We’ve got three sweet words for you: three-day weekend! Make the most of your time off with these party picks.
2 HOT CLUB SOIREES
Opening Weekend at VLive
2047 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-489-5483
$20. 11 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday; 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday
This late-night club and music venue landed former Metromix Best Bartender finalist John Kinder to create a menu of fresh and fruity cocktails, so you can sip drinks ($12-$14) such as the Concert Haze (made with Campari and Don Julio tequila, plus passion fruit and grapefruit juices) in the lounge before heading up to the club’s main floor. This is a 4 a.m. spot, so headlining DJs don’t hit the decks until after 1 a.m. Kevin Scott of Deckstar DJs spins mash-ups Friday, while three-man crew Discotech works the decks Saturday.
Opening Weekend at The Shrine
2109 S. Wabash Ave. 312-753-5700
$20. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday
This brand-new South Loop club kicks off two sweetly named weekly parties just in time for the holiday weekend. Honey Pot Fridays features DJ AM/PM in the main club, while Tone B. Nimble spins in the Coup d’etat Lounge, a separate space for sipping cocktails cheekily named after dictators, from Mao to Noriega to Stalin. Licorice Saturdays kicks off with DJ Timbuck2 spinning in the club’s main space.
3 SPOTS TO GET OUTSIDE
Memorial Day Summer Kickoff at Citizen
364 W. Erie St. 312-640-1156
No cover. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday through Monday; patio and rooftop close at 11 p.m.
Ask about specials at this perpetual summertime favorite, and they’ll tell you they’re serving up “free sun” on the rooftop deck all weekend long. Prefer a more tangible deal? Kick off the weekend with $15 domestic pitchers on Friday, keep the momentum going with $5 vodka-Red Bulls on Saturday, and wind down with $5 burgers on Monday.
Memorial Day B&BQ at Bull & Bear
431 N. Wells St. 312-527-5973
No cover. Noon-11 p.m. Sunday; bar stays open till 2 a.m.
This always-packed sports bar decks out The BullPen (a.k.a. the flower-lined sidewalk cafe) with red-checked tablecloths and Chef David Blonsky manning the grill all afternoon. Chow down on prickly pear-barbecue pork tenderloin ($11) or a wild boar burger with citrus slaw ($14) and wash it down with a pitcher of Malibu-laced blackberry iced tea ($35). Bonus: You might just spot a Blackhawks player or two tipping back a beer — they’ve been known to celebrate here. Double bonus: freewatermelon!
Memorial Day Weekend at Market
1113 W. Randolph St. 312-929-4787
No cover. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. Beer garden and rooftop close at midnight
Sure, it missed margaritas on Cinco de Mayo thanks to a liquor license delay, but this West Loop bar is ready for the long weekend. Hunker down in the beer garden or head up to the rooftop deck to sip sparkling cocktails such as the White Peach ($8), a mix of tequila, peach puree and lemon juice topped off with prosecco.
2 NEW QUEER EVENTS
Blowoff at Metro
3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203
$15. 11 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturday
After taking their dude-heavy dance party on the road to rock clubs in Atlanta, San Francisco, New York and elsewhere since 2003, musicians Bob Mould and Richard Morel are hosting in Chicago for the first time ever. The duo takes turns spinning sets ranging from indie alt rock to house and electro. The bash typically draws mostly gay men, says Morel, though the crowd is anybody’s guess for its first stop in town.
The Candy Shop at Swagger Lounge
5048 S. Prairie Ave.
$10. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday
Tatianna Jaye, the promoter behind Ruby Red Fridays at River North club Ruby (151 W. Ohio St.) hosts this ongoing lesbian night with a different theme each weekend. This Saturday, candy-covered models dole out sugary treats to lucky ladies.
