LuminoMagazine.com - Bucktown Pub: Neighborhood bar at its best

Bucktown Pub: Neighborhood bar at its best

Written by and photos by VINCE GIANDONATO

Wednesday, 25 October 2006

The Bucktown Pub has seen a lot of changes while sitting on a corner of Cortland where no real street intersects (Supposed to be Paulina, but it's more of an alleyway). This bar was there when the neighborhood was an area that people generally avoided and the building itself has been a bar since before most people can remember. The good news is that the Bucktown Pub is there now and it's a comfortable place to meet friends and grab a drink.

Bucktown Pub

1658 W. Cortland
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 394-9898
Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday; 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday

ATMOSPHERE

With a mixture of exposed brick, wood paneling, and red light ambience, this place screams dive and I love every ounce of it. Sure there's a newer Juke Box, and some updated video games, but the vibe is retro with a loose and cool feel.

CROWD

There's a good mix of Blue Collar hold-outs (long time residents of the neighborhood) and the imported hipsters and occasional yuppie. All in all, people seem to get along, no clash of turf or class. Plus people seem to be fond of bringing their dogs along which makes everybody happy. (Pooches must hit the doghouse by 7 though)

ENTERTAINMENT

Karaoke Tuesdays is all sorts of fun, a good crowd of folks just as willing to listen to you belt out “Tiny Dancer” as they are “Welcome to the Jungle”. Sunday night is probably the best damn open mic night in the city, spreading like wildfire through word of mouth, attracting some great undiscovered talent.

SPIRITS

There's an impressive selection of beers on tap and in the bottle as well as a full bar.

GRUB

Well, there's a free popcorn machine…

PRICES

Here's the scoop. The prices are below the norm for the neighborhood it is, sitting around average to low. $2 and $3 Pint deals help out too.

WHY IT'S UNIQUE

The Bucktown pub is a prime example of what makes drinking in Chicago so great: Neighborhood bars. This corner pub is a welcome sign to anybody who is sick of clubs and posh restaurants dominating the night life. Good beer, good people, great place.

Comments

I love this place!
Written by Guest on 2006-10-26 22:29:27

And it's haunted! :grin