Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! The dog days of Summer are upon us and we’re gearing up for a nice weather weekend at West Fest! Come and check out the latest from Drink Deck, the bar enthusiast’s travel and discount guide, including the release of our newest city – London, England! To celebrate the 4th we’re offering a special price on our Chicago iPhone and Android apps, just $19.99 through July 30th! And this weekend at West Fest, buy a Drink Deck get a margarita shooter!

Howdy Chicago! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again this summer during Street Festival Season in the Windy City. Wanted to take a quick minute and tell you about some recent changes with our Venue Partners:

Small Bar has sold it’s ownership of their Fullerton location and it’s morphed into Beer Bistro North, an expansion of The Beer Bistro’s flagship location in the West Loop. The Owners of Small Bar Fullerton will be focusing soley on their operation on Division Street and you can bring your Drink Deck card from Small Bar Fullerton into the Division Street location.

Redeem This Card at Small Bar Division Street

Andersonville’s In Fine Spirits has revamped their concept and is now know as Premise. The wine and spirits store by the same name (In Fine Spirits) will remain. We’ve connected with Management and Ownership at Premise and they’ve agreed to continue honoring the In Fine Spirits card for 25% off.

Your In Fine Spirits card is still valid at Premise

For those with a “vintage” copy of Drink Deck Chicago’s first or second print run please be advised that Riverview Tavern (which we no longer represent) has changed hands and will no longer honor the Drink Deck card with their name on it. If you are looking for a Drink Deck venue in Roscoe Village go to Volo Wine Bar or Village Tap, both are Drink Deck friendly.

Welcome Deal Seekers! Here’s our list of venues in Chicago. Look in the upper right hand corner of each card for a venue’s specific offer.

If you’ve already purchased your golden ticket for Drink Deck Chicago, compliments of our partnership with You Swoop or Living Social, here are a couple quick pointers:

• We will enter all vouchers once the sale ends on Sunday, March 4th. After that time you can order your Drink Deck(s).
• Purchase your voucher for $15 for 1 Drink Deck or 2 for $25  (maximum of 3or4 decks per customer).
• Use your voucher to order on line at thedrinkdeck.com and we’ll send your order ASAP.
• Just enter your voucher number in the field “Enter your discount code“ and tap “check out“
• If you’ve purchased more than one copy, just use your first voucher number. The shipping & tax will go up slightly.
• You pay just $6 for one copy (a little more for each additional copy, up to 4 copies maximum) when you order online, to cover tax and shipping, and you get $520 in food & drink savings with no expiration!
• A Drink Deck normally retails for $30 plus $6 for tax, shipping and handling!
• We have run past offers with You Swoop at $25, so this is a smoking good deal at just $21 with shipping & tax!
• This offer is only valid for our physical deck of playing cards for Chicago, but if you’d like to order the iphone or android app or Portland or New Orleans decks, please feel free!
• You can use your voucher number to order anytime before April 1, 2012, at which time your voucher will expire.
• If you have any additional questions, please contact us through email at thedrinkdeck@gmail.com

Enjoy your Drink Deckin adventures in Chicago!

Cheers,

Team Drink Deck

I meet Public Relations, Creative Directors from Ad Agencies, Publicists, Marketing Directors and self proclaimed social media gurus everyday. Same thing with Entrepreneurs, like myself. Some of these folks are doing marketing in one of the toughest and most pursued sectors, the bar business.

We at Drink Deck would be remiss to think that we’re the only ones doing bar marketing and promotion. There are some folks doing cool stuff right here in Chicago, after all it’s a great bar town! So I wanted to give our readers some other sites to check-out:

Know somebody in your family that’s planning to attend DePaul Unversity in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood? We’ll you’d be super rad in their eyes if you turned them on to DePaul Drinks. Sam Hooke and his crack team of bar enthusiasts keep Lincoln Park up to date on specials at every bar in the hood; putting together a solid reference guide. Why did they do this? They got tired of Yelp. Us too guys! Excellent work on this marketing effort! Follow them on twitter or become a fan on facebook for more info!
Now DePaul, as the video says, “go get your drink-on!“.

Speaking of “gettin your drink on”, that’s exactly what this next local bar marketing & event promotions company is all about. My Drink On is an innovative approach to group buying for the top nightlife venues in the Windy City that incorporates socializing, networking and philanthropy into a single experience. They put together some great parties, including a recently released special for Halloween at Cedar Hotel! They’ve even already begun promotion of the 2012 New Year’s Eve Yacht Party. Rock on guys! You may single handely put poggled out of business. Follow My Drink On on twitter or become a fan on Facebook to learn more!

It’s such a classic bar sign! And the old adage remains true when you inquire at the bar, “Free beer tomorrow? … I’ll be back.” The sad part is that when you return the sign hasn’t changed! The devil’s in the details as they say.

