There’s a Lollapalooza 2020 Watch Party at Parlay Next Weekendon July 24, 2020 at 4:28 pm

We’re all still reeling from the fact that Lollapalooza 2020 has been canceled in person this year. But despite the cancelations made, Lollapalooza 2020 still plans to have a weekend full of livestreamed concerts, a dive into the Lollapalooza archives from the Chicago festival and its international iterations, and a host of other virtual performances and events. To save us the experience of having to watch the virtual Lolla 2020 from home, Parlay at JOY in tandem with Green Curtain Events, is having a watch party for us to elevate our watching experience.

For those unfamiliar with Parlay at JOY, Parlay occupies the first floor of Joy District’s multi-level drinking and dining establishment. The River North spot is the place for all kinds of drink lovers and aficionados of classy dishes. With multiple 100-inch LED TV’s and a 200-inch screen for the projector, any seat in the house is the best one.

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Green Curtain Events has much more planned for Chicago in terms of summer fun, the watch party being only one part of the series planned for Summer 101, a team effort between them and White Claw to be a “re-introduction to some of the city’s best bars, restaurants, and event themes.” Summer 101 is described as a covid-conscious “small batch” event series, focused on delivering concentrated and safe dosages of that classic, summertime Chicago experience.

To bring that summer attention to Parlay, Green Curtain Events has tailored two event packages, running from Thursday to Sunday, that come loaded with enough to make your Lolla 2020 watch party an experience you won’t forget For a party of 4, the $350 package will guarantee you entry with preferred seating, reserved service for over 3 hours, three appetizers for the table, two buckets of White Claw Hard Seltzer, and a premium bottle which will be presented by your server.

The deluxe package can accommodate up to 6 people and runs for $500. The upgrades for this package includes four appetizers instead of three and double the buckets of White Claw. Thursday July 30th and Friday July 31st, guests can enjoy the package from 7 pm to 11 pm. On Saturday, August 1st, there are two slots available for packages: 4 pm to 7 pm and 8 pm to 11 pm (if you’re feeling really frisky, you can get packages for both slots!) And finally, Sunday, August 2nd, has its slot set from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Establishments will, of course, be adhering strictly to the guidelines set forth by the city and the state to ensure a safe entertainment environment for all guests and staff; guests are also strongly encouraged to follow safety guidelines at all times while at Parlay and all Summer 101 events. Make sure to follow Green Curtain Events on Facebook to keep up with all the amazing summer events they’re putting forward!

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The Best Spots to Celebrate the Cubs Opener in Chicagoon July 24, 2020 at 5:12 pm

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Time to break out your jersey. Baseball is back, baby! Today’s Opening Day and we couldn’t be more excited. The Cubs will be taking on the Milwaukee Brewers and the White Sox are up against the Minnesota Twins. While the ballparks may be empty, that doesn’t mean we should celebrate any less. Check out these fun spots to catch the game, load up on baseball-themed treats, and more.

HVAC Pub

3530 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Batter up! A stone’s throw away from Wrigley Field, this sports bar offers Cubs fans a socially distant way to party and watch the game. Bring your appetite: for $50 a person, you can wolf down all-you-eat pizza and sip on bottomless cocktails or domestic beers. Full drink and food menus will also be available. HVAC’s spacious patio seats up to 40 guests and will be broadcast with sound. Reserve your spot by emailing [email protected]!

Photo Credit: Old Ground’s
Old Ground’s Social

950 W. Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

In honor of the Cubs home opener, this funky Lincoln Park sports bar will host a special Friday happy hour on July 24th. Guests can enjoy a $25 package that includes bottomless well drinks or domestic beers with a burger and fries (6 pm to 8 pm only!). The Cubs game will be broadcast indoors and on the patio. Reservations highly recommended!

About Last Knife

168 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60601

This modern steak bar is serving up baseball-themed cocktails created by ALK Bartender, Arthur Horocki. Step up to the plate with a “Batter Up” which consists of vodka, lime, honey, and plum, served up. Or keep swinging with a “3rd Strike” made up of rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and orange liqueur served on the rocks. And once you’re feeling good, go for a “Foul Ball” with tequila, dry vermouth, Aperol, and orange or cherry soda. Only available Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25!

