Saturday, May 1st, 2010—Bar 111

Day 111—Friday, April 30th, 2010
Club Foot

Alright, I’ve had a great time here in Chicago! Simon’s Tavern was a blast and I had a great time seeing John Williams over at WGN and being interviewed by him. Hopefully they'‘ll be a podcast I can post soon. Thanks to John, his producer Beth and all the great people at WGN!

Okay, “Boris” was the one that threw this name into the ring and everyone from Chicago wholeheartedly agreed that my last night on the midwestern jaunt of the crawl should be spent at Club Foot in the Ukranian Village of the city. Is that the perfect name or what? So put on your special foot gear and let’s hop over to Club Foot!

The day started out early for me as I went over to WGN Radio to be interviewed by John Williams. It's been over 16 years since I wormed my way onto his show, this should be fun!

Jacquia and Stacie greeted me at the reception area and happily agreed to pose for a photo. Okay, I begged them to, but after a few minutes, they relented.

Beth, the producer of the show led me into the studo and showed me where to sit.

The interview went great and it was lots of fun to catch up with John. One Peoria boy makes good and one, well, he's just going to 365 bars and seeing what happens. Thanks to John and everybody at WGN! Tons of funs!

I worked up quite an appetite, so imagine how thrilled I was to learn that right across the street is the legendary Billy Goat Tavern. The one that inspired the John Belushi "Cheesboigah, Cheeps, no fries," skit.

The line is long...

But it moves fast.

Is that Dan Aykroyd behind the grill?

Cheeseboigah, cheeseboigah! It was delicious!

Okay, on to tonight's main attraction, Club Foot!

Holy Guacomole, this place looks perfect!

Bartender Laurie serves up a cold beer as I try to soak up the atmosphere.

Aaron beat me to the bar and is already working on a drink. If you're doing you're math you'll remember Aaron from last night and that he drums with the uber-cool band, The Joans.

It's The Handcuffs plus "Boris!" From left: Chloe F. Orwell, "Boris", the 365 in-house artist and Brad Elvis.

And here "Boris" unveils the 365 Bars T-Shirt he designed. They will be available next week, stay tuned! Great work, Daddio!

Here's Abby and Mike, two other former Peorians in the bar.

And here's the entire Abby party, troublemakers one and all!

Just some of the dolls and pop culture knick-knacks on disply at Club Foot.

Here's Juliet, Falshunee (if I spelled your name wrong, feel free to call me a dumbass in the comments, Falshunee, my note's were a little garbled) and Angela. There was a rumor going around that Angela had an ax outside, I don't know how that got started. (Inside joke people.)

And here I am in the middle of the lovely Juliet and Angela doing my best Gomer Pyle impersonation.

You could spend a week in here and not see everything.

Signed Devo memorabilia.

Carolynn and Kyle flash the 365 111 sign.
Great stuff at Club Foot!

T.J. Kati and Craig were hanging out in the back near this cool Cheap Trick poster.

Brad Elvis points to an early poster of one of his first bands, Screams.

That's Brad on the left. Years later, Legs McNeil would add a "Please" to this title and write a best-selling book!

There's a pool table in the back room.

Here's Stephanie and J.P. J.P. is part of Bloodshot Records and is a fan of the 365 site, in fact she knew who I was which was very cool!

Here's Brian and Sam, it was Sam's birthday, Happy Birthday, Sam! Brian is part of Chicago Bike Polo, check it out here: Chicago Bike Polo.

Here's Club Foot owner, Chuck posing in front of one of his favorite displays.

I call this, The Handcuffs minus Ellis. From left, Emily Togni, Chloe F. Orwell and Brad Elvis.

Speaking of the Handcuffs, they're going to be playing live at the Abbey, Saturday, May 15th. Go see them and send me a picture of the show. Okay, I have to fly out early, so I'm hitting the road, goodnight everybody!

