If you’re looking for a great place to catch the game on the big screen, then heading down to Sedgwick’s is probably your best bet. She ain’t the biggest place in town, but the pub grub sure is good, and wow – look at all those micro brews available!
The first thing I think deserves massive mention is their food – this ain’t your average pub grub… not by a long shot! Everything is just so fresh and tasty, not too expensive and hey – even you veggie lovers out there won’t be left scratching your heads! Start off with some quesadillas or their simply perfect pretzels and follow it up with one of their fantastic sammiches and a cold brew! Of course, if you’re looking for something a little less hands on, they offer some really good soups, salads and pasta dishes as well! If you go on a weekend, be sure to hit their brunch; they have a really nice menu that is perfect for getting into game mode!
Now let’s get into what this place is really known for: da sports! A 106” HDTV, alongside other plasma TVs adorn the walls, making it a great place to catch the game, no matter where you’re sitting. Besides the regular stuff like football, baseball and basketball, folks who get into soccer and rugby are also very welcome! In fact, they even have fan clubs for Illini and Duke! They also throw lots of parties here, so just like it’s always five o’clock somewhere, at Sedgwick’s, every night is game night!
Of course, just because a bar features food and big screens to watch a game does not a great sports bar make – it’s the PEOPLE that make it so! I admit I’m not the biggest sports fan myself, but this is one place I can tag along with my friends and not feel completely isolated or out of place, because the regulars are just so friendly and fun! Even complete novices like myself can walk out a tad bit more knowledgeable here, without putting a major cramp in my pocket book or smelling like some Trixie’s daiquiri. And yeah, it’s nice that the majority of the people are esthetically pleasing, so when I find a spot that have the standard attitudes missing, it gets an extra nod from me!
While the name has changed from the Chicago Historical Society, the game is still the same, offering an in depth look into how our home town has begun and right up to the present. While it’s certainly not the largest museum in town and kids may want to leave after a couple hours, it’s right by the completely free Lincoln Park Zoo and the beach. Therefore, this museum is located in an ideal location for spending the perfect day with your family, providing perhaps a new appreciation for where we call home.
Exhibits include just about everything you could ever want to know more about, from how the settlers lived, dioramas regarding the Great Fire, to cool Al Capone type stuff and just about everything else. A lot of dedication is focused on Abe Lincoln as well, including the bed he died in. Exhibits like the race riots and footage from the notorious ‘68 Democratic Convention are also present, and while not pretty aspects of our history, are important nonetheless and offer learning opportunities.
Since its grand reopening, many new exhibits and features have been added to delight young and old. Seeing the first El Train is pretty cool, and the Children’s Gallery is a must see. Also, seeing stuff from the World’s Fair and the old Riverview Park is especially cool, as is the Jazz Room, as well as lots of other iconic imagery, including all the sports memorabilia!
What is truly impressive is how so many immigrants and minorities are thoroughly represented, offering a plethora of information for kids and perhaps will even swell their souls with pride. It is so refreshing to see a place that displays how important every contribution made has had a direct impact on our city.
As far as food goes, there is a Wolfgang Puck cafe inside, and while the food is absolutely delicious, I can’t see wrangling younger children in there, and it kind of breaks the budget for families anyway. Pack a lunch instead. Remember, you all can always enjoy it at the nearby zoo or beach!
Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!
Joe's on Weed Street is almost synonymous with live bands, since they book a lot of happening, traveling acts of different styles and has that fun, vibrant atmosphere everyone loves for both dancing and rocking out. Then again, sports fans will argue this is their place, due to the five rooms filled with 120 TV's plus 14 ten-foot screens hooked up to the satellite to catch the game du jour. Whoever wants to claim it is fine by the owners, just as long as the people keep coming back for more!
Besides the bands and shows, what brings folks in droves are all the beer specials on off nights. How can anyone go wrong with $2 pitchers and half priced pizzas? However, be sure to stick with the beer, because the drinks are really weak on the liquor, making those Sour Jack's awful sour. Also, make sure to pull a double check on their band schedule before heading out, because folks who are not interested in checking out the bands in the back area might get charged a cover charge after a certain time or be set up on a drink minimum. It's also a good idea to bring cash, as busy wait staff may not bring back a credit card as quickly as one would like. As far as the food goes, stick with the pizza, or perhaps the pork sandwich.
No mistaking, this place is huge and can get very crowded on the weekends or when an important game or killer act is playing. The back bar can get really warm and loud as well. The rest of the time, the setup is pretty flexible and casual, making for a decent place to kick back and hang out up front, either for catching a game or an acoustic set.
So yep, Joe's patronage is fairly polarized, depending on what people are going there to do. When it's good, it's great, but when it's bad, it's well… it is what it is.
Off Broadway meets Blue Collar Wedding: that’s the general synopsis of Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding, but tattoo’s even begin to describe the two and a half hours of non stop laughs! The accents are thick, the makeup is gaudy, the hair is big, the clothes are tacky and the cast of characters are bigger than life - the perfect recipe for disaster… or in this case, happily ever after!
No two shows are alike, as each one depends on the audience participation, so guests are encouraged to truly be themselves and let the cast feed off it! The entire show is set up as an actual Italian wedding, complete with a complete reception banquet dinner and wedding cake. Door ushers greet the audience as though they are invite of the bride and groom, and it goes from there, with performers chatting and interacting with the crowd as their own. The scenario is very blue collar on the groom’s side, while the bride’s family is a little more on the up and coming level, setting the stage for some good in fighting throughout the show.
The wedding is hysterical in its own right, especially the boisterous hollering back and forth during the ceremony. Cast members include a drug addict and a pregnant bride’s maid, marking two of the audience’s favorites. However, it’s the reception afterwards that most folks really enjoy. While the all you can eat buffet is only so-so and is served on Styrofoam plates, it’s the conga lines and bunny hopping that makes it a very memorable experience. The characters encourage folks to get up and dance with them, who are all equally talented in getting even the most meek into joining in the act.
This ad lib performance is an absolute must see for engaged and married couples alike, especially for those who love to live it up while praying they never have to deal with such a beautiful catastrophe in real life.
While the name has changed from the Chicago Historical Society, the game is still the same, offering an in depth look into how our home town has begun and right up to the present. While it’s certainly not the largest museum in town and kids may want to leave after a couple hours, it’s right by the completely free Lincoln Park Zoo and the beach. Therefore, this museum is located in an ideal location for spending the perfect day with your family, providing perhaps a new appreciation for where we call home.