Entries Tagged as 'the owl'

Out for Dallas’s Birthday

December 11th, 2011 · No Comments

This year for Dallas’s birthday we sort of hopped around a bit. A lot of people had a bunch of plans, holiday parties, etc. so we wanted them to be able to meet up with us whnever they could.

We started out at The Whistler, nearby our condo, in Logan Square. This was the 3rd year in a row that we started off Dallas’s birthday at The Whistler! (See 2010, 2009). Brian was especially happy about this, since The Whistler is a little out of his sphere, but he’s enjoyed his yearly trip there for Dallas’s birthday.

After the Whistler we headed up to Roscoe Village to our favorite, The Village Tap. I’d emailed with the owner, Mike, and our favorite waitress, Carolyn, ahead of time to make sure they could reserve some space for us in the back. We had a great turn out here. Quinn came early on and sang Dallas the birthday song and made him a gingerbread man decoration. (Somewhere around 2 am I reached into my purse and accidentally ripped this guy’s leg off, but that can be taped!) We probably had 20+ people, coming and going. Not too shabby. We had dinner, some drinks, and at least 2 rounds of Irish Car Bombs. A typical night at The Tap.

Finally, we went back to Logan Square to a newer late-night bar called The Owl. I’d been really wanting to visit this place since it opened. Aside from a dramatic incident of someone getting thrown out and then someone else having to pay a bribe to get us back in, I thought it was a cool place. I don’t know if I can brush these shenanigans aside to want to go back though. It was not dealt with in a very good way and the guy at the door was just being a total jerk. But we had fun here. A bunch of people that had plans earlier in the night met up with us here for some late-night drinks. I think Dallas and I left around 2:30 a.m. or so. I was just getting over a cold and lost my voice, so I had to go.

Overall, a successful birthday celebration! Thanks to everyone for coming out and making it a fun night.

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New or Opening Soon in Logan Square

November 21st, 2011 · 1 Comment

I haven’t done an update like this for a while, but never fear! Logan Square has been just as hoppin’ as ever. Here are just a few places I’ve noticed over the past few weeks -


Daddy Cool’s. It finally has a name. This place has been in the works for… years. This is going to be a gourmet hotdog stand.


Chicago’s first and only alternative sports and roller skating shop, Rebel Rebel Derby Shop, opened in late October. The owner is Thia, a.k.a. Wreck ‘n Shrew when she’s doing her thing with the Windy City Rollers. I almost walked past this place, not paying attention, thinking it was The Bike Lane, but then I realized it was new! Rebel Rebel Roller Derby Shop is “a brick-and-mortar alternative sports and roller skating shop in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Our goal is to provide the community with access to cutting-edge roller skates, skate parts, protective gear, accessories, sportswear, knowledge and expertise!”


It was announced last December that Jam would be moving from its popular Ukrainian Village location to Logan Square. They thought they’d be opening in the spring. I saw a sign at one of the summer farmers markets saying they’d be open in the summer, I think. They finally opened in November, a month after closing the Uke Village location.


The Owl opened in September. The guys behind it are the guys who did aliveOne (remember this!?), Estelle’s and Easy Bar. The Owl has a late night license, which is good because our other late night bar, Bonny’s, can get really long lines.


….speaking of Bonny’s…. This place isn’t new, it opened about a year ago, but I thought I’d add it to the list anyway. They have the old Iggy’s sign up outside. I was at Iggy’s old location once, 7 years ago. Also, if you remember that sketchy Mexican bar where you had to ring a buzzer to get in? We drug you there on Dallas’s birthday? This is it. The Boiler Room guys bought it and redid it. No buzzing necessary. And no druggie signs on the bathroom doors.


Baker Girls. I’ve seen the signs in this window for a while now. Not sure when they’re opening.


This is the former location of Aida’s….


….and now? Brink Dwellers. Dallas and I noticed it last month. They opened on October 21. I thought it was a boutique, but I think it’s more like a thrift. Or a vintage, used store. I’d been talking to Dallas about how Logan Square has had this huge boom of bars and restaurants, but not many stores. Maybe this will be the start of something new.


Tula Yoga Studio. … speaking of new things that aren’t bars or restaurants! And just to the right in this photo there’s a new smoke shop, Ember Smoke. I’ve been meaning to check out the beginners yoga class on Saturday mornings but haven’t gotten there yet. Tula opened at the end of September.

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