Food & Drink Archives - Chicago Detours

Was Marijuana Legal During Prohibition?

Detours Staff — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 14:50:00 +0000

Was marijuana legal during the Prohibition Era in Chicago Guests have asked some variation of that countless times when we’re discussing that time of gangsters and jazzy entertainment. They wonder – if people couldn’t drink booze, then could that at least get stoned?

While recreational marijuana was newly legal in Illinois just about a year ago, the pandemic put a damper on its development. But Chicago sure is readier than ever now in 2021! But what about marijuana in Chicago history Marijuana played a prominent, if contradictory role, back in the 1920s during the time of Prohibition in Chicago.

In order to research the history of marijuana in Chicago, I had to make sure I had the lingo right. The official names marijuana or hashish are pretty rare in newspapers of the time. Instead, journalists referred to it as “locoweed,” “muta” or “muggie” in slang. I have also heard “jazz cigarette” and, of course, “reefer.” The Spanish spelling, marihuana, was often used, too. In case you want to go retro, then there you go!

Where Was It in Chicago?nbsp;

During the time of Prohibition, you could find marijuana in various party locales like cabarets, dancehalls, movie houses and nightclubs. And just like the slang term of “jazz cigarette,” it was not unfamiliar in nightclubs where the new and exciting genre of jazz was tied to cultural experimentation in myriad ways.

You could smell weed in hipster joints around Chicago, like the progressive Dill Pickle Club, not far at all from Bughouse Square. You also might encounter a waft of it walking on the streets of “Towertown,” the area just west of today’s Magnificent Mile. It’s hard to imagine that among the mostly corporate restaurants you’ll find here now, in the 1920s this area of Chicago was an artist community. It was full of artist studios, cafes and clubs, and all the “bohemians” that went along with that. Also on the North Side, you could go to Uptown, to the Green Mill (today one of the nation’s oldest continuously running jazz clubs).

On the South Side, Bronzeville’s recording studios, apartment building jam sessions, and nightclubs were full of it, too. Jazz was not just a music but an entire subculture where rules just didn’t matter as much. One jazz musician, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, was a clarinetist on the side but most of his income came from his full-time work as a marijuana dealer. He collaborated with Louis Armstrong, a Bronzeville resident and longtime proponent of the joys of smoking weed along with making music. Chicago music and smoking reefer were linked back then just as they are now!

The Moral Panic of Marijuana

The 1936 cult classic Reefer Madness was released just a few years after Prohibition ended. The film is utter propaganda from start to finish. Propaganda like Reefer Madness presented marijuana as a “giggle tobacco” that led to immoral behavior and eventual madness. Jazz came in for a beating, as well, depicted as the gateway, connecting otherwise wholesome teenagers to the “burning weed with its roots in hell.”

Public Service Announcements like this one ran on buses and trains warning that a dealer might sneak weed into your teapot! Image via Wikimedia

This poster from 1971 shows that the sentiment of Reefer Madness was alive and well decades later. The Inter-State Narcotic Association happens to have been based out of our office building at the Monadnock Building in downtown Chicago! It tells people to be careful of the conniving “friendly stranger!” They may even sneak the marijuana into your tea.

Marijuana was Legal During Prohibition

During Prohibition, the Federal Government was busy policing bootleggers and hard narcotics. All the focus was on booze. So state legislatures became the focal points for anti-marijuana crusaders. Under lobbying pressure, state legislators faced a choice as marijuana a medicine to be prescribed, a cigarettes to be taxed, or a narcotic to be banned?

Illinois didn’t ban marijuana until 1931. Which means, yes, marijuana was legal in Chicago during most of Prohibition. Throughout the 1920s, it was legal to get high but not drunk in Chicago.

Marijuana Exploitation Films like this one all characterize the drug as evil, but not all of them have such scandalous artwork! Photo via Wikimedia

Why Did the State Eventually Ban Marijuana?

Now let’s ask ourselves the big question, why would states want to outlaw marijuana back then The campaign against marijuana is complex. Many believe that industrial interests fueled the fear of marijuana in order to protect the paper-making industry’s hemp supply. Others analysts point to a racist campaign against Mexican immigrants. A large number of Mexican emigrants fled to the US in the ’10s and ’20s to escape the violence of the Mexican Revolution. At that time, marijuana was primarily a pharmaceutical in the US, but was mostly smoked recreationally down in Mexico.

While not a ton of Mexican immigrants had settled in Chicago quite yet, they did have distinct communities near the steel mills on the South Side. Factory owners, as they had for a century already, recruited the immigrants en masse as a new source of cheap labor. Then the Great Depression savaged the American job market. This led to a competitiveness around securing jobs. People feared that immigrants would “steal” employment opportunities, and this resulted in a spike in xenophobia. Mexican immigrants were easy scapegoats. Banning a recreational drug associated with Mexican immigrants was an extension of this fear and anger.

Anti-German sentiments during WWI paved the way for the passage of Prohibition in 1919. And thus history may have repeated itself with the illegalization of marijuana in Illinois in 1931. But now you can buy all the weed, edibles, tinctures and anything else imaginable at the city’s new dispensaries. A weed tour company in Chicago will be operating soon. And most of all, maybe our dysfunctional prison system has taken a step towards reform.

– Chicago Detours Staff

Three Interesting Chicago Date Ideas for History Buffs

Alex — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day is nigh, so we have three Chicago date ideas for people who find romance amidst the city’s history and architecture. These activities and locations provide the perfect setting for a date night, while also indulging our passion for Chicago’s past.

#1. Our Date Night Historic Walking Bar Tour on 2/15

The Court of Lions is one of the highlights of the Date Night Historic Walking Bar Tour. Photo by Pawel Skrabacz.

Nothing’s more romantic than hearing stories about billy goats and gangsters, right Certainly makes our hearts flutter!

The mostly-indoor Historic Walking Bar Tour should be on any list of Chicago date ideas regardless of the season. It combines three rounds of drinks and snacks with stories and beautiful, interesting spaces from the entertainment history of the Mag Mile. This tour is very popular with locals, and couples out on a date night join this tour almost every week, which gave us some inspiration.

