Bar

Like it or not, the countdown to the holidays has begun. Between the family fights, the travel headaches and the present-budget woes, everyone could use a stiff drink. Luckily, there are plenty of new spots popping up in Chicago to accommodate the holiday blues. From comfort food like your mom used to make in Wicker Park to video games with a side of beer in Edgewater and budget-friendly cocktails in Lincoln Park, there's a little something for everyone. The Snuggery 15 W. Division St. 312-337-4349 Finn McCool's is out and The Snuggery is in at this Gold Coast...

Editor's note: As the Blackhawks and Detroit face off in the postseason for what might be the last time for a while, it's the perfect time to see how the other half cheers. RedEye sent Rob Cressy, dressed in Bulls gear, to Red Wings stronghold Tin Lizzie (2483 N. Clark St.) for Game 1. Here's what he saw. Pregame Like Iceman being surrounded by enemy MiGs in "Top Gun," I was engulfed in enemy fire immediately. There were few Blackhawks fans in sight. Less than five, to be exact.

Are you tired of feeling like a game-less loser? Do you leave bars empty-handed on the reg? Fear not, men and women of Chicago. Here are three gender-tailored tips to ensure a successful night of flirtation. Girls Step 1: The outfit Attention, ladies! I have witnessed a disturbing trend in the realm of going-out clothes I like to call J. Crew Syndrome. Not sure if you've noticed, but the guys you're trying to attract aren't hauling kegs to AYSO soccer practice on Friday nights ... so why are you at the bar dressed like a mom handing out orange slices?

Andy Gould, one of the owners of Scofflaw, definitely has a sense of humor. A redacted press release posted on Scofflaw's blog Wednesday was a playful way to announce a new Logan Square bar that the team has in the works. But because details are scarce, it led to some speculation, including a rumor that the bar would be "hillbilly-" or "country-Western-" themed. "I can go on the record and say that we are not [building] a hillbilly line-dancing bar," Gould said. "Though I think it's kind of hilarious and kind of enjoy it. I don't know if [they]

I don't know about you, but my friends won't leave me alone about Halloween plans. Are we going to a bar? Is anyone having a house party? What should we do? I'll tell you what - let's weigh the pros in cons in four important categories. May the best party style win!   Cost Bar: I've seen drink packages in the $45 range. Are you crazy? Navigating through a bunch of drunk people dressed as Raggedy Ann to get a beer means you probably won't be getting your money's worth.

Check back at redeyechicago.com/collegebars on Aug. 29 for RedEye's college sports bar guide.

By all accounts, Lotties in Bucktown has been through a lot. It boasts a colorful history, and by “colorful,” of course, we mean scandalous. Since 1934, Lotties has been home to gambling, stripping and the consumption of some pretty greasy bar food. But clearly all that drama wasn't enough--Lotties will add “television set” to the list of things it has been.  NBC's "Chicago Fire" is using Lotties as a filming location Thursday and Friday. Whether or not it's recognizable, the pub will appear as the backdrop for an upcoming episode's emergency scene.

Already a destination for whiskey and cocktail fans, Logan Square's Longman & Eagle now has even more room to accommodate dark spirits devotees. The Off Site Bar is a 150-square-foot "micro bar" in a former garage adjacent to the restaurant's back patio. It has its own menu with similar spirits, beers and cocktails to those at Longman & Eagle proper. The funky, casual decor extends to the micro-bar as well, with motorcycle accessories, speakers and plenty of wood throughout the small space.

The setup: It's summer in Chicago, and baseball fans are flocking to Wrigley Field andU.S. Cellular Field. OK, so "flocking" is too strong a word, but there's no doubt each Chicago ballpark has a fun way to pregame. Which brings us to our latest debate. This edition: Better pregame activity: Bar hopping in Wrigleyville or tailgating at the Cell?   BAR HOPPING The biggest difference between Wrigley Field and the Cell is that when you're at a Cubs game, there's actually stuff to do nearby.

Public urination. Public intoxication. Profanity and harassment are just a sample of the two dozen complaints lodged by Wrigleyvilleresidents to the office of Ald. Tom Tunney (44 th ) about revelers from the Twelve Bars of Xmas pub crawl. “The community has had a lot of concerns regarding the size of these pub crawls and the neighborhood impact they've had,” said Erin Duffy, Tunney's director of community outreach. Residents complained about people walking into traffic, passing out, vomiting and littering in the neighborhood, she said.

