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One Night
On Thursday, August 28, 2008, one of the most interesting and innovative fundraisers of the year will take place throughout the city: the Fifth Anniversary of Bar AIDS. Started here in Chicago in 2004 to benefit AIDSCare, Bar AIDS is a fun and festive philanthropic evening - an intoxicating mix of one part night-on-the-town, two parts fundraiser, and a dash of HIV/AIDS awareness. Modeled after the very successful Dining Out for Life program, bars participating in Bar AIDS will donate a portion of their August 28th sales proceeds to AIDSCare, a 16-year-old Chicago non-profit organization. AIDSCare: A Re-Introduction Throughout its history, AIDSCare has shown an impressively dogged determination to make a difference in the lives of those who were not only dealing with HIV/AIDS but also overcoming other issues such as poverty, addiction, and homelessness. After its first decade of existence, AIDSCare embarked on a dramatic expansion in 2003 with the construction of a $20-million, five-building campus in the North Lawndale neighborhood, on Chicago's west side. In the following two years, AIDSCare opened two residential facilities on the campus, allowing it for the first time to serve families living with HIV/AIDS. As a result, annual program capacity increased at the time from 35 individuals to up to 125 men, women, and children. In January 2008, AIDSCare opened a 32-unit supportive housing residence for homeless single adults diagnosed with AIDS. It is also a substance-free facility that provides programs geared specifically toward assisting residents in overcoming substance-abuse issues. With both it's family-oriented facilities and this new singles residence, AIDSCare is not just content with providing physical housing; it strives to provide a real home and a supportive environment to the many folks it serves. As it looks toward the future, AIDSCare will continue to evolve so as to address the changing face of Chicago's AIDS crisis and effectively respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of the city's population. Seeking to expand its North Lawndale Campus, which is a first in the country national model, the agency is currently in the midst of a Capital Campaign for the construction of a Wellness Center on the North Lawndale Campus that will serve as a neighborhood anchor. AIDSCare has had a vital and rich history in Chicago and will undoubtedly continue to play a pivotal role within the city's HIV/AIDS community, providing compassion and care, creating hope, and strengthening lives. To join the AIDSCare family to help them achieve their ambitious goals, or to just find out more information about the agency, check out their website at www.aidscarechicago.org.
One Night
About Bar
AIDS
BAR AIDS Encore
Lunch Club & Liquid Lounge
By night, Encore puts the emphasis on the "Liquid Lounge" portion of their name and becomes a spot to relax and unwind after work or before the theater or the movies. They offer mouth watering cuisine that pairs perfectly with their signature cocktail menu. Sixteen martinis top this list, including the Chocolate Russian (a vodka version made with Dark and White Godiva Chocolate Liqueur) and the Hot & Dirty (a traditional gin version with a touch of Tabasco and Olive Brine). For those who want to participate in Bar AIDS directly after they check out of their downtown office, Liquid Lounge's location (adjacent to the Hotel Allegro Chicago and the Palace Theatre) can't be beat. As well, if you have tickets for a show that night, Liquid Lounge is only a few easy blocks from to the Schubert, Oriental, and Goodman Theatres.
Cocktail
Mary's
Attic
The Flat
Iron Located in vibrant Wicker Park/Bucktown on the west side of Chicago, The Flat Iron is a bar that is quite reflective of the neighborhood with an extremely eclectic crowd. Housed in the Flat Iron Arts Building, the once live music venue formerly known as The Note, is now a great gathering place to grab a cold brew, have lively conversations, play some pool, and pick out some tunes on the impressive jukebox. The Flat Iron is owned by Nick Novich, who's previously lent his support to AIDSCare and Bar AIDS. In addition to The Flat Iron, his other four bars, Nick's Beer Garden, Nick's Uptown and Nick's on Wilson, are also participating in this year's Bar AIDS and all at the maximum contribution rate. Other Lakeview Loop River North Roger's Park Roscoe Village Uptown Wicker Park
For more information about Bar
AIDS, including what volunteer opportunities exist for that night,
call 773.359.0122 or go to the website: www.BarAIDS.org. |
Encore,
a long-time supporter of AIDSCare and previous participant in
Bar AIDS, offers theatergoers, shoppers and downtown Chicago
Loop workers another option: a trendy weekday lunch place, an
easy evening spot and a post-theater watering hole, located in
the middle of it all. Thriving on a dual personality, Encore
by day is a high-energy, fast-paced lunch spot catering to the
locals with a satisfying menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and
low-carb options. They focus on fresh, high quality fare as
well as fast and efficient service in order to take the stress
out of leaving the office for lunch; the goal is for their midday
meal to only take half your lunch hour!
The
recently rehabbed Cocktail, participating this year for the first
time in Bar AIDS, is one of the most inviting, playful bars in
Lakeview, appealing to a broad-based clientele that is short
on attitude and long on fun. The attractive bar has a front
room with a black crystal chandeliers, an onyx-lit bar (imported
from Greece) and a swank seating area that's perfect for sipping
on cocktails and conversing with friends, both old and new.
In the back portion of the venue, the scene is a bit more lively
thanks in large part to a stage area that hosts the "Spank
Go Go Boys" five nights a week. Dubbed the "home of
house music on Halsted Street," Cocktail boasts an impressive
line-up of resident DJs that includes Michael Serafini, Tracy
Tobey, Freddie Bain, Carla Starla, Timmy Loop, Pete Augusta,
and Heather Doble. Featuring the latest dance grooves from
Chicago and around the world as well as presenting some of the
hottest dancers in the city, Cocktail consistently serves up
a fun atmosphere for its amazingly diverse crowd. 
Opened
in 2006 as the second floor lounge space of Hamburger Mary's,
Mary's Attic has become a destination venue that has helped to
energize the burgeoning Andersonville nightlife scene. A neighborhood
bar that also attracts patrons from all over the city, Mary's
Attic presents a wide-ranging program of nightly entertainment
offerings, including comedic plays, solo shows and concerts,
and cabaret acts. DJ Shoshanna spins an eclectic blend of music
on Friday nights and for Thursday's "Lipstick Club"
while DJ Plez plays house and dance music for "Attic-tion
Saturdays." Karaoke, featured on Sundays and Wednesdays,
is also quite popular. In addition to participating in Bar AIDS,
Mary's will host Ham-BINGO on August 18, with all BINGO proceeds
going to AIDSCare. 