Well, we’ve found a way to get you free beer, but not tomorrow; unless you’re reading this post on Tuesday, November 15th!

Scroll down for details on Drink Deck’s 2nd Anniversary Party!

Wednesday, November 16th Drink Deck is throwing a “free beer today” party at The Beer Bistro’s new Beer Cellar in Chicago’s West Loop!

Three ways to get free beer (oh, and whiskey):
1) Flash your Drink Deck (playing cards or smart phone) and check-in on Facebook/Foursquare or tweet to @drinkdeckchi & @thebeerbistro; and get free beer!

2) Don’t have a Drink Deck? Download our iPhone or Android app and as a bonus you’ll get a free copy of our Chicago playing cards, oh and free beer!

3) No smart phone? Buy the deck for our anniversary rate of 50% off (just $15 cash or credit) and you’ll get over $520 in discounts, no expiration and free beer!

It’s a win-win. A good beer costs between $6-$9. You’ll get free beer (The Beer Bistro’s Winter Brew from Brooklyn Brewery) coupled with the great savings and super bar recommendations of Drink Deck. RSVP here for the party. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Oh, did we mention free whiskey too? Koval, Chicago’s first boutique distillery, will be on hand as well for a free tasting! Oh, oh and don’t forget that you can use your Beer Bistro for 20% off your food and drink tab!

Cheers,
The Drink Deck Guy

It’s a great gift idea folks and The Gift Insider knows where it’s at! Pairing Drink Deck with a bottle of liquor as a host/hostess gift = great idea!

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. A town steeped in bar culture thanks to Prohibition, Al Capone and Bootlegging. For your bar crawling pleasure the Windy City’s vast expanse of urban living affords a host of different scenes, from classic dives to upscale environs.

When people use the phrase bar crawl it tends to conjure up images of a college Frat barf-fest! But at Drink Deck, a bar crawl is for people who enjoy a variety of bar scenes & genres, depending on their mood. It’s a chance to be an urban explorer while sipping fine wines, craft cocktails, micro brewed beers, locally distilled liquors or the occasional low brow beer & a shot.

That said, I’ve put together a list of Chicago’s top five “Drink Deckin” bar crawls based on bar genre from the newest Drink Deck Chicago:

Wine Bars:
Drink Deck’s Wine Bar Crawl features the neighborhoods of Lincoln Park and Roscoe Village. Start at Lincoln Park newcomer Vintage 338 for small plates and reasonably prices old world wines. Use your $10 gift card after spending the required minimum spend ($30) and hop a cab to Chicago’s first & oldest wine bar, Webster’s. Grab a seat in Webster’s cozy confines and ask their knowledgeable staff for wine flights and a cheese plate. Head a little north to Roscoe Village to enjoy the fab backyard patio at Volo, finishing your evening with an entree and vino. You spend $90 at three spots and save $30!

Gastropubs:
Our Gastropub crawl takes us to West Town for three spots that focus as much on food as they do on drinks. Old Oak Tap is perfect for an app & some micro brews either on the patio or nestled in the lounge next to the fire. Branch 27 is a swank bar/restaurant concept ideal for a hand crafted cocktail paired with my favorite, chicken fried chicken livers. The final stop of the Gastropub crawl is newcomer, Frontier. Check out their awesome list of fresh raw oysters and let the food and drink flow! Frontier offers 20% off with your Drink Deck card, so the more you spend the more you save!

Hip Hangouts:
Head to the South Side for three swanky scenes, deemed “Hip Hangouts”. Simone’s set the trend by using reclaimed pin ball machines, elementary school desks and chemistry sets to construct my favorite bar scene in Chicago! It’s a must see! Moving a little North of Pilsen you’ll encounter two new comers to Little Italy’s burgeoning Taylor Street District. Three Aces offers a Rock-and-Roll Gastropub concept pairing live Swing & Rockabilly with savory food, and Vintage Lounge, goes Italian Stallion on you with Arancini (Fried Risotto), pizza and a vast selection of Martinis.

Beer Bars:
Beer snobs and beer geeks have plenty of options in Chicago, but a visit to these spots will satiate your desire for hops and barley. Start in the West Loop at Beer Bistro where daily specials offer great bottles & drafts, and your Drink Deck card can save you 20% off your tab after the minimum spend! Walk West on Madison and two blocks south on Peoria to Greektown and encounter a Beer Bar haven with 40 drafts, Jaks Tap . Hop the Blue Line to River North where you’ll find Public House; the new spot from the guys behind Bull & Bear. At Public House your Drink Deck card saves you 30%!