Hotel Lincoln’s Cubs Package

1816 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

If you can’t book a suite at the stadium, book one at Hotel Lincoln instead. This Lincoln Park favorite is offering a baseball-themed package, complete with Cracker Jacks, peanuts, and a souvenir foam finger. Guests can also toast to the start of MLB season with a complimentary draft beer or house wine at the Kennison before 6:30 pm. Skip the long lines and get VIP access to The J. Parker rooftop post-game as another guest perk. Now that’s a homerun package!

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Bar Cargo

605 N. Wells St, Chicago, IL

Head over to this upscale sports bar in the heart of River North for Opening Day! Bar Cargo will be broadcasting both the White Sox and Cubs games on their flat-screen TVs with plenty of outdoor seating to accommodate everyone safely. Order a few $20 domestic beer buckets or $28 White Claw buckets and knock it outta the park.

WhirlyBall

1825 W. Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

This bumper car, crazy-fun favorite has reopened just in time for Opening Day. On July 24, take advantage of their “Fun Daze” package for $20 per person. You’ll get one hour of WhirlyBall, laser tag or bowling, and unlimited pizza! Plus, the Cubs game will be broadcast on all TVs throughout the venues. Get your reservations in by calling ahead or online here.

The Goddess and Grocer

1649 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 | 901 N Larrabee St, Chicago, IL 60610 | 1127 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Kick-off the season in a divine way. This popular cafe shop is dishing up Goddess Home Run Cakes. Northside Cub fans with a sweet tooth will enjoy six layers of red and blue cake with vanilla buttercream. And the South Side Sox fans will love layered black and white cake with vanilla buttercream. Grab a slice of goodness for $7 or a whole 10-inch cake for $80, only available until the end of the season.

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7 Best Hotels to Visit in Downtown Chicago This Summeron July 24, 2020 at 7:45 pm

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Looking for a fun staycation in the Windy City? Escape your house for a few days at your favorite hotel in Downtown Chicago! Just a heads up, things might be a little different. Many hotels have unveiled plans to increase sanitation throughout guests’ experiences while enforcing social distancing practices. You should also plan for a digital check-in and check-out, plexiglass in high contact locations, and no room service at most locations to keep guests safe. Here’s a quick roundup of Chicago hotels that are open now and what to expect when you visit them.

LondonHouse Chicago

85 East Wacker Drive, Chicago IL 60601

This luxury hotel puts you right smack dab in the middle of downtown Chicago. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or just passing through, LondonHouse is a great spot to check out. To ensure staff and guests are safe, they’ll be enforcing new procedures including daily team wellness and temperature checks, a reconfigured layout, and expert-guided food safety protocol.

Hilton Garden Inn

Various Locations

Want something more affordable? Take a peek at the various Hilton hotels in Downtown Chicago. Depending on dates and times, you could score a room for under $100. Just a heads up, the fitness center, and breakfast are available but limited. And leave your swimsuit at home, the pool, business center, and room service are all unavailable.

The Gwen Hotel

521 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL, 60611

Voted one of the best luxury hotels in Chicago by Travel + Leisure, the Gwen Hotel provides modern amenities in the heart of the city. Staff is going above and beyond all state and health department guidelines to ensure the strictest standards are in place. Associates are required to wear masks with temperatures checked each day. Their rooms are “sealed” upon sanitization prior to guest arrival. And sorry no hotel parties: during after hours, access to the hotel is limited to guests only.

Sofitel Chicago

20 East Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611

Head down to the Magnificent Mile and spend some time at this stylish hotel in downtown Chicago. Sofitel’s General Manager states on their website, “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have partnered with top experts to implement new standards of safety and enhance operational protocols and procedures which are among the most stringent in the hospitality industry.” For a deep dive into how Sofitel is handling safety procedures, check out allstaywell.com.

