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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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TODAY
Wednesday, April 24
Fuel
Steve / April 14, 2006 9:54 AM
Resi's biertstube
Steve / April 14, 2006 9:54 AM
Resi's bierstube
Clarke / April 14, 2006 9:58 AM
Charlie's Ale House. John Barleycorn.
mike / April 14, 2006 10:02 AM
Thomas Avenue Beverage Company in Dallas. But I hope to have a Chicago favorite by summer's end.
ellie / April 14, 2006 10:05 AM
Handlebar is pretty good.
robin.. / April 14, 2006 10:19 AM
Handlebar! Revamped!
Leah / April 14, 2006 10:20 AM
Moody's at Thorndale and Broadway.
Or the Daily at Wilson and Lincoln.
Or Village Tap down on Roscoe.
slb / April 14, 2006 10:38 AM
handlebar. though of course i'd prefer to continue to be able to get a table there. so don't show up. thanks.
pontiac. sheffields. duke of perth. bad dog. daily bar.
really, any of them, when it's 70-85 degrees outside, and i've had a long bike ride, and i want a cold beer in the outside.
god, i love summertime.
zenbrewer / April 14, 2006 10:47 AM
Cody's Public House...bocci ball, outdoor darts and a grill for BYOM...dog friendly too
jp / April 14, 2006 10:59 AM
Yesss, there's barroom bocce ball in Chicago? I'm in! (I totally love Half Time Rec in St Paul for its basement bocce).
My favorites: Chalk up another vote for The Village Tap, and I also really love The Long Room patio in the summer.
kt / April 14, 2006 11:14 AM
tuman's, gotta love the southwest exposure on a warm evening for a post-work pint.
Jake / April 14, 2006 11:29 AM
The Long Room is pretty nice. A lot of cement, but still.
Hey, I have a question, and hopefully this isn't as much of a derail as an extension: Are there any good rooftop beer gardens? I like to be up high when I'm drinking outside. Preferably margaritas...
brep / April 14, 2006 11:31 AM
Chief O'Neills on Elston south of Addison. It is big and laid out perfectly. I have also heard it said that it is the oldest licensed beer garden in the city. Apparently it was an old German beer hall before it became Oinker's and it is now Chief O'Neills...History and beer.
bam / April 14, 2006 11:39 AM
My own.
Many hundred daffodils blooming, lots of tulips, katsura tree starting to show a hint of pink, 27 species of perennials about to burst, planters ready to be filled with annuals, mushroom compost to be worked into the beds, mulch to be spread, gingko's getting large buds, and three webers at the ready, hundreds of pounds of lump charcoal plus goodly amounts of apple, cherry, red oak, and hickory woods for smoking meats and fish. And ample quantities of beer, wine, bubbly & assorted spirits.
And we've got real live hunting as my pup just caught his first young dove of the season and brought it over to show off. Nuttin beats wifi'ng from the brick patio. Spent last night trying to keep said doggie from realizing their were young birds hiding in the tall grasses, he was more interested in the rib eyes grilling. Time to end this post and concoct a burial ceremony of sorts.
Oh yeah, Chief O'Neill's garden is a nice place to spend some time too.
b / April 14, 2006 12:05 PM
ten cat!
Stephen / April 14, 2006 12:08 PM
Happy Village, but that's only because it's got the shortest stumbling distance from my home.
Otherwise, I like the Pontiac because it provides pretty entertaining people-watching.
printdude / April 14, 2006 12:09 PM
I don't know about you, but I am going to bam's heezy.
I'll even bring some scotch and bocce balls!
dan / April 14, 2006 12:10 PM
word up b to the ten cat. I was hesitant to mention it, as I don't want too many folks knowing about it. There are barely enough patio chairs in the back as it is!
hench / April 14, 2006 12:10 PM
handlebar.
sheffield's.
the pontiac.
chief o neill's.
and in nearby champaign, it's mike & molly's for sure.
the best is tossing some good beer in one's backpack and cracking one of them open in the middle of lincoln park ...
kate / April 14, 2006 12:13 PM
Wherever I can get a table. Seriously.
If I'm drinking a beer and enjoying the weather then all is well and I don't give a shit about the rest of it.
Better still:
summer street festivals. My god I can't wait for those to start up.
Donovan / April 14, 2006 12:44 PM
Cafe Agua Azul in Quepos, Costa Rica
http://www.cafeaguaazul.com/index.html
Not really a beer garden per se, more of a outdoor bar on the roof of a building. But the sunset view over the Pacific is wonderful.
If you ever find yourself in that part of the world, I highly recommend it
benno / April 14, 2006 1:24 PM
Happy Village... lights and ponds and fountains and picnic tables and plastic chairs and lawn ornaments. i often feel like i step into another world away from the hustle and bustle in this secluded neighborhood nook. and after midnight when the patio closes... time for inner stink... i mean inner town, right down the street.
MikeH / April 14, 2006 1:26 PM
I second Cody's Public House--as previously mentioned, you can bring your own food (there's a Jewel within walking distance) and throw it on the grill. How cool is that?
Justin's on Southport is nice too. There's a big tree growing right in the middle of it, as well as other greenery which really makes for a cozy neighborhood spot...