Dive Bars:
I’d be remiss if Drink Deck didn’t have some awesome Dives, aka “Historic Bars” to say it in a more politically correct way. These spots are celebrated bar scenes in their own right! Nothing fancy, just Old Style (the official and unofficial beer of the Chicago Cubs), a shot of Malort and a bar stool is all I need. Did you know that many of the historic bars in Chicago acted as banks for union laborers and factory workers? They could actually cash their checks at the bar. Instead of a transaction fee, you had to spend a $2-$5 minimum at the bar! Here’s a three dive bar bender celebrating why Chicago is referred to as “The City of Broad Shoulders”: Happy Village, Lotties and Nisei Lounge.

To pick up your copy of the Chicago Drink Deck playing cards, visit our web site or for iPhone users, download the app.

Hey Drink Deckers! This blog post is dedicated to Summer Festival Season in Chicago; one of our favorite times of the year. It’s a chance for us to hang out with our loyal following, hear about your experiences using Drink Deck and bring in new fans to the Drink Deck Community!

This summer we’ll be introducing the newest print version of Drink Deck Chicago and showing off our Drink Deck products for Portland, OR and New Orleans, LA too! The new version features bar partners offering up to 30% off a $30 minimum purchase instead of just $10 off $30!

If you see us out on the streets of Chicago this summer, please come by and play blackjack for a chance to win a specialty shot or Drink Deck card. Looking for a great gift for your friends and family in Chicago? Have a friend moving to town? Just in town for the weekend? Pick up a Drink Deck Chicago and hit Chicago’s best bars while saving cash!

Here’s our plan for the 2011 Summer Festival Season:

MAY, 2011

Friday, May 21 thru Sunday, May 23: May Fest: Chicago’s first summer festival of the year at 3100 N Ashland at Barry.

Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29: Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival: The 27th Annual, hosted by the Central Lakeview Merchants Association.

June, 2011

Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5: Do Division: Spanning an incredible 10-city blocks on Division from Ashland to Leavitt, the bash features the Family Fun Fest as well as the best food, music and crafts from the surrounding ‘hood.

Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12: Andersonville Midsommarfest: Now in it’s 46th year and drawing an estimated 50,000 people to this awesome Northside neighborhood.

Friday, June 17 thru Sunday, June 19: Taste of Randolph: Located in the city’s most famous restaurant row, the 15th annual Taste of Randolph Street takes place on Chicago’s Randolph Street corridor.  The Taste of Randolph Street is a food-centric festival in the West Loop, a neighborhood that boasts some of the best cuisine in the city.

Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26: Chicago Summerfest: Located in one of Chicago Park District’s prime locations at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West, at Clark Street and Armitage, this event draws approximately 15,000 festival goers.

July, 2011

Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10: Roscoe Village Burger Fest and West Fest: It’s a festival double header for Drink Deck! Let’s play two! Burger Fest pits some of Chicago’s Best bars against one and other for bragging rights on “Chicago’s best burger” while West Fest brings out the hipster music lovers for a line up of non traditional summer festival bands.

Friday, July 15 thru Sunday, July 17: Taste of River North: A newcomer to the Chicago Festival scene, The River North Resident’s Association is celebrating it’s 10th year of Taste of River North by drawing in 15,000 Festival Goers.

Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24: Wicker Park Fest: This mainstay event drew in 52,000 Festival Goers last year and with the music bill and great vendors in 2011 the Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber hopes to draw even more!

Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31: Taste of Lincoln: 40 music acts on 5 stages. Need we say more?

August, 2011

Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7: Retro on Roscoe: Artisans, antique vendors, and cool merchants will provide a shopping experience that is second to none.

Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14: Wrigleyville Summerfest: The Cubs are out of town this weekend, so Wrigleyville Summerfest will be the biggest party around!

Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21: Northside Summerfest: Located 4000 North Lincoln Avenue, between Irving Park to Byron, just south of Irving Park. NSS takes place in the vibrant and populous North Center neighborhood, featuring world-class dining, shopping and nightlife.

Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27: The Boulevard: The community area and neighborhood are named for General John A. Logan who served in the Civil War, and later in Congress. One of the most striking intersections in the city, the square itself is a circular green space located at the center of a traffic circle formed by the junction of Kedzie and Logan Boulevards and Milwaukee Avenue.

September, 2011

Friday, September 2, Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4: North Coast Music Festival

September 16-17 – Oysterfest

September 23-25 – Octoberfest

Hey there fellow and future Drink Deckers! We are huge fans of Rootstock, but unfortunately they are no longer honoring their Drink Deck card. We wish Rootstock all the best and thank them for participating in the past. Visit our most current list here.

Our product is a curated list, printed in “small batch” (just the way we like our bourbons), so the cards will change from one printing to the next as the bar scenes in a certain city evolve. Some bars will be removed by us. Others will request to be removed after a certain length of time. Since Drink Deck doesn’t have an expiration date it’s best to show the card when ordering to make sure it’s still honored or just check our most current list (Drink Deck Spots) when plotting your course.