This year, we’re taking it up a notch with a special version of the tour on Saturday, February 15th. The tour guide (yours truly) will share some stories we’ve newly researched about the more romantic side of the Mag Mile. Couples will each share a decadent slice of chocolate cake near the tour’s conclusion, in a gorgeous hidden space within a Jazz Age skyscraper. Hope to see you on the 15th!

#2. An Afternoon at the Chicago History Museum

See, visiting the history museum is just like going to a live jazz club for your date! Photo by Marcin Wichary vis flickr.

Don’t let anyone tell you that a trip to the museum cannot be romantic! The Chicago History Museum is, of course, a wonderful research institution and their permanent exhibit “Crossroads of America” is great. Marveling at the artifacts on display there, along with their current “Modern by Design” special exhibit, should be on your Chicago date ideas list because it allows so much freedom. There can be a lot of pressure during date, especially in the early stages. The scope and size of the exhibits will give you plenty of material to chat about.

The History Museum’s location helps its status as a date destination. The Old Town entertainment district is just blocks away on Wells Street. You can grab dinner, drinks or see a Second City show. A solid one-two punch amongst Chicago date ideas.

#3. Drinks at LondonHouse Rooftop

The LondonHouse’s rooftop, dead center in this photo, offers sweeping romantic views of the city. Photo by Pawel Skrabacz.

As we have covered before, rooftop bars have cemented themselves among Chicago’s best date ideas. There’s a lot of competition in this field, but we’d wager that a Valentine’s date night done right should feature the LondonHouse Rooftop. Situated right at the historic heart of the city, the sightlines from the LondonHouse Rooftop are spectacular. You and your paramour can peer straight down the Mag Mile or gaze towards the main branch of the Chicago River backlit by brilliant dusklight.

The LondonHouse offers both drinks and food, of course. Fair warning that the menu’s prices do tend to match the million dollar views. The building has a long history of romantic date nights, to boot. Sadly, there’s not likely to be lovely lounge singers like Sarah Vaughan, which the old London House dinner club once hosted. You can still listen to that stellar music on your way to the date though!

A Tour Is Always One of the Best Chicago Date Ideas!

The Date Night Historic Bar Tour on the 15th is capped at 14 guests and its already filling up fast. Don’t wait too long to reserve a spot.

Can’t make the Date Night Historic Bar Tour Don’t sweat it–all our walking tours are fun date ideas. I regularly lead couples around town on the Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour and 1893 World’s Fair Tour. Find a Friday or Saturday that works for your special someone and leave the rest to us.

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

Sip Hot Chocolate in These 4 Historic Spots

Alex — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate is an absolute must in the midst of a long Chicago winter. So why not check out some fascinating historic architecture while tracking down that mug of bliss Here are four places to enjoy excellent hot chocolate in fascinating historic spots. Cheers!

We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this while developing our live virtual tours, in-person private tours, and custom content for corporate events. You can join us to experience Chicago’s stories in-person or online. We can also create custom tours and original content about this Chicago topic and countless others.

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates, in the historic Tree Studios Building, is one of Chicago’s best historic spots for hot chocolate. Image via Wikimedia

The fine folks at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates “expertly blend shavings of single-source chocolate into steaming milk for a truly rich cup.” Which sound delightful and I may just stop writing this post right now to go grab a cup.

Okay, now that I’m back, it was also lovely getting to visit the Tree Studio Building while sipping my hot chocolate. The Queen Anne-style building, which fronts North State, dates back to 1894. Judge Lambert Tree’s eponymous studio was a working and living space for European artists in Chicago. It still serves that purpose today, with artists living upstairs. Which is why you can sip delicious hot chocolate in this historic spot on the ground floor. You can also swing by for a stronger drink at Watershed after a custom private tour.

Revival Food Hall

Revival Food Hall’s atmosphere and edible options make it a big favorite in Chicago’s Financial District. Photo by Alex Bean.

You can grab a mug of the good stuff at Mindy’s Hot Chocolate in Revival Food Hall before starting a Downtown Bucket List private tour, which begins next door in the Marquette seven days a week. Revival is one of the trendiest dining spots in the Loop, filled with hip restaurants and vendors. The name itself, pleasingly, is a nod to historic architecture.

Revival is in the old Commercial National Bank Building, designed by Daniel Burnham and Co. in 1907. It was their first skyscraper bank building, employing the signature tripartite design of Burnham’s Classical Revival look. (Hence, Revival Food Hall–get it?) Notably, the attached Corinthian columns along the second floor marked the banking floor’s location. This set the template for many other grand bank buildings along LaSalle Street.

Intelligentsia at the Monadnock

The Intelligentsia inside the Monadnock matches the historic building’s spirit. Photo courtesy of Intelligentsia Coffee.

The Intelligentsia in the Monadnock Building is the closest spot for hot chocolate in Chicago to our office. It’s also the spot closest to our hearts! (xoxo – please give us a discount now?) As with all their drinks, the hot chocolate at the Intelligentsia downstairs is a rich and complex delight.

Their space on the Jackson Boulevard frontage of our historic skyscraper is a wonderful throwback. Intelligentsia renovated the space in 2017 and made use of its historic location and details. They retained the original marble flooring and oak window frames, matching the Victorian vibe from the other ground-floor tenants. Look for other vintage touches like historic photos while sipping hot chocolate in this historic spot.

Xoco

My favorite hot chocolate in a historic spot in Chicago is the Aztec “bean-to-cup” chocolate at Xoco. The chile and allspice give it a warm, spicy zing that is absolute perfection when there’s a chill in the air. Of course, one should expect any and everything at Xoco to be divine. Like its neighbors, Topolobampo and Frontera Grill, it’s one of famed chef Rick Bayless’s signature River North restaurants.

Sipping hot chocolate outside Xoco presents a priceless opportunity to drink in some historic architecture as well. Located at 449 North Clark, it’s right in the midst of one my favorite blocks in downtown Chicago. The area around Clark and Hubbard seems to have downtown’s largest collection of post-fire buildings. 449 itself was built in 1872 right after the fire, making it a glorious example of what the city looked like before the skyscraper age. Its bracketed cornices and rounded windows with incised hoods are textbook examples of the Victorian rage for architecture referencing Renaissance-era Italy.

Go Architecture Hunting!

In all honesty, this quest for hot chocolate in historic spots is just an excuse. We’re always trying to justify the impulse to wander around the city and admire its wonderful architecture. No matter the season or the reason, there’s always beautiful buildings to admire. If they happen to contain delicious drinks, well, all the better.