Review

Club Foot has been a neighborhood favorite in this neighborhood for 14 years now. If you’re a pop culture fan, prepare to be assaulted on all levels as you enter. Vintage dolls, punk rock pictures and posters and assorted kitschy clap-traps housed behind glassed casings line the walls. Forget the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, this is the real deal. DJ’s spin tunes ranging from rockabilly to punk rock to new wave to various indie bands, there’s a pool table in the back and a pinball machine up front. Who could want for anything more?

There’s a full bar at Club Foot with a good selection of bottled and draft beers and most beers and drinks are under five bucks. There’s a few TV’s, but who wants to watch them when there is so much to look at on the walls and the glass booths. Call to ask about polka night or just stop by for a great time in an attitude-free and fun zone.

Thanks to all of you who met me in Chicago, it was lots of fun and great to see old friends and make new ones on the crawl. Now, it’s back to New Yawk City! Cheers and beers!

Club Foot
1824 W Augusta Blvd (Between Ashland and Damen) Chicago, Illinois
773-489-0379

Traveling Day—Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Okay, it's time to head back to New York City. I had a blast in Peoria and Chicago and my last night in Chicago will be posted later this afternoon/early evening tonight. It's 9:00 am, my plane leaves in about one and a half hour's time and I need to find a bar for tomorrow's posting so I can take it easy when I get back home tonight. Check back tonight for yesterday's bar crawl which includes a stop at the John William's Show on WGN radio, a cheeseburger lunch at the legendary Billy Goat Tavern and then the nightly bar crawl at Club Foot. Here's a preview picture of myself and these two trouble-makers at the Club Foot, check in later to read all about it. Cheers!

Friday, April 30th, 2010—Bar 110

Day 110—Thursday, April 30th, 2010

Simon’s Tavern

Okay, if you’re reading this before 11:00 am this morning, turn on the John Williams Show on WGN Radio 720, where I’ll be interviewed sometime around 11:00 this morning. It’s been 17 years since I wormed my way onto John’s show way back when he was in Peoria, so tune in to catch the Chicago fun! If you’re reading this after 11:00 am, well, you’re as the say, shit out of luck. But there is a new bar to check out and it’s last night’s first Chicago stop!

Simon’s bar was suggested by my friend Aaron the drummer for the Joans, so I told a few other Chicago friends and the following is our trip to Simon’s. Garfukel’s refused to comment. So there!

Okay, I'm in the Peoria terminal, waiting to fly to Chicago. it's a little boring so time to look at something more interesting...

Woo hoo!

I hate these little puddle-jumpers that go back and forth from Peoria to Chicago. I call them, "Buddy Holly Specials."

The good news is the flight only lasts 30 minutes. Hello Chicago!

The bad news is, the cab ride to the hotel is longer than the flight.

But here I am, my new home away from home for two days, the Best Western on Broadway.

But this isn't a guy walks into 365 Best Western's, it's a guy walks into 365 bars, so baboom, here we are at Simon's.

Looks like a nice Chicago joint. Hey, who's this guy?

Why it's Josh! Cheers, Josh, you're on 365 camera!

Seeing Josh with his drink made me thirsty and bartender Patrick quickly served me up a cold beer to remedy the situation.

My sidekick for the entire evening was 365 commentator Biff, who drove to Chicago for the fun. Hi, Bifferoonie!

There's side tables opposite the bar for ample seating.

Here's the guy who suggested the place, Aaron. I mentioned before Aaron drums for the Joans, check them out here, a fun and great band: The Joans.

Here's Bill and Margaret who had some suggestions for bars in New York for me to visit, which I added to my list.

Simon's has a great old school jukebox with an eclectic menu ranging from Robert Gordon to Elastica to Television to The Clash to the O'Jays and everyone in between.

Here's Karla and Eric. Eric's a teacher and Karla's a writer. She's got a whole bibliography on Amazon, check it out here: Karla's Goddamn Bibliography on Amazon. She's also got an app, I don't know what that really is, but she has one, look: Karla's Goddamn App.

And now it's time for dueling photography part one: Myself versus Karla!

