Fake First Wednesday on a Fourth Wednesday GoatFrog
posted December 20, 2015 7:50 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Wed December 23 at 5:00 PM, The World-Famous Billy Goat Tavern
430 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, USA (Map & Directions)
So I'm not working Christmas Eve Day and we're not going anywhere for the holiday and we didn't get an official trip to the Blue Frog earlier this month, so now this is happening.
I figure a lot of people are leaving town or have plans, but in case you don't, let's meet at the Billy Goat and eventually go to the Blue Frog.
Depending on group size and interest, there may be another stops as well but if that happens, it will not be until after 6:30 and the thread would be updated.
Depending on group size and interest, there may be another stops as well but if that happens, it will not be until after 6:30 and the thread would be updated.
I can't make it, but it's worth pointing out that long-time Goat bartender Jeff Magill will be retiring the next day after a 34-year run at the Goat.
Chicago magazine had a nice profile of him this past February; Neil Steinberg from the Chicago Sun-Times had a column last week about Magill's retirement, too.
posted by orthicon halo at 3:46 AM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Chicago magazine had a nice profile of him this past February; Neil Steinberg from the Chicago Sun-Times had a column last week about Magill's retirement, too.
posted by orthicon halo at 3:46 AM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is a thing I will have to contemplate. I don't work Thursday either, but do have to pick someone up from the airport at 10am.
posted by youngergirl44 at 4:08 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by youngergirl44 at 4:08 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
JEFF IS RETIRING? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!
He is truly the best. I think I will have to be there. (Although usually his shift is ending by the time our festivities get started. Maybe I'll need a lunch beer this week.)
posted by misskaz at 6:14 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
He is truly the best. I think I will have to be there. (Although usually his shift is ending by the time our festivities get started. Maybe I'll need a lunch beer this week.)
posted by misskaz at 6:14 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, fair warning: I would not be surprised if the Frog was a total shit show Wednesday, given that we're not the only ones with Thursday off. But perhaps that's all the more reason we should go and show love/support to the staff.
posted by misskaz at 6:19 AM on December 21, 2015
posted by misskaz at 6:19 AM on December 21, 2015
I'm really glad that I did this now that it's pre-retirement. (I remember reading that it was going to happen a while ago I thought, but hadn't seen the new columns.)
I am fully prepared for the Frog to be a shit show after the hot mess it was the First Thursday after they were closed. Even without working the next day, I don't know that it will be a particularly late night.
(Saying such things usually means I'm there until close, but I mean it this time.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:04 AM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
I am fully prepared for the Frog to be a shit show after the hot mess it was the First Thursday after they were closed. Even without working the next day, I don't know that it will be a particularly late night.
(Saying such things usually means I'm there until close, but I mean it this time.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:04 AM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oo! I'll be in the city Weds night with some girlfriends. I'll check back here after the play (Santaland Diaries, has anyone seen it? Any good?) and see what's going on at that time. I'm sure they'll be just as excited as i am to go to an imminently-closing shit show bar and meet up with internet people! Or I'll ditch them. Either way I'm a strong maybe.
posted by Fig at 8:10 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Fig at 8:10 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm also out of town but wish you all the best in your Goat and Frog endeavors.
posted by Zaximus at 9:48 AM on December 21, 2015
posted by Zaximus at 9:48 AM on December 21, 2015
I will be there! I was thinking about suggesting it myself.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:54 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 10:54 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
weighing my immediate HELL YES against the 100% chance that if I show up, I will be contributing greatly to the shitshow the frog will become. Nobody let me sing Journey songs. I mean it.
posted by floweringjudas at 12:32 PM on December 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by floweringjudas at 12:32 PM on December 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
I have to be at work the next day at 7am.
I AM TOTALLY GOING.
posted by dogheart at 1:11 PM on December 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
I AM TOTALLY GOING.
posted by dogheart at 1:11 PM on December 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
Nobody let me sing Journey songs. I mean it.
