The Mutiny

Well this was two years in the making.

Another neighborhood bar merely blocks from my front door, that is The Mutiny. Across from Quenchers at 2428 N Western Ave, this bar has been brought up in conversation multiple times. I've passed it on the bus more times than I could even think to count. I used to stare at it when I'd have my cigarette outside of ol' Q across the street. But it took over two fucking years for me to bring myself into one of the diviest of dive bars.

The Mutiny proudly proclaims itself to be "a dive rock bar since 1990". Though I've never seen a show there, I'd stand by that.

This was another adventure during the blizzard, a random decision after 2039482085 beers. A couple of friends accompanied some new friends we made across the street to finish the night. I had heard stories about this place - you could maybe say it's sort of legendary. It does have, as I learned (and later peed in) that night, the oldest and largest urinal in Chicago.

We walked into a bar that was barely lit. If it weren't for the street lights coming through the window, the glow of the jukebox and the light above the pool table, I might not have been able to see anything.

The owner was sitting at the bar and seemed like a pretty friendly guy. He talked to everyone that came in, helped behind the bar and saw that the giganto-urinal was iced regularly. Our draft PBRs were stupid cheap, as were almost all the drinks in the bar, though I couldn't remember the price (c'mon - I had been drinking for four or five hours at that point. In a blizzard, which is practically drinking in double time). The jukebox was packed with old classics like CCR and Guns N' Roses. This provided much entertainment.

There's a second room in the back, not completely partitioned off, where they were letting people smoke due to the less than favorable conditions outside. Nobody seemed to mind, myself included. Then again, nobody seemed sober enough to really form opinions at that point.

At closing time, the bar allowed us a chance to suck down one more shot, which I always appreciate. Then we ambled out back into the snow and I crossed another one of my list.

The crowd here was...interesting. Some young, Quaker hippies, some metal-looking cokeheads, the token old dudes at the bar and us. Everyone seemed content with what they were doing and there wasn't any tension, so hooray.

Will I venture back? Maybe someday, perhaps for a show, but I'll probably just detour to Quenchers and end up staying there.

Drinks: Cheap
People: Variety pack! All ages included
Atmosphere: Mega-divey
Grade: B-

www.themutinychicago.com

The Bob Inn

I swear I didn't mean to take a hiatus. Fret not, though - while I haven't been sitting down and pounding out these posts, I've still been going out and pounding down those drinks. I've got three bars to write about for you, with more on the way. That being said, it's time to share the magic that is the Bob Inn with you.

The Bob Inn, located at 2609 W. Fullerton, is the first bar I started going to on a regular basis in Chicago. I had met some folks while I was still living in Missouri who lived in Logan Square and when I moved to the city, we all met up. I was introduced to people who would soon become my roommates, best friends and just general motley crue. It was apparently one of their rituals to make an appearance at the Bob Inn every Thursday, when "The Coffin Banger" would do his weekly show. It is a tradition that still lives on two years later.

So let's talk about the Bob. It is a total dive bar, that's for sure, but I feel like in the world of dive bars, there are different levels. This is not a hipster dive bar (unless you go on a Friday or Saturday night), it is not a music dive bar, it is not anything other than a good ol', workin' man's dive bar. Definitely one of the only White Sox bars I've seen on the northside, there's sports memorabilia all over the walls and front window. There are two TVs that generally have a sporting event on, though if you go in the afternoon for a beer you can totally catch an episode of Jeopardy with the owner, Jimmy. The bar itself may seem like one of those places where your options include beer, whiskey or water, but it's actually fully stocked with several brands of all the major liquors and even some more random stuff (think malort's and ouzo). It's pretty dark, though there are an assortment of old beer signs, christmas lights and colored bulbs that provide enough glow to see the people you're with. There's also a pool table in the middle of the bar, which provides for several showdowns between me and a certain Philippe.

