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Friday After Work
Dana finds a Friday-night deal that makes the real world seem not so cruel after all.
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South Beach-style Sipping
Chaise Lounge's open-air space, refreshing drinks and delicate plates channel a Miami vibe.
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A Safe Bet
Fifty/50's clever beer-based cocktails and superior bar eats add up to a night well spent.
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Hailing Hopleaf
It's not exactly news, but the popular pub continues to impress with its exceptional beer list and rave-worthy eats.
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A Cider with the Sunrise
After waking up at an ungodly hour to catch a UK soccer match, Dana discovers her new favorite breakfast beverage.
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The Incredible, Edible Guinness Mimosa
With its zippy huevos rancheros and creative cocktails, Flo restores Dana's faith in eggs.
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When in Rome...Drink Aperol
A popular Italian aperitivo tastes just as good stateside.
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Champagne for a Lady
Sexist martinis aside, D.O.C.'s Ladies' Night isn't a bad way to spend a weeknight boozing.
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A Slice of Springtime
A seasonal slump is no match for Cafe Bolero's tropical libations and island fare.
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I Take My Coffee with Baileys
Dana samples a lackluster buffet for the sake of building her own spiked coffee.
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The Island Life's for Me
Throw in some tropical fruit juices with a whole lot of rum and you've got a killer punch.
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Hammering it Out While Getting Hammered
Dana and her pal finally see eye-to-eye after a couple drinks and a plate of plantains.
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Bravo to Crew
If only Dana had known about Crew's Project Runway screenings and massive martinis before getting cable.
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Give Back, Drink Up
Aria bar's refreshing take on a mojito is the perfect reward for a volunteer job well done.
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Bloody Mary to the Rescue
With a tasty bloody mary in hand, Dana finds brunch at Tweet is worth the wait.
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La Finca Keeps it Simple
A no-frills margarita and mouthwatering chips make a Mexican restaurant memorable.
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Tickle Me Pink
Dana sets her sights on a beer blend off of Fat Cat's massive drink menu.
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Sake 101
A sake sampler teaches an important lesson about the world of rice wine.
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Welcoming in Old Town
Though it sounds ironic, sipping an ice-cold vodka lemonade at Fireplace Inn hits the spot.
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Malted Barley, Hops and...Mustard Seeds?
A beer brewed with an unlikely ingredient adds a slight zing to a cozy dinner out.
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In a Pickle
Faced with a list of more than 100 sandwiches and as many brews, Dana opts for fail-safe suds.
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Festive Fun at Friar Tuck
A dressed-up take on a White Russian starts a bar crawl off sweetly.
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The Gift of Glogg
A toasty mug of Scandinavian glogg warms the belly and makes Dana's must-do holiday list.
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Not Playing Favorites
Dana finds a lovely libation at a thin-crust joint, but she's not swearing off deep-dish altogether.
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A Buzz for a Buck
Dana tests out the "hair of the dog" theory with $1 mimosas at Joey's Brick House.
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Now and Zen
A newly hopping 'hood offers plenty of pre-concert cocktail choices.
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Left with Leffe in Little Italy
On her second pasta-free trip to Taylor Street, Dana visits (where else?) an Irish tap.
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XO Marks the Spot
A lounge achieves landmark status with its doozy of a drink list.
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Dusting Off the Clubbing Cobwebs
Dana makes her grand return to the club scene with a Halloween-inspired cocktail at Manor.
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Mixing it up with Mango
A pre-concert pit stop at Raw Bar brings out the martinis and memories.
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Wait, Wait...Do Beer Me!
Dana snags a discounted pint at a trader bar before heading to a taping of NPR's quiz show.
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Sipping in Season
An apple-flavored cocktail pairs perfectly with Italian food and makes up for a trip done wrong.
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Swallowing Skepticism
A martini with an intriguing ingredient and mega slices of fish squash Dana's misconceptions.
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A Sampling of Suds
Chicago Ale House packs in the taps, slinging out brews in sizes meant for sampling.
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Making Progress by the Pint
Flounder's cheap Miller Lite and tacos for less than two bucks fit the pre-film bill perfectly.
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From Paninis to Pinot
Dana's favorite lunchtime sandwich spot doubles as the perfect post-work place for a glass of wine.
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A Drinking Distraction
Though the night began with saketinis at China Grill, Dana had other plans for a summer night out.
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Pre-Season Pitchers
Dana warms up for college football season with a stop at Sedgwick's for discounted pitchers of Blue Moon.
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Plum Good Libation
Forget email and phone calls. Dana finds a better way to stay in touch with friends at Oysy.
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A Model Martini
After sipping her way through plenty of too-sweet martinis, Dana finds the perfect blend at Japonais.
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No Love for 40s
Despite lacking a drink list and hawking 40s, LBC wins over Dana with its upbeat tunes.
