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Patrik Laine scores a hat trick against the Chicago BlackhawksVincent Pariseon February 18, 2022 at 1:00 pm

The Chicago Blackhawks are not a playoff team but they clearly want to still play well as the season winds down for them. The offseason is going to be extremely important for them as they try to build towards the future. Their most recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets tells the story.

The Blue Jackets outshot the Hawks by five but they outscored them 7-4. It was a somewhat close game at times but the Jackets took advantage of the Blackhawks’ mistakes and it paid off for them in the end.

One Columbus player that had an exceptional night is Patrik Laine. The former second overall pick went off with a hat trick. The goals were his 14th, 15th, 16th on the season as he is hoping to really heat up. He was the difference for his team in the big win.

It is outstanding (as a hockey fan) to see Laine have success. He had a tough few years in between his outstanding NHL start and right now. As he continues to get older, we should really start to see him dominate games again. He looked like that in this game at the United Center.

Patrik Laine had his way with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

You know that Laine is going well when he is scoring goals in every way possible. His first goal was one that snuck over the line and was reviewed. The second goal was him using his outstanding shot on a set play off the faceoff. The third was an empty netter that sealed the win for his team.

Letting one player dominate you like that isn’t always an acceptable look no matter who it is. He had a great game and should be proud of it but the Blackhawks were horrible. Chicago made plenty of mistakes and Laine’s Blue Jackets were winners because of it.

Alex DeBrincat scored his 29th of the season and it was assisted by Patrick Kane and Seth Jones. Outside of that one, the third and fourth line guys provided the rest of the offense which was great to see. Depth scoring is very important in today’s NHL and the Hawks need to be better.

Defense and goaltending (or lack thereof) is the reason for the loss in this one. You should win games that you score four but they were never able to get it tied before Columbus took the momentum back.

The Chicago Blackhawks are right back at it on Friday night with a home game against the Dallas Stars. This was a bad game for them but now they have a quick turnaround to try and make it right. We’ll see what they are able to do.

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Patrik Laine scores a hat trick against the Chicago BlackhawksVincent Pariseon February 18, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

3 Chicago Bears players that could be cut this offseasonJordan Campbellon February 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm

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Chicago Bears Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears have tabbed Ryan Poles as the team’s new general manager and Poles is now tasked with returning the Bears to relevancy.

Unfortunately, former Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace did not leave Poles with much room to work with this offseason. Pace left Poles with five 2022 NFL Draft selections as the Bears currently have the rights to a 2nd round pick. third round pick, fifth round pick (147 overall), fifth round pick (149 overall), and a sixth round pick.

With the draft not appearing to be a clear opportunity for Poles to improve the Bears’ roster, the new general manager will likely turn to free agency and trades.

Despite the mismanagement of the salary cap by Ryan Pace over the years with bloated contracts to the likes of Andy Dalton, Robert Quinn Jimmy Graham, and acquiring Nick Foles and his hefty contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bears are in relatively healthy cap space in relation to the 2022 Salary Cap. The Bears currently have nearly $27.5 million available in cap space and that lands them among the top 10 teams with the most available space this offseason.

With the Chicago Bears likely having an active hand in free agency this offseason, expect the team to cut several players to create cap space.

Cap space will be a valuable commodity for the Bears this offseason as the team looks to turnover their roster and acquire players that fit the philosophy of both Poles and new head coach Matt Eberflus. It seems likely that the Bears will increase their available cap space before the start of free agency as their are three players in particular that the team can cut and save money.

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3 Chicago Bears players that could be cut this offseasonJordan Campbellon February 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

The Boss Impact Fund Is Helping Black Female Business Owners

The Boss Impact Fund Is Helping Black Female Business Owners

The BOSS Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs, and event-based networking, announces its BOSS Impact Fund.

It has been reported that the single greatest barrier to success for new businesses and startups is access to capital, and minorities make up less than 1% of founders that receive that investment. The BOSS Impact Fund will focus on investing in Black women led businesses and preparing these entrepreneurs to build scalable companies. The goal is to raise investment funding for 500+ Black women entrepreneurs over the next three years.

As part of its efforts, The BOSS Network is partnering with Sage. Sage is the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility, and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people, for the launch of theSage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, a $1.5MM commitment over three years. Sage and The BOSS Network are working together to remove the barriers that many entrepreneurs face by providing funding to support Black women entrepreneurs in the first five years of their business.

Through the Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, 25 Black women entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to receive a capital investment of $10,000 toward successfully starting and growing their business. In addition, they’re also providing a entrepreneurial mentor program in support of Black women-owned small businesses. To register or for more information, visit BOSSImpactFund.com. The deadline for submissions is February 25.

The Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant will also provide coaching, curriculum, and connections while removing capital barriers to help this group achieve success. The grant application process is powered by HelloAlice, a grant funding platform designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The BOSS Network has had a long-standing commitment to women entrepreneurs. Founded by CEO Cameka Smith, the mission of The BOSS Network, which stands for “Bringing Out Successful Sisters,” is to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color.  The BOSS Network is changing the way enterprising women are viewed among the masses and becoming a resource for companies seeking female minority influencers as their target market. It has supported the careers and small business developments of more than 200,000 women of color nationwide through initiatives such as BOSS Business University—a digital platform that provides comprehensive mentorship programming through industry business experts.

