Beaver's Lounge

After reading John's review, we had to try this place (since hubby and I both haunted Wicker Park old man bars back in the day (pre-yuppie).  It was all he claimed it to be. Cheap cold domestic beer. 'Nuf said? Nice friendly patrons and staff. Good view of the Olympics on TV. Still not enough? Then go back to your fancy pants bar and drink overpriced beer that came here on a slow boat ride.

When I was younger and watching reruns on TV, I didn't think a "Cheers" could exist.  Where everybody knows your name.  Well, peeps, I found a Cheers.  And it's in Berwyn-fucking-Illinois, closer to downtown Chicago than many north and south Chicago addresses.  For some reason, historically, people think BER-WINNNN is some hick town back ass fuckville of a town and if you say you live there, you're catagorized as a hick or dumb fuck.  But if you say you live in neighboring Oak Park, you're as good as a hip Streeterviller like-you-should-be-worshiped-or-somthing being.  Uh, peeps, South Berwyn is MUCH nicer that much of Oak Park, FYI.  Come see and stop paying Oak P's steep property taxes.   It's quite odd how people type cast others...

Anyhow, Berwyn is like, say, Jeff Park, or even Bucktown (PRE-yuppie...if anyone can remember Bucktown pre 1995).  Blue collar, down to earth, yet safe and clean.  TO THE REVIEW:

Beaver's is a dive bar connoisseur's dream!  Owned by Peggy and her husband Buddy (how can you beat those names for dive bar owners?!?!  Actually, I think Peggy was willed the bar by her P's.  It used to be at 16th/Oak Park Ave.).  

There is a pool table, a pinball machine, cigarette machine, two window A/C units above the front and back doors, and a slew of stuffed animal Beavers hanging from the ceilings and sitting on the bar.  There is even a Super-beaver hovering with a Superman cape on!  All they need now is to have Beaver races, like that bar at Foster/Ravenswood that has Turtle races every Friday night!

Again, pretty much everyone knows everyone that comes through the door.  And, if they don't know you and you're nice and not a pretentious yuppie scum, you'll make friends with Real people mighty quick.  Hell, Lenny and Johnny even give us amazing fresh fish that they catch from their bi-annual Minnesota fishing/drinking adventure!

Speaking of Lenny, he makes a mean Chili, which he generously brings to Beaver's for Bears games.  Fuck, Lenny!  You're making me hungry just sitting here!!!  And I'm sober!!!