Well, any way you want it, but on this matter don't stop believing that we'll be going our separate ways.
posted by Evilspork at 1:59 PM on December 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Well, any way you want it, but on this matter don't stop believing that we'll be going our separate ways.
posted by Evilspork at 1:59 PM on December 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
I was also considering suggesting this. I'm glad we're all of similar minds. Though only the frog part actually -- I have other dinner plans.
posted by garlic at 2:27 PM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by garlic at 2:27 PM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
But I can sing Styx, right?
posted by crush-onastick at 2:35 PM on December 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by crush-onastick at 2:35 PM on December 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Fig, Santaland Diaries is awesome. You will have a great time. Mitchell Fain is the shit.
posted by tzikeh at 3:32 PM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by tzikeh at 3:32 PM on December 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
if you DONT sing Styx I'm canceling Christmas
posted by floweringjudas at 5:51 AM on December 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by floweringjudas at 5:51 AM on December 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
I hope the fact that I, at some point, just started favoriting almost every comment in this thread doesn't devalue the meaning. Every one is my favorite.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:49 AM on December 22, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:49 AM on December 22, 2015 [6 favorites]
We're long past the time when favorite inflation (favflation?) meant anything.
posted by Evilspork at 10:24 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Evilspork at 10:24 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
favflation
favation
flavor flav tion
favor fla tion
flat iron flavor
fla-vor-ice station
I'm done now.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:40 PM on December 22, 2015
favation
flavor flav tion
favor fla tion
flat iron flavor
fla-vor-ice station
I'm done now.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:40 PM on December 22, 2015
Fava Flate
posted by Evilspork at 2:44 PM on December 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Evilspork at 2:44 PM on December 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is the Blue Frog enough of a shitshow that I could bring in a bottle of weird Polish vodka to share with everyone without getting kicked out? Because I will have one with me tonight, and I'm pretty sure I can fit it in my purse. Or we can go and take shots in my car. OR cannonball it in the alley or something. I'm not saying I -want- to do any or all of these, but the option is there.
posted by Fig at 6:16 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Fig at 6:16 AM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
It almost certainly will be enough of a shit show, but I'd rather not in the bar without express permission given my love/respect for the employees.
That's not to say they probably wouldn't happily join us in your car and the alley though, so bringing it is up to you.
Either way, I am very glad you are in the right spirit for this evening.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:02 AM on December 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
That's not to say they probably wouldn't happily join us in your car and the alley though, so bringing it is up to you.
Either way, I am very glad you are in the right spirit for this evening.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:02 AM on December 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'll be coming straight from work, so it'll be with me. All options available! Nothing says 'holiday spirit' like drinking weird booze in the tackiest possible way!
IF I don't start sipping from it before I leave here. Which might happen. My initiative levels are very low.
posted by Fig at 7:16 AM on December 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
IF I don't start sipping from it before I leave here. Which might happen. My initiative levels are very low.
posted by Fig at 7:16 AM on December 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah agreeing with MCMike that I love the idea (and I love zubrowka) but given it was liquor license issues that derailed the official First Wednesday this month, I'd hate to put the staff in the position of having to make the decision to kick someone out or risk their last 3 weeks of business.
posted by misskaz at 7:26 AM on December 23, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 7:26 AM on December 23, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'd like to thank everybody for coming out even though the weather is going to be so shitty.
(is this passive aggressive guilt-in-advance for attempted bailing? perhaps.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:44 AM on December 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
(is this passive aggressive guilt-in-advance for attempted bailing? perhaps.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:44 AM on December 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I am here. There are bagpipes.
posted by Evilspork at 3:05 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Evilspork at 3:05 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm on my way but without bagpipes.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:14 PM on December 23, 2015
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:14 PM on December 23, 2015
There seems to be only one set so I guess you'll have to share.
posted by Evilspork at 3:20 PM on December 23, 2015
posted by Evilspork at 3:20 PM on December 23, 2015
I'll be heading down shortly. I have to hand the kitten in law off back to her family.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:38 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 3:38 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
We'll be there in a bit. Eating dinner downtown right now.
posted by misskaz at 4:02 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by misskaz at 4:02 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
The bagpipes were for Jeff and it was pretty glorious
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:24 PM on December 23, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:24 PM on December 23, 2015 [4 favorites]
we went to the Frog
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:16 PM on December 23, 2015
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:16 PM on December 23, 2015
I am headed to the Frog now
posted by Fig at 6:56 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Fig at 6:56 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yay!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:14 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:14 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Evilspork at 12:08 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]