For more information, please visit: BOSSImpactFund.com.

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Chicago Craft Beer Weekend, February 18-20

Chicago Craft Beer Weekend, February 18-20

Besides being caught up in some extra job-type work, the server for ChicagoNow has been acting up, some I’m only now able to get into the site. I might have been able to post a number of Thursday events that are postponed because of the weird snowstorm.

This Weekend

12:00 pm • Cheesecake & Beer Flights
Iron&Glass, 632 S. Weber Rd., Romeoville, IL (815) 782-5559 Map
& Iron&Glass Minooka, 104 Ridge Rd., Minooka, IL (815) 255-2114 Map
Delicious Cheesecakes and Beer pairings are coming to I&G
Get 4 different tasty cheesecakes made by NBBA paired with 4 five ounce paired pours at BOTH locations Feb 18-21 (while supplies last).
Pairings:
~ Turtle cheesecake paired with a stout
~ Lemon cheesecake paired with a lager
~ Butterscotch cheesecake paired with a cream ale
~ Peaches & Cream cheesecake paired with an IPA

12:00 pm • Malort Day(s) Celebration!
DMen Tap, 2849 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago 773-961-8757 Map
As a tribute to Malorts return to Chicago on February 21, 2018 we are having our 3rd annual Malort day Celebration! Since it is falling on a Monday we decided to stretch it out all weekend!
Look forward to tastings of different vintages of Malort, infused Malort, Malort cocktails, food made with Malort, Raffles and more!
Schedule of events to come!
(Not a beer thing, but Malort is its own thing).

Friday, February 18

Pollyanna Jötunheimr Release
Pollyanna Brewing Co., 431 Talcott Ave., Lemont, IL (630) 914-5834 Map
& Pollyanna – Roselare, 245 E. Main St., Roselle, IL (847) 285-1909 Map
& 106 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, IL 630-549-7372  Map
We are debuting a new beer on Friday, Jötunheimr. It’s an especially rare Eisbock Lager and it’s fantastic!
It’s what we’re referring to as our “White Whale.” We’ve been obsessing over this idea and chasing it for years, but up until several months ago we thought we’d never be able to catch it. After months and months of head scratching and detailing how we’d actually do this thing, we put our hopes and dreams in Mother Nature’s hands. Welp, on the night of January 25, we caught our white whale.
To us, Eisbock is the apex of lagerbier, but it always felt like an impossible task. An Eisbock is made by freezing water out of a strong Bock Lager and concentrating the remaining liquid. By removing the water, the beer increases in ABV% because the freezing point of water is much higher than that of alcohol, causing the ice to separate from the newly concentrated liquid. Here’s the problem, breweries cannot legally make an Eisbock in the USA. Why? Because according to the TTB, an increase of more than 0.5% ABV through freezing is considered “freeze distillation” and must be done by a distillery.
Guess who has their distillation license?!
Yep. As a brewery/distillery, we’ve done what most other breweries in the USA can’t legally do. We brewed an 8.0% ABV Doppelbock, freeze distilled it to a 10.0% ABV Eisbock, separated the concentrated liquid from ice, and packaged it. We even sent it to a lab to confirm the ABV rose from 8% to 10%. Don’t worry, Uncle Sam, we’re paying taxes on it as a spirit. You’ll get yours. 
We’re so excited to share this beer with you. It’s truly unique and unlike anything else around. Who knows if we’ll ever make it again? For now, enjoy our Eisbock, “Jötunheimr,” while you can. 

2:00 – 10:00 pm • Quotidienne Release
Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St., Evanston, IL (847) 864-1000 Map
Quotidienne, our Belgian-style Dubbel ale, will be available on tap and, for the first time ever, in tallboy 4 pks to go!

4:00 – 8:00 pm • The Argonaut Co. Returns
Solemn Oath Taproom, 1661 Quincy Ave. #179, Naperville IL (630) 995-3062 Map
Double the freshness, double the fun when you’re hitting Friday evening beers and lobster stuffed buns… and freshly shucked oysters… and fresh from the ocean seafood boils. Okay, so like, quadruple the freshness and ALL the fun this Friday night with The Argonaut Co.

4:00 – 8:00 pm • Soul & Smoke
Sketchbook Brewing Co. – Skokie, 4901 Main St., Skokie, IL  Map
POP-UP inside the Skokie Taproom!
Enjoy the delicious meat and veggie BBQ and comfort food of Evanston’s own Soul & Smoke! (Also at the Evanston taproom on Saturday).

4:00 – 10:00 pm • Primary Colors Release Party
The Beer and Now, 2801 Ogden Ave., Suite 7, Lisle, IL (630) 946-6660 Map
Join us as we welcome Primary Colors to the store on Friday at 4pm!
If you’ve never heard of Primary before, they have 3 beers: a Hazy IPA, a Gose, and a Belgian Style Pale Ale. But here’s the kicker… they’re meant to be mixed!
It’s a ton of fun mix them and we’re excited to share the experience with you. Come meet the mixmaster himself, Chris, as he shares samples of his favorite “recipes”. We’ll also have a pre-mixed batch on draft, plus cans to go!