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Mojitos Made Up My Mind
Narrowing down her nightlife choices, Dana opts for an evening of art and a minty concoction.
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Playtime Meets Party Time
Martini Park helps Dana retreat to her recess days…had her local playground served martinis.
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Seriously Sweet Brew
Dana scores a glass of the seasonally scare Shugga and a saucy pie at Bricks.
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Mixing Politics and Pleasure
Dana pops into Plan B for a post-work cocktail and finds a refreshing ode to Obama in a glass.
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Don't Shrink My Beer!
Dana opens her mind to mini drinks and fare at Halsted's family-friendly joint.
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A Winning Round
At Gamekeepers, my volleyball team learns it's not whether you win or lose, but how you score cheap burgers and beer.
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Where the Glass is Greener
Eco-friendly trumps economically-friendly in Dana's book after an evening at Crust.
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Oh, Cabana!
Any patio will do, but Volo's does it best when it comes to sipping wine cabana-side.
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Change of Bar Scene
Head to Riverview when you want to hit up a bar but not get hit on.
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Cheap Wine Fits All
After much indecision on where to dine, Dana and co. land happily at Quartino for small plates and cheap pours.
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Breakfast Beverages Beat the Buffet
Stanley's legendary mimosas and bloody marys tame Dana's hangover with fresh juicy flavor.
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Miami Liquefied
J Bar's Cuban-inspired cocktail sets Dana back in South Beach.
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A Margarita that Moves Me
Tarascas' strong and bargain 'ritas welcome me to the neighborhood.
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Positive Thinking, Happy Drinking
In my hour of need, SushiSamba Rio comes through with its bento-box bargain.
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A Tapa by Any Other Name…
I could've been the brains behind the small-plate trend. Instead, I'm just another happy consumer.
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Bourbon Therapy
Dana overcomes an aversion to bourbon at the most logical bar in town.
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Upscale Eats, Unexceptional Drinks
Pasteur cooks up innovative Vietnamese fare but offers no fun drinks to wash it down.
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You Don't Have to Spell It to Drink It
After tasty Turkish food and half a bottle of unpronounceable wine, cashing a coupon loses its stigma.
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Join My Club
Membership benefits include tasty Peruvian cuisine and a Pisco Sour buzz.
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Call it the Luck of the Irish
Wearing green and drinking Guinness doesn't make you Irish, but it sure is fun.
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Give Me the Boot!
We all know sharing is the right thing to do, so do it right with two liters of German beer in a boot.
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Drink at Your Own Risk
Take your chances and try out Tsuki's killer maki and bargain martinis.
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Chicago's Piece of the Microbrewery Pie
With few microbrew options, any beer-swilling Chicagoan will appreciate Piece's celebrated pints.
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New Lounge, New Perspective
Krem's all the rage, and I won't hold the hype against it or its champagne cocktails.
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Bring Your Own Tolerance
After enjoying too much wine at a BYOB, Salpicon's outstanding tequila selection couldn't be avoided.
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Where Southport Avenue Meets Bourbon Street
Throw on some beads and hold up a Hurricane to toast a bar that embodies the Big Easy.
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The Duke Knows Scotch
As one of the only Scottish pubs in town, The Duke of Perth will make you a believer with its single-malt selection.
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Belly's Steals Are The Real Deal
With four drink specials and cheap apps, Thursday nights out are once again a done deal.
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With The Grafton's Help, You're Good to the Last Drop
A special Irish coffee packs plenty of whiskey and caffeine to help you maintain.
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Three a.m. is Intoxicating Tea Time
Everyone ends up at the Green Mill sooner or later.
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On My Way to a Delirious Noel
Glunz makes it better by pouring a holiday brew in the right package.
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Rare Wine Well Done
Wind down the weekend with a glass of wine at Webster's Wine Bar, where you'll pick up a vino vocab to boot.
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The #1 Daiquiri
De Cero's fruit-filled daiquiris and tasty tacos deserve bragging rights.
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The Good, the Bad and the Cheap Tab
Double fisting beer is a-okay when it's time for a taste test.
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Good Drinks Come to Those Who Wait
For Iberico's sweet sangria, patience pays off.
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Infused-Vodka Martinis? Yes, Please!
Innovative vodka tops basic cable for midweek amusement.
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How About a Bloody, Buddy?
With enough decisions to make in life, why make 10 about a Bloody Mary?
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Quantity Trumps Quality in Round One
A Schooner at Lotties classes up cheap beer in large quantities.
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For the Sake of Sake
A lesson in drinking stand-out sake the right way at Shine Morida.
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Buffed and Buzzed
An unlikely locale offers a cheap solution to nasty nails and a thirst for martinis.
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Make Mine Minty
Draining cheap pitchers of mojitos (on a Friday, no less!) at Mambo Grill.
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