Social Chris

22 Bars In One Night!

Posted June 27, 2007

Everyone has their 21st birthday to look forward to but after it’s all over what do you have to look forward to? Some say it’s downhill from there. I say nonsense, 22 should be better than 21 and for me it was! Don’t get me wrong, my 21st birthday was a great time filled with memories I will NOT forget but 22 was an event! An event that will undoubtedly be recreated.

The goal was to get to know the area bars better and experience many of them for the first time. Of course 22 bars in 1 night is quite the feat when your night starts at 7pm on a Wednesday night. Therefore, a schedule was created with times and locations to keep up with. While some bars only got a few minutes of our time there were a few of the better bars that we spent more time than we originally scheduled.

The outcome was a success! While my friends met me at different points of the journey I was still able to go from bar 1 to bar 22 without fail!

I have written a review of our experience at each of the bars we visited in the Lincoln Park, Lakeview East and Wriglleyville areas. Perhaps these reviews will help you choose the right bar for your night out. Also, I don’t receive anything from these places so you can trust that what i’m saying is not some marketing ploy

Bar #1 - Duffy’s Tavern - We got to spend a good amount of time here because it was the first bar of the night and we were there early. I’ve been there a few times since and it has proven to be a hot spot of the area. Also, Michigan alumni are loved by this bar.

This place is big and gets packed on the weekends but the wait at the bar is short.
The crowd is mid-twenties to low-thirties.
Good live music and good looking people everywhere you turn.

Duffy’s Tavern
420 1/2 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549 9090
Bar #2 - Yak-Zies - We had a great time here. They gave us free drinks and were very nice to us.

Known for their Burgers & Wings.
The ages go from mid twenties to mid fourties.
They are open untill 4am!
Nice Juke Box

Yak-Zies Bar-Grill
506 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327 1717

Bar #3 -Mickey’s Grill & Pub - We were in and out of this pub but there were friendly people that offered drinks and it looked like a fun place more on the chill side.

Nice People
Chill environment, but fun.

Mickey’s Grill & Pub
2831 N. Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 929 2830

Bar #4 - The Avenue Tavern - We were in and out of this place although I wanted to stay longer we were running behind schedule. There were friendly people there though.

Great indoor-outdoor environment
Friendly people
Lots of fun!

The Avenue Tavern
2916 N. Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 975 7000
Bar #5 -Ceasers - This place was great. It’s typically more friendly to the restaurant experience but it’s still known for their killer margaritas!

Something you need to experience for yourself.
It’s a hot place to visit when you’re in Chicago.

Ceasers
2924 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 296-9097

Bar #6 - Friar Tuck - This place seemed a bit dull but we were there early on a Wednesday night. We left pretty quick.

Friar Tuck
3010 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-5101
Bar #7 -Monsignor Murphys - Typically, loud and full of people this place was pretty quite the night we were there but it will be fun on the weekends I’m sure.

Typically loud and full of people
Great location and people

Monsignor Murphys
3019 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 348-7285

Bar #8 - Dram Shop Ltd - this is a hole in the wall but there were some friendly people who bought me a beer. I was in and out under 2 minutes. The place is so small you can barely notice it. They don’t have a website either.

Hole in the wall
Dive bar perhaps

Dram Shop Ltd
3040 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 549 4401

Bar #9 -Brendan’s Pub - People are nice and chill. Older crowd. Recommended. I got to meet the owner and he was a nice guy.

Friendly bar
A chill place to hang
Older crowd

Brendan’s Pub
3169 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60686
(773) 929-2929
Bar #10 - L&L Tavern - This was a grungy looking place with rude patrons and mean bartenders. It took us under 2 minutes to figure that one out. NOT recommended!

RUDE Patrons
MEAN Bartenders
NOT RECOMMENDED!

L&L Tavern
3207 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-1303

Bar #11 - Trader Todds (Half Way Point!) - This place rocked. We had a great time and The environment is fun as well! I jumped onto stage and rocked out with karaoke — haha!

Great Place
Friendly People
Karaoke!
Hot bar in the city
Fun Environment

Download

Trader Todds
3216 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 975-8383

Bar #12 - Sheffield’s Wine and Beer Garden - We were in and out of this bar — 1 beer and out. However, the time spent there was defiantly worth it.

Chill/Hip/Classy Environment

Sheffield’s Wine and Beer Garden
3258 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-4989

Bar #13 - Johnny O’Hagan’s Pub - We were in and out of this bar as well (we were behind on our schedule). I really wanted to spend more time here. However the short time spent there made me feel even more irish so how do you like them apples?

Great authentic style irish corner bar in Wrigleyville

Johnny O’Hagan’s Pub
3374 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-3600

Bar #14 -Ivy on Clark - We met two really cool people at this bar! The guy, Shawn, plays in an area band called the Blazzin’ Saddles. This is one of the better bars in Wrigleyville if you don’t want to be too obnoxious when you’re durnk. It rocks. Cheap burgers & fries! Great environment.

Good Food
Good people
Good Environment
Great Place, Recommended

Ivy on Clark
3462 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 348-9084

Bar #15 - The Irish Oak - We were in and out of this place. I honestly don’t remember much about it since we were running behind schedule and had to make it quick.

The Irish Oak
3511 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6669

Bar #16 - Merkle’s - We met up with a couple more friends at this bar only to have them stay there while we kept on our journey to bar#17. Our friends that stayed here had a good time and good things to say about the bar. There were a lot of people for a weekday and it there were good people.

Merkle’s
3516 N Clark
Chicago, IL 60686
(773) 244-1025

Bar #17 - Red Ivy - Originally we had John Barleycorn scheduled but they closed down way too early. Red Ivy was open and rocked out with us! It was a great place. It’s pretty similar to the Ivy on Clark!

Red Ivy
3525 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 472-0900

Bar #18 - Mullen’s On Clark - Cool place. We ran into a couple other birthday party people playing darts. Supposedly it was his 22nd birthday as well. If it’s this happening on a Wednesday night then I can only imagine how it is on the weekends!

Mullen’s On Clark
3527 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 325-2319

Bar #19 - Abner’s Yard - a place where the old school posse meet up. Very cool and recommended! Not your typical Wirigleyville spot so if you need to get away from all those pesky suburban kids then find your way over here!

Great get away from the obnoxious & rude suburban kids.

Abner’s Yard
3527 Clark St N
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 305 0002

Bar #20 - Goose Island -Great brewery! This is more of a chill place and somewhere you go to eat but you can get a beer or two here before you get too wild on the streets of Wrigleyville.

Known for it’s home brewed beer!
Authentic brewery/bar!

Goose Island
3535 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 832-9040

Bar #21 - Sluggers -The door guy here couldn’t have been more mean if he tried. We walked in and he grabbed us by the arm and yelled at us to leave because they were closing. We would have left with a simple statement from him — We didn’t need the violence. We are happy drunks!

Rude / Mean Door Guy
NOT RECOMMENDED!

3540 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-0055

Bar #22 !!! - BEST BAR OF ALL 22! The Cubby Bear - This place ROCKED! They had live band karaoke! We also met up with the two people we met at The Ivy on Clark a few bars prior. I was dragged on stage to sing Blondie - When I Think of You.