4:00 – 10:00 pm • Cocina Azteca at Sketchbook Evanston
Sketchbook Brewing Co., 821 Chicago Ave. # E2, Evanston, IL (847) 859-9051 Map
Homemade tamales and salsas from Cocina Azteca, an Evanston family-owned business. Order at the bar every Friday!

4:30 – 7:30 pm • Friday Eats at Sew Hop’d
Sew Hop’d Brewery & Taproom, One Union Special Plaza Suite 113, Huntley, IL  Map
It’s a Sew Hop’d fam favorite- Stix and Noodles are back!

5:00 – 8:00 pm • Friday Night Food Truck – Brothers BBQ
Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove, IL 847-821-6140 Map
Brothers’ BBQ: Family owned and operated authentic American BBQ food truck serving the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago!

5:00 – 8:00 pm • Smiley’s BBQ
Phase Three Brewing Co., 932 Donata Ct., Lake Zurich, IL (847) 749-6693 Map
Smiley’s BBQ has dinner covered this Friday with their delicious smoked meats and homemade sauces. BBQ, P3 brews, AND live music?!

5:00 – 8:00 pm • Chuck’s Wood-Fired Pizza
Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map
Cold winter nights combated with HOT pizza and LIVE tunes? Sounds like a good combo to keep warm and happy.
Chuck and his crew will be here cooking up the area’s best pizzas from 5pm to sellout. No need to trudge out in the cold, they’ll take your order inside and bring it hot and ready to your table.
Nicole Devine returns to the taproom for a live set from 6-9pm. Local music, food, and beer in one stop? That’s what Saturdays should be all about.

5:00 – 9:00 pm • Prime Tacos Pop-Up
Black Horizon Brewing Co., 7560 S. Quincy St., Willowbrook, IL (630) 413-4964 Map
Excited to have Prime Tacos at Black Horizon!! Serving up their authentic Tacos and home of The Famous Hot Cheeto Burger and more!!! Come get yours while sippin’ on our delicious beers and great live music by Matt Strom! Yes pleassse!!

Saturday, February 19

9:00 am – 4:00 pm • Energy City Release
Energy City Brewing, 917 First St., Batavia, IL (630) 597-5581 Map
The nostalgia continues with Bâtisserie Peanut Butter Cup Classic! This beverage is a smooth and creamy milk stout brewed with chocolate and peanut butter to create a decadent liquid version of a peanut butter cup, 10% ABV. Available Saturday at the brewery!

9:00 am – 11:30 pm • Shelf Ice Festival Shuttles, with Kegs & Eggs
Zorn Brew Works Co., 605 E. 9th St., Michigan City, IN (219) 243-7157 Map
Kegs and eggs at Zorn: $15 breakfast buffet from 900am – 1230pm
Band from 9:00 am 12:30pm
Another band from 4pm-7
Brew bus runs continuously from 1130-130 pm between Zorn and shelf ice
Breakfast buffet:
Eggs, bacon, sausage, brioche French toast, biscuits/gravy, beyond sausage, fresh fruit

10:00 am – 1:00 pm • POUNDFIT® & BREWS
River Hawk Brewing, 24735 W. Eames St., Channahon, IL (815) 255-2202 Map
Get ready to pound out a workout then a glass! Ripstix®, music, energy, friends + your favorite wine or beer… Now that’s a great day! MUST purchase tickets in advance!

11:00 am • Tangled Roots 6 Year Anniversary Party
The Lone Buffalo by Tangled Roots Brewing Co., 808 – 812 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 815-324-9549 Map
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Music: Greg Guidotti
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Brew Club Event
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Music: Jeff Manfredini Duo
New beer releases!

12:00 – 4:00 pm • Vegan Market
Soundgrowler Brewing Co., 8201 183rd St., Ste P, Tinley Park, IL (708) 263-0083 Map
We are kicking off our monthly themed markets in our Barrel Room Saturday, February 19th! Join us to peruse, eat, and explore local vegan vendors. We will have 15 super talented local merchants, all 100% vegan, selling wares from bakery, street food, comic books, skincare, and more. And, did we mention that our beers are vegan as well?! So grab yourself a beer and come explore our vegan market in our new beautiful space.

12:00 – 4:00 pm • Funkytown & Moor’s Beer Showcase
Jewel-Osco, 87 W. 87th St., Chicago (773) 487-8700 Map
Aisle 4 turnup! Sampling at Jewel/Osco, 87 W 87th St. (off State).

12:00 pm • IBW Beer Release
Illuminated Brew Works, 6186 N. Northwest Hwy., Chicago (708) 669-7287 Map
Starting at noon we’ll be releasing the extremely rare and thoroughly delicious collaboration we did with Old Irving Brewing Co., Ancient Magick, that has been lovingly barrel aged in W.L. Weller barrels for almost 2 years. This stuff is incredible, just so good. This 11% stout with cocoa, cinnamon, peanut butter and marshmallow has relaxed into a black velvet and lace throne for the vanillins, oak and bourbon notes imparted from almost 2 years cozied up in wood. The IBW BEER CULT gets first dibs at the stash, but we’ll release whatever allocations are left to you, the uninitiated, once they are done having their way with it.
BARREL AGED ANCIENT MAGICK is packaged in 750ml bottles and will be available out of IBW LODGE #1 exclusively for $24.99 while supplies last.