Details have been scarce about the forthcoming Chicago outpost of Eataly, Mario Batali's sprawling Italian market and restaurant with locations in New York City and Rome, but beer fans will be glad to hear that brewpub planning is underway. Delaware-based brewery Dogfish Head announced that it will continue its partnership with Eataly and will design the menu and oversee the brewing process at the Chicago outpost, which will open this year at 43 E. Ohio St. in the former ESPN Zone space.

There's no better way to get pumped for the Blackhawks' playoff run than to share the experience with fellow hockey lovers at a sports bar. You can stake out some space at a bar that's been catering to hockey for nearly a decade or more - we've dubbed them The Old Guard here - or try out a newer hangout that's opened within the last five years. Some bars are official partners of the team , offering specials on designated drinks and hosting big parties during away games. Others attract fans with perks such as massive TVs and free shuttles to...

It's a random Saturday around 10:32 p.m. You find yourself and a few pals in a bar frequented by young, hipster-leaning Chicagoans. Ordering your fourth whiskey with a Coke splash, you observe the scenery. You manage to catch the eye of a girl and her friend who are completely losing their minds to a No Doubt song. You've got a bit of liquid courage and she looks cute enough. What do you do?   Stay put: Read No. 1. Approach them: Read No. 2. 1: She seems well and good, but you just got out of a crappy situation and, hey, this...

Boystown mainstay Bucks Saloon will close after this weekend. The familiar Halsted Street bar has been bought by Mark Liberson, owner of next-door Halsted's Bar & Grill and nearby Elixir lounge and Hydrate nightclub, who plans to transform the space into Replay, an arcade bar. "Bucks has a very long history in the community and also has a long history in my mind. It was the first bar I ever walked into and thought, 'I wanted to own this place,'" Liberson said. The sale was completed today, and while renovations...

After a West Town bar fight left one woman in need of more than 150 stitches, a Skokie woman was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated battery for use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily harm. That weapon was a piece of glass from a mug that the woman, Vanessa Suarez, broke over the victim's head at Grand Bar at 1600 W. Grand Ave., according to state prosecutors. Prosecutors said a dispute between the two women led to the assault on the evening of March 16 after the victim had a confrontation with Suarez's...

From established bars such as The Map Room and Small Bar to newcomers Fatpour Tap Works and Bangers & Lace , Wicker Park and Bucktown are home to more than their fare share of craft beer-focused watering holes. Those bars and more than a dozen others will join forces with neighborhood breweries Piece , Moonshine and Pipeworks for a new beer festival called Tap, scheduled for Saturday, May 4 at Dolphin . From 1 to 5 p.m., attendees can redeem ten drink tickets...

What is a bar-gument, you say? For as long as there have been watering holes, there have been disagreements. Some people prefer martinis with gin, some with vodka. Bar-guments is here to settle some longstanding bar conflicts once and for all. THIS WEEK: Which is more important--a clean bar seat, or a clean bathroom?   Bar seat Do I appreciate a tidy bathroom at a bar? Absolutely. But I don't select a watering hole based on the cleanliness of the room where I'm going to spend the least amount of time.

With the Ryder Cup set to tee off a short 5-iron shot from the front door of his bar, Gaynor's Irish Pub, you'd be hard pressed to find a more popular guy in Medinah these days than Paul Kopulos.   That's because Gaynor's happens to be the only bar inside city limits and will see thousands of pedestrians walking past it on Medinah Road en route to Medinah Country Club for the Ryder Cup. Through two days of practice at the course, business has already far exceeded his expectations.

It's been more than a week, but the April Fool's Day prank pulled off at Cole's Bar is getting somewhat of a second life. The bizarre craft cocktail menu bartenders at Cole's dreamed up might have only been noticed by patrons who stopped by April 1. But a photo of the wacky menu was posted to Chicago's subreddit Sunday, giving their gag a second wind. “The neighborhood has been making the shift towards fancier drinks,” said bartender Joey Pasterski, who helped fellow mixologist Paul Karner execute the idea.

If you've ever waited for your turn to play Duck Hunt at Emporium Arcade Bar or stood on line at Big Star craving a fish taco, you know that some popular Wicker Park bars could use a little extra space. Luckily, some of them are poised to expand. The Smoke Daddy , a veteran Division Street barbecue joint known for its slow cooking and house-made sauces, has constructed an addition to their storefront that adds about 65 new seats. The expansion, which will be unveiled at a grand opening party April 18, also adds 15 bar seats...