<em>She’s up all night till the sun</em>... da, da, da, da, da... <em>up all night for good fun</em>... da, da, da, da... <em>get lucky</em>... Oh, excuse us. We didn’t see you there. Well, we’re just kind of feeling nostalgic about 2013 in Chicago. In fact, you should join our trip down memory lane. But please, no twerking.
There were sparklers in your magnum at Parliament. There were light shows on the dance floor at American Junkie. But there were also golf simulators at Fairways and beer frames at revamped-but-still-retro Lincoln Square Lanes. So no matter where you went, you were probably holding some kind of ball or cocktail.
You developed an even deeper love for local brewers, thanks to the likes of Ale Syndicate and DryHop. But you also developed an abiding affection for apple brandy at Rhine Hall and handcrafted vodka at CH Distillery. Though, admittedly, it may just be the caviar talking on the last one.
So here comes Eataly, swaggering into town with what amounts to a $28 million Italian-food theme park. We swarmed through the imported olives, fresh pizza and handcrafted beer so quickly, they had to lock the doors and regroup. Lesson: never underestimate this city’s love for squid-ink pasta.
Bub City debuted in River North. County set up in Little Italy. The Smoke Daddy remodeled in Wicker Park. Old Crow and Sweet Baby Ray’s both opened in Wrigleyville. Yes, this town’s long-held dream of a barbecue shack on every corner became much closer to a reality this year.
Some people will consider a skull-shaped glass filled with rum punch some sort of gimmick. But you’re the type of person who will sit in this subterranean 1940s-inspired tiki lounge under Bub City, sipping your banana daiquiris and Painkillers, feeling kind of sorry for those people. That’s why people like you.
You did a lot of finger licking this year. To be more specific: we’re talking about the finger licking you did at summer blockbuster Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Though Parson’s also proved long lines are no match for your desire to pair fried chicken and Negroni Slushies.
Beatrix perked up the Chicago City Center hotels. Travelle made the sexy Langham even sexier. Kerry Simon rejiggered Chuck’s in the Hard Rock. Dec perched itself on the side of the Ritz. Nico brought buzz to the Thompson. In summation: boring hotel restaurants—not so boring anymore.