12:00 pm – 1:00 am • Winter Luau
One Allegiance Brewing, 10215 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge, IL (708) 529-7067 Map
Aloha, friends!
Escape the winter blues as you join us for a Hawaiian-themed experience in the taproom!
The taproom will be transformed into an island oasis for you to enjoy your night as you sip on Hawaiian-themed beer and cocktails!
Beer Drop:
Pina Colada Suckerpunch Berliner Weisse
Pineapple Suckerpunch Berliner Weisse
Pull those Hawaiian shirts and dresses out of your closet because we’re also doing a Hawaiian-shirt/dress competition! The coolest Hawaiian dress or shirt will win a $20 gift card!
Mario’s Tacos will be here to serve up delicious tacos from 3pm – 8pm and the John & Phil Band will serenade us from 7pm – 10pm.
Cheers and mahalo!

12:00 pm • Shelf Ice Brewfest 2022 (SOLD OUT)
800 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN  Map
Sorry! The event has sold out.
It’s back! The amazing winter beer fest held outside in the Uptown Arts District in downtown Michigan City.
The Shelf Ice Brewfest is an outdoor winter beer festival hosted by the Michigan City Mainstreet Association. The event highlights Michigan City’s 3 local breweries (Shoreline Brewery, Burn ‘Em Brewing, and Zorn Brew Works) and brings together dozens of other regional breweries for a exhilarating experience. Information here.

12:00 – 5:00 pm • Delilah’s Vintage Beer Fest
Delilah’s, 2771 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 773-472-2771 Map
Our 24th annual Vintage Beer Fest! Over 100 International Beer Options – Many in Multiple Vintages!!!
Showcasing the Finest Strong, Sour Barrel Aged Beers !!
Some of me Breweries Include –
Anchor, Bell’s, BrewDog, Carnegie, De Dolle, Dogfish Head, Drie Fonteinen, Fuller’s, George Gale, Goose Island, Half Acre, J.W. Lees, Jolly Pumpkin, Lo Rez, New Holland, Orval, Pipeworks, Prairie, Rochefort, Rogue, Sierra Nevada, Thomas Hardy, Three Floyds, Unibroue $20
An Unprecedented Selection Of Rare Beers Will Be Available

12:00 pm • Solemn Oath StoutDay 2022
Solemn Oath Brewery, 1661 Quincy Ave. #179, Naperville IL (630) 995-3062 Map
& Solemn Oath Brewery Still Life, 2919 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago  Map
We host dual celebrations of dark beer the likes of which we have never thrown before. Both locations will be tapping one keg each of 10+ different dark beers from the Solemn Oath and Hidden Hand cellars including the last kegs in existence of some rare barrel-aged releases at each, one off and draft exclusive Black Night Sighs variants (both locations), and more right at the open. The party starts at 12pm at both SOB Taprooms with taster wristbands available for pre-order at this link right now!
 In Naperville, the one and only Biker Dude pops up at 1 pm for his first smashing service of 2022 from 1pm until he sells out (this, we can confidently guarantee).
 In Chicago, our neighbors from Paulie Gee’s will slide through from 3 to 8 pm to serve up their Sicilian-style squares so be there or be…

1:00 – 2:45 pm • Temperance Trikonasana (Yoga & Beer Tasting)
Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St., Evanston, IL (847) 864-1000 Map
Our Temperance Trikonasana series pairs beer with yoga and a cause. Jenny Arrington of Rebel Human brings her “Rebel Human Way” class to the brewery. Once our bodies and minds are opened, we’ll have a beer together and learn about the charity we are supporting this month (100% of your entrance fee goes to the chosen charity!).
Our February charity is The Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education.
Sign up here ($30),

2:00 – 6:00 pm • Nice Buns
Mikerphone Brewing, 121 Garlisch Dr., Elk Grove Village, IL 847-264-8904 Map
Nice Buns is serving dinner from 2p-sellout

3:00 – 7:00 pm • Westmont Winter Beer Festival
Ty Warner Park, 800 W. Blackhawk Dr., Westmont, IL (630) 963-5252 Map
Join us at the 2022 Winter Beer Fest which will feature craft brewers from the Chicagoland area! Ty Warner Park will host many breweries! Participants will receive twenty (20) four ounce pours of a variety of craft beer selections. The event will have heated and lighted tents, camp fires, outdoor seating, and Food Trucks to provide different food selections for patrons. 
Tickets $45 here through Feb. 18, $65 at the door.
Visit the Event site for updates and a list of brewers pouring.

3:00 – 4:00 pm • Brewery Tour & Tasting
Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St., Evanston, IL (847) 864-1000 Map
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process while drinking fresh beer.
Each ticket costs $10 and buys you:
– A backstage pass to the brewery
– Beer samples
– A souvenir pint glass
– 20% discount on merchandise that day
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
– Tour size limit is 24 people
– First come, first served
Tours last about 45 mins
– 21+ only
The Chicago Reader rated our tour 4 stars, see where the magic happens!

