Sure, there were no knife fights, drunk Rolling Stones fans grabbing your hooters, or airport gun-wielders, but just wait till next time.
Well, then, what kind of fans were those guys grabbing my hooters?!?!
Fans of your hooters, of course! 
Oh, riiiight…I’ll have to re-think wearing that “Ask Me About Breast-Grabbing Opportunities!” button.
So, did you actually find some places to hold the ChiDope, or was it just a heavy petting session with a bunch of total strangers? Not that those are always mutually exclusive events.
No heavy petting was done…not by me at least. Although MikeG did seem to be like Hamlet an awful lot…anyway, Shibb, we went to:
Cans (formerly Mad Bar, which I was familiar with and liked quite a bit) – pretty swanky and slick. Nice beer selection, but pricey. The private room was nice, had a private bar, but maybe a little snug depending on numbers.
Holiday Club – After ogling the hot li’l doorman, we checked out the back room (and the aforementioned Porn-O-Plenty vending machine), which was smooth – had a little stage for karaoke and whatnot. Private bar too. Nice retro-dive feel to it.
Lottie’s – I dug this place (although we found it a little bright), as it’s a quintessential middle-of-the-neighborhood bar. According to Hamlet the private room was dive-y. Unfortunately the management never had the chance to speak to us. Cheap drinks though!
We skipped Nick’s on Nymysys’ recommendation. This leaves Black Rock, home of pear cider and couches, and Moretti’s. I suggest the committee reconvene at some point (my preference is a weekend night, FWIW) for a couple of hours to evaluate these places as well.
I like this idea. As long as its not next weekend, I’ll be there!!!
I’ll add my impressions also, although they are much like Gundy’s.
CANS - nice place with a good beer selection, Galaga and Centipede, and the private room was nice, and trendy. I counted seating for about 35-40 people, but plenty more room to stand. MikeG talked money with the manager, so he’ll have to hop in on price issue. Nice and close to the Blue Line El Stop.
HOLIDAY CLUB - also close to the El Stop, and a place that may or may not sell carnitas. The “skinny cute” doorman aside, “retro-dive” is a good description. I realized that I had been there before for a party and it was fine. If we get Judith or Gundy to turn on their feminine wiles, we may get a good deal, and maybe even karaoke. The regular bar was a tad bit smokey, but alltogether a pretty good place. False advertising with the “porn o’ plenty” though.
LOTTIE’S PUB - I liked the neighborhood bar feel to this place, and they have a great beer selection. The basement room that we would have has a fun history to it, and it is definitely big enough. It has a definite unfinished basement feel that the owners are currently upgrading. They have a pool table down there and would be able to pipe in music if they want. I spoke with the manager today and he’s going to put together a drink/food package for us to look over. The fact that it’s about 5 blocks from the El stop is the only downside, but the weather should be good enough it shouldn’t matter too much.
Those were the places we checked out because they are in an increasingly gentrified neighborhood on the blue line, which would make it easy to get to for both the O’Hare and the Downtown contingents. We sent Judith Prietht out on a scouting/flirt-with-the-management mission to another bar, and, since she hasn’t checked in yet, I’m afraid she may have overflirted and gotten married.
I’m up for checking out Black Rock and Moretti’s too, but my weekends upcoming are a bit busy. Pick a date though, and I can try, as long as it’s not the 28th or 29th.
I’m out of town next Saturday-Monday for a wedding, but Friday’s free (3/21). The weekend following is okay for me I think, but no good for Hamlet. I’m leery of pushing too far into April because we really need to get on the stick with actually reserving a place. Jane, I know you’re busy on 3/22, but how about 3/21? Anyone else?
I would say maybe for Friday. I can’t say for sure just yet. But I agree on not pushing it too far into April as well, so I’ll keep checking on the thread and let ya know as the next outing gets closer.
The 21st is Benito Juarez’ Birthday, so …
Oh wait, I don’t celebrate Benito Juarez’s Birthday.
It may be O.K., but it is possible we may have friends coming in from out of town. I should know more later.
Friday initially sounds good – lemme confirm next week when I know my schedule a little better.
Checking in. Am unmarried and unfortunately appear to have missed out on all the heavy petting and hooter-grabbing. My personal scouting mission was unsuccessful, as the owner was not there to flirt with nor ask about the upstairs private room. I think a road trip to Lakeview may be a little too far for those staying near O’Hare and downtown. I missed Lottie’s but pretty much agree with everything said about the places above. Especially about the dreamy doorman.
If I make it out 3/21 to Black Rock and Moretti’s, I’ll bring some Spam musubi.
Rock on, Judith! I’m interested yet apprehensive about the Spam musubi. Incidentally, I hadn’t noticed that you were the OP on the “Six Feet Under” thread 'til after I met you – pity that, as I’m a big fan of the show.
That’s odd, because I’m interested yet apprehensive about hooter-grabbing.
That’s not what MikeG told me…
Can I just say that the word “hooter” is making me titter? Ha, I said “titter”.
Keep us posted on the time & place; depending on date, you may be able to count me in. And a BIG vote for karaoke!
Wow, that could have been fun. A single, and presumably attractive (all Doper women are by definition attractive) female comes to flirt and ask about the private room upstairs. It sounds like the beginning of a Monty Python sketch.
Better luck with the hot doorman, JP!
Would they rent out the back room at Holiday Club on a weekend night?
Honestly, I’m not trying to be difficult here, I’ve just never heard of them doing it. 