Old style, minus the Old Style

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving feasts. I spent my holiday in Cleveland sampling beer at Great Lakes and Rock Bottom breweries and am grateful to be back in the Windy City. Now that Turkey Day is over, there’s another holiday to look forward to: Repeal Day! On December 5, 1933, the 21st amendment took effect in Illinois, ending the almost 14-year dry spell known as Prohibition. If you appreciate the right to drink legally, why not celebrate the 75th anniversary of Repeal Day by dressing up in a period suit or flapper garb—extra flapper garb points if you’re a man—and enjoying an alcoholic beverage? December 5 falls on a Friday this year, so we’ll have the whole weekend to celebrate.

Sonja Kassebaum of North Shore Distillery understands the importance of this oft-overlooked holiday. She and the other members of the Chicago chapter of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) have two exciting events planned for the evening—an informal happy hour at Clark Street Ale House (742 N. Clark St.) from 6-9 p.m., followed by a 10 p.m. party at the Drawing Room (937 N. Rush St.), featuring a $33 prix fixe dinner and drink pairing menu, a special menu of classic cocktails, and the Ron Mills Orchestra playing 1930s tunes. A portion of the proceeds will be donated the Greenhouse Shelter. In Fine Spirits (5420 Clark St.) will feature a special “Prohibition Cocktail” made with gin and a touch of apricot at their Repeal Day party from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Moonshine (1824 W. Division St.) in the Ukrainian Village will also be hosting a Repeal Day party at 8 p.m., sponsored by Dewars (which has been running an ad campaign to promote the day). They’ll be offering old-fashioned shoeshines and barber shop shaves, as well as fedora and feather boa giveaways. 

Want to experience a real speakeasy vibe? The Green Mill (4802 N. Broadway St.) was a real 1920s speakeasy and retains the classic vibe of the era, while West Town’s Paramount Room (415 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is built on the site of a former speakeasy. You can try the famous classic cocktails at the Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave., look for the yellow lightbulb) or order cocktails by code at the prohibition-themed 1914 (3525 N. Clark St., behind Red Ivy), where your illicit concoction will be served in a teacup by a waitress dressed like a flapper. Prefer to party at home? Drinks Over Dearborn (650 N. Dearborn St.) doesn’t require a password or a special series of knocks to gain entrance, but you will have to buzz in and take an elevator up to peruse their amazing selection of wines, beers, and spirits.

Or you could always stay at home and make bathtub gin. But isn’t the whole point of Repeal Day that you don’t have to?