Hotel Zachary

3630 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60613

If you can’t be at the ballpark, stay across the street at Hotel Zachary instead! This distinctive boutique hotel is a Wrigleyville staple. And you can feel confident your room will be safe: all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. You can also find disinfecting wipes in each room for your own personal use. And if you’re a healthcare professional, you could score a free room. Hotel Zachary is a part of the Marriott family and together with American Express and JPMorgan Chase, they’re offering $10 million worth of hotel stays for those leading the fight against COVID-19.

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Hyatt Regency Chicago

151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

Kick back and relax at Chicago’s largest hotel, steps from the Riverwalk. Some things to note: food service, bar service, and the business center have limited availability. The fitness center is only open from 5:30am to 8pm. And face masks are strongly encouraged throughout public areas. For the latest information, you’ll want to call the hotel directly.

Viceroy Chicago

1118 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60610

Known for its contemporary-chic design and prime location, Viceroy is a luxury hotel located in the Gold Coast of Chicago, IL. Management has laid out an action plan for new standards at their hotels, from strict cleaning practices to physical distancing guidelines—everything has been created in accordance with the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the CDC, and local health authorities.

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12 Best Chicken and Waffles in Chicagoon July 24, 2020 at 8:15 pm

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Whether it’s the height of summer or the dead of winter; a day of great highs or one of unforgiving lows; there’s nothing like some good, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. There’s almost no dish with the capacity to stick to your ribs like the classic chicken and waffles— or, to be precise, fried chicken and waffles. The juxtaposition of that which is crispy and savory with something so soft and sweet as a buttery waffle is, luckily, an experience you can find at the best chicken and waffles establishments in Chicago.

Luella’s Southern Kitchen

4609 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60625

Named for and inspired daily by chef Darnell Reed’s great-grandmother Luella, this restaurant serves up great southern cooking in Lincoln Square. Here, you can order the traditional chicken and waffles, or make it Nashville-style hot chicken and waffles for an extra kick.

Jam

2853 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago IL 60618

Head to Logan Square for brunch at Jam, where fried boneless thighs sit perched atop a fluffy waffle, along with bread and butter pickles and paprika.

Batter & Berries

2748 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60614

The Cluck-N-Gaufre shakes up the traditional chicken and waffles— paired with nutmeg hot sauce, the herb-fried chicken breast rests on a foundation of sweet potato waffle, which is stuffed with pieces of more fried chicken.

Mother Cluckers Kitchen

5200 N Elston Ave, Chicago IL 60630

The Sauganash neighborhood kitchen uses a Broaster pressure fryer which, according to Mother Cluckers, “seals in foods’ natural juices and locks out cooking oil for a third less fat and calories than regular fried chicken.” Does that mean we can add more syrup to the waffle and feel okay about it?

Fat Cat

4840 N Broadway Ave, Chicago IL 60613

Topped with Coca-Cola-bribed chicken, candied bacon, Jack Daniel’s maple syrup, and bacon-infused whipped cream, the Jack & Coke Chicken and Waffles is truly a bar-brunch twist on the traditional dish.

Chicago Waffles

1104 W Madison St, Chicago IL 60607 | 1400 S Michigan Ave, Chicago IL 60605

The Bacon & Chicken Waffle makes its intentions quite clear in its name: it intends to make sure you are very full of meat-and-waffle goodness by the end of your meal.

Chicken & Farm Shop

113-125 N Green St, Chicago IL 60607

If you’re looking for a more traditional chicken and waffles amid a trendy brunch setting, head to the Fulton Market area for the buttermilk fried chicken and waffles at Chicken & Farm Shop.

Breakfast House

1800 W Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60622 | 3001 N Ashland Ave, Chicago IL 60657

If there was anything you didn’t know you needed until you saw it, it would absolutely be a house of breakfast. Come to the temple of all things breakfasty for a trinity of chicken breast, leg, and wing which blesses the top of a Belgian waffle.