3:00 – 8:00 pm • Pair-it-Up @Miskatonic Brewing
Miskatonic Brewing Co., 1000 N. Frontage Rd, Darien, IL (630) 541-9414 Map
Treat your palate to Pair-it-Up‘s warm and scrumptious Tikka Masala Meatball Sub and loaded Fusion Nachos with your favorite craft brew at Miskatonic Brewing!

4:30 – 8:30 pm • Burning Bush Food Truck
Burning Bush Brewery, 4014 N. Rockwell St., Chicago (773) 681-0215 Map
La Hamuita Food Truck

5:00 – 8:00 pm • Sew Hop’d Food Truck
Sew Hop’d Brewery & Taproom, One Union Special Plaza, Ste. 113, Huntley, IL (815) 701-8819 Map
Our awesome friends from Fire and Smoke will be here with their amazing BBQ 5-8 pm

5:00 – 8:00 pm • Saturday Bites: Mario’s Cart
Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map
A Saturday evening of beer, blues, and tacos? Sounds a little bit like heaven to us.
Mario’s Cart will be serving up tasty Mexican cuisine starting around 5pm on Saturday. Live blues by Keith Scott at 6pm.
Don’t miss another stellar Saturday at Riverlands.

6:00 – 9:00 pm • Karaoke Night! At the WH Taproom
Harbor Brewing Co. Lakefront Craft Biergarten, 701 North Point Dr., Winthrop Harbor, IL  Map
Ernie is hosting KARAOKE every 3rd Saturday at the Taproom!
Come on out and show us what ya got!

6:00 – 10:00 pm • Love Hangover
Black & Gray Brewing Co., 311 Barrington Ave., East Dundee, IL (224) 484-8200 Map
ONE day only! Come and join a GREAT event at Black & Gray Brewery! We will have DUELING Food Trucks, Pierogi Rig out of Chicago & Duke’s Blues N BBQ!! Black & Gray will also have a GREAT Beer selection that we will be pairing with food and giving cooking recommendations to those who like to GRILL/Smoke!

6:00 – 9:00 pm • Karaoke Night!
Harbor Brewing Co., 811 Sheridan Rd., Winthrop Harbor, IL  Map
Ernie is hosting KARAOKE every 3rd Saturday at the Taproom!
Come on out and show us what ya got!

Sunday, February 20

Elder + Oat Monthly Variety Boxes
Side Lot Brewery, 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda, IL 847-714-2584 Map
We have partnered with Elder + Oat Bakery to be a pickup location for the monthly donut variety boxes.
Boxes are available to pick up at Side Lot on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Next Pick up is 2/20/22.
Pastry Variety Box
6 Pastrys: A mix of all of our current offerings: Raised, Old Fashioned, Vegan, Baked, GF, etc.
Gluten Friendly Box: 6 Item mix of E+O’s current donuts and “mini-loaves”, all made gluten-free.
$17. Order here.

10:00 – 11:00 am • Beer & Yoga
Imperial Oak Brewing Co., 501 Willow Blvd., Willow Springs, IL (708) 559-7311 Map
Join us for a 60 minute guided yoga  lesson every Sunday from 10am-11am in the Willow Springs Savage Oak Room.
After you’ve reached a higher physical, mental and spiritual plane, reach for your cool down pint in the pub! Just $20 covers your class and your first pour of any IOB beer.
Our space is limited to 30 people, so come a little early to grab your spot and stretch. Please remember to BYO yoga mat and $20 (cash only).

10:30 – 11:30 am • Yoga with Jen
Oswego Brewing Co., 61 S. Main St., Oswego, IL (331) 999-1991 Map
Yoga at OBC will incorporate a vinyasa, power, yoga class designed to challenge, awaken, and detoxify every muscle of the body. This energetic flow style class guides students towards greater awareness of self, personal transformation and empowerment. It will sculpt, tone, and condition both your body and mind and at the same time bring forth a whole lot of fun and playfulness. The class is appropriate for all levels. Modifications and variations are encouraged to accommodate individual needs and experience levels. A yoga mat is required, a towel and water are strongly recommended.

12:00 pm • Cajun Food by Mary
McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River St., Aurora, IL (630) 229-0451 Map
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Mardi Gras Mini Bites

12:00 – 5:00 pm • Chicken Truck Sunday in Oswego
Oswego Brewing Co., 61 S. Main St., Oswego, IL (331) 999-1991 Map
The Country Grill chicken truck comes every Sunday, rain or shine, to Oswego and brings the finest rotisserie chickens, ribs, homemade sides and wraps!
Check out our menu.
If you want to pre-order, just send us a Direct message what food you want us to reserve and at what time you plan to pick it up!

1:00 – 4:00 pm • Uncle Cam’s Sandwiches
Riverlands Brewing Co., 1860 Dean St. Unit A, St. Charles, IL (630) 549-6293 Map
Soups and sammies on a winter Sunday , gathered in the taproom for live music and camaraderie? Sounds like a divine time to us.
Uncle Cam’s Sandwiches returns to the taproom for some down-home comfort food starting around 2pm.
Lisa Thomen heats things up with a live acoustic set from 2-5pm.

