Consciously allowing a bit of well earned hedonism after landing a full time internship while also working a part time weekend gig…
Why not direct this loosening of my pocketbook towards experiential pleasure instead of a new car? The ROI in both cases is not attractive, but at least I won’t have to pay monthly insurance for a fun night out.
Anyway, my dreams have come true. I officially work a 9-5 on Michigan Ave, and my desk overlooks Lake Michigan in the background and the saturation of art and culture of Grant Park and the Institute in the foreground. Part of my excitement for this new chapter, as you may have guessed, comes from the evening opportunities just steps away.
Two friends from Madison drove down Thursday night to celebrate a birthday and potential move. We began at The Purple Pig, a restaurant that I had always heard of, but assumed it to be such a Michigan Ave tourist trap that I never considered stepping inside.
We were packed like sardines into this tiny spot, with waiters and waitresses politely bumping into us as they hurry past to get orders from tables. The atmosphere, like a Spanish, tapas-style bar, is nonchalant in an upscale casual way. Fittingly, we order a bottle of a Priorat blend, which is accompanied by olives.
To follow, an inventively delicious meal:
To finish, glasses of Sauternes and Passionfruit ice cream. At this point, we want to continue the evening, and the acclaimed bar The Avairy comes up.
We dash out of the restaurant and towards the West Loop.
Upon arrival, we check in with the host, who informs us of an hour and a half wait time. I give my name, which immediately comes up in the computer. I ask, “why is my name in the computer, I haven’t dined with you before”. Quickly, I remember that just a month before, I staged at the Alinea Group restaurant, Next. I mention this to the host, and he welcomes me back and asks casually asks why I didn’t take the job….
We leave the restaurant and head across the street, but before we reach the Hoxton, a text appears saying that there’s availability at the even more exclusive speakeasy bar just down the stairs from The Aviary, called The Office.
The space is a speakeasy-influenced cocktail bar with small plate offerings. Decidedly, we each begin with one of their classic cocktails. Sunflower seed-infused Manhattans put us in an impulsive state of delirium, which ends in an order of the “truffle explosion”. As we sip and get friendly with the bartenders, we try to guess if the man across the bar is Pete Buttigieg..
All in all, The Office is underwhelming if you don’t buy into the Alinea Group cult following. Although the cocktails are impressive and well-executed, at $20 a pop I’d rather go somewhere with real Chicago character.
To quench the thirst for said character, we head north to Uptown.
Ahhhhhh… The Green Mill. Chicago’s O.G. speakeasy- frequented by Al Capone and other conspiring cats during the prohibition era- that still lights up Broadway all hours of the day.
Thursday nights are especially fun; a live swing big band electrifies the room, and people of all backgrounds grace the dance floor with a hop and a step.
The three of us finish with one more round of cocktails: 9$ sazeracs in this cash-only, dimly lit, kinda grungy establishment…
…a nice night-cap to the evening.