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Chicago Detours is a boutique tour company passionate about connecting people to places and each other through the power of storytelling. We bring curious people to explore, learn and interact with Chicago’s history, architecture and culture through in-person private group tours, content production, and virtual tours.

Five Bars for a Pedway Pub Crawl

Alex — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:00:00 +0000

A Pedway pub crawl strikes us as the perfect way to bring some cheer to those mysterious underground passages. We’ve been touring the Pedway for years and, in that time, noted its many drinking establishments. The idea of creating a bar crawl down there occurred to us while researching for an update to the Pedway Map. We designed this to be a self-guided tour experience. So download our map, grab your work pals and kick off the weekend this winter with some drinks on our Pedway pub crawl.

City Social at 120 North LaSalle

Begin your Pedway pub crawl in this fine establishment at the Pedway’s western terminus, 120 North LaSalle. You probably know this building as the one with Roger Brown’s mosaic of Daedalus and Icarus right across the street from City Hall. The inference of the mosaic is a bit abstract to me, but it sure feels like some sort of message to the politicians.

Anyway, City Social is the classy sort of place where financial types from LaSalle Street mingle with the political fixers from City Hall and the Thompson Center. One presumes that many a bond sale has gone down in this joint. I’d recommend sampling one of their cocktails. Pricier, for sure, than some later drink stops on the Pedway pub crawl. But you’ll be sober enough to appreciate it at this point.

Latinicity at Block 37

Plenty of tropical cocktails at the Latinicity stop on the Pedway pub crawl. Photo courtesy of Latinicity.

Dive down into the Pedway at 120 North LaSalle and proceed through its City Hall and Daley Center segments. One presumes plenty of drinking goes on in those buildings, but none that has an official liquor license. After progressing past the Blue Line station you’ll be in Block 37. This shopping mall’s chaotic development history is one of the key stories we share on many custom private tours of downtown Chicago.

Hop into one of the elevators and zip up to Latinicity. A gargantuan food hall which serves delicious fare from all over Latin America, it also has a pretty kickin’ bar. There’s lots to choose from, but I’d definitely stay in and around the tequila/mezcal section of the menu. Indeed, their Oaxaca Old Fashioned just made my personal “to-drink” list. Be sure to check out the view of the Daley Center and Washington Street while enjoying your drinks. It’s the last of the outer world you’ll see for a while on this Pedway pub crawl.

Bonus bar: Simply Thalia in the Pedway level of Block 37 serves a mean martini alongside their signature sushi donut. On a Pedway pub crawl you’ve gotta pace yourself so add this to your itinerary at your own discretion.

InField’s at Marshall…Macy’s. I guess it’s at Macy’s.

If you encounter our tour group at this spot in the Pedway, then turn right. You’ll find yourself at InField’s.

Take the elevators back down to the Pedway and continue through the Red Line station. Follow the tunnels until you find yourself in a long hall along the north edge of the old Marshall Field’s. Just inside Field’s you will find InField’s, an ingeniously-named sports bar.

This little sports pub is a nice Pedway hiding spot. The seating is tucked away from passing foot traffic and scurrying Macy’s shoppers. So you can order a round of whatever looks good on tap, eyeball SportsCenter, and let the world roll by for a little while. A nice, chill spot at the halfway point of this Pedway pub crawl.

Bonus bar: Take the express elevator from the Pedway level up to the 7th floor for the Wine Bar at the Walnut Room, for a classier alternative to the sports bar aesthetic at InField’s.

MBar at Millennium Station

Keep roving past Macy’s until you feel the tingle of cold air in the Pedway. That means you’ve reached the t-junction below Michigan Avenue. Follow the signs for Millennium Station. Once you’ve fought through the stream of South Shore Line commuters, you can settle in for a drink at MBar. An old haunt from my Groupon days, MBar is probably the dive-iest of the stops on the Pedway pub crawl.

Which is, of course, its own sort of compliment. MBar has little of the pretense from earlier stops. The folks down here are just downing something while waiting for their train to come. In fact, I recommend making that part of the adventure here. Chat up your fellow barflies and see who is traveling farthest on the train after leaving the bar. Whomever in your group finds the furthest destination has their drink bought by the others.

BIG Bar at the Hyatt Regency

The directions for taking the Pedway from Millennium Station to the Hyatt Regency are too complicated to spell out here. Rely on your Pedway Map, trust your gut, bring carrier pigeons for when you’re lost, and you’ll be fine. Once you reach the Hyatt, sidle up to the BIG Bar, with its gorgeous view onto the river. Congrats, you’ve made it back into the outer world. Cheers to that.

BIG Bar gets its name from the claim that it’s the longest free-standing bar in North America. Which…is oddly specific. That should mean there’s plenty of space for you and your crew to relax in after a long Pedway pub crawl though. Plus, you can make others go through extraneous effort at this point. Bartenders here have to scale the “liquor tower” to retrieve bottles. Quite the spectacle to conclude with.

Enjoy your Pedway Pub Crawl Responsibly

Go have a good time on this Pedway pub crawl, but remember to be good guests along the way. Leave the SantaCon and TBOX shenanigans for Wrigleyville. After all, you’ll probably be commuting through these Pedway passages again in the future. You don’t want your regular route to the Metra to become a walk of shame.

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Eat These Six Chicago Holiday Foods

Alex — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 06:00:00 +0000

A curious gourmand can find no shortage of interesting and diverse Chicago holiday foods. Our city’s many ethnic communities have gifted hungry folks with a wide variety of seasonal specialties. Tracking down these delicious dishes this holiday season is a grand way to celebrate the season while filling your stomach and experiencing the city’s rich diversity.

We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this while developing our live virtual tours, in-person private tours, and custom content for corporate events. You can join us to experience Chicago’s stories in-person or online. We can also create custom tours and original content about this Chicago topic and countless others.

Andersonville is the heart of Chicago’s Swedish community. Photo via Wikimedia

Lussekatter in Andersonville

Let’s start off with a treat available for a very limited time. Swedish holiday traditions begin with St Lucia Day on December 13, and Chicago’s Swedish neighborhood, Andersonville, celebrates in style. Candle-bearing “Lucia Girls” lead a procession down Clark Street to kick off this wintertime festival of lights. A huge party at the Swedish American Museum invites Chicagoans to learn more about Swedish traditions and to sample Lucia Day treats, like pepparkakor, or ginger snaps.