1:00 – 8:00 pm • Smittytown Market
Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St., Evanston, IL (847) 864-1000 Map
Come support some of your favorite local vendors directly at our indoor market. Grab a beer, browse, and buy!

2:00 – 6:00 pm • Pop-Up Kitchen: Bootleg Bâtard!
Sketchbook Brewing Co. – Skokie, 4901 Main St., Skokie, IL  Map
Enjoy this pop-up by local bread and pastry-makers Bootleg Bâtard!
Menu TBD but will include pastries sweet and savory.
Count on us for delicious food every weekend!

3:00 – 10:30 pm • Moor’s Brewing Presents: All-Star Game Day Party
Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St., Chicago (312) 638-0700 Map
The Rhythm. The Flow. The Finesse. The Passion. The People. The Culture. This is where basketball and Hip-Hop become one.
Moor’s Brewing Co. hosts the All-Star Game viewing party and will be sampling out their beers while DJ Mustafa Rocks & DJ V-DUB keep you dancing.

4:00 – 5:30 pm • Girl Scout Cookie Pairing
Tapville Social – Naperville, 216 S. Washington St., Naperville, IL (630) 536-8739 Map
Tapville Social is pairing beer and cider with Girl Scout Cookies.
Get Tickets here ($30).

4:00 – 10:00 pm • 15 Lakes Bistro
Nightshade and Dark’s Pandemonium Brewing, 216 W. Clayton St., Waukegan, IL (847) 445-2467 Map
Burgers, curds, fresh made chips and so much more!

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Mark McDermott

Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.

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8 Best Karaoke Bars in ChicagoAmanda Schellingon February 16, 2022 at 5:40 pm

Do you usually just grab a pizza and hang on the couch on Fridays? Or, maybe Saturdays typically dedicated to the sports bar down the street? Well then, It’s time to branch out and warm up those vocal cords because we’re diving into the best karaoke bars in Chicago. From dives with character to what will feel like a full-blown concert, these spots will have you ready to send in your audition tape to Ryan Seacrest in no time. 

1659 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

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We’re firmly convinced that there is no greater place for karaoke than Louie’s Pub. With an equal mix of drunk amateurs singing their hearts out and talented, entertaining vocalists, Louie’s Pub is the best spot to indulge your inner American Idol. The best part? Free popcorn.

3216 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Nothing gets a party started like tropical-themed cocktails. Pair that with some free karaoke and now we’re really talking. Trader Todd’s is the perfect spot for big groups to take the stage and fully immerse themselves in a performance, day or night. They also feature a beer garden and the bar menu is filled with seafood!

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Brando’s Speakeasy brings a whole new meaning to the Roaring ’20s. This speakeasy-inspired tavern is the perfect spot to sing along to your favorites and party into the early hours of the morning, Gatsby style. You can sign up for karaoke with Brando’s right from your phone with a free Songbooks Online account! They also have a cocktail lounge with a completely different vibe for those who would prefer to enjoy a slow night filled with good conversations.

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234 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616

Want to live out your childhood pop star dreams? Sakura in Chinatown is absolutely the place for you. With private rooms as well as the main stage, you can show off your vocal skills to a small group or the whole bar. My recommendation? Live it up and sing “I Will Always Love you” to a few (hundred) people.

Posted by Sidekicks bar on Wednesday, August 27, 2014

4424 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60641

Neon lights, wood-paneling, and cheap drinks? Sidekick’s has it all. With an atmosphere that’ll help you shake the stage fright, this bar is the best place for you and your friends to sing all the classics until — get this — 4 AM! No wonder they’re considered one of the best karaoke bars in Chicago.

310 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

We all know that Punch Bowl Social is the place to go when you’re in the mood for good food, strong drinks, and plenty of games. But did you know this is West Loop staple also has private karaoke rooms for you to upstage your friends after you beat them in a few rounds of bowling? A cherry on top of a great night for the most competitive person in your friend group.

5526 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

If you’re walking (stumbling) down Lincoln Ave, you might miss this unassuming storefront. Take a closer look inside, and you’ll find a Japanese-style karaoke bar with multiple private rooms, drinks, and opportunities to take your singing career to new heights, at least for a night. 

2201 S Wentworth Ave #2FL, Chicago, IL 60616

Featuring a huge cocktail menu, you might just gain enough liquid courage to (attempt to) hit all those high notes. No. 18 in Chinatown is the perfect karaoke spot for groups of friends, birthday parties, and bachelor and bachelorette events, with a lot more entertainment than the local dive.  If you don’t think public singing is your thing, you might just change your mind after one of No. 18’s famous shot towers. 

Featured Image Credit: Brando’s Speakeasy

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8 Best Karaoke Bars in ChicagoAmanda Schellingon February 16, 2022 at 5:40 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls make a splash and sign Tristan ThompsonBenjamin Hudyon February 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm

After staying quiet at the trade deadline and waiting for some players to get cut, the Chicago Bulls are getting some help once the All-Star break is over. It started to come out late on Wednesday night that center Tristan Thompson will sign a deal with the Bulls after being cut by the Indiana Pacers. He will have to wait to clear waivers until he signs with the Bulls.

