Geneva Ale House

One of my personal favorites; a bar that I have been frequenting since I heard of a few winters ago, Geneva Ale House, has been a welcome escape from the ordinary for a few years. Needing an escape from the kids at Swedish Days (nothing worse than feeling old at 22), I decided to head here for a beer and an update.

All superstitions aside, as the Bruins have scored twice since arrival (may have to leave to protect the hawks precarious lead), this has to be one of the best ale houses in the suburbs. Not only do they have a comfortable atmosphere, but one of the benefits of this location is the knowledge that the staff provides. My current server has visited every local brewery, tasted all the beers; and was able to talk about all of the beers with an actual knowledge I hope for but rarely expect out of an ale house in the area.

Currently I am sitting and drinking a Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout, a new favorite from a top brewery. From this, my server was able to talk about related beers and then transition to seasonal beers from Lagunitas and Revolution.

In addition, their food selection really ties into their alcohol menu, offering a high class bar food menu. Their mini tacos and fried pickles offer good savory options if you're looking for a few appetizer choices.

All in all, every time I come here, I expect great things and am never disappointed. If you're looking to enjoy a nice night, enjoying a bit classier beers and food, Geneva Ale House is the place to go.

Where Are the Cheap Nights?

Let's face it, you may be like me, broke on a Saturday night.  You're a few months out of graduation; rent is due, student loans need to be paid on Tuesday, and your bank account is looking more similar to a start-up tech firm's IPO than you would like.  Such is the lifestyle of being Postgrad in Suburbia.

The real question, what can you do?  It's still a bit too cold for a bonfire, and doing something like that definitely takes you back to your awkward high school days, without the entire sneaking alcohol in backpacks.  Plus, your apartment complex (or parents if you are in the unfortunate situation that many of us live) frowns upon or flat out bans fires, no matter how controlled.

You could go to a bar, and enjoy the dearth of specials, winding up dropping a few dollars more than you would like for a bottle of beer that you need to wait 10 minutes to acquire.  Don't get me wrong, I love the bar scene.  I just cant afford to go out with my unemployed/underemployed friends, because their tabs somehow find their way onto my credit card.

You could follow my advice and go to Pride of the Fox Riverfest.  It's mostly free, it's this weekend, and you at least can get a good start to your night.  That will at least get you out of your house until 10 pm.

So now what? Do you hit up your local Steak and Shake, feel far too old when you see class of '13 shirts, and slowly delve into your plate of fries thinking about how easy kids have it these days? Well, if that's the case, I can meet you on Monday at a cash-only bar at 5:30 pm for a glass of whiskey on the rocks.  We can shake our canes at the skater kids in unison.

Okay, enough complaining.  This is a little bit of saying what you could do this weekend for cheap, and asking any of my readers: What do you do in Suburban Chicago if you don't want to spend a lot of money?

A few of the upcoming posts will hopefully touch base on some decent alternatives to dropping a $50 spot at a bar.  I look to be visiting Sky High Sports in Naperville, a trampoline site with dodgeball available by the hour; a few local hookah bars (North Aurora Hookah Lounge, Exhale Hookah Lounge, Oasis Cafe, and Mr. Shesha); and maybe I'll even check out the Cascade Drive-In over in West Chicago, hopefully with a date.

Pride of the Fox, A St. Charles Tradition

I have already talked about Swedish Days, the Geneva festival that has drawn a crowd and is something of which I can speak highly due to my personal experiences.  However, as festival season opens in the suburbs, another long standing tradition, Pride of the Fox, is opening today in St. Charles.

Already making local news, Pride of the Fox opened last night amid controversy between The St. Charles Festival Committee and Pride of the Fox LLC.  A well written article by Tim Schnell of the Geneva Patch (2 St. Charles Groups Clash over Pride of the Fox Riverfest) touches base on the arguments provided by both sides, along with the growth that each claims to have provided. Pride of the Fox LLC ultimately provided information allowing it to gain reinstatement an run the festival yet again.

The festival itself opened last night with a carnival, one that runs all weekend long, at the corner of IL Route 31 and Cedar.  Including many free events throughout the weekend, such as the Kane County Swat Team performing an explosives demo on Friday behind the Riverwalk and various concerts sponsored by the Arcada Theatre.

The artists performing on the Main Stage on Friday include last year's Battle of the Bands Winner, The Skelters, performing a funk blend; 28 Days, providing both covers and originals; and Modern Day Romeos, a Chicagoland band with a long history.  Saturday evening's concerts include the Battle of the Bands (winner plays Pride of the Fox 2014), 1 Sam 10, The Hat Guys, and Mike and Joe.  Closing it out on Sunday will be On Tap, The Homewreckers, and Billy Croft & the Five Alarm.

Among the music; there will be bags challenges, food offerings, line dancing lessons, and a beer garden each night.  Furthermore, additional games will include Bingo with a Twist and Trivia with a Twist.

