Be thankful for these spots to toast pre-Thanksgiving good times
Spending Thanksgiving hungover from Black Wednesday's temptations is just another annual tradition in the same category as turkey and stuffing. How else could we get through an entire day hanging out with the family?
Joking aside, it's not the cheek-pinching, why-aren't-you-married-probing relatives that spur on our debauchery -- it's the lure of a day off work, bars with additional hours to remind us we don't have to go into work and drink specials that make us forget we have jobs in the first place.
Shark City, 2240 Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, sharkcity.com, (630) 893-9436
Black Wednesday is a big night, and chances are you'll find yourself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of strangers in a bar somewhere. And sure, personal space becomes less important as the people invading it become more attractive, but how often does that really happen? Encompassing 18,000 square feet, Shark City promises its patrons enough breathing room to, well, breathe. Open until 2 a.m. -- a whole hour extra -- the place will be hopping to the sounds of the '80s and '90s, courtesy of 7th Heaven beginning at 9:30 p.m. Surely the Jager Girls will participate in a hopping of a different sort starting at 10 p.m. Expect to fork over a $7 cover charge.
Tap House Grill, 411 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, taphousegrillamerica.com, (630) 858-4369
You're not in college anymore, so don't party like the rest of the undergrads. And if you do happen to be mere weeks away from taking finals, why not spend the night practicing how to hang with the post-collegiate crowd? Tap House Grill wants to put the sophistication back into Black Wednesday (if it was ever there in the first place). With $5 martinis and mojitos available, there's no reason to order, gasp, a beer. The martinis come in scrumptious flavors such as the Sunset (Skyy Citrus, Peach Schnapps, pineapple juice and a splash of cranberry juice), Coconut (Coconut rum, melon liqueur and pineapple juice) and Chocolate Mousse (Skyy Vanilla, Crème de cacao and chocolate crème). And if Colin Farrell is a "fiend" for mojitos, then why not bring Miami to the Midwest? Order half-priced appetizers -- something to wash down the mint leaves and fill the belly.
Jerseys Pizza & Grill, 2360 Lakewood Blvd., Hoffman Estates, jerseyspizzaandgrill.com, (847) 765-0085
Get ready to jam with Thinner Teed at 8 p.m. (no, we don't know what their moniker means either) for the great price of absolutely nothing. Call it a pre-Thanksgiving gift. But this rollicking rock/jam band will have to compete with a $5 one-topping pizza special, and they don't put the word pizza after Jerseys without good reason. But surely, folks can figure out how to multitask on this auspicious occasion. And just when you thought the combo of cheap eats and live music couldn't get any better, Jerseys has Miller Lite and MGD pints for $2.50. Did someone say heaven?
Ballydoyle Pub, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove, ballydoylepub.com, (630) 969-0600
Who needs Guinness when Beamish Irish Stout is available for the taking, especially when it's going for $3.50 a pint? While this delicious beverage shares the same creamy consistency as the most famous of Irish drinks, it has a sweeter finish. Since Black Wednesday traditionally runs very, very late, Ballydoyle has just the quick fix to keep you going until the wee hours of the morning: Bally bombs. A mixture of Barcardi Apple rum and Monster Energy Drink, this shot is a $4 pick-me-up. Catfish Jenkins performs for a $5 cover charge. But you can go home with a Beamish T-shirt, if you win one of the raffles. Good luck!
Chicago City Limits, 1712 Wise Road, Schaumburg, chicagocitylimits.net, (847) 524-9910
We didn't get to sing Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" along with Steve Perry this past October (everyone shed a collective tear and shield your faces from all those Cubs fans out there), but with Hi-Infidelity we can party like it's 2005. Specializing in hits from REO Speedwagon, the aforementioned Journey and Jersey favorites Bon Jovi, the band will raise you up from your post-baseball season drudgery. Or at least give you something to sing along to. Add in the $2.50 You-Call-Its (no top-shelf or premium liquor) and it's a party.
Good Times Pub, 675 W. North Ave., Elmhurst, gtpub.com, (630) 833-3534
Just because Amaretto Stone Sours traditionally happen to be a girly wedding drink doesn't mean they won't suffice on Black Wednesday. Good Times has 'em for $2.50, along with $2 Bloody Mary's and $2 UV, Smirnoff and Jim Beam cocktails. Order any regular burger or chicken meal and receive a free drink to wash the yummy greasiness down. "American Idol" won't start until at least January, but spend the night with a bunch of hopefuls who think they can belt it out like Britney. The karaoke fun starts at 8:30 p.m. Make your way to the concert hall and catch Fairweather Enemy, Life Number 9 and Scottie Long. The bands will cost you, though, at least $7.
Mickey Finn's Amber Room, 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, mickeyfinnsbrewery.com, (847) 362-6688
Sometimes you just wanna rock…all night long. Head over to the Amber Room if your idea of a perfect Black Wednesday is filled with music. Who needs to socialize or chat up girls when you can kick it with Soulfix? Bang your head along to their pitch-perfect cover songs, in addition to their ready-for-radio rocking originals. Music starts at 10 p.m. for a $5 cover charge. With all that ringing in your ears, it will be hard for you to notice the parental unit demanding your participation on the dishwashing line come Thursday.