Most emailed Bars & Clubs items

1. Warm Up and Bear Down Chili Cook-Off

A tailgate party in the bar's parking lot features all-you-can-eat chili from 16 amateur and professional chefs competing for $1,000.

2. Turkey Trolley Trot

A Black Wednesday party includes transportation between six bars, plus domestic drafts and food.

3. Inside: Big Star

By Lisa Arnett - November 12, 2009

Wicker Park’s dive-by-design doles out cheap thrills and simple swills

4. Midnight math

By Lisa Arnett - November 17, 2009

Are $100-plus New Year's Eve parties worth the cash? We quizzed the people behind them to see if it all adds up

5. Chicago New Year's Eve parties

Ring in 2010 with these New Year's bashes

6. Close Up 2 - Live Smooth Jazz Club

If you're looking for an intimate night of jazz, this is your spot: CU2 features a rotating roster of musicians playing only the smooth stuff.

7. Big Star

The owners of Danny's Tavern and other prolific local spots are behind this alfresco-focused bar in the former Pontiac address.

8. The Shrine

This South Loop club-lounge combo rocks on in the former Chicago Legends space.

9. Louie's Pub

This classic corner pub features karaoke on most nights, plus pool, darts, a jukebox and inexpensive drinks.

10. Naha

Chef Carrie Nahabedian creates dishes that reflect her Armenian heritage as well as time spent cooking in the West Coast's finest restaurants. Expect seasonal menus, classic preparations and Mediterranean flavors.

11. Cafe Iberico

Owner Jose Lagoa, from the town of La Coruna in northwestern Spain, says the Spanish tapas and ambience (noisy, partylike) draw 1,000 people a day on the weekends, 500 to 600 on weekdays. Some 60 Spanish wines are offered, about 5,000 bottles in all, displayed in racks on the ceiling. Iberico...

12. Singles Speed Dating Party

Meet other singles (ages 22-32 or 33-43) for fast dates. Drink specials include $4 well cocktails, $2 glasses of house champagne and $3 domestic bottles.

13. Bull & Bear

The guys from hot spot Stone Lotus are behind this stock market-themed sports bar in River North.

14. AlphaBeer

Get a one- to three-ounce beer sample for every letter of the alphabet, from Anchor Steam to Zywiec.

15. TBOX. The 14th Annual 12 Bars of Christmas Pub Crawl

Clink drinks at more than 30 Wrigleyville bars.

16. Pre-Thanksgiving Pub Crawl

Hop a trolley making rounds between O'Shaughnessy's, Charlie's Ale House and the Spot.

17. Black Friday at Angels & Mariachis

The bar opens early with half-price food from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Drink specials include $12 60-ounce lime margaritas and $10 tequila flights.

18. Dirty Bingo

The popular board game gets a raunchy reworking at this monthly bash.

19. Bluestone

The bar area at Bluestone resembles a sports shrine, lined with helmets from professional and college along with golf banners hanging around the restaurant.

20. Boutique Nightclub & Social Lounge

This hip-hop focused club boasts music on three levels.

21. Chicago's Largest Singles' New Year's Eve Party

Dress to impress (no jeans, T-shirts or gym shoes) at this singles-only bash featuring appetizers, group activities, party favors, $5,000 in door prizes and a cash bar. DJs spin top 40 and retro tunes.

22. Zia's Trattoria

Elegantly plated lunch and dinner entrees fly from the open kitchen to the U-shaped dining room of this bustling trattoria. For lunch, try the baby spinach salad with calamari, walnuts, blue cheese, tomatoes and honey mustard dressing. Popular dinner options include beef tenderloin stuffed with...

23. Lucky Strike Lanes

This posh bowling lounge is a spin-off of the popular Hollywood and Highland address in Hollywood, California.

24. Nightcrawlers

Photos of who we've seen on the scene

25. District Bar

This bar and restaurant boasts a fleet of 47 TVs to indulge avid sports watchers and happy hour revelers blowing off steam after work.