The Weekender: Coffee Beer, Bacon Ice Cream and Mint Juleps

The weekend is the mint in your julep.

Intelligentsia Beer at Goose Island

Two beverage powerhouses have combined their respective geniuses, and you have no choice but to pay attention—well, it helps that caffeine-pusher Intelligentsia is involved. Introducing Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout, an espresso-infused twist on Goose Island's whiskey-barrel-aged brew. Alas, not available for breakfast.

Now available, Goose Island, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, 312-915-0071

THE WORLD’S GREATEST WHISKY HOUSE

Johnnie Walker's House of Walker

The House of Walker is an exclusive experience where guests are led through a sampling of the best Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskies. It's coming to Chicago before too long, but if you want to know more, you'll have to join the club. Space is limited, so RSVP now.

Bacon Ice Cream at Chalkboard

The $50 five-course deal, which includes wine pairings, at this snug North Center boîte is undoubtedly a good one. But after your tuna-sashimi spring rolls and roasted halibut with citrus marmalade comes the real excitement: housemade bacon ice cream. Pork desserts always make you squeal.

Available through May 9, Chalkboard, 4343 N Lincoln Ave, 773-477-7144


Art Chicago After-Party

After rubbing elbows with artists and collectors at the Merchandise Mart during Art Chicago, you may find you have some excess creative energy to burn off. A warehouse party, a few cocktails, gratis appetizers, a rock band and a legion of art students in tight leggings should help.

Apr 30, 7-10pm, $5, Creative Lounge Chicago, 1564 N Damen Ave, 3rd Floor

Derby Party at the Pony

If you're sipping a mint julep amid beautiful women wearing awe-inspiring haberdashery, it can only mean one thing: it's Saturday. Add a buffet of Southern favorites, a raffle for a day of horse riding in Lake Forest and galloping ponies on TV, and then you have a party.

May 1, 3:30-5:30pm, The Pony, 1638 W Belmont Ave, 773-828-5055

Peep Show at Enclave

Aubrey O'Day possesses many remarkable talents. Right now, however, it's only her ace Playboy modeling skills that are leaping to mind. So see what she's truly capable of when (almost) fully clothed as she leads this tantalizing burlesque revue. You've always loved the performing arts.

May 1, 9pm, free admission before 11pm, Enclave, 220 W Chicago Ave, 312-654-0234

Get Cornered: Ravenswood's New Whiskey Palace

Fountainhead
1968-70 W Montrose Ave
(at Damen)
Chicago, IL 60613
773-697-8204You probably have a good, dependable corner saloon tucked away somewhere. Nothing fancy, just a beer-and-shot joint.

We don't want to change that... much. But let's add a few microbrews to the beer part of the equation. Maybe a single-barrel whiskey or two (or 150) to the shot part. And as long as we're tinkering, let's throw some pork belly in there somewhere too.

Welcome to Fountainhead, your new wellspring of good whiskey, beer and, if need be, braised pork belly sandwiches, slated to open this week in Ravenswood.

Basically, this place looks like what would happen if your basic Chicago corner saloon were redecorated by Belgians. With its wrought-iron lighting fixtures, vintage European adverts, brick fireplace and secluded nook in the back, this is the kind of spot where you can really hunker down for the evening. And once you look at that beer and whiskey list, you may have to.

The lineup ranges from craft bourbons and regional scotches to everything in between, but you'll also want to spend some serious time exploring the 27-tap strong world tour of Belgium (Cantillion) to Chicago (Metropolis).

To keep up your strength as you power through, you'll find mussels bathed in Belgian ale, a pork belly sandwich, also braised in ale, and—in case you're sensing a theme—a duck confit mac and cheese with... a German beer.

You love a good variation on a theme.

Slice 'n' Easy: NY Thin Crust on the North Side

Pizzeria Serio
1708 W Belmont Ave
(between Paulina and Ravenswood)
Chicago, IL 60657
773-525-0600As you know, it's always about the journey, never the destination.

So suit up, strap in, or do whatever it is you do to prepare for another mission in your ongoing pursuit of that mythical beast known as the perfect pizza.

The newest contender: Pizzeria Serio, a house of brick-oven-fired pies opening tomorrow in Roscoe Village.

Like all the best pizza joints, there's really nothing too flashy about it. Just some exposed brick walls, shiny ductwork and a bar that will remain dry until a liquor license comes through this summer. So that bottle of Barbera d'Asti you always carry in your back pocket pays off again.

