Boystown and Gay-borhood Happenings New Year’s Eve Chicago 2012

“What Are You Doing  New Year’s Eve?”

Undisputedly, no other holiday evening offers more event happening choices than New Year’s Eve!  Whether you’re a lover or a hater or just indifferent, fact is New Year’s Eve returns every December 31st.

For Michael and I, unlike Thanksgiving and Christmas, our choices of who and where we spend New Year’s Eve with is not based on traditions (other than consuming an exorbitant amount of alcohol), but instead, what were going to do that night to celebrate is based on random criteria each year.

Today, we are still uncommitted to where exactly you’ll find us throughout the night, but we have narrowed or choices and want to share our recommended options with you (below list in alphabetical order).



Bonjonos Pizzeria: Sometimes the best New Year’s Eve simply requires having an amazing thin crust pizza and some buffalo wings, and staying in to watch the ball drop!   Our favorite in Chicago, delivered to your doorstop and you can wash your edible indulgence down with plenty of your favorite elixir(s) of choice while ringing in the New Year.  

Bonjono’s Pizza opened in 1996 at 4185 North Clarendon and Buena Avenue with a plan to make the best pizza, pasta and sandwiches in the neighborhood.  The idea was to make everything as fresh as possible, crusts made by hand on site daily, sausage, pasta sauces, salad dressings and soup are also made from scratch. Owner Craig says “We think our customers appreciate our extra efforts and while not all menu items can be made in house, you can be assured that we only buy top quality ingredients and add our own special touches to them.”

Trust us as loyal customers of 13 years, they’ve stayed true to their original plan since opening.  Our standing order with Bonjono’s is: a large, thin crust Margherita pizza with fresh tomato, basil and grilled chicken added with a couple side orders of buffalo wings with both ranch and blue cheese dressing sides-delicious!  HEAVEN!

Bojono’s Pizzeria    4185 North Clarendon    773.404.9700

Delivery: from Bryn Mawr to Webster; from the lake west to Ashland.
Open daily from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM
last pizza order 9:45,  last delivery order 9:45



Cocktail
3359 North Halsted Street.  Cocktail is one of the sexiest, most inviting, playful upscale bars and restaurants on the Boystown strip, less any attitude! Cocktail’s two gorgeous bars feature black crystal chandeliers, onyx-lit bar tops and pay homage to our favorite French Champagne, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin’s Brut Yellow Label available by the glass or a full or 1/2 bottle everyday!

Cocktail is the perfect place to sip sinful libations, especially near the front window to enjoy all the familiar and friendly faces passing by Halsted and Roscoe, enjoy great food and converse with friends old and new, or groove to the DJ’s beats while drooling over their world-class go-go boys bumping and grinding!

As you can see on New Year’s Eve at Cocktail expect doors open at 7pm with Hostess Cyon Flare, sexy sounds of REDUX, champagne toast at midnight and of course sexy go-go boys dancing up a storm!


Downtown Bar – 440 S. State Street. We’re so glad this place re-opened. Once the Gentry, then a straight bar for a short time, Downtown Bar and Lounge is now here to stay!   I love the layout , because there nooks and crannies and want private space with somesome or you can join the gang downstairs or up at the big bar.  Brian has recently done remodeling and repainting to create even more lounge spaces.

$6 stoli cocktails all night and NO COVER.

elixir Lounge 3452 North Halsted Street.  For someone who “less is more” when it comes to sports bars, it was so refreshing to learn that when Elixir opened it was not a sports bar!!!

More and more, Michael and I actually prefer to go into and enjoy a place with no TV’s at all! When were out and about town were looking to get caught up with friends and make new ones. Not watch TV. Nothing more annoying than music too loud or so many TV’s its a struggle to talk to the person next to you.

I would definitely describe Elixir as upscale and friendly, the kind of place were proud to take our parents visiting us this week and sit and visit over a nice stiff cocktail! Be prepared, their specialty cocktail list, along with prohibition era classics, might put a little hair on Mama’s chest New Year’s Eve at elixir Lounge we think is a great deal (they would definitely lose money on us) $50 is all that is asked for an open Premium bar and light hor d’oeuvres from 10pm -1am. As you can imagine, it is an extremely smaller space than many, so tickets very limited, not a bad thing at all, so contact an elixir staff member and get your ticket!

HYDRATE – 3458 North Halsted Street.  NYE 2013 at Hydrate! PREMIUM OPEN BAR!The Ultimate NYE Dance Party is here!

Don’t delay! Buy your tickets today! This event sells out every year!

NYE at Hydrate includes a premium hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres from 8pm
to 11pm, champagne toast at Midnight, and party favors for every
guest!!!

General Admission Tickets are only $30 before 12.15.2012!! $35 if purchased before 12.31.2012!

$50 VIP Tickets include all of the above plus in and out privileges all night long!!! Don’t get stuck out in the cold!

DJ Laura B spins from 8 till midnight
Greg Drescher finished out the night till 4 AM…

Hosted by Sorraya Dash!!


NEXT STOP:  Established in 1996 by a father and his two sons, the original El Mariachi at 3420 North Broadway and Roscoe (still in business today) is a quaint, but small 10-table restaurant! Again, I’m sure it was the first Mexican restaurant Michael and I ate at when we first moved to Chicago in 2001.

El Mariachi grew in popularity over the years due to their commitment to only serving top quality, authentic, mostly family recipes, traditional dishes and the best margaritas made with fresh squeezed lime juice.

At the newest location opened in 2010, El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill at 3906 North Broaway and West Sheridan, you’ll find everything you came to love and expect at their original restaurant plus SO MUCH MORE!

No longer prohibited by lack of space, the new restaurant has a much bigger menu, fresh tableside guacamole that is made to order and an extensive selection of over 175 tequilas! (all 100% Blue Agave). This makes it the biggest tequila bar in Chicago!

 

In October of this year, their newest endeavor opened to rave reviews: Revolucion Mexican Steakhouse. 3443 N. Broadway.   So take your pick or mix and match.  
EL MARIACHI will have  2 seatings for a  fabulous 3 course pre-fix menu ($30.00 per person)  ( regular menu will also be available on new years eve) * 6 pm and 8 pm seatings available.  773-549-2932

After Party At Revolucion Steakhouse...$60 Drink package from 11:00 pm to 2:00 a.m. which includes: Unlimited margaritas, sangria, house wine, selected beer, appertizer buffet
served through out the evening with party favors and champagne toast at midnight  Reservations are HIGHLY recommended 773-661-9894. 



Roscoe’s Tavern  3356  N. Hasted . A boystown favorite! I love this place. As always, never disappointed in the music. Crowd is always friendly. I always meet new people here. Great dance floor. And fantastic pitchers of unlimited flavors of  specialty drinks.


NYE2012 – New Year – New Tune – Presented by Absolut Tune
– a sparkling fusion of vodka and Sauvignon Blanc


$25 General Admission
   Hors d’ouevres, Champagne Toast and $1000 Balloon Drop


$75 VIP Advanced Purchase*
-Dedicated Separate Entrance with Express Entry
-Unlimited In & Out Privileges
-Gift Bag
-Complimentary Coat Check
-5 Premium Cocktails
*Limited Quantity Available


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