The star of the Lucia Day celebration is the lussekatter, or saffron bun. For a limited time you can pick some up at Lost Larson, an Andersonville bakery and cafe that features Swedish classics.

Arroz con Gandules y Pasteles in Humboldt Park

This Puerto Rican classic is a combo dish, blending together two favorites into one of the great Chicago holiday foods. Gandules, known in English as pigeon peas, are the key addition to the arroz, or rice. These nutty-flavored legumes ripen just as the holiday season begins in Puerto Rico. The other half of the dish is Puerto Rican pasteles. Somewhat similar to tamales. The masa, made from plantains, is wrapped in plantain leaves and then boiled.

The balance of these two dishes on one plate creates a wonderfully tropical culinary experience in the depths of Chicago’s winter. Humboldt Park is the heart of the Puerto Rican community here in Chicago, with plenty of restaurants to choose from. Arroz con gandules y pasteles is a house specialty at La Plena, on Division Street. Perfect place to grab a bite if you’re sticking around town during the holidays.

Lechon in Ravenswood

Let’s jump to the opposite end of the old Spanish Empire for our next Chicago holiday foods. Lechon is a Filipino favorite, deep fried pork belly. A Filipino gravy or dipping sauce is almost always part of this dish. The most traditional of these is based upon toyomansi, which blends soy sauce with lime. Which, yes. I want to go to there.

Filipinos prepare huge meals during the Nochebuena feast on December 24th. While traditions may differ from family to family on what must be on the table, lechon is a pretty good bet. A distinct Filipino neighborhood never really developed here in Chicago, but there has been a Filipino community in the city for about 100 years. Our Marketing Manager Marie loves Filipino food and recommended this dish to us. Her favorite version is found at Isla Pilipina, out on the Northwest Side.

Feast of the Seven Fishes in River North

Christmas Eve is celebrated in style all over the world. Italian-Americans made it their own with the Fest of the Seven Fishes–another of these tempting Chicago holiday foods. The tradition comes from the Italian Vigilia di Natale, awaiting the beginning of the liturgical feast day on Christmas. The day before church feasts were traditionally fasting days, which meant no meat. So Italian-Americans went all out with a huge variety of seafood dishes on Christmas Eve.

Many Italian restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve, of course. Not all, though! You’ll have to venture beyond Chicago’s Little Italy to try this particular Chicago holiday food. David DiGregorio, the Executive Chef at River North’s Osteria via Stato is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes. If you feel like taking a day off from slaving away in the kitchen, well, now you know where to make a reservation.

Melomakarona in Greektown

Not all Chicago holiday foods have to be a full meal. Indeed, the holidays are the time of year when I most often indulge my sweet tooth. Greek sweets are an especially unique treat at this time of year. Their bright, Mediterranean flavors are a wonderful contrast to the heavy Germanic chocolates, cakes, and pies which predominate.

A stop in Greektown is a must when seeking the best Chicago holiday foods. Photo via Wikimedia

Melomakarona, a honeyed cookie with walnuts, is a longtime favorite for Greek families at the holidays. Appropriately enough, these cake-like cookies (flavored with brandy, orange, and honey–YUM!) are a specialty at Artopolis. We visited this Greek bakery, cafe, and agora near the end of our Neighborhoods and Cultural Diversity Bus Tour. They’re a lovely spot to stop in for a bite and carry out some cookies, right on Halsted in the old Greektown.

Gluhwein at Christkindlmarket

It shouldn’t shock too many people if I suggest that alcohol is an essential part of a Chicago holiday experience. Long a part of holiday season traditions in Germany, Glühwein is a warmed, mulled wine. Perfect for cold December nights in the Midwest. Hence, it’s become a must-get for the countless people who visit Christkindlmarket, Chicago’s faux-German Christmas village. Now, what goes into Glühwein?

You know what Don’t worry about what’s in it. Just grab a mug and drink with some Chicago holiday foods.

Happy Holidays!

– Alex Bean and Marie Rowley

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Where’d Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Come From?

Alex — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Chicago deep dish pizza is our city’s most famous culinary creation, but layers of mystery and uncertainty shroud its origins and early history. It’s rather like the myriad layers of a stuffed pizza, now that I think about it! Traditional thin-crust pizza has been around since at least the 1800s, but Chicago’s unique spin on the Italian classic arose only in the 1940s.

Who was the culinary genius who first baked a pizza in a deep dish, filling it up with chunky tomato sauce, gooey cheese and loads of toppings Three different men claim to have invented Chicago deep dish pizza. Even official city historian Tim Samuelson admits we’ll probably never know for sure which of these three is the “official” deep dish pizza inventor. Their competing stories are now the stuff of delicious Chicago lore.

Ric Riccardo

Riccardo’s, at 437 North Rush, was the launching spot for the restaurant which would spawn Chicago deep dish pizza.

I’ll start off with the restauranteur who’s most forgotten these days. Ric Riccardo, Sr. opened an Italian steakhouse at 437 North Rush in 1934. That address may ring a bell for guests from our old Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour. Riccardo’s occupied the building which had previously been Bert Kelly’s Stables, an early jazz joint and speakeasy we visit during the tour. The steakhouse was apparently much more popular for drinking than dining. News reporters, writers, artists and visitors packed the place and lent it an air of Bohemian revelry. Greg Borzo relates that a visitor once said “I’m shocked, shocked, to find that eating is going on here.”

Ric apparently did well enough to branch out beyond steaks. He bought an old Victorian mansion a few blocks away, at 29 East Ohio Street, and opened Riccardo’s Pizzeria in it in 1943. Riccardo’s served a new spin on the old Italian classic, with pizza baked in a deep dish with a thick crust and loaded with toppings. One theory behind this innovative new style is that flour was easier to come by during World War II shortages. So, Riccardo’s thickened up the crust to make their pizza heartier. According to Borzo, Chicago deep dish pizza got mixed reviews at first. The newsmen who got soused at Ric’s eventually warmed up to it though. They subsequently and started spreading the word of the new dish. That bit of help went a long way, since the restaurant, now known as Pizzeria Uno, is where Chicago deep dish pizza was invented.