And lastly, I have to mention The Waterhouse on Paulina, where I spent last night (half-price drinks on Thursdays). There's nothing special about the front patio itself--it's just tables and chairs on the sidewalk--but they get big points because I brought my foster pit bull there last night and without me even asking, they brought out a dog bowl of ice water for her...
bills / April 14, 2006 2:07 PM
happy village.
matt / April 14, 2006 2:34 PM
happy village, no doubt!
prairiemod / April 14, 2006 3:08 PM
Midwau Gardens....if only it hadn't been torn down during Prohibition. ;-)
prairiemod / April 14, 2006 3:08 PM
Midway Gardens....if only it hadn't been torn down during Prohibition. ;-)
Tim / April 14, 2006 3:51 PM
JT Collins - if only it's still open. Watching the afternoon commuters get off the Paulina Brown line stop, then mocking drivers going the wrong way on Roscoe. Sweet, delicious beer.
winediva / April 14, 2006 4:57 PM
Love the back patio at Jury's on Lincoln & Montrose. Giant burgers and bargain wine list on Sat & Sunday! Beer and burger only $7 on Wed!
christian / April 14, 2006 7:56 PM
The editors' backyard.
rooftop / April 15, 2006 1:33 PM
rock bottom at state/grand has a rooftop beergarden, big after work crowd.
cory / April 16, 2006 11:24 AM
The Huettenbar on Lincoln Square. Not technically outdoors, but we really like the place, and when they open up the huge wall-to-wall windows in the front, if you can get a seat there, it's close.
If you can't, it still makes it one of the least smoke-chokes bars around, until chicago gets the spine to ban smoking in ale houses....
maardvark / April 16, 2006 7:59 PM
It's all about Resi's Bierstube. Nice beer garden, and great beer.
Sam / April 17, 2006 2:11 AM
I like the Handlebar as well. But nothing beats the Happy Village. There's no oompa-loompa in a cage but you can't the garden complete with seasonal sporting decoration and fountain. Very classy!
printdude / April 17, 2006 8:34 AM
I have to say that I am VERY surprised that Wrigley Field did not show up here, either in jest or seriously...
jaye / April 17, 2006 9:33 AM
The Northside Cafe's Garden is absolutely beautiful and available year round..
They keep it green and it's spacious and you feel like you could chill there all day or night chatting or watching a game.
brian / April 17, 2006 9:34 AM
I do enjoy many of these places--the Chief especially. I also enjoy the places where you can face the street rather than be hidden from it (I know, not truly a beer garden.) Daily Grill, Pontiac, and Paddy Mac's (in Independence Park). My other favorite place: my front porch.
Anyone know the name of the place that's on Montrose near California? Is it worth visiting?
Michael / April 17, 2006 9:34 AM
Cafe Fresco at Grand & Racine is probably the one I frequent most. It's right down the block from Twisted Spoke at Ogden & Grand, which has a rooftop beergarden for whomever was asking earlier...
Spence / April 17, 2006 9:56 AM
I second Sheffield's and Chief O'Neils. I'll add Galaway Arms.
Eamon / April 17, 2006 10:13 AM
Here's a curveball: the Boathouse on North Beach. I'd never gone upstairs, so until last year, I'd never known they served liquor. Weekends are busy, but they have a ton of seating, so you have a better than even shot at finding a table. Plenty of shade if you want it, no shade if you don't, gentle breezes off the lake, crazy strong drinks, and an absolutely fantastic view of the city. The only downside? They close at 11.
eep / April 17, 2006 11:23 AM
I still love Moody's, and will agree with the Village Tap as well. I have yet to check out Chief O'Neils for their beer garden, as I've only been there in the fall/winter.
As for the burbs, I'm partial to the Alehouse in Oak Park for their rooftop deck, if only because it's stumbling distance from my place.
Mare / April 17, 2006 11:27 AM
Moody's Pub. I knew the owner way back when, and know that he built that entire place--restaurant, beer garden, and apartment--with his own two hands. That's got to put it over the top for me.
jm / April 17, 2006 3:32 PM
Ah, the old, good John Barleycorn's, circa 1992. Since the revamp? Meh. And Raven's used to be good too. Nice and low key back in the day. (God, I feel old.)
Moody's is most excellent, plus, OMG BURGERS! Their burgers are the best. Although not a "garden", the outdoor seating at Rockwells, well, rocks.
fluffy / April 18, 2006 2:32 PM
I'd have to say my kitchen porch, cause it overlooks the Happy Village beer garden - it's almost like being there. heh.
Jamie / April 27, 2006 11:16 PM
For the person asking about rooftop beer gardens: Twisted Spoke on Ogden is very cool. Also Pegasus in Greektown is great. At sunset, you can see the descending sun reflected by the downtown skyscrapers.
Keith / August 28, 2006 8:14 AM
The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, but it gets busy, and beware of dogs peeing on your feet, maybe the Fox at Corfe Castle. The Red Lion in Swanage has patio heaters to cope with the rigours of the English summer
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Mike / April 14, 2006 9:40 AM
The Village Tap.