***NOTE: Video above is from 2019. Dates and events have changed.***
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Get ready to spin some dreidels, Chicago! The city's first and only Hanukkah-themed pop-up bar is back by popular demand.
The Graystone, in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, is bringing back 8 Crazy Nights this holiday season with a new food and drink menu, and a Circumsessionable Lager made by Empirical Brewery!
Guests of 8 Crazy Nights, located at 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., can expect a winter wonderland of decorations created for the Jewish holiday throughout the bar and weatherproofed beer garden, including over 14,000 blue and white lights and Hanukkah ball lanterns adorning the ceiling, Star of David and dreidel ornaments, lighted menorah decor, Mensch on a Bench, a Hanukkah sweater wall, an 8-foot inflatable dreidel, and more.
If you didn't attend in it's opening year in 2019, you may be wondering where exactly did the idea come from?
“In Wrigleyville, there are so many Christmas-themed pop-up bars this month and we wanted to be a little different and include our Jewish friends,” said co-owner Sam Stone. “The name is just something we thought sounded fun and thought that would be a nice representation of who we are at Graystone and that we like to have a good time and throw a fun party”
The pop-up features wall-to-wall Hanukkah décor, a bar serving up themed food and drink, a shot-ski Menorah, Instagram-worthy photo-ops, tons of lights a whole lot of chocolate gelt, and much, much more!
Throughout the pop-up, a special food menu, ranging in price from $5 to $16, will feature traditional and spins on Jewish favorites like Matzo Ball Soup and three flavors of Latkes including classic with sour cream and applesauce, cilantro jalapeno with chipotle sour cream, and herb cheddar with chive sour cream. Brisket will be served three ways including Brisket Egg Rolls, a Brisket Sandwich and a Brisket Platter. Then, for dessert, guests can indulge in decadent Boozy Jelly Donuts made with housemade vodka-infused jelly.
Festive cocktails with traditional Hanukkah flavors will be also available for $12 each, such as the Festival of Lights Martini, Gelt Martini, Mazel Tov, The Chosen MF and a Mensch Mule.
Additionally, there will be themed shots, including an $8 Sufganiyah Shot, with vanilla-infused Bushmills Red Bush, Toschi Fragoli Wild Strawberry Liqueur, and powdered sugar rim; and an $8 Dreidel Bomb, complete with Pinnacle Raspberry, blue curacao, Red Bull Coconut Berry. Guests can also try the giant Menorah “shot-ski” starting at $24.
New for 2021, guests can sip $12 hot cocktails like a Hanukkah Harry’s Hot Chocolate served in a gold mug or a Blue Toddy.
Graystone has also teamed up with Empirical Brewery to create a special light lager that will be on tap exclusively at 8 Crazy Nights called Circumsessionable Lager. Drafts will be available for $7 each all season long.
And the fun does not just stop at the food and drinks. At 8 Crazy Nights, guests can also play a bunch of different board and card games, including dreidel, Jewish Old Maid, Connect 4 with Hanukkah gelt, Cards Against Humanity with the Jew expansion pack, Mitzvah Match, Jewish Guess Who, Apples to Apples Jewish edition, and Schmear Build-A-Bagel card game.
“We want everyone to come by, try a Gelt Martini, and play Jewish Old Maid with me,” Stone said.
8 Crazy Nights at Graystone Tavern, located at 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., will be open through Sunday, Jan 2. Shalom!
Related