Thompson, who was sent to the Pacers in the Domantas Sabonis trade, will head to Chicago after playing just 4 games with Indiana. This season, he is averaging 6 points and 5 rebounds a game.

For the Bulls, they make their first big move using the buyout market. After the trade deadline last Thursday, Arturas Karnisovas stated that the Bulls would use the buyout market and the returning injured players as a way to improve this team.

When Thompson joins the Bulls, the players will have to waive either Matt Thomas or Alfonzo McKinnie on the roster in order to make room on the roster.

The Indiana Pacers will waive center Tristan Thompson, coach Rick Carlisle says. Thompson will sign a new deal with the Chicago Bulls after he clears waivers.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 17, 2022

Where will Tristan Thompson fit in with this Chicago Bulls team right now?

The Bulls are finally getting some much-needed size that they have been looking for all year. While backup center Tony Bradley has played well as of late, it feels as if Thompson will take much of Bradley’s minutes off the bench. Thompson brings the Bulls a much-needed rim protector and a better defensive option off the bench for this Bulls team.

Help is on the way for this Bulls team who are on a 5 game win streak heading into the All-Star break. Thompson coming to Chicago comes with a group of players still yet to come back from injury (Ball, Caruso, Williams).

It should also be very interesting to see if this is the last move the Bulls make through the buyout market. It was previously reported that they were interested in point guard Goran Dragic.

Brighter days are ahead for this Bulls team. With the playoffs two and a half months away, the Bulls are only going to get healthier as they work their way towards that goal. Thompson is a big get for a Bulls team that so desperately needs it.

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Chicago Bulls make a splash and sign Tristan ThompsonBenjamin Hudyon February 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

3 risky free agent wide receivers the Chicago Bears should signJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm

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Chicago Bears Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As the Chicago Bears begin to prepare for the start of free agency in March, one position that will certainly be a priority for the team will be the wide receiver position.

The Bears targeted the wide receiver position last off-season and placed an emphasis on speed as they signed the likes of Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd. Neither Goodwin nor Byrd played a significant part of the Bears’ offense in 2021 and it would seem likely that both wide receivers will play elsewhere next season.

The question mark for the Bears at the wide receiver position remains Allen Robinson. Instead of providing Robinson with a long-term contract last offseason, the Bears opted to apply the $18-million franchise tag on the veteran wide receiver. Over the course of his past season, Robinson’s relationship with the Bears appears to have deteriorated and the expectation is that he will not return to the team once free agency begins in March.

The sliver of hope that the Bears may have in re-signing Robinson is the idea that the team has a new general manager in place in Ryan Poles and a new head coach in place in Matt Eberflus. It’s possible that Eberflus and Poles can convince Robinson that the Bears are entering a clean slate with the regime change.

The Chicago Bears will need to take a risk at the wide receiver position this offseason if they want to help quarterback Justin Fields.

If Robinson does not return to the Bears in 2022, that leaves Darnell Mooney as the only certainty at the wide receiver position for the Bears. With that being said, the Bears are going to have to take a risk at the wide receiver position in free agency and there are three targets in particular that may interest the team.

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3 risky free agent wide receivers the Chicago Bears should signJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

3 free agents that would help Chicago Bears QB Justin FieldsJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 10:30 pm

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Chicago Bears Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears are entering a very important off-season after hiring a new general manager in Ryan Poles and a new head coach in Matt Eberflus.

The goal for the off-season of the Bears should be the maximize the potential of second-year quarterback Justin Fields.

While the Fields did show signs during his rookie season that he has the potential to grow into the franchise quarterback that the Bears expect him to be, there is no question that the first season of development for the quarterback was wasted.

Bears’ head coach Matt Nagy had no concrete plan in place to develop Fields during his rookie season. After the Bears moved up and selected Fields with the 11th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Nagy was tasked with implementing a plan to put the quarterback in a position to succeed during his rookie season.

Nagy’s plan included not involving Fields in a quarterback competition during training camp and pre-season; limiting Fields to only reps with the second-team during training and pre-season games; having Fields be the scout team quarterback during regular season practices; and, lastly, not utilizing an offensive gameplan that maximizes the strengths of Fields once he was named the team’s starting quarterback.

The Chicago Bears will need to view free agency as a tool to help maximize the potential of second-year quarterback Justin Fields.

The Bears can not repeat those mistakes in 2022. In order to ensure that Fields is put in the best position to succeed during his second-season, the Bears’ offseason moves will need to be made by the value that they provide to the quarterback. There are three free agents in particular that could help Fields in 2022.

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3 free agents that would help Chicago Bears QB Justin FieldsJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 10:30 pm Read More »

A Chicago Bulls history of the NBA All-Star weekendJosh Bootzinon February 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm

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(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls have a rich All-Star history. Since the team’s conception in 1966, 19 players have been selected to represent the Bulls in the All-Star game, totaling 56 appearances. All but four of those 19 players have been selected as a starter at least once, combining for 33 starting nods.

A Chicago Bull has won the All-Star game MVP four times. Bulls have also emerged victorious in four Three-Point Shootouts, two Slam-Dunk Contests, and one Skills Challenge. Since it began in 1994, the Rising Stars Game – a scrimmage involving players who are in their rookie or sophomore seasons – has seen 15 different Bulls players make 21 appearances.

