Lucifer goes to Chicago for beer
 

Hello Chi-townies, my ship is arriving in the Calumet river tomorrow for the evening and I'm planning on making a quick trip to downtown for a beer at the Berghoff. With me will be the 3rd mate, maybe a captain and a cadet. Would anyone like to meetup for a beer at 4:30-ish?

Somehow, you always arrive at times when I can't make it. I'll be driving to Iowa by the time you get here. :(

make that boat come to atlanta damn it

Enjoy the beer.

Probably catching this too late... foiled again.

I'll be there tomorrow.

oh wait this is tomorrow??? I thought it was today.

Let me see what I can swing... I can't get out of work until 5, how long do you guys think you'll be there? I'll be coming from the Davis Metra station, so will probably not get down there until closer to 6 or so.

Yeah, I guess a date would be helpful. We'll be there Friday, probably arrive at the Berghoff at 4:30-ish and stay about 90 minutes. The 3rd mate has to work at 7 pm and it'll take about 45 minutes to an hour to get back to the ship. Also, it's just not good to be out on the street after dark in Calumet, so we definitely want to be home before dark!

why? vampires kill white people or something?

darn. I wish I was in Chicago. :( have fun and drink one for me!

Goose Island IPA is a beer that I dismissed at first. After a few bottles I decided it not that bad. I'd figure in Chicago you'll find it on tap perhaps. Try one for me.

I spell checked this post because I've been enjoying a home brewed double IPA all evening.

Sorry, that was unintentionally racist. I rephrase my statement as "it's not good to be out on the street after dark in Calumet."

damn, i miss the berghoff...one of my favorite restaurants in chicago...

have a draft for me, guys...

Unfortunately (or not depending on your point of view, I guess), the Berghoff doesn't serve Goose. They have their own proprietary beer, including a pretty good Amber.

And if you like the IPA, you should try their Bourbon Barrel Stout. It's got all kinds of interesting things going on in it. And Summertime is a staple at my house for hot days spent watching the kids play in the sprinkler.

Well, the restaurant closed a couple of years ago. It's still there, but it's mainly used for banquets now. They opened a "cafe" in the basement (where the overflow seating was) that's got pretty good sandwiches, but it's not the same. The bar is still there, though, and going strong.

Little history lesson since I'm a geek that way: The Berghoff opened in the early 1900's and stayed open during Prohibition, using the restaurant as a cover for a speakeasy. When Prohibition ended, they got Liquor License #1 in Chicago, which is still on display in the bar. The bar was for men only until the mid-80's because it only had 1 bathroom and was separated from the restaurant by a heavy velvet curtain (so the women wouldn't have to see the men drinking). Wives used to lob dinner rolls over the curtain so that they could get their husbands to get out of the bar and drive them home.

If anyone else is ever visiting, my office is a block away, and I'm always up for some suds. If you're unlucky enough - like Lucifer on his last visit - I'll even walk you through a few of the nearby buildings to show you the arcitecture and historical sites. Consider that a standing invitation, even if you live in the city.

This meetup is unfortunately called on account of some conspiring events against me: namely a later than expected arrival time, an unexpected immigration thing, and my partners in crime have either work to do or are too tired to make the trip with me. I don't like to walk around by myself downthere anymore after my last experience, so I will be stayng on board this time. Maybe next time it'll work out better.