Ike Sewell

View this post on Instagram
Find something you love as much as our founder Ike Sewell loves #DeepDish pizza #TBT
A post shared by Uno Pizzeria & Grill (@unopizzeriaandgrill) on Jul 5, 2018 at 9:26am PDT

Riccardo’s partner in this new pizza joint was a Texan named Ike Sewell. Born and raised in the Lone Star State, he had been a star lineman for the Longhorns before hopping around the country for work. By the early ’40s, he had settled in Chicago to work as a sales executive for a local distillery firm. I have to imagine that he met Ric Riccardo on a sales call. The two apparently hit it off and Sewell became a partner in Ric’s Pizzeria.

Sewell later claimed it was his idea to bake their pizzas in distinctly deep pans with enormous quantities of toppings. That would make him, definitively, the Creator of Chicago Deep Dish. Unsurprisingly, another employee at Ric’s Pizzeria disputed Sewell’s account. What’s beyond dispute is Sewell’s role in the eventual popularization of Chicago deep dish pizza. He managed, and eventually owned (after Ric’s death), the pizzeria at Ohio and Wabash. Its continued success led Sewell to open another location a block away. The original became Pizzeria Uno and the latter Pizzeria Due. We must give credit to these venues and Sewell. It was their popularity which made deep dish a cultural phenomenon.

Rudy Malnati, Sr.

Would there be a #nationaldeepdishpizzaday without the Malnati family Lou Malnati serves his father, Rudy Malnati, Sr. outside Pizzeria Uno in 1966. [Chicago Tribune Staff photo courtesy of Pizzeria Uno] #deepdishpizzaday #uspizzamuseum pic.twitter.com/Y2RV9KmX5m
— U.S. Pizza Museum (@uspizzamuseum) April 5, 2019

The story doesn’t end there, however. The third claimant in this game of pies is the father of the famous Lou Malnati. The Malnati’s patriarch, Rudy, had been Ric’s bartender and worked as the manager of Pizzeria Uno for Sewell. In later years, the Malnati clan said Rudy created the original recipe for the deep dish pizza. Again there is no “smoking gun” piece of evidence – say a hand-written recipe or a photo of Malnati in the moment of creation – to prove this claim. Yet news clippings from the ’40s and ’50s list Rudy Malnati as the Pizzeria Uno’s manager and co-owner. The evidence is circumstantial, but Malnati was clearly part of the process.

The larger Malnati clan can point to their family’s continued success in the deep dish business as further proof that Chicago deep dish pizza is in their DNA. Rudy, Jr. founded Pizano’s Pizza in 1991 and his brother, Lou, opened his own eponymous restaurant in the 1970s. As late as 2009, Rudy Sr.’s widow was still using her husband’s recipe from the 1940s to create the dough at her son’s pizza joint.

The Birthplace of Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Chicago deep dish pizza was invented at Pizzeria Uno, but whose brainchild is it Photo by Ken Lund via flickr.

All of these claims eventually circle back to the same spot: 29 East Ohio Street. That stately Italianate house, just a few blocks from the Mag Mile, is a lingering remnant of the vanished McCormickville neighborhood. It is now one of the sacred spots in Chicago’s streetscape. Here, three men from wildly different backgrounds, created our most distinguished and distinctive contribution to American dining. Regardless of who exactly invented it, Chicago deep dish is iconic and its birthplace deserves every bit of touristy fame it has received.

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Three Cheers for These Historic Bars Near the Mag Mile

Alex — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Guests on our Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour often ask for the guides’ recommendations for other historic bars near the Mag Mile. So we polled the guides and decided to share the Detours crew’s favorite spots. Of course some of the coolest historic bars in the Mag Mile area are featured on our bar tour, and you won’t see them included on this list. You can register for a public tour or book a private group tour to hear all the hidden stories we dug up about those historic drinking spots while you sip your beer or wine. After you’ve taken our tour, here are a few more historic bars near the Mag Mile you can check out.

#1. Harry Caray’s

Harry Caray’s is one of our favorite historic bars near the Mag Mile. Photo courtesy of Harry Caray’s.

This quirky-looking structure contains over 100 years of Chicago history, with ties to Gilded Age industry, Prohibition Era gangsters, and the Chicago Cubs. Nowadays it’s Harry Caray’s, popular sports bar and steakhouse. Named after the late (and deeply beloved) baseball commentator, this historic bar near the Mag Mile has served satisfied Cubbies fans since 1987. Curse of the Billy Goat aficionados know this as the spot where the infamous Bartman baseball was blown up.

The structure dates to 1895, when it was the headquarters for the Chicago Varnish Company. Its unique architecture is the work of Henry Ives Cobb, Chicago’s Gilded Age master of Romanesque and Gothic revival. He broke out of his typical style here with Dutch Revival architecture, with its steeply-pitched gables and tiled mansard roofs. This ornate style is a rarity in Chicago, making this one of those most visually striking buildings near the Mag Mile.

Harry Caray’s also has some surprising ties to the always-exciting gangster history of Chicago. Al Capone’s fearsome mob enforcer Frank Nitti lived in the building during the 1920s. Secret tunnels in the basement allowed Nitti and his associates to sneak in and out of the building undetected. In 1998, an electrician uncovered a hidden room in the building, containing items from Nitti’s criminal dealings like his personal safe. You can get a taste of that illicit past by ordering a drink in Nitti’s Speakeasy on the building’s second floor. That element really cinches it as one of the best historic bars near the Mag Mile.

#2. Rossi’s

Rossi’s is an old-fashioned dive located in an ancient River North building. One of the most unique historic bars near the Mag Mile, for sure. Photo by Alex Bean

You can find lots of historic bars near the Mag Mile, but no others quite like Rossi’s. A dive bar in a building that is positively ancient by Chicago standards, Rossi’s Italianate building must date to the 1870s or ’80s. It feels like a real time warp to the 1970s though. In fact, Rossi’s looks, feels, and acts like the past forty years never happened. In fact, no one seems to even know when Rossi’s first opened. According to the Chicago Bar Project, their all-star bartender Desiree has been serving cheap beer and handling rowdy patrons since the ’80s. Yet she acknowledges that the bar was around well before she was hired.