The city of Chicago has hosted the All-Star game three times. Twice it has been at Chicago Stadium (1973 and 1988) and once at the United Center (2020).

The 2022 NBA All-Star weekend is upon us and the Chicago Bulls are sending three representatives: DeMar DeRozan is an All-Star starter, Zach LaVine is a reserve, and Ayo Dosunmu will appear in the Rising Stars game.

DeRozan managed to lead all guards in the Eastern conference with over 5 million All-Star votes. He joins Michael Jordan, B.J. Armstrong, and Derrick Rose as the only Bulls to accomplish this since All-Star voting began in 1975. A Bulls guard has led voting for the position in the East 14 out of a possible 47 times. Unsurprisingly, 11 of these instances came from Michael Jordan.

Bulls guards have led voting amongst all NBA guards 11 times out of the possible 47 years since voting began. B.J. Armstrong led all guards in 1994.

Michael Jordan was clearly a huge part of Chicago Bulls All-Star history.

Jordan led all guards in the years 1987-1993 and 1996-1998. He and Kobe Bryant are the only two guards in All-Star history to lead voting in the position for seven or more consecutive seasons.

Scottie Pippen generated the most votes amongst Eastern conference forwards in 1993 and 1994. He remains the only Bulls forward to do so. Pippen led all forwards in 1993 but failed to outgain Charles Barkley the following year.

The closest a Bulls player has come to lead the forward position since Pippen was Jimmy Butler, who placed third amongst Eastern conference forwards in 2017.

The only Bulls big man to lead All-Star voting at the center position was Artis Gilmore when he led Eastern conference centers in 1981 and 1982. Gilmore never managed to lead all centers due to a man named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Michael Jordan remains to this day the only Chicago Bull to lead the entire Eastern Conference in All-Star voting, a feat he managed an incredible 10 times in a span of 13 years.

Jordan was the leading vote-getter in the entire NBA an astounding nine different times. This mark of greatness and league-wide dominance still stands today, although with over 9 million votes this year, LeBron James has finally caught up and tied Jordan’s record with the help of an ongoing six-year streak.

MJ is the undisputed pinnacle of greatness in Chicago basketball history, accounting for all six Bulls championships and various statistical records. The Chicago Bulls are an old franchise with a wide variety of players, coaches, eras, and amazing stories of success and perseverance.

An invitation to the All-Star game is one way for the Chicago Bulls to showcase their assets to the world. Read on to take a trip through a Chicago Bulls history of the NBA All-Star weekend:

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A Chicago Bulls history of the NBA All-Star weekendJosh Bootzinon February 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan makes NBA historyJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 2:30 pm

The Chicago Bulls have consistently floated near the top of the Eastern Conference standings during the 2021-2022 NBA regular season and that is, in large part, due to the season that DeMar DeRozan has had.

Prior to the start of the off-season, the Bulls acquisition of DeRozan was widely criticized as many considered it to be the worst move of the offseason.

DeRozan, for his part, has silenced his critics this season. Through 55 games this season, DeRozan is averaging 28.1 points per game on 51.7% shooting and a player efficiency rating of 24.7.

DeRozan took his success this season one step further on Wednesday as the forward scored 38 points in the Bulls’ victory against the Sacramento Kings while shooting 58% from the field. For DeRozan, Wednesday’s game marked the seventh consecutive game in which he scored at least 35 points while shooting 50% or better from the field. .

With his performance on Wednesday, DeRozan broke a NBA record that was previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.

DeMar DeRozan has broken Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive games with 35+ points on 50% or better shooting. pic.twitter.com/bmHRUg5tf2

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 17, 2022

Any record that Chamberlain has is not meant to be broken in 2021 or any year in which the modern version of the NBA is on display. Chamberlain was a 7? center during his time in the leaguy and had at least 3-4 inches on any other player in the league. To think that a forward in DeRozan was able to break Chamberlain’s record in 2021 is incredible.

DeRozan has essentially been a cheat code for the Bulls during these past seven games. DeRozan’s run has further expressed the sentiment that the veteran should be receiving MVP consideration this season. DeRozan’s teammate, Zach LaVine, echoed that sentiment when he crashed the veteran forward’s post-game press conference on Wednesday night.

Zach crashed DeMar’s postgame media session ? pic.twitter.com/Ijhl24w4O8

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 17, 2022

DeMar DeRozan’s incredible 2021-2022 regular season for the Chicago Bulls continued on Wednesday as he broke a NBA record previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.

There is no question that DeRozan has cemented his candidacy for MVP with his current stretch of performances. DeRozan’s has carried the Bulls’ on his shoulders while the team has seen injuries to important players such as LaVine, forward Patrick Williams, and guards Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball.

The true test for DeRozan and Bulls will come during the second half of the season. The Bulls start the second half of the season with a six-game stretch against top teams in both the Western and Eastern conferences. If DeRozan is able to lead the Bulls through that stretch of games and the team is still near the top of the Eastern Conference, there is no question that he can push his way to the top of the line in regards to MVP voting.

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Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan makes NBA historyJordan Campbellon February 17, 2022 at 2:30 pm Read More »