The main attraction is the fearsome 800-degree oven, turning out eight kinds of 14-inch specialty pies, from basic margherita to the Meat Your Heart Out (with pepperoni, sausage and Canadian bacon). It also promises authentic New York-style pizzas in the heart of Chicago. Score one for having big doughballs, we guess.

This will be a good choice after a day at Wrigley, if you crave a pie that's a little heartier than, say, Spacca Napoli's, but a little chewier than the traditional Chicago thin-crust, falling within a strictly regulated crustiness zone that Giuliani enacted into law in the late '90s.

We're happy to report that the Supreme Court just upheld it.

Bold Move: Seeing the World by Coffee

Starbucks.com/BoldHere we are. It's early. And you probably want just one thing: a day off.

Or failing that, some coffee.

While we're working on the first one, we can help you immediately with the second one. With an assist from our friends in Seattle...

For this week only, visit your local Starbucks and enjoy the bold pick of the week.

It's the final station on what's been a whirlwind voyage around the planet, with plenty of hot, fresh coffee to help keep your spirits high. For this week alone, you'll be able to sample a bold coffee from a far-flung place—and you'll be able to try it for $1.50.

Your final stop: the earthy Sumatra brew, which is said to have been created for the adventurer who throws caution to the wind and follows the path of danger and mystery. (Aided only by his razor-sharp wits and a cup of joe.) The result: an intense brew with a full, buttery body. (Your favorite kind of body.)

But even after this adventure has ended, Starbucks will have its usual assortment of mind-bending blends on hand, not to mention new forms of enticement they're introducing all the time.

See you on the next go-around.

The Losers (2010/I)

A tale of double cross and revenge, centered upon the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. The team-Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar -find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Working together, they must remain deep undercover while tracking the heavily-guarded Max, a ruthless man bent on embroiling the world in a new high-tech global war.

Firmly rooted in the comicbook style, this frantic action film is a good deal of fun to watch. Part of the pleasure is the awesome cast, who play up the team spirit and fun as they go about their business. Yes, it's silly. Sure, there's plenty of goofy moments. But there's nothing wrong with that. Surprisingly violent for a PG-13 movie these days, it still ended up being a bit more tame than I'd have liked. It's an R rated story, if that makes sense. The editing is a touch too choppy, and there is the usual overuse of hand-held camera. But all in all, a solid action movie with plenty to please fans of the genre.

I'm not going to write some artistic review and slam this movie because it won't win an oscar. I would if this movie took itself seriously, but from the opening scene it doesn't. It's just a fun action flick that is well worth a bucket of popcorn. There is well-acted comedy here with a string of one-liners well above most action flicks. Yes the action is cheesy at times, but it's supposed to be and is still good. The entire cast really pulls this one off. A really fun 2 hours.

****/*****

4/5 Stars

Taking It on the Chin: A Razor Emporium on Michigan Avenue

The Art of Shaving
520 N Michigan Avenue
(at Illinois)
Chicago, IL 60611
312-527-1604On Monday morning, everyone's clamoring for some face time with you.

So by Monday afternoon, your face might need a rest. The kind that only a few hot towels and a badger-hair shaving brush can provide...

So welcome to The Art of Shaving, a combination old-fashioned barbershop and all-things-shaving store nestled in the first floor of the North Bridge Mall on Michigan Avenue.

Inside, you'll find a small, handsome, wood-paneled haircutting sanctuary, where your five o'clock shadow will welcome the comfort of soothing hot towels and relaxing lather. The latter comes courtesy of a highly experienced barber—a barber ninja, really—who wields his tempered steel straight razor with such precision, you may sleep right through the whole thing. (Luckily, he won't.)

Of course, if you'd like to take charge of your own face, you can swing by for the basics: disposable blades, pre-shaving oils, tubs of rich shaving cream. And since your basics happen to include fine badger-hair shaving brushes and $1,000 sterling-silver-and-buffalo-horn-handled razors, you can stock up on those too.

You've been going through them so fast lately.

The Box (2009/I)

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

This movie had a ton of potential, however it fell way short! Good story line but it was way confusing and I'm not sure I understand what happened. Something about a box and aliens. The ending was possibly the worst ending I have ever seen. Probably the worst movie of the year! Such a let down, it was a good idea!

You'd think the description would describe what was going to happen in the movie. This is an hour and half of my life that is gone. I've got a box to put this in.

Avoid this movie if you can. It raises more questions at the end and leaves you hanging. I rather rent "Joe's Apartment" again than to have ever rented this movie. ***Spoiler*** Who was his employer? Why was he testing? The movie hinted at some of the answers but didn't answer them.

*/*****

1/5 Stars