Regardless of its mysterious provenance, Rossi’s feels like a blast from the past. This little stretch of State Street is one of those rundown blocks that still exist in downtown (like Little Cheyenne) that seem frozen in time. Rossi’s is the sort of place working men would have popped into for liquid strength on their lunch break back when River North still had, ya know, blue collar industrial jobs. Unlike today. Seriously, how is this place still around?!

You can pop in for a cheap draft beer or opt to buy a six pack from the fridge and carry it home. Don’t expect to order any grub, though – this is one of the only historic bars near the Mag Mile with no kitchen.

#3. Watershed

One of the more atmospheric historic bars near the Mag Mile is in a basement. Specifically, the basement of Pops for Champagne in the old Tree Studios on State Street. There you’ll find Watershed, a basement bar that only serves drinks from the Great Lakes region. (Hence the watershed name – you get it.) Watershed has only been around since 2010, but the venue has more than enough history to deserve inclusion here.

The Tree Studio buildings date all the way back to 1894 when local judge Lambert Tree established an artists’ colony. The historic cast iron storefront facade on State and lofted studio spaces above were built in the backyard of Tree’s mansion. By the Roaring Twenties, the Tree Studios were the beating heart of a vibrant Bohemian district named Tower Town. Think something like a Midwestern Montmartre and you’re on the right track.

Today, the Tree Studio buildings are home to architects, artists, offices, boutique shops, and, of course, historic bars. Pops for Champagne has been manning that Ohio and State corner spot for decades. Watershed replaced the jazz club which had previously been in their basement space. It’s a great spot to grab some after-work drinks and admire Prairie School architecture before heading to dinner.

The Pleasure of Historic Bars Near the Mag Mile

You have more fun when you’re learning… and drinking. That’s our motto. Photo by Pawel Skrabacz

Like I said up top, we created this list because our guides are so often asked where to go next at the end of the Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour. For both visitors and locals, the Mag Mile area doesn’t seem like a likely venue for such historic spots. Its image is so glamorous and contemporary that it’s easy to overlook the neighborhood’s past. The shopping district only really came into existence after World War II, though. Which means there’s plenty of history around if you know where to look for it.

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

Five Creative Ideas for a Chicago Girlfriends Getaway

Ellen — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0000

A girlfriends getaway to Chicago is not foreign here at Chicago Detours. We are a female-owned and operated business. We know all about the importance of a good #girlsquad and a good girlfriends getaway. The best part of being in a girl squad, of course, is that they make the best travel companions. Who better to explore new places with than your very best girl friends

The Bean, the SkyDeck and the Art Institute are easy ideas for a fun Chicago girlfriends getaway. But what about if your lady group wants a less touristy experience Well, we can create custom tour for your private groups, of course.

The Areas of our #GirlSquad Expertise

As a tour guide, I noticed lots of girlfriend groups coming to us at Chicago Detours on a ladies weekend getaway to Chicago. They tend to be girls groups that love learning about architecture and history. We get lady groups doing a landmark birthday trip (like 30th or 40th birthday) or bachelorette party groups.

Here at Chicago Detours, we share the Chicago stories and places even locals don’t know. So for all those #girlsquads out there looking for a more off-the-beaten-path girls weekend, here are some fun ideas for a girlfriends getaway in Chicago.

We research Chicago history and architecture like this while developing our live virtual events and custom corporate events. Join us for our public virtual events or book an exclusive team-building event for your private group. We can also create custom tours and original content creation about this Chicago topic and countless others.

Brunch with your Girlfriends Group at Three Arts Club

Photo by Lou Stejskal via flickr.

The first time I came with a group of girlfriends to this Gold Coast restaurant, I was blown away! Three Arts Club Cafe is one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants imaginable by virtue of it sharing the space with the super-chic furniture store Restoration Hardware. The gorgeous architecture and delicious food are both perfect for photo opportunities.

The building is also super historic. Dining here with your girlfriends provides a great connection to women’s history! The Byzantine-inspired building was designed by Holabird and Roche in 1915. It originally hosted a women’s club of the same name. This ladies group provided housing and community for female creators of music, painting and drama. Some of Chicago’s most prominent women were members of the Three Arts Club, including Jane Addams and Constance McCormick. These girlfriends most surely enjoyed a fine ladies lunch here!

So if you and your girlfriends love good food, Instagrammable venues, and some Chicago history, too, you may want to consider Three Arts Club Cafe for the itinerary of your girls getaway to Chicago.

Spend an Afternoon with the Girls at the Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo by Phil Roeder via flickr.

Take your girlfriends on a getaway off the Magnificent Mile at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Located a short walk away from Water Tower Place, this sophisticated haven includes more than 2,500 artworks. Its permanent collection spans media and movements from the 1920s to the present. With a coterie of revolving installations and exhibitions highlighting the most exciting movers and shakers of the contemporary art world, your girlfriends may carve out a favorite area of the museum for your Chicago getaway weekend.

Personally, I love meeting my girlfriends at the MCA for Tuesday on the Terrace. We enjoy a free showcasing of local jazz talent while sampling beverages and delicious apps from their cash bar.

Visit Koval Distillery on Your Chicago Girlfriends Getaway

If your girlfriends aren’t the “rosé-all-day” types, you could take you girlfriends group to one of the 167 breweries in Chicago for your getaway. Or you and your lady friends could get a little more adventurous with a visit to the first distillery to open in the city since the 1800s. KOVAL Distillery produces organic whiskey, liqueurs and specialty spirits in their still in the oh-so-atmospheric neighborhood of Ravenswood, which is north of downtown Chicago. In addition to taking a quick look in the shop, you could consider KOVAL’s scheduled classes and tours with tasting that are bookable through their website.

Your girl group can either sign up on their website or arrange a private tour for a special event. All tours have a KOVAL employee lead discussion on the differences between white and aged whiskey, the distillation process, and show attendees where each and every step of their small-batch spirit production process takes place. Tasting of numerous spirits is just one of the many perks on this tour! The bottles have quite and impressive design and would be gorgeous souvenirs for your girlfriends Chicago getaway.

Make a Custom Handbag for your Girlfriends Getaway

Laudi Vidni, in Lincoln Park, offers custom accoutrements – perfect memento for a Chicago girlfriend getaway. Photo courtesy of Laudi Vidni.