Future print runs and iPhone app updates will include a bevy of new spots, so keep up to date on twitter and facebook! Have a concern? Email, call or Yelp us.

If you are an iPhone user you should seriously consider our iPhone app which will be updated on every new print run of the physical deck, so you always have the latest “Drink Deck friendly spots” What’s better? It’s $10 less then the physical deck and the updates are free, so you get the new cards at no charge!

Tickets are $10. The show is from 5pm-10pm on Friday and 11am-5pm on Saturday.

Come visit Drink Deck and a host of other wonderful vendors this weekend at the Nature Museum. We will be offering our “selfish gifter special” – buy two Drink Decks and save $10! Gift one copy and keep the second copy for yourself! Support local business this Holiday Season, come check out this event.

View Larger Map

We are pleased to announce that Drink Deck Chicago will be spreading some Holiday Cheer during TBOX, the largest bar crawl in Chicago, which anticipates 8,000 bar enthusiast to be in attendance at their 2010 crawl!

Two of Santa’s sexy little Elves will be on hand along with our Drink Deck Black Jack Dealer to fill Holiday Orders!

One Chicago Drink Deck for $30 or take advantage of the “selfish gifter special” and get TWO Drink Decks for $50….save $10 and keep one for yourself!

We will be at Blarney Stone: 3424 N Sheffield

View Larger Map

Need more details? Want to buy tickets to TBOX? Details here: TBOX

Also, here’s the full line up of bars for the 2010 TBOX Bar Crawl. Click to Enlarge!

We are participating in a local and fair trade Holiday Shopping event for foodies and bar enthusiasts! Come get your Holiday Shop On and Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo afterwards for the Festival of Lights!

Get 2 for 1 entrance to the Holiday Shopping event with code tt241 (must buy today – 12/4!)

All the single ladies! All the single dudes! Hey you gotta Holiday shop right? Mix and mingle with a cool speed date event that includes some great local vendors providing cool gift ideas!

Most dudes hate holiday shopping and wouldn’t mind a woman’s perspective. Most women love the holidays and would welcome a male shopping companion. The problem? You’re single. Enter the solution! Introducing speed date / holiday shop! Pick up cool local gifts and get solid gift recs from the opposite sex this Holiday Season.
Speed Date and Holiday Shop on Thurs 12/2 at the Red Canary

Underground supper clubs are all the rage, and Clandestino Dining is no exception. Executive Chef & Owner, Efrain Cuevas is the mastermind behind Clandestino. His passion for “Grow it, Cook it, Eat it” transcends from the kitchen to the bar through his creation of market fresh cocktails – “Grow it, Brew it, Shake it, Drink it”! We met during his first underground cocktail event at The Exchange: 1270 N Milwaukee (one of 52 Drink Deck friendly establishments in Chicago) where Efrain prepared a bourbon base elixir with homemade rootbeer and St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram…WOW! We sucked down four of these bourbon based beauties at $8 each and used our Exchange Drink Deck card, taking the bill from $32 to $22 before tip!

On Wednesday, November 17 from 8PM-12AM Efrain will be behind the bar again, this time conquering tiki cocktails at the place that made the Mai Tai famous, Trader Vic’s – another one of 52 Drink Deck friendly establishments in Chicago. Tickets are $30 in advance and available at http://bit.ly/bKAAnN.

Included with admission:

• A copy of the newest edition of the Chicago Drink Deck featuring 52 – $10 gift cards to Chicago’s best bar scenes – $29.99 online by itself!
• One drink ticket for beer, wine or a Mai Tai, per purchased ticket
• Access to an outstanding spread of Polynesian Pupus (aka appetizers) that will be locally sourced and prepared under the supervision of Chef Cuevas.
• Specially created market fresh tiki libations (which are being kept “underground” until the day of the event) for a special price of $7-$9.

Use your newly procured Drink Deck card that night at the event and get $10 off a $30 bar tab.

“Drink Deckers” that already own a copy of the bar enthusiast’s travel & discount guide to Chicago can show their Drink Deck at the door and get two extra drink tickets per couple.

On a recent sunny day, while drinking some Victoria beers at the patio of The Boundary, new friends were meeting to discuss a partnership on future events. The team from StateStSports, Drink Deck & The Boundary came up with a pretty neat idea, a bar crawl themed around Cinco de Mayo, but taking place in November instead of May….the 1/2 way point to the celebration of Mexican independence.  We proudly present you with the 1st Annual Division Street Half Way To Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl!

Check out the snazzy posters we came up with for the event. These will be posted in the restrooms at Moonshine, The Boundary and The Fifty/50 – the scene of the crime on 11/4. RSVP on Facebook at Event Name: HALF WAY TO CINCO and follow our tweets at #halfwaytocinco.