For our Anniversary Issue, you voted on your favorite spots for partying it up in Chicago. Below are the winners from our “Bars & Drinks” category. For your own safety though, we don’t recommend hitting them up all in one night!

Best Place for $1 Beers
Kincade’s (950 W. Armitage)
Every Wednesday is $1 beer night at Kincade’s and you’ve named it your favorite! Anyone’s who’s been will tell you that the crowd skews a bit young and the three-level bar gets super packed, but the cheap drinks and karaoke make it all worth it. They also serve up $5 well cocktails on hump-day, so no matter what your poison, Kincade’s is sure to get you through the week for super cheap

Best Place to Drink & Dance
The Hangge Uppe (14 W. Elm St.)
We are assuming our readers are the type who only dance when they are drunk (really drunk), since they chose this place as their fave spot to boogy down and booze it up. Don’t get us wrong, this is our favorite too, but the fact that it’s a flaming hot mess, and not at all pretentious, is what makes us love it so much. There’s two levels, with oldies tunes playing in the basement and top 40 playing upstairs, so everyone from co-eds to mom and dad can dance to the music they grew up with (though we highly recommend NOT taking your parents there, especially not after 12am). Best of all, it’s within stumbling distance of Chicago’s best neighborhood bar (named by you), Butch McGuire’s.

Best Neighborhood Bar
Butch McGuire’s (20 W. Division St.)
Eryn has her own name for Division Street- “Drunk as a Skunk Street.” So, it’s only fitting that you think Chicago’s best neighborhood bar resides there. Sure it gets packed with inebriated tourists late-night, but before 11pm this is truly a neighborhood spot. Most days and evenings the crowd is made up of neighbors, regulars even families enjoying Butch’s tasty brunch, lunch and dinner menus. And, if you don’t make it to Butch’s any other time, be sure to stop by around the holidays when they put up an outrageous Christmas display (alone, it’s worth the trip!).

Best for Dressing Up & Drinking Grown-Up Cocktails
Vertigo Sky Lounge (660 N. State)
Perched atop the Dana Hotel, this lounge is one of Chicago’s newest hot spots. Whether you feel like having a sophisticated after-work drink or want to see and be seen late-night, Vertigo has something for everyone. Designed to feel like your ultra trendy (and ultra rich) friend’s apartment, Vertigo has the market cornered on cocktailing in comfort. To further this effort, they skipped over building an actual bar and went with waitresses manning drink carts instead, so no need to worry about losing your seat by the fire-pit to get yourself a drink. If only we really had friends with pads like this!

(Lacey Brenly)

If weatherchannel.com isn’t lying to us, this weekend is shaping up to be perfect for outdoor entertaining. With temps in the mid 70’s and the sun shining, there’s no better time to have your friends over for cocktails and snacks on your deck/porch/balcony before a big night out on the town.

We were thinking something fruity and refreshing to drink and food you can eat with said cocktail in hand. So, Kristin Hamzik swooped in to save the day with these tasty, and affordable, summer party recipes…

Rosemary Lemonade (Serves 4)

• 3 TBL Rosemary simple syrup (see below for instructions)
• 1 pitcher lemonade (I prefer Country time or Crystal light)
• ½ C Vodka

In a large pitcher add lemonade, simple syrup and vodka. Stir to combine. Either chill mixture for a couple of hours or pour into glasses with ice. Mmmmm REFRESHING!

Rosemary Simple Syrup: Heat 1 cup water with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 rosemary sprig for about 5 minutes until sugar dissolves and is infused with rosemary flavor. Remove rosemary when making cocktail.

5 Minute White Sangria (Serves 4)

• 1 bottle Rielsing
• ½ Cup Orange Juice (or Triple Sec)
• 1 cup Assorted sliced fruit (apples, peaches, plums, grapes etc)
• ¼ cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water simmered until sugar dissolves and allowed to cool)
• Tangerine and lime flavored water (or some kind of flavored water with fizz)

Combine first all ingredients and pour into glasses filled with ice. This is a 5 in 5 girl’s fave sangria since it doesn’t have to sit for hours before we can sip on it!

