Photo: Press
The last time we wrote about Chicago, it was to do with the rapper Common's common sense response to the latest heavy-handed remark Trump made about "sending in the feds". He said Chicago “doesn’t need” President Trump’s suggested martial law intervention to deal with its violence issues anf that efforts would be made to improve things from the ground up.
But all these headlines about Chicago and gun violence paint a picture of a place that obscures the beauty and the fantastic culture the Windy City has. And it's important in a time's of trouble to focus in on the great things one's city has and focus what makes one happy and put out positivity in the world.
So this guide is a way of exploring Chicago in a fun way. Get your friends together and have a great time in places chosen and reviewed by Mario Cuomo - the frontman of the amazing Orwells.
Having seen the singer give a performance that would have made Iggy Pop proud in London recently, we considered him a fun-loving guy who would know exactly where to point us. Fortunately, we're right.
Disclaimer: "All of the places are going to be around the same area since I do not drive or have a license."
Remedy
If you're feeling like you need to yuppie things up a bit, whether it’s to trick someone into believing you are more successful than you are, or just wanna to get hammered surrounded by those slightly more well-adjusted than you. Remedy offers a clean cut slightly more upscale vibe complete with a large fish tank. So if your night isn't going in your favor you can always rely on mindlessly staring at fish for hours while the bartenders walk back and forth. Also its a 4am bar on weekdays if you’re really trying to get it and 5am on Saturday.
Emporium (Wicker Park)
Emporium rules cuz of its an arcade bar with a diverse crowd and live music stage. Its perfect for when you and a couple buddies wanna sit at a table or ride the stool. It also rules to be surrounded by pinball and shit, retro gaming is a great ice breaker and conversation starter. They also let you bring in food from other places if you wanna be that weird guy feasting alone while people are sitting around you trying to get laid. The location is also prime if you need to bar hop because you didn't realize it was game of thrones night or some geek nerd shit like that. One more thing they have the nicest bar staff by far of any bar I've frequented and I've been getting shit faced in this city for three years now.
Stellas
Stellas is a dive that's usually dead and has a pool table. You probably won't meet anyone new there but it is a cool place to roll up deep as fuck with because you'll kind of feel like you own the place. It's right by the empty bottle so its a prime spot to knock a few back before or after seeing a show. The owners/bartenders are a sweet old couple so you don't have to worry about any young pissed off dickhead bartender getting smart with you.
Revel Room
Dimly lit pretty lounge with big red booths with a relaxed vibe and lots of room to dance if you do that stuff when you're drunk. Doesn't matter how many people you might be. In the heart of Wicker Park right by the L if public transit if you don't have that uber money to blow.
The Club
Though it is not technically in the city of Chicago, The Club deserves an honorable mention for being my favorite bar in general. Its in my hometown of Elmhurst IL and I've been spending every Monday night drinking there for quite sometime. You won't have to worry about running into any aspiring mustache rockers since the bar is home to mainly aging alcoholics and sports fans. It’s a breath of fresh air for a young bar fly. Darts, booze, and if you get hungry the infamous "Pizza Palace" next door will gladly deliver an order you can put in at the bar. Its the perfect hometown spot to run into a highs school arch nemesis or drool over your great white buffalo from across the bar.
The Orwells new album Terrible Human Beings is out now.
UK TOUR:
1 March Glasgow, Stereo
2 March Birmingham, Hare & Hound
3 March Brighton, Haunt
4 March Bristol, Thekla
5 March Manchester, Gorilla
7 March London, Scala
