It’s deep winter. You want nothing more than to become one with the couch, to live in your jammies, to burrow down into the depths of blankets and flannel and pillows and drowsily stare at the television as snow piles up outside. Perhaps half-eaten chicken pot pie is sitting on your coffee table next to a steaming mug of coffee. Perhaps there is apple pie too — hot, of course — with ice cream in the freezer. This is our fantasy.
But you need to buck this primal desire to sink into a winter coma in front of the TV. Go out. Do stuff. You can always DVR those shows. They aren’t going anywhere.
In the spirit of urging you to look beyond your jammies, Play put together a roster of things to do, all inspired by your TV friends and all so fun it’s worth actually going out to do them. So turn off the tube (go ahead, it’s OK), put on something warm and look forward to bragging about how you spent your weekend:
FUN WITH FRIENDS, LIKE THE ‘SCRUBS’ CREW
Your character: J.D. and the other zany doctors from the ABC show “Scrubs.” You like things a little loose, a little crazy, but you never lose sight of your friendships.
Your scene: Pinstripes, 100 W. Higgins Rd., South Barrington; 847-844-9300, pinstripes.com
What a concept: Bocce, bowling and an Italian bistro in an upscale mall. Sounds just offbeat enough for the cast of “Scrubs.” If you’re as wacky as J.D. and Turk, you’ll love flinging bocce and bowling balls around all night. But if you’re as snobbish as Dr. Perry Cox, you’ll appreciate the lobster BLT or the prosciutto fig flatbread. Is this place a fancy pizzeria? An uppity bowling alley? Like the medical corps of Sacred Heart Hospital, it’s a little bit of everything. The partylike atmosphere goes late into the night.
FIT IN LIKE BRET AND JEMAINE WISH THEY COULD
Your character: Bret and Jemaine, the well-meaning fish-out-of-water nerds from HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.”
Your scene: Ballydoyle’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove; 630-969-0600, ballydoylepub.com
What a concept: Unlike the musical duo Flight of the Conchords, the bands at Ballydoyle’s are solid and serious. And unlike the quirky out-of-place heroes, you’ll feel at home rubbing elbows with the welcoming regulars. Treat yourself to some rare Middleton Irish whiskey neat (that’s without water, for you teetotalers) or with just a splash (that’s with water, for lightweights like us).
— E.G.
COOL LIKE LETTERMAN
Your character: David Letterman, CBS’ playfully cantankerous, non-dancing talk show host.
Your scene: Closeup 2 Jazz, 416 S. Clark St.; 312-385-1111, closeup2jazz.com
What a concept: Although you might not link Dave with smooth jazz, remember that when he’s doing his show, he likes to keep his cool with an air-conditioned studio that he believes makes his fans laugh more to help keep themselves warm. Letterman comes on late at night, just as Closeup keeps the music going into the wee hours Tuesdays through Saturdays. The live music will take the grouch out of anybody. The room is sparse and contemporary, and the clientele is upbeat and middle-age. Again, like Letterman.
— E.G.
DUCK INTO A DARK CORRIDOR JACK BAUER-STYLE
Your character: Jack Bauer, the human superhero of Fox’s “24”
Your scene: The Backroom, 1007 N. Rush St.; 312-751-2433, backroomchicago.com
What a concept: To get to the Backroom, you duck through a door and negotiate a dark corridor that opens into a hip yet understated jazz joint. With shows that start as late as 1:45 a.m. on Sundays (call ahead for reservations) and live bands grooving on jazz, blues and Motown, this is a splendid way to cap an evening. Jack Bauer could hide from anybody in this dark, intimate nightspot that’s steeped in friendly sophistication.
— E.G.
COOK A LA TOM COLICCHIO
Your character: Celebrity chef Colicchio, the hard-to-please judge on the Bravo reality show “Top Chef”
Your scene: Flavour, 7401 W. Madison St., Forest Park; 708-488-0808, flavourcookingschool.com
What a concept: Colicchio rolls his eyes most enthusiastically at “cheftestants” lacking basic skills, whether it’s knowing how to whip mayo by hand or what goes into chicken piccata. Perhaps some of those cooks would have benefited from time spent at Flavour, a cooking school with tons of basic classes. In February, there’s Knife Basics; Beef 101; Sauce Fundamentals I and II; Pastry Shop II: Custards; The Elements of Flavor; and Mixology: Classic Cocktails. Most classes, which run $50 per person, start at 7 p.m.
— Trine Tsouderos
A QUIRKFEST ANDY SAMBERG COULD LOVE
Your character: Kooky comedian Samberg on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”
Your scene: The Lincoln Lodge at the Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-251-1539, thelincolnlodge.com
What a concept: There’s something lovably quirky about The Lincoln Restaurant, which serves up standard diner fare amid President Lincoln cameos, wood paneling and faux flowers. Even more quirky is The Lincoln Lodge on Thursday and Friday nights at this Lincoln Square landmark (the diner with the giant Abraham Lincoln sign on Lincoln Avenue), with its weekly comedy nights. Entrance is $10, the show starts at 9 p.m. More fun than any “SNL” skit not featuring Tina Fey, we promise.
— T.T.
SHIMMY WITH CHERYL BURKE
Your character: Burke, the two-time winner on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars”
Your scene: Chicago Dance, 3660 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-267-3411, and 415 W. Huron St.; 312-337-9503, chicagodance.com
What a concept: The B-listers who get paired with Burke on this reality show generally can’t dance to save their lives, but in a matter of weeks she has them waltzing and tangoing. Burke can work miracles, it seems. We aren’t promising you’ll win a mirror ball trophy after a lesson or two, but will you go home with some moves? Heck yeah. An introductory private lesson is $39, with a series of five running $247.
— T.T.
SCORE LIKE PATRICK KANE
Your character: Chicago Blackhawk hockey star Kane, who was named NHL rookie of the year this summer
Your scene: Johnny’s Ice House, 1350 W. Madison St.; 312-226-5555, johnnysicehouse.com
What a concept: If watching the Blackhawks makes you long for those pickup games of your youth, grab your gear and head to the local rink for some rat hockey. Sharpen your skills and try out moves worthy of winger Kane. We like Johnny’s Ice House, which draws a lot of great amateur players (and word is, some pros, too). Johnny’s costs $10-$12; times vary.
— T.T.