Photo Credit: Chicago’s Chicken and Waffles-Chicago Facebook Page

Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles

3947 S King Drive, Chicago IL 60653 | 543 Madison St, Oak Park IL 60302

Prepare to be blown away by the sheer number of ways one may choose to embark upon their own chicken-and-waffle adventure. With so many choices of chicken cuts, waffle toppings, and more, it’s no wonder this is truly Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles.

Hutch

416 W Ontario St, Chicago IL 60654 | 1477 W Winnemac Ave, Chicago IL 60640 | 3301 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60657

Hit up Hutch for their amazing crispy chicken tenders + savory waffle, joined by a dynamic duo of bacon butter (that’s bacon butter) and maple syrup.

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Fish over fowl? View our list of the best fish tacos in the city.

View the Best Fish Tacos in Chicago

MAD Social

1140 W Madison St, Chicago IL 60607

This West Loop spot takes chicken and waffles to a new level: chicken breast Milanese and pork belly is served on a churro pressed waffle, and accompanied by MAD hot sauce and maple syrup.

Chicago Q

1160 N Dearborn St, Chicago IL 60610

These chicken and waffles are traditional, but can be spruced up at Chicago Q— you can add hot links, more fried chicken, and eggs if you’re trying to include a little extra protein at brunch.

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Chicago Cubs Opening Day primeron July 24, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Get ready for the Chicago Cubs opener.

Take a deep breath in, exhale slowly and repeat after me Chicago Cubs fans — ‘we made it.’

After a grueling offseason, which saw the starting and stopping of Major League Baseball’s Spring Training, we are on the precipice of having live, meaningful baseball games to watch and argue about.

However, this as you know, was far from a sure thing. And whether MLB ultimately finishes the 2020 season is not a foregone conclusion.

But for the time being, we will all revel in the fact that later this evening, you will be able to turn on your television and escape from the COVID-19 reality for a few hours while you enjoy Chicago Cubs baseball — preferably with an ice-cold adult beverage in your hand.

It’ll be as surreal as it will be amazing to have baseball back in our livings rooms, so enjoy it for as long as you can.

So without further ado, let us dive into the Opening Day matchup and get ready for the return of baseball to the North Side of Chicago.

Who: Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Where: Wrigley Field

When: Friday, 7:10 EST

Pitching Probables: Kyle Hendricks vs. Brandon Woodruff

How to watch: ESPN

What Chicago Cubs fans should expect

Herein lies the million-dollar question. Cubs fans are a little tense these days after a couple of tough exhibition losses to the cross-town rival Chicago White Sox. However, it seems that fans have placed a little too much importance on those games and might have overreacted a tad heading into the regular season.

With that said, no one really knows what to expect when the Cubbies open up a three-game series against their division rivals. This is unchartered territory for the players. How will they react without fans in the stands, or to some of the new rule changes, is anybody’s guess.

What we do know, is the Cubs will have to come out of the gate very strongly if they want to have any shot at contending for a World Series title in a shortened 60 game season. Every game is an important one, and at least the Cubs have a reliable starter on the mound who will hopefully get them off to a good start.

Certainly, the new DH rule will be a big benefit for the Cubs — which has a number of potential candidates to fill that role — as it allows them to get another one of their powerful bats in the lineup.

Next: Cubs should do nothing at trade deadline

It will be a very interesting season, and it all gets started tonight. The good news is, you won’t have to worry about whether you get the Marquee Network to see the game as it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. So sit back, relax and enjoy what we’ve waited for months to arrive — baseball at Wrigley.

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Chicago Cubs: Expanded postseason changes season narrativeon July 24, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

As the Chicago Cubs are set to open their season against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, their post-season chances have already improved.

The Chicago Cubs did not even have to play a game before they received encouraging news regarding their playoff chances for the 2020 Major League Baseball Season.

On Thursday, the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball Owners agreed to expand the post-season for the 2020 season.

The expansion will increase the post-season eligible teams from 10 to 16. In other words, just over half the teams in Major League Baseball will be playing in the post-season come October.

This is Major League Baseball that we are talking about. It is not as simple as expanding the eligible teams from 10 to 16 by adding more Wild Card teams. That would be too easy.

