Chicago’s No. 1 party night: Some Dad vs. David advice

Taking advantage of our rare father-and-son writing combination, the Chicago Star gives you the first of what could be some classic journalistic battles featuring youth vs. age; wisdom of the years vs. youthful idealism; and some potential general lack of respect from one's elders.

This series is hereafter to be known as “Dad vs. David.”

Our first topic? The best party night of the year in Chicago.

Dad:  First of all, before we dig into the weeds, David, would you agree that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the single best “party night” of the year?

David:  In a town as famed for its bar scene as Chicago, it’s hard to pick just one, but Thanksgiving Wednesday would be right up there. St. Patrick’s Day could give a shout for the heavyweight belt, and Halloween weekend might have something to say about it too, but there’s something about Chicago and its penchant for quaint neighborhood pubs and no-frills nightlife that pairs perfectly with the holiday to make it one of a kind in the Windy City.

Dad:  OK, now that we have established that, can I give you the two reasons in my opinion that make this night stand out? 1) It is kind of like the unofficial beginning of the holiday season. Everybody is in the mood for some unencumbered revelry. 2) The college kids have come home and are reuniting with their hometown friends. This “reuniting” usually includes hitting the bars for some heavy drinking.

David:  Couldn’t agree more; it’s a perfect recipe for debauchery when you think about it. The students are out of school, the adults have a short work week, the weather is starting to require a beer blanket, and most of us are staring down the barrel of an entire Thanksgiving Day small-talking with that extended family you haven’t seen since last year. Add in the likely event of having to watch the Bears get crushed on national TV the next day, and you have all the necessary ingredients to make even the strongest among us run away from sobriety and towards their favorite seasonal lager.

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Dad:  Oh, man, we had some great memories of those nights—and for me, sad to say, that was about four and a half decades ago.

David: To be honest, I thought you just popped up on this planet at 42 years old with a balding head and a bad back, but if you say so…

Dad:  We went downtown often. I remember for a few years going upstairs at a bar called Muldoon’s Saloon. It was absolutely packed on that Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and they always had 25-cent watermelon shots, which we consumed in large quantities along with the beer. We even lit some cigars (back then, you could smoke, even in a crowded bar!) and told the waitress that one of our friends just had a baby. (He didn’t—none of us were even married).

David, do you have a favorite Wednesday before Thanksgiving memory?  Remember, this is your dad asking. Mom will be reading this—and this is a family-friendly website.

David: Hi, Mom! I obviously always spend every Wednesday before Thanksgiving in the library or doing community service, mentoring orphaned children, so you can feel free to stop reading. OK… now that she’s gone, my favorite memory would have to be the first Thanksgiving back after leaving for college freshman year, which included old friends, new traditions, and a poorly made fake ID from Connecticut, but that’s all you’re getting out of me!

Dad:  One thing we were not good at, which your generation is much better at, is not driving after drinking. I am ashamed to look back now and say we did this too often. (We were thankful—and very lucky—not to have accidents).  But I think your age group has been made aware so much more effectively than ours, and I am grateful for that.

David: I’d like to think each generation seems to be getting smarter and smarter about this problem. With the abundance of ride share applications and public transportation at our disposal these days, there really should be no reason to even consider risking it.

Dad: Even thought this is a huge party night, I do have to emphasize safety.  Overindulging can lead to some really bad decisions, and there have been too many stories of young kids running into trouble on this night—even to the point of a few stories of kids trying to walk back on their own and going over railings into the lake or river.  Really serious stuff.

What is your best advice here?

David: Nobody likes the drunkest guy at the party. The holidays are, of course, for celebrating and having fun, but finding that right balance is what it’s all about. Find good friends, stick together, and know your limits!

Dad: What do you think about the kids in the suburbs on this big night? Stay local, or head downtown?

David: This might be a little controversial, but I am definitely going to say local here. No doubt downtown has a lot of action to offer, but there’s something about the familial aspect of the holiday and the chill arriving in the air that makes this a great day to reduce logistics and check out the hometown-favorite watering hole. These local institutions can often be a high school reunion for students back from college. And there’s really nothing like the thrill of maybe running into an old high school teacher or coach out at the bar now that you’re 21!

Dad: What’s your favorite bar right now for partying? For me? It is the one adjacent to our kitchen.

David: Well, you certainly can’t beat the beer already in your fridge for price, and if I do head out, there are a lot of great places worthy of the top spot right now, but I would say the favorite recently is an Irish pub classic called Declan’s in Old Town. Nothing fancy, just a nice, laid-back atmosphere with good food and plenty of TVs for sports.

Dad: Finally… I get to brag a little bit. Even after a night of heavy alcohol consumption and late hours, our group would always—for many years—still be there at the football field at 9 a.m. for our traditional “Turkey Bowl” touch football game. Not sure how we did it, but I do look back with great pride.

David: Very impressive, but given what I know about your athletic ability, I’m not sure what’s scarier: the hangover or the quality of football that was on display.