Here's a woodsy moment on the wall.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's The Handcuffs! Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell join the fun at Simon's!

And they're back(s), by popular demand, The Handcuffs, woo hoo!

And here everyone is...hey, where's Clare?

Quit hiding behind Brad, Clare, step out and face the music! Okay, maybe tomorrow (stay tuned for a picture tomorrow of the elusive Clare!)

Okay, here my notes are a little garbled, I hope this is Melissa and Amy, but it might be Jennifer and Laura, but I think it's Melissa and Amy. Anyway, they wished me well on the bar crawl and were very cool.

Here I am being super-charged being in the midst of the beauty of Chloe F. Orwell and Emily E. Schein.

Which can only lead to Dueling Photography Part II: Myself versus Emily!

Okay, garbled notes part II, I think this is Jennifer and Laura, but it might be Melissa and Amy, either way, Biff and I met them at the restaurant before the bar and shared part of our dinner because we over ordered (which is always better than under-ordering, I say) and they said they'd buy us a drink, and true to their word, they showed up! **Update: It turns out I was correct, I just got an email from Laura saying that the second picture is indeed correct after all! Thanks, Laura and thanks for the drinks!

Here's Lisa, Joanna and Anthony who were supportive of the 365 Bar Crawl idea and were fun to chat with.

Here's myself, Biff and Brad performing our version of what I like to call, "The Three Lips Penny Opera." Yep, it's getting late folks.

Time to go home, goodnight everybody!

Review

Okay, it’s almost 9:00 in the morning, I want to get this posted before I do the John Williams Show on WGN. I still need to shower and shave and do all my morning ritual stuff and write this review...what will I do... what will I do? I know, I’ll cheat, below is what Simon’s has to say about themselves, via their website. And I know this isn’t an official review, since they’re biased, but I had a great time last night, I have to get up and running and I’m on vacation, so leave me alone! Oh Simon’s...

Since 1934, Simon’s ceramic and glass block-clad façade has appeared like a beacon in the night to pub-goers of all nationalities with its neon sign depicting a fish holding a martini. This fish turns out to be a double entendre – “pickled herring” – which is a delicacy in Sweden. Get it? Right...

Once inside you may notice that, in contrast to the dirty gray linoleum floor and drop ceiling with questionable-looking tiles, the long, worn mahogany bar that runs long the south wall offers a touch of class. In front of the bar lies a curved upholstered booth that lies just under a small rectangular window in front lit with blue light bulbs. The design of the bar was modeled after a steamship like the triple-stacked Normandy etched into the mirror behind the cash register and below the Swedish and Norwegian flags behind the bar. Blue backlit portholes glow from the bar’s wooden backdrop below a yellow stucco wall, and an interesting array of Viking paraphernalia that includes: statues, a horned helmet, a shield, an axe, Viking ships, wooden carvings, and a small Viking warrior skewering a bowling pin with what looks like a trident.

While Simon’s may be the only bar in Chicago with an axe on display, the Viking helmet is particularly notable for two reasons. First of all, the Vikings did not wear helmets, let alone helmets with horns on them. Secondly, Simon’s has an ongoing, unadvertised bar contest: if you can spot the five hidden animals in the lodge mural across from the bar, you can drink for free during the entire evening while wearing the helmet.

“This is the way a tavern used to be—no ferns, glass or peppy waitresses” – Ethnic Chicago (1993) Beyond the bar lies a small lounge area, complete with two of your grandmother’s worn couches in the back, sans plastic, along with black & white pictures of a parade and a shuffleboard scene, and a red brick fireplace that warms chilly patrons. Illuminating the “back room” is a stained glass window depicting two crowned pickled herrings (drinking martinis) with little Swedish flags in the corners, backlit with light coming from the room behind.

(Wow, they can really blather on about themselves, can’t they! Oh well, it was a great night and you should check out Simon’s the next time you’re in Chicago.)

Simon’s Tavern

5210 N. Clark (@ Foster) Chicago, Illinois

773.878.0894