Bars

February 5, 2009

Bruno and Tim’s They say every el stop needs a liquor store, and this grungy longtimer is convenient to the Loyola Red Line station. Naturally it attracts a large college contingent, but it’s really an old-man bar—note its morning hours. The package store has a surprisingly good selection for its ilk and size.  Mon-Sat 9 AM-2 PM, Sun 11 AM-2 PM, 6562 N. Sheridan, 773-764-7900. —Kate Schmidt

Intro The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue

History Borders and Boundaries From Indian treaties to the Cabbage Wars to World War II, the forces that shaped Rogers Park and West Ridge. By Bill Savage

Memoir The Savages of Time Sex columnist Dan Savage and his brother Bill on the lost landmarks of their childhood. By Dan Savage and Bill Savage

Memoir The Shovelers of North Mozart The West Ridge way: rest on Saturday, help your neighbor on Sunday. By Adam Langer

Politics MVP or Mope? Alderman Joe Moore, whipping boy for the 49th Ward Ben Joravsky Plus: Where Bloggers Dodge Beers By Mick Dumke

Street Level What to do and where to do it: Architecture, bars, classes, GLBTQ, music, parks and beaches, theater and dance, dining, shopping, art, and volunteering

More Neighborhood Guides Ukrainian Village/East Village South Loop Logan Square Uptown

Cary’s Lounge & Liquors This longtime old-man bar and package store run by Pete Valavanis, the eldest son of Cary, has been hipped up some, offering eight beers on tap (including Goose Island 312 and a Belgian), live music on weekends, and free pool Monday through Thursday, when there’s also league play. And it’s not every tavern that has the category “Politics” on its Web site. Mon-Fri 9 AM-2 AM, Sat 9 AM-3 AM, Sun 11 AM-2 AM, 2251 W. Devon, 773-743-5737, caryslounge.com. —KS

Cuneen’s This neighborhood bar, closing in on 40 years old, is practically preserved in amber: a wooden Indian stands to one side of the door, the clock above the handsome, mellowly lit wood bar bears Richard J. Daley’s mug, and hundreds of LPs line the shelves beside a turntable. It’s nostalgically comfortable, too, with seating in the windows, a couple couches and armchairs, and a laid-back vibe most nights, with lots of banter among regulars. The bar offers menus for a couple dozen neighborhood restaurants who deliver, so food’s an option too. Cash only. Sun-Fri noon-2 AM, Sat noon-3 AM, 1424 W. Devon, 274-9317. —KS

Duke’s Bar See Music.

Emerald Isle This neighborhood pub has 12 beers on tap and, despite the Irish theme, serves standard American bar food like chicken tenders. There’s a pool table and booths in the back; outdoor seating in warm weather. Mon-Fri 11 AM-2AM, Sat 11 AM-3 AM, Sun noon-midnight, 2537 W. Peterson, 773-561-6674. —KS

Karaoke Restaurant Karaoke bar with private rooms for an hourly rate of $5 per person; wine, beer, sake, and some Korean menu items are available. Sun-Thu 5 PM-3 AM, Fri-Sat 5 PM-6 AM, 6248 N. California, 773-774-1166. —KS

Lamp Post Corner tavern that’s more a neighborhood bar than a sports bar, despite the plethora of HDTVs. There’s pool and darts, and the friendly bartenders serve 30 beers by the bottle and six on tap. Comfortable and reasonably quiet—but steer clear on game days if you’re allergic to Cubs fans. Mon-Fri 3 PM-2 AM, Sat noon-3 AM, Sun noon-2 AM, 7126 N. Ridge, 773-465-9571. —KS

Lighthouse Lounge This pleasantly divey bare-bones bar is tucked between an old hotel and the lake, hence the nautical theme. Schlitz and Miller Lite are the only beers on tap, but there are 12 additional beers in bottles. Cash only. 11 AM-2 AM daily, 7301 N. Sheridan, 773-764-9414. —KS

Mullen’s Bar and Grill One in a small chain, this sports bar is deeply devoted to the Cubs (there’s another location in Wrigleyville) and the Bears; still, it’s a pretty plastic place to take in a game. There’s bar food (pizza, sandwiches, burgers, ribs) and drink specials daily. Sun-Fri 10 AM-2 AM, Sat 11 AM-3 AM, 7301 N. Western, 773-465-2113, mullensbarandgrill.com/rogers-park/index.php. —KS

Oasis This large two-roomed bar is showing its age, but no one seems to mind—the crowd ranges from Loyola students to the local alderman. There’s pool, but darts are a bigger draw: Oasis hosts regular tournaments, and the competition’s stiff. A small package store allows takeout, but the selection’s limited. 3 PM-4 AM, 6809 N. Sheridan, 773-973-7788. —KS

Poitin Stil The arrival of this Irish pub three years ago heralded the gentrification of a formerly seedy strip of Jarvis by the el stop, now called Jarvis Square by neighborhood boosters. But it’s really not so fancy—just your typical neighborhood bar with a pool table, video game, and ten beers on tap. Perhaps the best thing about it is its neighbors: you can bring in food from Dagel & Beli next door or get a Neopolitan-style pizza from Gruppo di Amici down the street. Sun-Fri 3 PM-2 AM, Sat 3 PM-3 AM, 1502 W. Jarvis, 773-338-3285. —KS

Red Line Tap See Music.

Sherry’s Bar This dive bar only serves bottled beer and only takes cash, but there’s food, and friendly bartender Mimi makes her “specialty sandwiches” on Saturday. There’s an ATM machine and a pool table. Sun-Fri 11 AM-2 AM, Sat 11 AM-3 AM, 5652 N. Western, 773-784-2143, sherrysbar.com. —KS

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