While a laser print shirt may be fun, we have a special idea for your girls getaway weekend in Chicago. You can arrange a truly custom experience for your girls weekend and head to Laudi Vidni on Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park. The store was actually founded by girlfriends Laura Kofoid and Grace Tsao-Wu, Laudi Vidni. Here you and your girlfriends get the unique chance to fully customize quality leather goods. The handbag and padfolios are made from their extensive catalog of fine materials, linings, and details. Items are then handcrafted in Chicago and sent anywhere in the United States with a two-week turnaround time.

And so what does this mean for your girlfriends getaway Laudi Vidni welcomes special group events to their design space. Private groups can check-out their materials, mix and match, and get advice from expert stylist advice exclusive to your event. You walk away with a stylish, practical memento of your weekend in Chicago with your girlfriends, and you’ll make memories while you create it.

A Custom Private Tour from Chicago Detours

Raise a glass with your gals on our Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour. Photo by Pawel Skrabacz

(Learn more about why we switched to offering Virtual Events in 2020.)

As a guide for the old Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour, especially in the summertime, I seemed to host girls getaways almost every week! And really, it’s no surprise.

With a fun and engaging tour guide to facilitate (ahem), this 2.5-hour long tour explores Chicago’s River North neighborhood. All your girlfriends will get food and drink along the way. You and your ladies will get to enter inside some of our favorite drinking spots near the Magnificent Mile. Private groups on this walking tour get to eat, drink and learn about the city’s entertainment history and architecture.

Girls getaway groups particularly love enjoying a glass of wine or beer amid the ambiance of a historic 19th century mansion at the SideDoor. This restaurant is inside Lawry’s the Prime Rib, which has called this Gilded Age building home for decades. It is one of the stops on this historic tipsy trek. For a pro-tip, I recommend you snag a picture of the original chandelier, sold to Lawry’s from the McCormick Estate.

To further ease your event planning for your girlfriends getaway in Chicago, you can upgrade the Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour to include a full meal. No more guesswork for where to have dinner or confusion over paying the bill! Inquire about availability and pricing on our Private Group Tours page.

Hopefully this guide has some fun ideas that will help you plan a girlfriends getaway to Chicago. Whether it’s a landmark birthday like a friend’s 30th, 40th, or 50th birthday or perhaps a bachelorette party, we are sure Chicago will be an excellent destination for your girlfriends getaway weekend.

– Ellen Bushong, Private Tour Coordinator and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

In business since 2010, Chicago Detours is a passionate team of educators, historians and storytellers. We applied a decade of experience as one of Chicago’s top-rated tour companies to become a virtual event company in 2020. We bring curious people to explore, learn and interact about Chicago’s history, architecture and culture through custom tours, content production, and virtual events.

Best Neighborhoods for Historic Chicago Pub Crawls

Alex — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0000

We love good Chicago historic pub crawls. Just ask the guests from our Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour. Or the 1893 World’s Fair Tour with Bars. Or the Big Shoulders Historic Bar and Food Bus Tour, which takes guests through the working-class neighborhood of Bridgeport for stops in historic bars. Seems safe to say that we think local history goes great with a drink. Needless to say we think a guided tour is the best way to experience Chicago’s historic bars, but we also encourage you to explore on your own. Thus, we created a list of the best neighborhoods for a historic Chicago pub crawl. So save this link, assemble the squad, and enjoy these Chicago historic pub crawls.

Irving Park

The mounted deer head with a cigarette in its lips. Hard to get more Irving Park than that. Photo by Amanda Scotese.

I am willing to stand the scorn of many and admit that I’ve always lived near the lakefront. So any trip west of the river of the freeways always feels like an exotic adventure to me. Irving Park, a Northwest Side neighborhood, has the added bonus of feeling like I’ve sort of stepped back in time. The glassy high-rises synonymous with gentrification haven’t gotten this far up the Blue Line yet. So the old neighborhood vibe, and old neighborhood bars, make this a great area for a historic Chicago pub crawl.

Start things off in The Cabin at Old Irving, the latest iteration of an Irving Park pub that dates to the ’30s. Their antique wooden cooler was the signature part of the establishment, so all the decorating makes it look like a little cabin in the big woods. It lends the place a relaxed vibe that carries through even after the drinks are really flowing.

Next up, swing over to Lizard’s Liquid Lounge. It checks all the boxes for classic Chicago neighborhood bar. Corner of a side street and thoroughfare. Cutaway entrance at the corner. Tiny little windows like its a prison. Absolutely ancient structure when you look at it without beer glasses. Stuffed animals and other random kitschy accoutrements. A dog-friendliness which verges on code violations. Check, check, check, check, check, and check. Check it out.

Finally, conclude your night at La Villa, an old-fashioned pizza and beer joint. The staff are still slinging pies and pouring brews in an environment which looks like an unused set from Goodfellas. They’re open until the witching hour (or later) on weekend nights, though you could always start the evening there as well. Either way, they’re a must for historic pub crawls in Chicago’s Irving Park.

Lincoln Park

The atmospheric interior of the Red Lion is ripe for drinking and haunting. Photo by Alex Bean.

These days Lincoln Park is the land of Trixies and Chads and historic workers cottages being demolished for new McMansions. This neighborhood is the very epitome of bougie, gentrified Chicago (to the point that I’m sometimes embarrassed to admit that I live there). That was not always the case, though. The site of the Valentine’s Day Massacre belies the fact that this used to be a working-class, bar-heavy neighborhood like Irving Park. Myriad venues here were actually speakeasies during Prohibition. So it only makes sense to include Lincoln Park in our list of good neighborhoods for historic Chicago pub crawls.

Start in Old Town, but not at the Old Town Ale House. Nothing against that iconic spot, but we want to go further off the beaten path at Twin Anchors. This neighborhood joint has been serving famous ribs with delicious drinks since 1932. The site was a tavern-turned-speakeasy for at least a generation prior to that. The venue still holds that vintage charm, with a neon sign, striped awning, wood-paneled walls, and a vibe that can only be described as classic. No wonder it was a favorite of Sinatra’s.

Keep that old-school classy vibe going by heading up to the Red Lion Pub. This British-style pub is a popular spot for the neighborhood yuppies (hello!) who don’t like the area’s many sports bars. The pub features a roaring fireplace, delicious curry, imported sour ales from old England, and endless shelves of books about the World Wars. The bar also (supposedly) boasts a wide array of ghosts, including former residents of the 1882 building, the shady former proprietor, and a terrifying female specter who traps women in the bathroom. Fun!