The prices, as with all dive bars, are totally cheap and reasonable. You get your 16 oz. PBR tallboy for $3.25 or you can take the classy route and have a well cocktail (think whiskey and coke or vodka and tonic) for $4.25. And don't you fret - they pour em' stiff. They also have specials on Labatt's, Becks and Hamm's daily.

The staff is amazing. It's pretty much the same two or three bartenders nightly, though again - if you go in the afternoon, you'll probably see Jimmy just hanging around. There's also Annie and Betty, the two sweetest women I've seen behind a bar since my days in Hannibal. They're easy to talk to, easy to listen to and when the bar isn't three-deep with hipster fools, the service is always quick and awesome.

Thursday nights are especially great with the aforementioned "Coffin Banger Show". DJ Pete shows up, spinning some of the best oldies (with a few new surprises in there) from 10 p.m. til' the bar closes. He often has theme nights or honors those rock n' roll greats who have passed with a special playlist. He works off requests, throws out trivia questions and is the most awesome, non-cheeseball DJ there is. People dance. People sing. People take off their shirts and run outside of the bar yelling (okay, that only happened once but who's to say it won't catch on as the new thing?). It's just one more special touch the Bob Inn offers.

Yes, I'm partial. Yes, it's very hard for me to find something negative to say about this bar. Sometimes the bathroom is out of paper towels. Sometimes you'll get hit on by a creepy man in his late 40s. But it's a dive bar! What are people expecting?!

Check this place out if you live in Logan Square, it's a treasure that shouldn't be missed.

Drinks: Cheap
People: Working class, Locals, All age ranges
Atmosphere: Relaxed
Grade: A+

www.myspace.com/24939439 (See? They still have a fucking Myspace, FANTASTIC.)

Next time: Quenchers

Gallery Cabaret!

It has begun! Last night kicked off my new endeavor and the journey began at a neighborhood favorite, Gallery Cabaret. Located at 2020 N Oakley (the corner of Oakley and McLean), this little corner bar carries a big reputation.

I had only been to the Gallery once before...actually, the weekend before this, as a friend who is leaving the country convinced me to come by for an open mic. It was exactly what an open mic night should be - laid-back, no-pressure, not pretentious and a lot of fun. It was enough for me to convince my band to finally get on a stage in the new year, even if it was just one song.

We loaded our stuff up and headed out around 7:30. Sunday nights are always open mic at the Gallery, with two different sets. The first begins at 7:00 p.m. and is hosted by the very sweet Jeremiah Stone. Sign up starts early, so if you plan on being in the first set, get there by 7. This was voted the best open mic by the Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago" in 2008 and there was a reason for that. The second set begins around 10, and is hosted by the one and only Texas Fred. Also, around 8, "Chef" Scotty brings out a great buffet of FREE food.

We lucked out last night with a mountain of italian beef hanging out in it's own delicious juices, a great dinner salad with tons of veggies packed in, brownies, chips, crackers and cheese - it was awesome. A lot of people stop in for the dinner and a few brews (Leinenkugel's pitchers are $6!)while the stage is playing host to a variety of entertainers.

The thing I like most about this place is that you can definitely feel that it's been around awhile and that there's a great sense of "family" between the bartenders and the regulars. I always appreciate that in a bar. The decor is eccentric, with local artists on a display, a collection of portraits over the bar and random things like a giant pencil floating around everywhere else.

The Gallery does accept cards, but has a $10 minimum, though if you're the person who comes to a bar with the intention of spending less than $10 and you don't have cash...well, I'll reserve my judgment of you, but I can tell you that we won't be bar-buddies or anything.

The Gallery, in my opinion, is a true treasure in Bucktown. My only regret is that I wasn't coming here sooner.

Drinks: Cheap
People: All age ranges, minimal hipsters and lots of sweethearts
Atmosphere: Awesome
Grade: A+

www.gallerycabaret.com

Next time: The Bob Inn The Boiler Room!