Mexican Thirst Quencher (Serves 4)

• 4 cans Squirt (or other lemon/lime flavored soda)
• 6 shots Tequila
• 2 tsp fresh lime juice
• Lime wedges for garnish
• Salt

Combine all ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish with lime wedge & a pinch of salt

Watermelon and Feta Skewers (Serves 4)

• 3 Cups watermelon cubed
• 10 oz Feta cubed
• 20 sprigs of Mint
• Honey lime dressing
• Wooden skewers

Place a watermelon chunk onto skewer, add a piece of Feta and then a mint sprig and repeat until skewer is ¾ of the way full. (Leave enough space on either end for guests to hold.) Drizzle dressing over skewers on platter and serve cold if possible.

Honey Lime Dressing:

• 4 TBL honey
• 2 TBL lime juice
• Salt and Pepper

Mix to combine.

Orange Scented White Bean Dip (Serves 4)

• 2 cans white beans, rinsed and strained
• 2 garlic cloves
• Zest of 1 orange and juice of ½ that orange
• Salt and pepper
• 1 medium tomato chopped
• ½ cup basil chiffonade (sliced)

Puree (in blender or food processor) first 2 ingredients + salt and pepper until smooth. You may have to thin it out with 1 Tbl olive oil. Fold in tomato and basil. Serve with pita chips or crudite.

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail (Serves 4)

• 2 lbs (peeled and deveined, cooked & then chilled) shrimp
• 3/4 Cup chili sauce or etchup
• 1 tsp chipotle in adobo
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp horseradish (cream style)

Blend ingredients in blender or food processor and serve with chilled shrimp.

For our Anniversary Issue next month we’ll be cluing you in to the best of what the city has to offer. But, we don’t want to just sit here in our ivory towers telling you what you will like best. We think it makes more sense for you to tell us.

So, for our first round of voting, we’ll be taking a look at what Chicago has to offer in the way of alcoholic beverages. Happy drinking!

(polls)

(polls)

Earlier this year, when the economy was first plunging into turmoil, the PLRG team was busy ignoring the crashing markets and meeting with local businesses to plan a fashion show. That’s about the time we met Megan Richards. In addition to her running her own PR company, MR Public Relations, Megan was tooling with the idea of starting the “Stimulus Social Club,” a way for people to “give back while throwing down.” 

Richards, along with a host of other talented Chicago women, wanted to create a monthly event that would not only stimulate the economy, but also stimulate interest and raise money for those who are truly in need. Each month they choose a different, top-notch venue (past hosts include Rockit, Trader Vics and Zella’s) and for a $10 donation you get your first drink and apps! To be honest, chances are, you’ll stay for one or two more, which is the “stimulating the economy” part. But, best of all, the $10 goes to charity (the last donation went to The Valentine’s Boys and Girls Club) and the gals from SSC always max out the venue (the attendance at Zella’s was 400+).

Keep an eye out for the next SSC event, July 1 at Roof at The Wit Hotel, benefitting The CINN Foundation. Oh, and it’s also a great way to meet people and netowrk with the scene being dominated by young professionals.

• Fun and Cocktails- Check
• Hot Spot and Hot Guys- Check
• Doing It All for a Good Cause- Check

Now that the sun’s staying out later these days, we thought it was about time break out of our funk and meet up with some friends after work for some great food and cocktails. 

Beginning June 1, PLRG will be hosting Alchemy every first Monday of the month at Spring in Bucktown. For those not familiar with Spring, you are in for a very pleasant surprise. Located in the building formerly know as the North Avenue Baths, just west of the El, entering Spring is akin to leaving the chaos of the urban world when entering a spa. The clean lined, modern decor blends seamlessly with subtle asian touches (like the Zen sand garden that welcomes you to the space). 

This fusion of modern style and asian influence is a careful reflection of the menu offered at Spring. Chef Shawn McClain would call their menu “New American with strong Asian influences,” but we’ll just call it delicious. Their drink menu is as well thought out and as surprising (in a good way) as the food, all made with premium ingredients, like fresh juices and house-made tonic. 

Join us every Monday, 6pm-11pm, when you can cozy up to Spring and get to know them a little better. Each week they’ll be offering their specialty cocktails (usually $12) for just $7, mixed drinks are $7 and beer starts at $4. They will also be offering a small plates menu ($4-$11), which is perfect for sharing and trying different bites with your friends. We’ll also have DJ spinning each week to help set the mood. It’s the perfect way to get acquainted with Spring!