The candy-striped awnings give away the Burwood Taps’s speakeasy past. Photo by Alex Bean.

Now wash away that classiness with a visit to Burwood Tap, a rowdy former speakeasy. Located at the corner of Burling and Wrightwood (hence the name, folks), this is the kind of place DePaul students have been getting sloshed in for eons. And for good reason! It’s a former speakeasy that went legit in 1933, holding onto random bits of memorabilia and good times in every decade since. It is also, much to my amusement, where my cousin met her husband. Probably a pretty common story in that neighborhood.

Bridgeport

The oldest neighborhood in Chicago was, until recently, also home to the oldest bar in Chicago. Sadly, Schaller’s Pump closed in 2017, so you can no longer swig a stein with Irish politicos and meatpackers in that venue. Bridgeport has no shortage of other wonderful historic bars, though. Only appropriate, since this section of the South Side has been home to working class grunts (and their powerful political machinery) for over 150 years.

Shinnick’s is now the oldest bar in Bridgeport. Suds have been served here since the 1880s.

Start off your evening at Shinnick’s Pub. The tavern’s history (and that of the gorgeous Brunswick back bar pictured above) dates to the 1880s. The joint had different owners back then, of course. Still, some of the Irish laborers who helped construct the Columbian Exposition would have had post-work drinks in here. The Shinnick family has run the bar for three generations, first taking over in 1938. Drinking at Shinnick’s is an outstanding way to absorb the history of Bridgeport.

Come to think of it, I will refrain from suggesting further drink stops in Bridgeport. I don’t want to spoil the fun for anyone interested in signing on for our Big Shoulders Historic Bar and Food Bus Tour in Bridgeport on Sunday, September 15th. We normally only run this tour for private bookings, but wanted to share its rollicking good times with everyone for one day only in 2019. The tour includes three drink stops in Bridgeport, including a “secret” bar not open to the public, and a full meal of foods that tell the story of this changing neighborhood. I’ll see you then! You can also see more of Bridgeport on our Chicago Neighborhoods and Cultural Diversity South Side Bus Tour–give us a ring!

Northwest Side Holiday Bars

Finally, for themed neighborhood historic Chicago pub crawls, you might try hitting our favorite Northwest side spots that really go big for the holidays. Check out this video by Amanda describing classics, including the Cabin, Frank and Mary’s, and Marie’s Pizza:

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Chicago and Malort: A Bitterly Beloved Tradition

Detours Staff — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Chicago and Malort is a match made in heaven. Or hell. Probably hell. I’ll leave it up to you. Still, most any Chicagoan can probably recall the first time they tasted Malort. I can distinctly recall the evolution of my friend’s facial expressions – naive curiosity, then horror, then confusion, and finally bitterness as the aftertaste lingers. Local traditions, like Chicago and Malort, are a favorite theme of ours. So I decided to look into the drink’s history and its association with our fair city.

What is Malort?

Chicago and Malort are so closely associated that we’re even on the bottle labels.

Malort is an herbal liquer whose flavor has been described as everything from fermented grapefruit to burnt carpet and nail polish remover. People love it or they hate it, though it’s usually the latter. But in Chicago, we keep drinking it all the same. Hell, we even buy Malort hot sauce.

Jeppson’s Malort is Chicago’s version of a beskbrännvin. It’s a Swedish-style schnapps distilled with the flavor of wormwood. (deeply ironic YUM sound) The word itself is actually just Swedish for wormwood. The drink was first used as a medicine in the Middle Ages. Much later, Malort made its way to Chicago by way of one particular Swedish immigrant, Carl Jeppson.

Chicago and Malort History

Jeppson started producing Malort on his own and took bottles from bar to bar during prohibition. Being Swedish and in Chicago, this was mainly Clark Street in Andersonville. Categorized as a medicinal alcohol, Malort was legal to produce and sell and became an Andersonville staple. With the repeal of prohibition, Jeppson was finally able to sell his recipe to a proper distiller, Bielzoff Products Co. In the hands of a larger company, Malort spread first to the Polish community and eventually to the rest of Chicago. The rest, as they say, is history.

Tellingly, this particular way of skirting the Volstead Act never spread very far. In fact, Cook County accounts for 90% of all Jeppson’s sales. This is even more remarkable when you learn that the local distillery shut down in the 1970s.

A handy map shows all of the bars and stores that sell Malort. It’s, uh, heavily tilted towards Chicago. Scroll out and you’ll find oddities and lunatics in places like Washington D.C., Baltimore, and one bar in Copenhagen!

Malort is a Chicago Tradition

Our own Marie Rowley sampling Malort for the first time. I think she likes it!

Chicago may be the world capital of Malort consumption (we’re #1!), but that’s only true because several generations of Chicagoans passed it down. We’re a city of intense pride, so we embrace traditions, even when they taste terrible. Indeed, one of Chicago’s neighborhood bars, Scofflaw, has Malort on tap. Rumor has it their Malort cocktail is actually enjoyable. Color me skeptical.

[Amanda interjects here: I have always found Malort to be tasty, even before this whole hipster Logan Square Malort thing started! If you like a good amaro, like Fernet, you just might enjoy it. Malort isn’t terrible for everyone! However, after telling my employees that I liked Malort, two of them bought me bottles of it. I honestly don’t like it that much, but thank you!]

The strong local history tie is even visible on the label. You can clearly see the Chicago flag‘s famous design, albeit in an earlier form. The labels shows only three stars, which matches the look of the flag during Prohibition.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Red Eye

The Jeppson Cult

Chicago and Malort will always be intertwined. Still, it’s safe to say it’s really a cult drink. Jeppson’s doesn’t really have a budget for print advertising, but cult followers have created their own slogans and commercials. Fans also even make their own homemade versions. The faint of heart can head to artisan cocktail bar Violet Hour in Wicker Park after a custom private tour of the neighborhood. Here they have partnered with Letherbee Distillers to make a more palatable version. The Nisei Lounge, a Wrigleyville mainstay is also famous for its Malort-love.

So cheers to this particularly insane Chicago tradition!

Blech…

–Jenn Harrman and Alex Bean