocktails for $3-$4. There’s also Latin house music and live percussion. Woo hoo!

WestEnd Bar & Grill (1326 W. Madison St., 312-733-0574). Unwind with your work pals at this swanky new sports bar in the West Loop. Thursdays are ideal for their $10 pizzas that come with unlimited toppings such as sausage, basil, arugula, fresh garlic, mushrooms, black olives or pepperoni. Each serves up to four people and they go great with the $16 Goose Island Honkers buckets.

Zocalo (358 W. Ontario St., 312-302-9977). No deals on appetizers where famed chef Dudley Nieto resides, but the Thursday drink specials are perfect when you need to save a few bucks. For $5, you can swill sangria Roja (with red wine, Presidente brandy, triple sec, mango and guava juices) or the Citrus Cazuela (with Milagro citrus tequila, Fresca, white wine, and grapefruit, orange, lemon lime juices) all night long. That’ll go fine with their fresh plaintain and corn chips served with a flight of signature guacamoles that are spicy, tangy and sweet.

Schwa reopening?

A Craigslist ad was posted yesterday by rock star chef Michael Carlson, whose edgy Wicker Park eatery Schwa closed early last month. Could it be possible that he's angling for a reopening? According to Dish: "Schwa opened in August 2005 and served its last meal on October 5th, a private blowout for several of the world-class chefs in town for Charlie Trotter’s 20th anniversary dinner on Sunday night.(Trotter took the chefs to Schwa, unaware that it would be Schwa’s final night, says Trotter’s spokesperson, Katy Burstein.)."

So after all that hoopla, is Carlson trying to reopen by year's end?

Here's the ad below:

"serious culinary canidates

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: acehardware12@yahoo.com
Date: 2007-11-27, 8:26AM CST

Chef Michael Carlson & Schwa Restaurant is looking for professional, hard working, and creative chefs who are interested in all facets of the restaurant. Must have good refrences and be ready to make a commitment. Please attach resumes to a quick email telling us a little about yourself. acehardware12@yahoo.com"

An excuse to get buzzed

Seems like everyone's having champagne tastings these days, but duh! it's that time of year.

Now comes The Tasting Room (1415 W. Randolph St., 312-942-1212) with a bubbly bash offering more than 30 of your favorites (and some stuff you've never heard of).

Tonight, you'll get to sample superstars Krug and Ruinart, great grower Champagnes like Jose Dhondt and Andre Clouet, as well as a wide array of sparkling wines from around the globe.

Also, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres in their city view lounge, and all wines featured will be discounted tonight at the adjoining Randolph Wine Cellars. 6-8pm. $50.

The next big thing?!

I've never heard of Kinky Notti, but this soul band is already making waves across the country for its unique sound. And if you want to catch them before they really blow up, they're headlining a show tonight at Blu 47 (4655 S. King Dr., 773-536-6000).

Also performing during this "Southern flair meets Northern flavor" event are the Free Agents Brand Band from New Orleans, Emotion Brown out of Dallas, Von from Dallas and local crooners Verbal Balance.

Blu 47's usually understated interior will be transformed to reflect the energy, with live mural art collaborations, dance performances, cuisine and culture. Tonight 8pm-midnight. Free.