If you’re planning on hanging at Spring with us, let us know on our Facebook Group Page or Facebook Fan Page. We’d love to see everyone there!

The weather is getting warmer, finally!  Boys are playing ultimate Frisbee in the park (shirts v. skins anyone), and the Cubbies are in full swing (literally, D Lee is hitting bombs).

With everything Chicago has to offer when its sunny and 70 degrees out, you’d better make sure your wardrobe is ready. Luckily, Project Lake View East is here to help with their 2nd Annual Spring Fashion Show.

Thursday, May 14th, at Lakeshore Theatre, PLVE is featuring styles from well known local hot spots like Kreative Soul Designs, VFish, P & L Boutique, and the vintage mecca Haystack, among many. 

This PLRG thinks that a $20 ticket is a pretty sweet deal on its own, but wait… it gets better. Your ticket price also includes two complimentary cocktails, a 2-year subscription to Time Out Magazine, and the first 200 attendees will receive swag bags full of goodies.

Oh, and make sure to buy your ticket before May 11th as ticket prices go up after that. Hurrah! Winter is over!

Project Lakeview East Spring Fashion Show
Thursday, May 14th
Lakeshore Theatre, 3175 N Broadway
7pm Cocktails, 8PM show
Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.lakevieweast.com/project-lve.htm
Admit one: $20 before May 11, $25 after that

(Lindsey Duda)

Talk Derby To Me Pub Crawl!
Saturday, May 2nd, 12:30pm - 5:30pm

PoorLittleRichGirls has teamed up with Players Sports Group to bring you the best pub crawl of the year-Talk Derby To Me! This fun filled day is in honor of the most exciting minute in sports, The Kentucky Derby! Before the race we’ll be hitting 6 bars all over Lincoln Park where you’ll be getting great drink specials, like $2 beers and $3 “Kentucky Kool-Aid” made with the new premium TY KU Vodka!

Tickets are only $10 to get in on the DERBY ACTION! Participants will be eligible to win cool prizes, like Cubs tickets! Love to dress up!? The best jockey, horse outfit or derby hat wins two tickets to a Cubs game that includes an on-field experience watching batting practice before the game! Go Cubbies! 

Our event sounded so fun, the Windy City Rollers are graciously allowing us to use their “Talk Derby To Me” slogan and inviting all participants to the Roller Derby that night! All pub crawlers will get 40% off tickets to the 6pm “Winners Circle” Bout at the UIC Pavilion after the crawl. Just show your pub crawl flyer that night to get a $12 ticket to the derby! Check out all the roller derby action on their website.     

 

Pub Crawl Heats! 

Heat 1: 12:30pm- 1:30pm: Wrightwood Tap 

Heat 2: 1:30pm-2:15pm: Grand Central

Heat 3: 2:15pm – 3pm: Prost

Heat 4: 3pm – 3:45pm: The Spread 

Heat 5: 3:45pm – 4:30pm: Toasted Ox 

Heat 6: 4:30pm – 5:30pm: Hi Tops

Be one of the first 20 people to check-in at HEAT #1 (The Wrightwood Tap/ 1059 West Wrightwood) and you’ll get issued a name of a horse racing in the Kentucky Derby. If your horse is the winner, you’ll get $100 cash!

No need to purchase tickets ahead of time. You’ll just pay at the Wrightwood Tap on Derby Day but, RSVP to one of the below to let us know you are coming!

Rsvp@poorlittlerichgirls.com

Players Sports Group Derby Page

PLRG Facebook Group Page

PLRG Facebook Fan Page

 

 

Looking for something off the beaten path to do on Saturday night? Swing by the Congress Theatre (2135 N. Milwaukee) for the first installment of the Branded series presented by Revolution No. 9 and Time Out Chicago.

Need more incentive that a night of international DJ’s, local indie rock bands, all you can dance dancing, and a full bar? Your $21 ticket will score you a year’s subscription to Time Out Chicago.

Featured Acts: Deadmau5, Crookers, Late of the Pier, The Whip, Loyal Divide, Zebo, Willy Joy, Brad Owen, Noise/Floor Crew

We Want You! (to support your local indie band)

This week, PLRG sat down with one of our favorite Chicago bands, Loyal Divide, to learn more about their music and life in the Windy City:

Loyal Divide, originally conceived at Miami Ohio, has been on the Chicago scene for the past five years. Fresh off the boat from SXSW, you may have seen them recently playing at the likes of Schubas, The Empty Bottle and the Bottom Lounge.