Personally, I have not gotten a chance to indulge in the Pride of the Fox in years past, but with the offerings available; I feel that there will be opportunities to check out a few local artists, drink some beers, and close out my night at Beehive Tavern or River Rockhouse

Mike and Denise's

One of the biggest parts of living in suburban Chicago is finding your go-to place when you don't feel like heading out of your way to enjoy a night.  For residents of Aurora, options are generally limited to driving 10 miles north to St. Charles, 12 miles east to Naperville, or choosing areas near the Westfield Fox Valley Mall.  If you don't feel inclined to risk an extended drive to either of these locations, or don't want to hear a poor Top 40/Pop-Country mashup; one of the best locations to visit is Mike and Denise's on Farnsworth Avenue in east Aurora.

During my first visit to this location's bar, I expected to walk into a bar full of older regulars who didn't take kindly to newcomers.  Mike and Denise's was always one of the restaurants that I ended up after high school events, and I never actually got to look into the bar area.  Upon entering, not only was I received normally as a patron; I actually found that the activities and events were geared to span a great deal of ages, and the pool tables are some of the best in the suburbs. 

I'd have to say some of the biggest reasons that I not only went back; but now can consider myself a regular have to be the pool, the music, the drink specials, and the staff.

Pool
As someone who is still heartbroken over the demise of The Green Room in North Aurora, I have always looked for a place to play pool.  Mike and Denise's offers four high quality pool tables, and you are likely to play (as long as you don't show up on Wednesday league nights).  On an even better note, Tuesdays offer free pool to anyone who can hold a table. 

Music
I could go many ways with this.  Utilizing TouchTunes software whenever the system isn't taken up by some of its events, Mike and Denise's offers patrons their choice of music with the biggest online jukebox service available to bars and restaurants.  Secondly, offering karaoke on Tuesdays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays; you can always show off your vocal skills or enjoy a good laugh at the expense of your friends.  Finally, Mike and Denise's provides live music events on occasion; of which you can find on their Facebook page or by looking at posters lining the bars.

Drink Specials
Providing great specials on weeknights, and monthly specials on beers; Mike and Denise's can compete with a lot of the other Aurora bars on cost and quality.  My personal favorite, $1.75 Shiner Bock on Tuesdays, always gives me increased courage on the karaoke mic; and draft night on Thursdays ($2 domestic, $3 import, and $4 specialty) allows patrons options in choice and price.  Other than this, many nights carry specials that I have not experienced firsthand.

Staff
You can choose any bars based on the previous two entries, and some bars based on the first; but the best reason to frequent a location is the waitstaff.  With many knowledgeable bartenders, you can always find interesting drink choices; and with split tips, any server will come to help you if your drink is low.  This allows for fast, efficient service provided by any number of workers.

All in all, this bar is perfect for a lot of demographics: family restaurant for early evenings, sports bar with a large quantity of TVs for fanatics, and other events for us, postgrads in suburbia.  Whereas you may not be walking distance like me, this bar is still incredibly accessible and popular.

For more information, check out the Mike and Denise's Official Facebook Page to see more specials and events.

Swedish Days and Geneva's Downtown

Throughout my experiences growing up in the suburbs, one of the biggest events each summer has been the mid-June tradition in Geneva, Swedish Days. From the carnival themed area and daily music events to the local vendors and businesses showcasing the latest installments, Swedish Days has grown through the years and has really helped to put Geneva, Illinois on the map.

At a minimum, the musical offerings on the Main Stage on Third Street downtown provide entertainment for many individuals; with acts such as American Idol's Nick Lynch, the Swedish American Children's Choir, and various cover acts providing entertainment to the vast expanse of visitors passing through the main Swedish Days area.  For those looking for a bit more intimate musical experience, the Concerts on Lawn area offers various acoustic acts throughout the festival.

If food is your thing, Swedish Days has anything you need. From standard fare offered by local restaurants to authentic Swedish Cuisine, if you look around, you will find some enjoyable dishes throughout the festival.  Many of the offerings come from local non-profits, so you can get good food while helping a worthy cause.

And now the best part of the week-long event, and something I have missed due to age-related issues the prior years: The Swedish Days Beer Gardens.  Although many local restaurants are offering normal bar service, venues such as the American Legion Post 75 and Gratto Italian Tapas will be serving beers in fenced-off areas on Third Street.  If you are looking for a more bar friendly area, just walk north of Main Street, and you can find bars that will hopefully be offering late night and post-festival drinks.  A personal favorite, Geneva Ale House, offers rotating taps and knowledgeable servers for the beer connoisseur.

Finally, many local businesses from the Kane County Cougars to Charlestowne Cinema 18 will be offering samples, sweepstakes, and giveaways.  I actually may or may not be legitimately excited for my free chair massage and wellness score provided by The Chiropractic People

For more information, check out the Swedish Days Brochure, provided by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.