Be green this year while you’re being blue. The Whiskey Blue trio of bar lounges is taking the 2007 Environmental Pledge to make Chicago the greenest city this Earth Month by asking their patrons to partake in a courageous eco-conscious feat: the consumption of a refreshing alcoholic libation. Whiskey Blue, Whiskey Sky and Mexx Kitchen at the Whiskey will plant a tree—er, actually environmental advocacy group Live It Green will—with every purchase of their “TreeTini” cocktail, a martini made with vodka, Cointreau and a twist of basil. “It’s a very cool, easy way to kind of do something in an eco-friendly way to help the environment, and the effect is really remarkable,” says Whiskey Blue bar manager Grant Gedemer. The swanky W Hotel bars Whiskey Blue and Whiskey Sky and the newly revamped Latin food-inspired Mexx Kitchen at the Sutton Place Hotel will be offering this “green” cocktail throughout April. Gedemer, a longtime recycler, is very excited. “It’s very difficult for a bar manager to find ways to help the environment,” he says. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to combine what I do for a living with one of my passions.”
Booze Alternatives: Is Ritual Part of a Healthy Drinking Life? Ritual zero-proof alternatives are all about balance, and “the opportunity to be a part of the conversation, to be a part of the party, to be a part of the cheers and the hugs but to not necessarily have alcohol, which has been so deeply ingrained in our social traditions."
Go Green: Join the Vinho Verde Revolution If you’ve spent any time in the Portuguese section of your favorite wine shop, you’re at least a bit familiar with Vinho Verde. If you haven’t spent any time shopping this section, get there for some fantastic wines at great prices.
Road Tripping: Craft Beers of Green Bay On a recent road trip to Green Bay, we went in search of local beer. We found a few places that might even convince you to drive up to Green Bay for an evening or two of serious beer-ing.
