LTH Cocktail Hour

Pretty soon now, I plan to invite people to an LTH Cocktail Hour. I haven't figured out a good date for me, but since I'm kind of excited about this idea, I thought I'd start a thread in the meantime.

There are two main things I have in mind: (1) there are a lot of places that have good casual food and/or interesting cocktails that I haven't tried and (2) there are a lot of LTHers whom I haven't had the chance to meet yet.

An easy solution to this problem would be to make a habit of meeting LTHers at places I haven't tried yet. I don't know if I think this is something which needs to be nailed down to a schedule: I like the way the Evanston Lunch Group seem to just naturally have events every month or so.

I had thought of a short list of places (most of which I haven't tried) which seem to have a good balance of food and drink options for an after-work meetup, and places that aren't so oriented towards table service, so that people could be more casual about coming and going without making a reservation.

My list is sort of focused on the River North/North Loop area since that's close to work, but don't let that stifle anyone's creativity.

Fulton's
Zocalo
McCormick & Schmick's
Quartino
BB's
Cafe Iberico
Emilio's
the Plymouth Grill (once the weather turns)

At the other end of my commute, one of these days I'd like to get people to come out to Prairie Moon in Evanston. They have an excellent beer selection, a cozy bar area, and pretty good food.

Hopefully by doing these in the middle of the week, we'll find that we don't have to make reservations of any sort. If any of the places I listed are crowded every day, please let me know.

So, until I get around to picking a date, I'd love to hear from people who are interested, or have suggestions for other places, etc... Places with good after work specials (like the $1.95 M&S Burgers, although YoYoPedro wasn't totally enamored)? Places with great outdoor options that we can start daydreaming about? And scheduling: does anyone think this would work better if it were on a regular basis, like the old Third Thirsty Thursdays BYOB events?

(BTW, I'm looking at week after next for the first of these, probably Wednesday the 14th but really no one day is better for me. No strong preference on place, although I'd been interested in McCormick & Schmick's before finding YYP's less enthusiastic assessment)

I live way south but a great place might be the Yard House in Glenview. Really far for me but would be worth the trip. I haven't met any of the LTHers either and really think I need to.

EvilUs wrote:I live way south but a great place might be the Yard House in Glenview. Really far for me but would be worth the trip.

Since I use the CTA for my commute, I don't think I could make it up there for an after work kind of meeting, but maybe there's a critical mass of LTHers in the North Suburbs to make something happen... Although I guess it's out of your way too...

What do you know about that place that makes it worth the trip? I see from their website that they advertise the world's largest selection of draft beer. So there's that.

EvilUs wrote:I haven't met any of the LTHers either and really think I need to.

A good way to meet LTHers is to just pick a time and place and invite people to come out and meet you. You could pick a more manageable time for the Yard House, or a place closer to home.

Sounds good to me. Are you thinking about right after work, 5-7ish, or later, 8-10ish?

leek wrote:Sounds good to me. Are you thinking about right after work, 5-7ish, or later, 8-10ish?

My idea is definitely right after work.

germuska wrote:

EvilUs wrote:I live way south but a great place might be the Yard House in Glenview. Really far for me but would be worth the trip.

What do you know about that place that makes it worth the trip? I see from their website that they advertise the world's largest selection of draft beer. So there's that.

I've been there once and once in Palm Springs. It's just a nice place with high ceiling so it doesn't get too loud. Their beer selection is great and they also have a full liquor selection. Also. they do have an impressive happy hour menu.

germuska - this is a great idea. I am very interested in checking out the happy hour specials at M&S. I also recently learned about the $2.95 happy hour menu at Kinzie Chophouse, which is another place of interest to me.

We don't have to do just one. I'm totally in for the Yardhouse as it is less than 3 minutes from my work:)

Octarine wrote:We don't have to do just one.

That's the spirit. Pick a date, post it on the events board!

My commute is exactly the same, so I'm for either end.

If you're thinking of River North on Mar. 14, that's the day the sign says the HopHaus opens (replacing the shortlived Patrick's on Franklin and Wells), although knowing how things open and close around there, depending on it being open that night (or any particular night afterwards) might be overly hopeful.

I'm for Prairie Moon sometime too, they always have an interesting beer or two on some of their changing taps. My favorite at the moment is Lagunitas' Hairy Eyeball, a strong american brown ale, with the complexity of a dopplebock and a punch worthy of its name. I believe they also have Affligem on tap at the moment too.

kiplog wrote:If you're thinking of River North on Mar. 14, that's the day the sign says the HopHaus opens...

I think it actually says the 15th, "we höp".

From the signage, I'm guessing they are the same proprietors trying a different concept. The signs calling for "gourmet burgers" and "craft beer" seem potentially promising, but I have no love for "cutesy"

That is the date I was thinking about. Dare we try them on their first day? Dare we wait even a couple of weeks, or will they not even last that long!

Patrick's was gone before I darkened their door, but their awning slogans ("Feeding Chicago's Hip Elite... til 4 am", and the like) had already filled me with the same mild dread as the dorky diacritical.

But it's sooo close to my office; how I would love for it to actually turn out to be cool.

Speaking of, that reminds me of another spot where I wanted to try out the bar -- Club Lago (Orleans and Superior). I'm not sure if they are set up quite like the other places I had mentioned (I don't know if they have much "bar menu" stuff) but the bar area is old school and kind of cool.

Speaking of, that reminds me of another spot where I wanted to try out the bar -- Club Lago (Orleans and Superior). I'm not sure if they are set up quite like the other places I had mentioned (I don't know if they have much "bar menu" stuff) but the bar area is old school and kind of cool.

If you work around there, you really do need to go to Club Lago, the bartenders are the owners (2 brothers) and they take serious pride in running an old school Italian bar and restaurant. Nothing on tap, and limited bar-type food, although they make great calamari, paninis etc. Their special is always worth ordering. The bar can fill up, and it can get smoky. Old school Italian means there's cigars around sometimes.

I'm also looking forward to the HopHaus, I had the same guess from the signage - luckily the signage and the menu descriptions at Patrick's were as far as the cutesyness and forced trendiness went.

Another choice is Clark St. Ale House, no food except for pretzels, and some happy hour chaffing dish hors d'oeuvres, but the beer and booze selection makes up for it. Usually enough room for a llittle group to get a seat during after work hours.

I have posted the first invite, at the "surprise" location of Rock Bottom Brewery (inspired by kiplog's recent post).

Hopefully folks can come out, but also hopefully other folks will be inspired to have similar events in other neighborhoods or at other times.

We can keep this thread open for "nominations" for good destinations, etc...

PS I have eaten at Club Lago; just not hung out at the bar...

I'm sorry I'll miss y'all at Rock Bottom tomorrow, and probably at most of these events in the future.

But let me toss out Brasserie Jo. They have a very nice selection of beer and wine, a very appealing bar area, and on Tuesdays they pass a little gratis tarte flambee between 5 and 7. Went there last night for the first time, and if I still worked in Chicago, I can see stopping in for an after work tipple with some regularity. Not at all crowded either.

And if you get there soon, you may be able to try the Grotten Flemish Ale before it's gone until next year.

Edit: Er, brown ale.