Four-day weekend? Sounds like a prime partying opportunity to us. We’re not insinuating you shirk your familial duties (you’ve got all day Thursday, after all, for Turkey Day togetherness) but with a bevy of blowouts on Thanksgiving Eve, we’ve got your Wednesday night covered. Here are a few ways to get your kicks; find more fetes in our holiday guide at metromix.com.
Lucky Strike Lanes
322 E. ILLINOIS ST. 312-245-8331
This swank alley’s setting up a special lane for Turkey Bowling–yep, that kind of turkey bowling–and anybody who flings a frozen fowl for a strike will walk home with a bowling gift certificate and a free bird (but aim carefully; you only get one shot). Don’t worry: It won’t be the turkey you just tenderized playing 10 pin. Plus, sip drink specials and sup on turkey dishes. 11 a.m. Wednesday. No cover; bowling prices vary.
Smart Bar
3730 N. CLARK ST. 773-549-0203
Since you’ll be stuffing yourself the following day–and probably feeling too full of turkey legs to shake your own–you might as well get your groove on beforehand. DJ Heather, Dayhota, Lady D and Colette, dance floor angels who dish out exquisitely mixed sets of energetic Chicago house, return to this subterranean nightclub for Superjane’s Annual Night Before Thanksgiving Soiree. 10 p.m. Wednesday. $10-$15.
The Apartment
2251 N. LINCOLN AVE. 773-348-5100
Groove to hip-hop beats at this faux flat with the Heavy Metal Hump Day party. There’s no cover, and Bacardi O bombs, lemon-drop shots, and Miller Lite and MGD bottles are only $2, which may help you get to the “beyond” part of the equation a little more quickly. 10 p.m. Wednesday. No cover.
Turkey Trolley Trot
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Four Lincoln Park bars–McGee’s (950 W. Webster Ave.), Durkin’s (810 W. Diversey Pkwy.), Wrightwood Tap (1059 W. Wrightwood Ave.) and Duffy’s (420 1/2 W. Diversey Pkwy.)–are joining forces for a progressive, pre-Thanksgiving party. A $15 price tag includes drafts at each spot, trolley rides between bars and food. Plus, get $2 bottled beers, mixed drinks and wine. Start the crawl at any bar; just consider it a warmup for your gorge-fest the next day. 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday. Info: 773-868-8073.
Reserve
858 W. LAKE ST. 312-455-1111
Though it’s called Black Wednesday, there’s nothing gloomy about this chi chi Warehouse District get-together. RSVP, and drinks are on the house from 9 to 10 p.m., plus admission’s free before 11 p.m. (entry’s $20 without an RSVP). Plus, snag drink specials all night, including $4 Bud Lights, $8 bomb shots and $8 cosmos. RSVP at chicagotwentysomething.com/November23. html. 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Piece
1927 W. NORTH AVE. 773-772-4422
Who eats that nasty cranberry concoction on Thanksgiving, anyway? Piece knows the real reason the berry exists is to make great cocktails. The Wicker Park brewpub’s serving $3 Stoli cranberries all night at its Thanksgiving Eve bash, sponsored by metromix and RedEye, along with $4.50 pints of its award-winning Top Heavy Hefeweizen. Karaoke and a turkey-calling contest–no comment on which vocals sound better–round out the evening. Plus, RedEye rewards members snag free pizza from 11 p.m. to midnight. 8 p.m. Wednesday. No cover.
Crew Bar + Grill
4804 N. BROADWAY 773-784-2739
While most people are fixated on turkey this weekend, this gay sports bar in Uptown is bucking the trend and serving up a side of meat, in the form of the Chicago Beef Dancers, a group of male strippers. Keep the drumstick jokes to yourself, please. The Naughty at Nite Party also offers $1 domestic drafts and well drinks. 9 p.m. Wednesday. No cover.
Forget pie: Dig in to these Thanksgiving desserts
Want to work off that third serving of bird? Just need a break from too much family time? Take a heaping helping of these three Thanksgiving weekend fetes; find more at metromix.com.
Le Passage
937 N. RUSH ST. 312-255-0022
Famed MTV DJ Skribble is coming to town for a post-Thanksgiving bash–which also happens to double as his birthday party–at this upscale club. He’ll spin a smooth set of house and hip-hop that’ll take you back to spring breaks past. Which we could use during these chilly times. 11 p.m. Friday. $20.
Joe’s Bar
940 W. WEED ST. 312-337-3486
Make your alma mater proud at Turkey Friday, a massive gathering organized by a group of Midwest college grads. The party kicks off with an open bar from 9 to 10 p.m., then get $4 drinks, including Jager bombs. 9 p.m. Friday. $10.
Circuit
3641 N. HALSTED ST. 773-325-2233
We followed her across town during Halloween; now former Deee-Lite singer Lady Kier is back for an after-Thanksgiving DJ set. 9 p.m. Saturday. $8.
