brian / April 23, 2004 11:05 AM

Duke of Perth, or any place that has a beer garden.

Myopic past midnight.

Naz / April 23, 2004 11:56 AM

Come on. Sex of course.

(Yes, got it in early!)

+mojan. / April 23, 2004 12:10 PM

Love the Improv Olympic in Wrigleyville, which has a free act 8:00 pm every Wednesday.

Chris Stipp / April 23, 2004 12:24 PM

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.
$5 and the roll of a single die? Can't go wrong there.

/just wish I still lived in Chicago

jima / April 23, 2004 12:57 PM

Midnight movies at the Music Box. Always something great playing there on the weekends.

Naz / April 23, 2004 1:03 PM

On a serious note: shows are always good and with the warmer weather being outside somewhere soaking up the weather is nice. I second Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. Solid as a rock.

The other really nice thing to do, and is best done with a significant other is to stay up all night by the beach being silly and then watching the sunrise over Lake Michigan. That is beautiful.

I'm romanticizing stuff so much lately.

Jen / April 23, 2004 1:45 PM

I third Too Much Light - so much fun.

Also good shows, somewhere small like Elbo Room or Beat Kitchen, or good blues at Kingston Mines.

Exit on Saturdays is always a good time if you like to dance.

This weekend I'm going to a one-man show of Steel Magnolias with Aaron and Kelly, should be a hoot.

I would mention sex, but it might make me sad.

Carlos / April 23, 2004 1:47 PM

The beach at night...lovely!!

Carlos / April 23, 2004 1:47 PM

Hey Naz,

How about you and I take a stroll down the beach...we can hold hands if you'd like!!

Naz / April 23, 2004 1:54 PM

Carlos - your girlfriend would not approve. And really, neither would I.

Brenda / April 23, 2004 1:56 PM

burlesque, anywhere you can find it (which isn't really all that hard these days)

Benjy / April 23, 2004 2:05 PM

During the summer, any bar with a nice patio!

Carlos / April 23, 2004 2:08 PM

Oh well...I was trying to be nice and all.

jmo / April 23, 2004 2:21 PM

Take the tender to a little sailboat in Monroe Harbor and drink martinis while gazing up at the beautiful lights of the skyline. If you don't have a little sailboat, pack a picnic basket and walk out to the big stone steps on the far side of the Adler Planetarium. (Take Solidarity Drive.) Drink martinis there. Admire skyline from there.

Or grab that picnic basket and take the Ravinia Train (cheaper tickets!) via Metra straight to the entrance of Ravinia Park. Enjoy a bottle of wine under the stars while listening to some beautiful music. (Play chess or cards on a picnic blanket to while away the time if you like.)

Get away from it all via the Purple line and dine al fresco in Evanston (anywhere! tons of places.) Then enjoy a cocktail in the lounge at the Century Theatre before seeing a late showing of an independent film.

Sit outside at Raven's with a pitcher. (I hope it hasn't gone upscale...I haven't been there since '98.)

Step up to the bar and then get a WhirlyBall Game going on West Fullerton. Know that you will have HUGE bruises on the insides of your thighs that you may have to explain later. You will also have lost your voice from yelling and laughing.

Do not, I repeat, do NOT go to Moody's to sit outside. They only serve burgers and cheap pitchers of beer. (A girl's gotta have some sanctuary...)

Ian / April 23, 2004 2:55 PM

Whoop it up

Eamon / April 23, 2004 4:01 PM

Don't be a hater, jmo-- Moody's rocks. They've got tons of umbrella drinks, plus those burgers are easily the best in Chicago.

Andrew / April 23, 2004 4:16 PM

(I think jmo was trying to save Moody's for him/herself. I don't blame you, jmo -- it's probably the best beer garden in the city, although the burgers leave much to be desired.)

Lincoln Park at night is nice. I often hit a nice restaurant (La Tache a couple times last year, or Bistro Zinc or ...) and have a leisurely meal, then a nice walk, possibly a drink or two before heading home.

Dan / April 23, 2004 4:38 PM

Well, I don't always defer to the critics, but I know that Moody's has won more than a few awards for their burgers (including I think, best burgers in the city one year from NewCity). I love their burgers. Plus, the sangria's pretty cheap, and some of the best nights I've ever had involve me having a pitcher with friends and stumbling around on Thorndale beach on a dark, summer night.

Eamon / April 23, 2004 5:09 PM

Heh. I'm an idiot. Now I've ruined everything!

Andrew / April 23, 2004 5:09 PM

Don't get me wrong, I love the place, but I've never thought their burgers anything but OK. When they're packed (and they're *always* packed on the weekends) they're usually overcooked and too greasy. I think most people -- and especially the critics -- give them the benefit of the doubt because of the incredible garden.

My friends and I often get an order of onion rings so we can put one on our burgers for a little extra juice and flavor.

Jen / April 23, 2004 5:18 PM

Grab a bottle of wine and have dinner at Tomboy. Or Geja's. Mmm.

shylo / April 23, 2004 9:21 PM

Lay in a hammock until you get those ham-lace marks all over you.

Or, you know, ass sex.

sandor / April 24, 2004 12:02 AM

Barbeque

steve_sleeve / April 24, 2004 12:18 PM

drink PBR at the hungry brain.

da<3 / April 24, 2004 3:57 PM

weekends are for relaxing and getting work done

da<3 / April 24, 2004 4:01 PM

oh and video games
:D

Shasta MacNasty / April 24, 2004 8:43 PM

Catching up on South Park episodes, returning shoes to the Steve Madden store, and buying unnecessary amounts of handbags.

Oh, then waking up on Sunday and schelpping to the local sushi place for sweet potato maki and a lime freeze.

jmo / April 25, 2004 4:56 PM

(pssst. Eamon!!! Now you are going to have to share a chair with me and a greasy/wonderful burger at Moody's if I can't find a seat in the garden this summer!!! And you're buying.)

Eamon / April 26, 2004 9:31 AM

Done, but if it's any consolation, I was there yesterday and saw neither hide nor hair of the Gapers Block Horde.

heather / April 26, 2004 10:38 AM

so many amazing things to do on weekend nights, I really couldn't narrow it down to one thing. As long as you're with friends, how can you go wrong?

On the "best burger" issue: Moody's ain't got nothin' on the incredible burger at erwin in Lakeview. Fresh bun, juicy meat, great service, super wine selection, plus: you don't have to squint to see your dining companions across the table.

'That Ian' / April 26, 2004 11:22 AM

For a nice long walk to watch them make steel on Armitage. Sooooo good especially on one of those perfect warm nights...

lacey / April 27, 2004 3:06 PM

Doesn't anyone around here go dancing? Neo is fun...