Lollapalooza 2012 bars

LOOP/SOUTH LOOP
Buddy Guy’s Legends
This spacious club features top blues talent nightly, and sometimes Buddy himself shows up to play or just hobnob with fans. 700 S Wabash Ave (312-427-1190, buddyguys.com). Mon–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 5pm–3am; Sun 6pm–2am. Average beer: $5.
 
Emerald Loop
Plenty of room to stretch out, including sidewalk seating, plus a reasonably priced menu of upscale pub fare. 216 N Wabash Ave (312-263-0200, vaughanhospitality.com). Mon–Fri 7am–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am. Average beer: $4.50.

Jimmy Green’s
If you’re looking for a modern sports lounge with 27 screens within stumbling distance from Grant Park, this is it. 825 S State St (312-386-9000, jimmygreens.com). Mon–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–1am. Average beer: $4.

Kasey’s Tavern
A classic Printers Row tavern with a huge craft-beer list and a nifty little pool table in the back. 701 S Dearborn St (312-427-7992, kaseystavern.com). Mon–Thu 2pm–2am; Fri, Sun 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am. Average
beer: $4.

Reggie’s
Two rock venues in one offer 17+, all-ages and 21+ shows with drink specials out the wazoo, and an eclectic offering of 25 beers on tap. 2109 S State St (312-949-0120, reggieslive.com). Sun–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am. Average beer: $4.

GOLD COAST/RIVER NORTH
Bootleggers
A classic joint with a friendly staff, a DJ, big-screen sports, board games, pool, dancing and the World’s Smallest Beer Garden. 13 W Division St (312-266-0944). Sun–Fri 7pm–4am; Sat 7pm–5am. Average beer $4.50.
 
The Cedar Hotel
A prime location means that this outdoor patio is packed to the gills with people-watchers all summer long. 1112 N State St (312-944-1112, cedarhotelchicago.com). Mon–Fri noon–2am; Sat 11:30am–3am; Sun 11:30am–2am. Average cocktail: $10.

Pippin’s Tavern
A fun dive with a rectangular bar, varnished wood and tunes blasting for local college kids, high-rise dwellers and tourists. 806 N Rush St (312-787-5435). Sun–Fri 11am–4am; Sat 11am–5am. Average beer: $5.

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub  
A basement hideaway for more than 20 years featuring buckets of beer, sports on the tubes and decent grub. 622 N Fairbanks Ct (312-642-0700, timothyotooles.com). Mon–Fri 11am–3am; Sat, Sun 9am–3am. Average beer: $4.

Zocalo
This place features more than 130 tequilas made of 100 percent blue agave, which you can drink with authentic Mexican fare, or on its own. 358 W Ontario St (312-302-9977, zocalochicago.com). Sun–Thu 5–10pm; Fri, Sat 5pm–midnight. Average cocktail: $10.

LAKEVIEW
The Diag
You loved it as Jack’s, now check out the new version with an outdoor beer garden, a full bar and a late-night menu. 2856 N Southport Ave (773-404-8400). Mon–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am. Average beer: $5.

Finley Dunne’s Tavern
Awash in Blackhawks memorabilia, this place brags on its “World Famous Orange Whips” but also pours 17 beers. 3458 N Lincoln Ave (773-477-7311, finleydunnes.com). Mon–Thu 5pm–2am; Fri 2pm–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am. Average beer: $4.50.

Friar Tuck
You walk in through what looks like a giant wooden keg, and when you’re inside it’s just a good ol’ party. 3010 N Broadway (773-327-5101). Mon–Fri 1pm–2am; Sat noon–3am; Sun noon–2am. Average beer price: $4.

Jake’s Pub
At nearly 80 years old, this place is a serious but unpretentious craft-beer tavern with old-school bar stools. 2932 N Clark St (773-248-3318, jakespub.net). Sun–Fri noon–2am; Sat noon–3am. Average beer price: $5.

Martyrs’
The best-sounding live music club in the city, this place features an eclectic rotation of rock, jazz, country and world music. 3855 N Lincoln Ave (773-404-9494, martyrslive.com). Mon–Sat 5pm–2am; Sun 10am–2am. Average beer: $4.

Red Ivy
A huge room, newly remodeled, with lots of curves and nooks, Cubs on TV, an extensive bar selection and Italian-inspired comfort food. 3525 N Clark St (773-472-0900, redivychicago.com). Sun–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am. Average cocktail: $6.

