The Real Chicago

05/29/2022

Quick little weekend escape to Milwaukee for the kid’s birthday means a necessary stop at the Milwaukee Ale House — one of the coolest brewery venues in the state of Wisconsin.

05/05/2022

One of our favorite things about summer in Chicago — Friday Night Flights. Explore different neighborhoods, enjoy some great local brews, and kick a summer weekend off right.

04/23/2022

Our neighbors gave a resounding two thumbs up to the Eris Brewery and Cider House weekend brunch in Portage Park. Options for everyone are a beautiful thing.

04/22/2022

Headed to watch the Chicago Bulls at the United Center this weekend? Don’t forget, Kaiser Tiger in the West Loop has a free shuttle to the games. Not to mention some great sausages, 24 rotating beers on draft (including lots of great local stuff) and one of the best beer gardens in Chicago.

04/18/2022

Friday off from school means a trip down to the The Adler Planetarium, some tasty ramen at High Five Ramen in Chicago’s West Loop and a few beers at District Brew Yards before a neighborhood bonfire to cap off a very full and fun day. It’s worth mentioning I’m still the Connect Four champion of the family.

04/01/2022

Get excited, Illinois Craft Beer Week is back May 13-20, 2022, and Beer Under Glass 2022 returns to kick off the celebration from the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild on Friday, May 13 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Chicago's Union Station.

Beer Under Glass traditionally has been held at Garfield Park Conservatory, but ongoing renovation and construction would have severely limited capacity for both brewers and attendees, so organizers opted for a new twist on the classic fundraising event.

Guests will enjoy a one-of-a-kind evening of craft beer that pairs samples from more than 110 Illinois craft breweries with the history and architectural marvel of the iconic venue. VIP early entry beginning at 4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $50, and VIP tickets are $60. Current members of the Guild’s enthusiast program, ImBIBE, are eligible for a free VIP ticket upgrade as part of new membership benefits for 2022. Tickets to Beer Under Glass go on sale April 8 at 10 a.m.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or for other ways to support local breweries during Illinois Craft Beer Week, visit www.illinoisbeer.org

02/17/2022

One of our favorite neighborhoods in Chicago… don’t miss out on Lincoln Square’s 10th annual Winter Brew event, which will be held outside for the first time this weekend.

Where: Lincoln Avenue between Eastwood and Wilson avenues. Presale tickets cost $5 online and $7 at the gate. Beers, including specialty tappings throughout the weekend, will cost $7-$12.

Featured brewers include Aleman Brewing, Hop Butcher for the World, Begyle Brewing, Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, Old Irving Brewing Co. Dovetail Brewery, Alarmist Brewing & Taproom, Phase Three Brewing Company, Goose Island and more.

Visit here for more information and tickets:
https://www.lincolnsquare.org/winter-brew

02/12/2022

Thanks to Heron Agency for the invite to the new Five Iron Golf at Block Thirty Seven on State Street earlier this week. Dynamic venue with great food and drink, state-of-the-art golf simulators, more than 100 famous courses to play, and even golf professionals on hand to help with your slice. They’ll have their third Chicago location up and running soon in Lincoln Park. Too bad Pebble Beach ate us alive, but can’t wait to go back.

02/07/2022

Had a great afternoon checking out the beautiful new Crust Brewing in Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district. Pizza and homemade brews were great, but I believe the parmesan garlic wings stole the show.

01/06/2022

Want to treat the kiddos to a great time at the theater? Broadway In Chicago is offering a buy-one, get-one sale to Disney's Frozen at the Cadillac Palace Theatre

Use the code ELSA50 to buy one ticket and get one free to see the hit Broadway musical the Chicago Sun Times calls "a delightful Disney musical...full of magic!" This offer is available for performances on Jan. 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

https://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/1pr0j7?spMailingID=7795777&spUserID=MjQ2NDMwNjEyODExS0&spJobID=1420158095&spReportId=MTQyMDE1ODA5NQS2

11/11/2021

Beer lovers rejoice: After going virtual in 2020, returns to Chicago with a limited-capacity, in-person festival this weekend. More than 180 breweries are expected to submit nearly 300 wood- and barrel-aged beer, cider and mead for judging and tasting courtesy of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild

Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer is back in Chicago Nov. 12-13 Craft beer lovers can rejoice in the return of the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB), North America’s largest and most prestigious barrel-aged beer festival and competition. Now in its 19th year and organized by the Illi...

08/06/2021

Great dinner and cocktails at Que Onda in Edison Park this week. Feature article coming soon… stay tuned.