Get in the holiday mood with seasonal sips
With so many planned activities, travel obligations and shopping chores, it can be diffucult to take time to find a little holiday cheer for yourself. Luckily, there are plenty of local bars and restaurants where you can get into the spirit of the season - whether you're girding yourself for dinner with the whole family or are just looking for somewhere to relax after long store lines or a twice-delayed flight.
• Alumni Club, 871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg; closed Dec. 24 and 25; (847) 397-3100; alumniclubchicago.com
Your aunt's annual hideous gift usually never makes it out of the box, but this year you can bust out your ugly clothes for a party at Alumni Club. Anyone wearing a bad sweater gets in without cover for a hosted bar featuring Miller beer and cocktails from 9 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. After that, stick around for music from DJ Mike Z, $3 Miller and Miller Lite bottles and a chance to transform a bad present into a great one with prizes including VIP New Year's Eve tickets and a Nintendo Wii. Leave your sweater behind to be donated to Salvation Army instead of taking up valuable drawer space. You'll get another one next year.
• Arrowhead Restaurant and Bar, 26W151 Butterfield Road, Wheaton; open Dec. 24; closed Dec. 25; (630) 653-5800; arrowheadgolfclub.org
Sure, you could head home after a long day of picking out gifts and spend the night with wrapping paper, tape and scissors. Or, you can take your bags over to Arrowhead, where customers can get up to five gifts wrapped for free from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Stop in on a Thursday for a special treat with $5 seasonal martinis including the Merry Martini with chilled Skyy vodka, cranberry juice and Grand Marnier.
• Birch River Grill, 75 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights; closed Dec. 24; open Dec. 25; (847) 427-4242; birchrivergrill.com
If winter makes you crave eggnog, you can find it at Birch River Grill, along with other seasonal tastes. The $7 holiday drink list includes eggnog with hot milk and brandy along with the peppermint twist, a mix of peppermint schnapps, Kahlua and crème de cacao.
• Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett; open Dec. 24; nightclub only open Dec. 25; (630) 830-7200; cadranch.com
Just to show you're never too old to love Santa Claus, the big guy in red is making a stop at Cadillac Ranch at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Show him what list you should be on with $3 Dekuyper naughty and nice shots. Naughty drinkers get red headed burst while good ones drink kamikazes.
• Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine; closed Dec. 24; bar open Dec. 25; (847) 358-9150; durtynellies.com
Who really wants two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree? Skip the birds and enjoy the 12 beers of Christmas, with a punch card you can turn in for a T-shirt and a mug before the end of the season once you've sampled the full dozen. The list includes six drafts and six bottles ranging from $5 to $16 each. The pricier drinks are rare 750 ml brews, so you can order to share. More local tastes include Goose Island Christmas Ale and Great Lakes Christmas Ale. If you want a change of scenery to go with your drinking diversity, you can get the same selection at Duke's Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake; closed Dec. 25; (815) 356-9980; thedukeabides.com.
• Glen Prairie, 1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn; open Dec. 24 and 25; (630) 613-1250
Whether it's storefronts, trees or gifts, decoration is one of the trademarks of the season. The $8 holiday drinks at Glen Prairie are no exception, with attractive treats such as the peppermint patty with white crème de menthe, peppermint schnapps and Godiva dark chocolate liquor served in a chocolate-rimmed glass with a mini candy cane. Or try Santa's treat with Navan vanilla cognac, Frangelico and amaretto served with a cinnamon stick. If the weather leaves you in need of something to warm you up, sip a Christmas coffee (espresso with Bailey's Irish cream and Jameson's whiskey served in a coffee cup rimmed with powdered candy cane and a candy cane stirrer).
Happy holidays!