Roscoe’s
The granddaddy of Chicago gay bars turns 25 this year. Stop in, pay your respects and take advantage of the daily drink specials. 3356 N Halsted St (773-281-3355, roscoes.com). Mon–Thu noon–2am; Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am. Average cocktail: $6.

LINCOLN PARK
The Charleston
Black walls, flickering candles, a photo booth, cocktails, wine, beer and DJs set the mood at this recently remodeled corner tavern. 2076 N Hoyne Ave (773-489-4757, charlestonchicago.com). Sun–Fri 6pm–2am; Sat 6pm–3am. Average beer: $5.

Delilah’s
Mix 400 kinds of whiskey with a bunch of great beers, jukebox rock and DJ beats on two floors; that’s this place. 2771 N Lincoln Ave (773-472-2771, delilahschicago.com). Sun–Fri 4pm–2am; Sat 4pm–3am. Average beer: $5.

Elbo Room
Here you get a vintage bar on the main floor and a seven-night-a-week rock club in the basement, where it belongs. 2871 N Lincoln Ave (773-549-5549, elboroomchicago.com). Sun–Fri 7pm–2am; Sat 7pm–3am. Average beer: $4.

Wells on Wells
A great alfresco spot to watch the polished parade of characters on the main drag of Old Town. 1617 N Wells St (312-944-1617, wellsonwells.com). Mon 5pm–2am; Tue–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 10am–3am; Sun 10am–2am. Average cocktail: $5.

WICKER PARK BUCKTOWN/WEST TOWN
Cleo’s
The raging red color scheme hits you first but then you notice the friendly staff, foosball and quaint beer garden out back. 1935 W Chicago Ave (312-243-5600, cleosbar.com). Mon–Thu 4pm–2am; Fri 3pm–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am. Average beer: $4.

Rainbo Club
A hipster haven, it dates to the 1930s. Modern art offers a little color, not that the joint needs it. 1150 N Damen Ave (773-489-5999). Sun–Fri 4pm–2am; Sat 4pm–3am. Average beer: $4.

Smoke Daddy
This funky roadhouse features live music every night with no cover plus a tidy little bar and, mmm, BBQ. 1804 W Division St (773-772-6656, thesmokedaddy.com). Sun–Thu 11am–11pm; Fri, Sat 11am–midnight. Average beer: $5.

Twisted Spoke
A rock & roll bar with a serious beer list, a rooftop full of picnic tables and tasty eats. 501 N Ogden Ave (312-666-1500, twistedspoke.com). Mon–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 9am–3am; Sun 9am–2am. Average beer: $5.

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The Lolla Superfans

While 100-degree heat, dehydration and sweaty, massive crowds may spell a great afternoon for some, Lollapalooza can often prove more taxing than fun. This year, after sporadically attending the festival since 2005, Jen and Brian Laskov are skipping the weekend in Grant Park in favor of Lolla’s more intimate after-parties.

“We’ve always been a bit stressed out about the crowds and the porta-potties,” Jen Laskov says. “Last year and the year before, we went to the after-shows and found that to be the highlight of the whole weekend. Last year we tried to do both, but it was too tiring. You’re already spending lots of money to attend Lolla, so we figured we’d just see our favorite bands in a more intimate setting and save some money in the process.”

Last year, Jen and Brian caught festival highlight Foster the People at House of Blues—albeit barely. “We ended up getting there a little too late,” Jen says. “We had tickets, but they were over capacity. Trying to sneak in, we got on an elevator and coincidentally ran into the band. They snuck us backstage and into the VIP section.” 

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The after-party insider

As front-of-house engineer and one of two talent buyers at the Double Door, Jesse Ewan has seen it all. Lolla after-shows have proven far more challenging and rewarding than typical gigs, with Sonic Youth’s 2006 performance taking the cake.

“It was what you get into live music production for,” he says. “To work with a band that you’ve looked up to, with that kind of track record, in such an intimate space. It’s a kick for the guys on our production staff. But it’s sort of a fire drill. They’ve played earlier that day. They’re tired. They’re sunburnt. You do everything you can to roll out the red carpet. Sonic Youth rolled up, like, 30 minutes before we had to open the doors, but we worked through it and had a great show.”

Chicago’s summer heat puts everyone’s skills to the test. “The singer from the Walkmen had a rough time here in 2010,” Ewan says. “It was extremely hot, and one of our air conditioners went out that day. But he made it. It’s hard going from one extreme to another, but there’s a reason these bands are playing Lollapalooza in the first place.”