In ten words or less, they describe their music as “Beat driven, grungy, dance pop-that reflects our cold Chicago.” After what we heard at our last Loyal Divide concert, we would have to agree. Not to mention we’ve also heard they do some killer Prince covers.

When they’re not jamming out and making girls swoon at local venues, you can find these boys hanging out at Cody’s, Sidestreet Saloon or attempting to gain “regular” status at Old Town Ale House on North Ave… a feat that takes decades if memory serves us correctly.

So, how does one PLRG score a pass to what is clearly going to be the best Saturday night of their life? CLICK HERE to buy your ticket and show our boys at Loyal Divide a little love.

See you ladies Saturday Night. Branded starts at 8pm, and Loyal Divide goes on at 9pm sharp.

(Lindsey Duda)

Look, we know it’s cold outside. It’s February in Chicago, what did you expect? Oh, you’re also upset because you don’t know what shoes to wear that look cute and also protect your feet from two feet of snow? We feel your pain. But, we are sick of excuses for not getting out of the house. It’s time to rejoin society, girls, and end your hibernation. We’ve only got a few more weeks left of winter, so it would be best if you started getting back into the swing of things now.

How about some awesomely exclusive specials to help get you motivated? We’ve teamed up with four of your favorite bars/restaurants to bring you the best excuses we could to get our butts back out on the town. (Remember to go to our Deals & Discounts section for printable coupons)

$5 martinis Sunday-Thursday (with coupon, one coupon per customer)

Half off all appetizers, Sunday-Thursday (with coupon)

Half off all appetizers, Sunday-Thursday (with coupon)

Half off all appetizers, Sunday-Thursday (with coupon)

Eat and drink up ladies, because these specials only last through the end of February!

10pin Bowling Lounge (330 N. State)
$5 games, $1 shoes, $4 bud & bud Llght 16oz btls, $5 van gogh cocktails

42 Degrees North Latitude Kitchen & Cocktails (4500 N. Lincoln Ave)
$2 miller lite btls

404 Wine Bar (2856 N Southport)
$.50 wings, $10 domestic buckets

Aberdeen (1856 W. North Ave.)
$5 burger baskets, $2 select shots, $3.5 mystery beer night

Ai Japanese Restaurant & Lounge (358 W. Ontario St)
$4 happy hour sushi 5-7pm, $10 select bottles of wine, 1/2 price select appetizers, free valet

A Mano (335 N. Dearborn)
$11.95 lunch time special 11:30-2pm, $2 bottled beer 5pm-close

Aki Sushi (2015 W. Division St)
$7 martinis

AliveOne (2683 N. Halsted)
$4 jameson shots, $2.5 lite, $3 bells

Aperitif 21 (2221 N. Lincoln Ave)
20% off dinner entrees after 4pm

Avenue Tavern (2916 N. Broadway)
$5 blue cheese burger w/side, $3 blue moon drafts

Bar Celona & Grill (3474 N Clark St)
$2 burgers w/ fries, $2 domestic bottles, $3 import bottles

Bar Louie (3545 N. Clark)
Buy one get one entrees and salads, $10 Corona buckets, Half off bottles of wine; 4-7pm half off all apps

Bat 17 (1709 Benson Ave, Evanston)
$4.95 select glasses of wine

Beachwood Inn (1415 N. Wood St)
$2.50 bottles of old style, $3.50 well drinks

Beer Bistro (1061 W. Madison)
$5 pizzas, $2 pbr cans

Between Boutique Cafe & Lounge (1324 N. Milwaukee Ave)
1/2 price dessert & sparkling wine menu

Big City Tap (3474 N Clark St)
$3.50 u call it, $3.50 burgers

The Black Duck Tavern & Grill (1800 N. Halsted)
$4 burgers, $3 drafts

Broadway Cellars (5900 N Broadway St)
$5 burgers, $5 fat tires

Bull & Bear (431 N. Wells)
1/2 price apps & trios (available every weekday)

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (2024 N. Halsted St)
$3 tapas, $1 pintxos in bar area from 4-6pm

