For as long as I can remember, I have watched the flashing lights every night along the Chicago shoreline, signaling that the police are closing down the beach. And I have always wondered…how exactly are they closing down the beach? I mean, it’s not as if there are fences and gates which can be locked to prohibit people from going to the beach after hours or anything.

When I was but a teenager, I believed closing down the beach was a form of conspiracy specifically geared towards arresting youth out after curfew. Perhaps it is. But, that theory seems to have lost its significance or even relevance with age. Now, I think closing down the beach is more of a security precaution. How many of us would like to hear about someone who drowned in the lake the night before simply because they were out after hours? Obviously, closing down the beach does not really limit a civilian’s access to the beach, but it does make it possible for police officers to minimize the accidents that occur on the beach after hours.

After many years, I have come to the conclusion that closing down the beach at 10PM on the weekdays and 11PM on the weekends is a wise decision on the part of the city and Chicago law enforcement. As the police are pinned with the responsibility to serve and protect Chicagoans, part of that job would indeed be to prevent people from facing danger at the lakefront in the wee hours of the night. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Chicago Police Department for closing down the beach every night; it certainly makes me feel safer.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, IL, Chicago lakefront, Chicago Beaches, Chicago Police Department

For those of you who consistently read my blogs, you’ve probably become privy to the fact that my favorite bar in the city is Estelle’s. Now, I have managed to frequent Estelle’s for many years now without ever being thrown out. I know there are many people out there who cannot claim the same thing, because I’ve been witness to many customers being thrown out.

At Estelle’s there are many reasons a person may fall victim to being asked to leave (i.e. being thrown out). Of course, it is one thing if you get so inebriated that you either fall asleep at the bar or vomit in the bathroom. As embarrassing as that is, those who work at Estelle’s will treat you with kindness and respect and help to usher you out so that you may still get home with some dignity. However, there are other reasons a person will be asked to leave.

The list of behaviors that will lead to a person being thrown out range from bar fights to hitting the jukebox. When visiting Estelle’s I suggest you refrain from either of those behaviors. Obviously, we all know stupidity can occur when intoxicated – however, causing injury to another or damage to private property is a crime, regardless of alcohol content. Furthermore, if you wish not to be thrown out of Estelle’s, treat the employees – particularly the man at the door – with respect, they’re doing they’re job. Don’t go around calling your barkeeps and bouncers vulgar names, that’s just an instant ticket to being thrown out. Keep your wits about you and treat others with respect and you will be treated with respect. Basically, don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, IL, Chicago Night Life, Estelle’s

I know smoking is one of the most unpopular of legally destructive habits, but for those of us who do, we seek to find every smoking haven available to us. Luckily, here in Chicago, we still have a bit of time until the smoking ban is enacted in bars. But, since the beginning of January, I have to admit, I really miss going places for coffee and nicotine, whether that means diners at 3am or cafes in the mid-afternoon.

This is actually not to say that I am opposed to the smoking ban. I’m actually in favor of the ban, at least in restaurants, because honestly, if you choose to smoke, you shouldn’t plague innocent pink-lunged bystanders with your toxins. But, I am all for the option of having smoking-only facilities to provide a type of smoking haven.

Marshall McGearty’s has filled just that void in Wicker Park. As a tobacco lounge, it obviously allows smoking, but it also provides its clientele with various edible items, smoking paraphernalia, coffee, tea, drinks, free WiFi and their own brand of cigarettes. McGearty’s is far from being solely a smoking haven; it is a smoking oasis.

To be sure, Marshall McGearty’s is indeed a smoking haven. For this reason, patrons entering McGearty’s are carded to be sure they are 18. But with their high-tech air filtration/ventilation system, this tobacco lounge very rarely even seems smoky. So, if you’re looking for a coffee and nicotine fix, without the overly smoky or skeezy environment, Marshall McGearty’s is probably the smoking haven you’re seeking – just be prepared to encounter many a hipster.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, IL, Wicker Park, Tobacco Lounges

When I speak of street parties, I am not referring to the plethora of street festivals we have here in Chicago during the summer. I am actually referencing those apartment bashes that become so large that they spill out into the street. Now, in some places street parties are a more frequent occurrence than in others. Amongst the hipsters in Wicker Park, the inability to accommodate the number of guests at a party seems to be a fairly frequent trend.

Street parties can be an annoyance to neighbors along the quieter streets of the neighborhood and can potentially lead to calls to the police if not handled properly. When a neighbor comes and requests that the party be toned down a bit because of the raucous it is causing that is a pretty clear hint that the party may have gotten out of control and action should be taken on the part of the host. Unfortunately, intoxication and a diminished sense of right and wrong can lead to misinterpretation.

For those who live on streets of high traffic, it is even more unwise to be the host of what could become a street party. The reasoning behind this, higher traffic means more police. And honestly, one would think that having a street party above a hopping bar would be the safest place to hold street parties. This is a complete misconception. “Why,” you may ask. The answer is simple, really. Bars have to abide by the law as public establishments and to avoid hefty fines and even being closed down. So, if you hold a street party in front of a bar and walk around with an open beer in front of said bar – the police will automatically assume that you are coming from the bar and a party upstairs.

Those in charge of protecting the establishment of the bar may ask you nicely to keep your beers and party inside…where the party should be anyway. However, as those who work in bars are attuned to working with people who have had too much to drink, they will eventually turn to legal aid. The point being, if you’re planning on having a party, try to keep it in your space. People get annoyed when they have to clean up the mess of someone else’s street party.

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, IL, Wicker Park, Chicago Night Life, Open Container Law