Sports Bar

Derby 1224 W. Webster Ave. 773-248-0900 Rating: !! 1/2 (out of four) Take it or leave it With a reputation built on solid bar food and plenty of drinks at spots such as The Irish Oak and Jack's Bar and Grill , Big Onion Tavern Group is at it again with its new Southern-inspired hangout Derby. The Lincoln Park bar and restaurant sits in the larger-than-it-looks space that used to hold Charlie's Ale House. While we don't tend to crave mint julips in the winter, we decided to give it a go, stopping by the sports-focused spot on a recent Thursday night for a late dinner and drinks.

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 United Center.

Few foods taste better on Super Bowl Sunday than a messy pile of chicken wings. Whether they come slathered in barbecue sauce or flaming buffalo, everyone seems to have a favorite. And each time a new sports bar opens, it hopes to convert you to its take on wings. If you're tempted to try something new this weekend, we've done a little research for you, tasting the wings at 5 new sports bars (In order from best to blah): 1. The Anthem 1725 W. Division St., 773-687-4804 This Wicker Park throwback spot from the team behind Bangers & Lace put the focus on big screens and calorie bomb comfort food.

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 location.

An 800-seat ballroom and a two-story sports bar are just two of the additions future students at Northwestern University can hope to see under a new student center concept design that was presented to the university's Associated Student Government last week. The initiative to overhaul Northwestern's Norris University Center kicked off last year, according to Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, assistant vice president for student auxiliary services. It isn't the school's first effort to give the 40-year-old student center a drastic makeover: The student government released a report addressing the possibility of a new Norris Center initiative a few years ago, but so far, this initiative is the one that has made the most progress.

EAT Cheese, please Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market 312-850-5005 It's all about the pairings at Carnivale University Summer School: Artisanal Cheese 101, where you learn about cheeses from different regions and their complementary Spanish and South American wines. Sample combos such as a rosemary manchego with a Casa Lapostolle sauvignon blanc. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $25. Phone RSVP required. Piece of the pie (free!) Gino's East Sports Bar, 521 S. Dearborn St. 312-939-1818 Stop in for opening day at the new restaurant and upscale sports bar from the folks who put Chicago-style deep dish on the map back in 1966.

For one man - and Cubs fan? - ringing in the new year just wouldn't have been complete without trespassing at Wrigley Field and tearing some ivy off the outfield wall. That's what Michael Vite, 24, did Sunday, according to Chicago police. He tried to flee with the iconic vegetation but was stopped by police after a Cubs security officer saw him on video surveillance. He got access to the Friendly Confines through an area under construction on the west side of the facility, according to a police report.

If you love to party and start drama among your friends while doing it, you might be a good fit for Oxygen's "Bad Girls Club. " Casting directors from Bunim/Murray Productions, creators of "Bad Girls Club," "The Real World" and "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," will be in Chicago June 2 conducting an open casting call for an upcoming season of the reality series. Chicago open casting call When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 2 Where: Allstar's Sports Bar & Grill, 222 N. Wells, Chicago You must be 21 years of age, bring a photo ID and a recent photo of themselves (which will not be returned)

40/40 Clubs will collide with "The 20/20 Experience" all summer--not because "Suit and Tie" will be all over the radio but because Jay-Z (who owns the 40/40 Club sports bar chain) and Justin Timberlake, the men behind the (highly anticipated and mildly received) song, are reportedly planning a massive tour together for later this year. JT hinted at a big announcement on Twitter before the Grammys, where the pair performed together. It was apparently a preview of an 11- to 13-city tour set for stadiums around the country, according to Rolling Stone . Timberlake also released another single, "Mirrors," from "The 20/20 Experience," which is set for release March 19. The tour and recent performances mark Timberlake's return to live performing for the first time in more than five years.

Wheel House 3553 N. Southport Ave. 773-325-0123 Rating: 2 1/2 (out of four) Take it or leave it The scene: Address look familiar? Until just a few weeks ago, Wheel House was Wrigleyville staple Messner's. The bar got a face lift on the outside, but things on the inside are looking very much the same. Expect plenty of TVs, busy waitresses and loud groups. Overheard from my table: An argument as to whether “Semi-Charmed Life” was the most annoying song of all time.