Cans Bar & Canteen (1640 N. Damen)
$.35 wings, $4 22oz coors light drafts

Catch 35 (35 W. Wacker Dr)
Half-off wine glass pours

Citizen Bar (364 W. Erie)
$1 mini burgers, $2 drafts, $3 soco limes

Cleo’s (2048 W Armitage Ave)
$.10 wings

The Copa Cocktail Lounge (1637 N. Clybourn Ave.)
$10 buckets of bud/bud light, $3 finlandia bombs

Corcorans (1615 N. Wells)
$3.75 Blue Moon & Sierra Nevada Pints, 1/2 off Apps, 1/2 price bottles of wine

D’Agostino’s (752 N Ogden Ave)
$2.75 lite pints, $11 lite pitchers, $14 large thin crusts

Dine (733 W. Madison St)
$3 lite, mgd, & coors bottles

District Bar (170 W. Ontario)
1/2 priced apps 3pm-8pm, 1/2 priced margaritas

Duffy’s Tavern & Grille (420 1/2 W. Diversey)
$2.50 corona, corona light, & pacifico bottles, $4 all wraps, $3 il milagro shots

Dunlay’s on Clark (2600 N. Clark)
1/2 price glasses of wine

Gaslight Bar & Grill (2426 N. Racine)
$12 Goose Island 312 buckets, $3 burgers

The Grand Central (950 W. Wrightwood)
“Miller Mondays”: 5 for $5 Miller bottles, 25 cent wings

Hub51 (51 W. Hubbard)
1/2 off all sushi from 3pm-6pm

Kincade’s Bar & Grill (950 W. Armitage)
$1 burgers and $5 glasses of wine

Kendalls Pub (2263 N. Lincoln)
$1 half pound burgers ($2 with Fries), $3.50 Heineken, Heineken Light & Amstel Light bottles

La Fonda Del Gusto (1408 N Milwaukee)
“Monday’s Mocktails” - Buy one fresh mocktail mixer and get another one on the house. For your friend, of course.

Lucky’s Sandwich Company (3472 N. Clark)
$1 Domestic Bottles

Maeve (1325 W. Wrightwood)
$3 Drafts

Marche (833 W. Randolph St)
$28.95 Prix-Fixe Dinner

Motel Bar (600 W. Chicago)
$2 Miller Lite and Miller High Life $5 Plymouth Gin Cocktails

Mystic Celt (3443 N. Southport)
$3.50 Blue Moon & Half Acre Pints, 1/2 price Apps, 1/2 price Bottle of Wine

N9ne Steakhouse (440 W. Randolph)
$9 bites in the main bar

Nick’s Fishmarket and Grill Chicago (51 S. Clark St.)
1/2 price bottle of wine

The Paramount Room (415 N. Milwaukee Ave)
$10 gets a Kobe beef burger and a pint of beer (available everyday)

Plush (1104 W. Madison St)
$5 pint sized Smirnoff lemonades, half priced salads

The Red Canary (695 N. Milwaukee Ave)
Industry Night: 50% off everything behind the bar, plus $10 sliders, fries & a shake combo.

Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St)
1/2 off all wine bottles and glass pours

State (935 W. Webster)
$2 Bottles of Bud, Bud Light, $5.95 Sandwiches

Sunda (110 W. Illinois St)
1/2 priced Apps, $20 sake/sushi flights and daily specialty cocktails from 5-7pm

Tapas Valencia (1530 S. State St)
$2 tapas menu from 4-6pm

Taste Food & Wine (1506 W. Jarvis)
Complimentary wine tastings from 6pm-7:30pm.

The Tasting Room (1415 W. Randolph St)
50% off all glasses of wine

Theory (9 W. Hubbard)
$5 burgers & $20 import buckets

Tilli’s (1952 N. Halsted)
1/2 off bottles of wine with purchase of 2 entrees & $3 Drafts

Vaughan’s Pub (2917 N Sheffield Ave)
$3 Blue Moon & Smithwick’s Pints, $5 Mai-Tais, 1/2 price Pizzas ($5)

Vaughan’s Pub (5435 N Northwest Hwy)
$3 Amstel Light Bottles & Well Drinks, 1/2 price Apps, $9.95 Bacon & Cabbage

Villain’s Bar & Grill (649 S. Clark)
$10 gets you a 10-ounce burger with a side and 3 Miller Lite bottles

Vines on Clark (3554 N. Clark)
All Food 1/2 price and $3 you-call-its