Beth Prystowsky enjoys a glass or two of wine on occasion. “I enjoy it and it’s fun,” she says. But she also thinks she’ll be cutting down her consumption in the near future, which is something she’s done in the past. “I’m trying to find a balance with alcohol, and that’s always shifting and changing,” […]
By now you’d think we’ve learned. A little sip of bubbly or drinking that sugary cocktail can lead to a pounding headache, nauseous stomach, and fatigue the next day. Are you feeling the effects from your fun night out? Here are some prevention tips to try first and at least give yourself a fighting shot […]
Bars were once mostly places you’d roll into and order a drink that would usually come from a bottle or a tap. Your drinks would be served by a guy who, though he was personable and willing to wipe off the counter for you, probably didn’t know how to make more than a handful of […]
Time to get in the pink! We’ve fallen in love with rosé in all its many forms, and we aren’t alone. Suddenly, wine stores and restaurants are awash in the pink stuff, but beware — as wineries worldwide try to hop on the rosé bandwagon, not all of it is of equal caliber. The ones […]
Chicago would never be mistaken for a dry town. We’ve got a plethora of great cocktail bars here, with award-winning mixologists combining fanciful artisanal ingredients — sweet as well as savory — to great effect. But let’s discuss what really sets a bar apart in 2017: a bespoke ice program. Serious cocktails call for serious […]
Looking for a great new idea for date night, or something new to do with your gal pals or adult children? The Chicago area has a number of home-grown distilleries pumping out great product, and many of them offer tours and tastings. (Letherbee Distillers, makers of a killer Autumnal Gin, are production only, to my […]
A great party starts with a memorable cocktail. But who wants to be stuck mixing countless individual drinks all night? After all, your guests are there to spend time with you and won’t have any more fun if you’re slaving away at the bar. When it comes to libations for a crowd, “ease and simplicity” […]
The Midwest is widely considered to be one of the premier areas of the country for farming apples. With hundreds of varieties grown annually, it’s no surprise that the region’s hard cider culture has taken the nation and the beverage world by storm. From right here in Illinois all the way to Iowa, Michigan and […]
Chicago does many things very, very well. But you know where we really excel? Booze. Chicago is a city of big shoulders, sure. But apparently our livers are pretty sizeable as well, because we are one hell of a cocktail town, populated by mixologists working their alchemy to our advantage. Here are some must-visit places […]
This is a new cocktail with our own Westwood twist. We started with rye bourbon as a base and realized the ingredients could be manipulated to suit other base alcohols with amazing results. The original name for the drink was “The Dude,” in reference to the Big Lebowski. We as a whole were not thrilled […]
