Pete / October 27, 2004 8:37 AM

Summer: Pontiac Cafe, Iggys
Fall: Northside

J / October 27, 2004 8:41 AM

Lincoln Tap Room, great ambience with decent drink specials and an awesome juke box!

j3s / October 27, 2004 9:10 AM

When I used to wotk downtown: the Billy Goat under Michigan Avenue. An interesting crowd, $4 horny goats, and the world's most softspoken (but awesome) bartender.

Mike / October 27, 2004 10:03 AM

I'd have to split my answer down the middle:
the outright cheapest booze is actually in the form of two happy days, at the Two Way Lounge on Milwaukee and Fullerton. It's kind of a tap room and kind of a really cool old bar full of weird old men, and it has $1 Old Styles on tap every Mon. and Thur. Not a good place for a first date, but excellent if you live in walking distance.

My other answer is the Beechwood on Wood St. and Something(?), near Milwaukee.

jennifer / October 27, 2004 10:23 AM

Mike: The Beachwood is on the corner of Beach and Wood, hence the name.

I'm partial to the Innertown for all occasions.

steve_sleeve / October 27, 2004 10:32 AM

I think Ten56 (at 1056 N. Damen) has a "free PBR" happy hour on Tuesdays.

k2d2 / October 27, 2004 10:40 AM

i thought by definition happy hour was on fridays only.

i enjoy danny's in bucktown or kasey's on dearborn south of congress.

CA / October 27, 2004 11:02 AM

I think the by definition happy hour is 5-6. With specials. And due to it's very excellent specials and prime location 5 minutes from the office, I'm going with the Winterset Lodge, the oh-so-glamorous bar in the basement of the club house at that golf course in Naperville. See you there Thursday.

libby / October 27, 2004 11:12 AM

i might be wrong, but i think there is a rule that happy hour can not be named happy hour in chicago. it is titled after work? is this a project for the gb librarian?

Gordon / October 27, 2004 12:16 PM

My apartment (not to be confused with My Apartment), where every hour is happy hour!

jenny / October 27, 2004 12:24 PM

As one more interested in the eats than the drinks, what happy hours have good FOOD specials? Free chips, free wings, free apps, half-price pizza?

Fredo / October 27, 2004 12:26 PM

Historically, "happy hour" referred to a short period of time, usually right at the end of the work day, when a bar would offer booze specials, hence the "happy". This led to a lot of chugging, though, followed by a lot of drunk driving. So, as I understand the law in Chicago today, any booze specials bars offer must be available for the entire day. Happy hour now usually just refers to the scene, before everyone goes home and changes out of their work clothes.

There aren't a lot of options here in the North&Clyborn corridor. If anyone has a suggestion, I'd appreciate.

Jeff / October 27, 2004 12:28 PM

I do, motherfucker. Drink at Andies.

$3 martinis every Tuesday. Sass is still free.

Mike / October 27, 2004 12:54 PM

jennifer: Wow, I should've known this, but I've got a really bad habit of just calling streets something like "the big intersection in Wicker Park" (North/Damen/Mil.), or "Pat's old house street" or "Crazy guy and old lady with that cool car street". Ever since I was a kid, I can't stop doing it!

MN-transplant / October 27, 2004 12:56 PM

I don't know, but when I lived in Minneapolis, we'd go to a bar in Hudson, WI (about an hour away) for their 3-4-1 Leinie's happy hour in the middle of the day on Thursdays only.

Alice / October 27, 2004 1:10 PM

Hmmm. Did someone ask for the GB Librarian?

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has a helpful page about the "Happy Hour Law" in Illinois. Basically, the law isn't about the name "Happy Hour." Instead, it prohibits things like 2-for-1 drink specials or offering unlimited drinks for a fixed price, that sort of thing. You can even read the appropriate section from the Illinois Liquor Control Act, found in the Illinois Compiled Statues online.

Alice / October 27, 2004 1:10 PM

Hmmm. Did someone ask for the GB Librarian?

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has a helpful page about the "Happy Hour Law" in Illinois. Basically, the law isn't about the name "Happy Hour." Instead, it prohibits things like 2-for-1 drink specials or offering unlimited drinks for a fixed price, that sort of thing. You can even read the appropriate section from the Illinois Liquor Control Act, found in the Illinois Compiled Statutes online.

Shylo / October 27, 2004 1:39 PM

If you can stand it, McCormick & Schmick has two happy hours (with food). One in the early eve after work, one from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Andrew / October 27, 2004 3:14 PM

On Tuesdays, the Bob Inn has $3 Beck's tallboys and the Mutiny has $3.50 steins of Old Style or Bud/Miller (forget which). The things you find out when you join a volleyball team.

anne / October 27, 2004 3:23 PM

I've never actually been there, but all of my friends who work in the Loop talk about the happy hours at Trader Vic's (in the Palmer House Hilton). Thursdays and Fridays, there are "free complimentary Pu Pu's from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m." which I'm assuming is a Pu Pu platter, and not something gross.

libby / October 27, 2004 4:13 PM

i love the gb librarian! thank you for clarifying... now i can speak with confidence on this subject during happy hour discussions of happy hour.

p.s. my favorite happy hour spot is the matchbox. the best dirty martini in chicago and a stool in the teeniest of chicago bars can be yours if you get to the bar before 6.

Hissyfit / October 28, 2004 11:10 AM

RE free/cheap food w/happy hours - Don't bother with Trader Vic's - the complimentary appetizers suck. McCormick & Schmicks is good as far as food goes - very cheap & good portions. Dos Hermanos in the Sears Tower used to have a decent taco bar for free, but I haven't been there in a few years (is it even still there?)

I'm always suspicious of drink specials, except beer, because I figure they use really cheap booze (leading to a more severe hangover than with top-shelf booze).

Marc / October 28, 2004 12:50 PM

Dos Hermanos is still in ST, but you have to pass through our fake security to get to it. They usually have specials on Friday after work. Venice Cafe at Wacker and Jackson had free pizza to go with your after work brews.

lucky / October 28, 2004 2:12 PM

the company i work for has a really nice free happy hour for employees on fridays @ 5:00. free appetizers, free (good) drinks, all in our 'lounge' area on the reception floor. great view, and it's nice!

except it's at work.

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