Instead, the format is as follows: The first place and second-place team from each division will make the post-season, and for the final two spots, that will go to the two teams that had the best record but did not finish first or second in their respective division.

But that is not where the funky ends. The first-place team of each division will then have the opportunity to select who they would like to play in the first round. The first-round being a best of three series that will be played at the home field of the team with the highest seed.

Is your head spinning? Don’t worry, here is an example of the new format based off last year’s standings for the National League:

National League West Post-Season Teams

Los Angeles Dodgers 97-65
Arizona Diamondbacks 93-69

National League Central Post-Season Teams

St. Louis Cardinals 91-71
Milwaukee Brewers 89-73

National League East Post-Season Teams

Atlanta Braves 97-65
Washington Nationals 93-69

National League Wild Card Teams

New York Mets 86-76
Chicago Cubs 84-78

Needless to say, if things were not weird before, they definitely are now.

Before we digest what this means for the Cubs, let’s get the caveat out of the way. This is a terrible format. A better format would have been to place a paper with each team’s name on it along the Wrigley Field bleachers and have the ball of a Craig Kimbrel allowed home-run make the selections.

Having said all that, there is no doubt that the Cubs chances of making the post-season have undoubtedly increased. At the very least, all the Cubs have to do in 2020 is be one of the two best third-place teams in the National League. When comparing the Cubs’ 2020 roster against other potential third-place teams in the National League, suddenly, the narrative of the season has changed. No longer are the Cubs a fringe contender and, instead, they are a team that is expected to make the post-season.

But that change in narrative is where it becomes scary for the future of the Cubs and why expanded post-season should not be a mainstay in Major League Baseball. The reason being is that it will lead to teams spending less during the off-season as the new format makes it likely that a .500 team or even sub .500 team will make the post-season. Which for a team like the Cubs, with an Owner in Tom Ricketts showing an increased disinterest in spending on the Major League team, leaves them for the potential to be trapped in baseball hell. Mediocre enough to make the post-season but not nearly good enough to actually compete for the World Series title.

Next: Chicago Cubs should do nothing at the trade deadline

Expanded Post-Season is here for Major League Baseball in 2020 and the Chicago Cubs have a strong chance of being included. But like with most things in 2020, let’s hope it is a thing that we can simply forget once the calendar turns to 2021.

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Chicago Blackhawks: Need to be smart with the Seattle Krakenon July 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm

The Chicago Blackhawks need to be smart with the Seattle Kraken expansion draft.

On Thursday afternoon we learned that the National Hockey League’s 32nd franchise is going to be called the Seattle Kraken. They are going to begin to play in the 2021-22 season. That means that next summer will see them in the NHL Draft and more importantly an expansion draft. The reason that is more important is that it will affect every team in the NHL to some degree. The Chicago Blackhawks need to be smart with this draft otherwise it could be a problem for them.

Things could be different for the Hawks a year from now because we don’t know who will be running the hockey operations. Right now, Stan Bowman is in charge but it doesn’t seem like he is anywhere near a lock to be that guy a year from now.

Back in 2017, the Blackhawks left Trevor van Riemsdyk unprotected in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft and they took him. It was a tough loss for Chicago but they really didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. They were a good team that could only protect so many players and that is who Vegas wanted to take. Nobody really faulted them at the time for letting that happen. With that said, they are in a way different spot for this upcoming expansion draft.

There is likely going to be scenarios where teams are able to make trades with Seattle to get them to take on a contract. For example, if they wanted to give away a good prospect for the Kraken to take Brent Seabrook‘s contract, that is something that will be allowed. It sounds nice in theory, but it is a strategy that has not worked out well for the Hawks in recent memory. This might be different but it also worked out badly for other teams around the NHL in the Vegas draft.

If anything, the Blackhawks need to be very careful when this event comes around. It is an important time in their franchise’s history right now as they try to retool themselves back into contention. They have five or six all-time franchise players on their roster but it is very top-heavy. Losing a good player would really hurt so they need to make sure they handle this as properly as they can. It is still early but it is never to early to have these conversations.

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