When people ask me how I handle brutal Chicago winters, I say, “It’s all about layering!” I never leave home without two pairs of tights, a sweater, a jacket, a giant infinity scarf and ski mittens (I’m not afraid to admit I’m Team Mitten…they keep heat in and cold out!). Most people barely leave the nearby vicinity of their neighborhood – can you blame them?
To maintain a semblance of a social life despite the urge to go into seasonal hibernation, here are my suggested Chicago haunts to merit stepping out into the cold:
EAT
DMK Burger Bar is not your average burger restaurant! My stomach rumbles every time I think about their delectable Bison Burger – grass-fed beef on a fresh baked bun with goat cheese, picked red onions, blueberry BBQ sauce. Nothing like some meat and an order of fries with parmesan and truffle cream for ultimate winter comfort food.
Burgers $9 – $12; fries $2 – $5, DMK Burger Bar, 2954 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago, IL 773.360.8686, http://dmkburgerbar.com/
In order to eat at Ruxbin, plan your visit early mid-week. Don’t feel bad about popping in when the restaurant first opens at 5:30pm – you’ll be laughing all the way to your table because you can skip the two hour wait common during dinner primetime (the space only sits 32). Plus, it will already be pitch black dark outside anyway – let your mind convince you it’s much later than it actually is. This tiny restaurant serves up delicious cuisine inspired by French technique and Asian influences. Get the octopus appetizer (grilled with chickpeas, picked green onions, radish, black soybean, grapes, and ginger-scallion vinaigrette) or the Duck Breast (baby greens, shaved fennel, snow peas, orange, mustard vinaigrette and zucchini bread).
Appetizers $5 – $12, Entrees $21 – $30, Ruxbin, 851 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 312.624.8509, http://www.ruxbinchicago.com/site/
DRINK
Barrelhouse Flat has some of the tastiest, wallet-friendly mixology-crafted cocktails in Chicago, with two floors of Prohibition-era inspired cozy seating, a pool table and countless nooks that you can curl up in on a blustery winter evening. Sip away the hours with a cocktail (there are 70 to choose from), but pace yourself because two of these drinks make eggnog look like child’s play. If you’re drinking with a group, go in with friends on a festive punch bowl. You won’t even feel the chill on the way home!
Cocktails start at $12. Barrelhouse Flat, 2624 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 773.857.0421, http://barrelhouseflat.com/
Don’t stave off winter-induced Seasonal Affective Disorder; embrace it by listening to some seriously amazing blues at Kingston Mines! This Northside blues club is slightly dive-y, 100% authentic and has been the hub of blues and funk entertainment since 1968. Swing by on a Saturday night to hear the powerful pipes of Joanna Connor. After sharing a bucket of beer, expect to shake your tail feather near the stage.
Nightly cover $10 – 15. Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614 773.477.4646, http://www.kingstonmines.com
PLAY
Laugh in 
the face of twenty straight days of snow by taking a trip to The Second City, improv headquarters and breeding ground for some of the country’s funniest comedians including Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey. If you’re too late to snag tickets to the main stage, check out the adjoining de Maat Theatre, which hosts more experimental, fresh faces. For the price of going to see a movie, you can see up-and-coming live talent – just try not to split your sides from unpredictable, uproarious comedy.
The Second City, 1616 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60614, http://www.secondcity.com
Shed your down coat while paying a visit to the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Open seven days a week, this indoor floral paradise provides a tropical haven from the chill. Stroll through the jungle, fern room, orchid room and show room decked out with the season’s best blooms. Bring a good book and pretend you live in a reasonable climate.
Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 North Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL 60614, 312. 742.7736 http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/
So now you know where to find me this winter! Where are your favorite cold weather spots? Share in the comments!
~ Rachel Cooper
