The Mood

I have lived most of my life close to this bar, and always wondered what was behind that big glowing Old Style sign on Willow Springs Road. Well, what is behind is nothing short of magical. This bar is a dive in the best sense of the word. It is casual, fun and totally laid back.

There are all the expected elements here like cheap alcohol paid by cash only of course, peanut shells on the floor and questionable bathroom situations. That being said, this place is a blast. The very strong pro-America 9-11 posters and US Marines memorabilia are also appreciated.

While you are here, make sure to check out the vehicle graveyard behind the building. After our most recent trip here our group made sure to ride the bus in the back, complete with our own bus themed music. It's a little creepy, but you only live once right?

Having lived in the area, The Mood was always quite the mystery to my friends and I.  Of course we had ventured back there on a few occasions, wondering what the hell could possibly be hiding among all those totaled cars and beyond repair boats; turns out its the south-west suburb's own answer to a Wisconsin bar.  Us 21/22 year old kids are not really this places' clientele.  Seems that a lot of the area's blue-collar workers (see: UPS) take refuge there after their long odd-hour shifts, nothing wrong with  that.  I mean, who could hate cheap Miller High Life and free peanuts that you can just discard on the ground?  Brings me back to my Lone Star Steak House trips. (I have no idea if they even still do this there)  This doesn't go without mentioning the rustic feel of the all wood interior and the juke box with some awesome classic hits.  The only problem I have with the mood, (which happens to be a big problem) is that the hipsters have gotten their grubby little hands all over it.  Kenny's has obviously lost its dive bar status and these hipsters will never be caught in Harry's, this leaves just The Mood and the Chalet Bar.  Ok, so it's not a big deal right?  I will not speak for the auto mechanics and delivery drivers I talked to there, but if I was just getting off of a 12 hour shift, I would want to enjoy my PBR in peace, maybe throw a little darts, instead of having 30 hipsters play their ironic pop hits off the juke box while they have a dance party on the non-existent dance floor as they continue to slam the front door open and shut as they retreat outside to smoke their American Spirits.  Seriously, get the fuck out, the Ashbary is like a half a mile down the road.

The Mood is worth the trip, but proceed with caution.

"Going up to that Spirit in the sky,
That's where I'm gonna go when I die"

The jukebox at The Mood is second to none (it will even give Richard's a run for it's money!) and one of the many reasons I love this dive of a bar located seemingly in the middle of nowhere!

We stopped back in on a Saturday night to learn that our favorite Saturday night bartender, John, was retiring from the "suds" business that very night and they were having a going away party for him.

Well if this isn't the friendliest bar- I don't know what is. At least three people came up to us to tell us there was food for the taking (food that the patrons had made and brought to the bar for a smorgasbord of epic proportion!) I'm not sure if we just looked lost or if everyone knew everyone else but to be invited to eat THREE times made me feel like I was at a family reunion.

The new bartender was introduced (Cinnamon in her name . . .I'm sure there is a story there somewhere!) and pleasantries exchanged.

Somethings remain unchanged, though . . peanut shells everywhere, bar darts, table top bowling and $3 beers all night.

And bring cash . . . . for plastic hasn't made it to this "neck of the woods" yet!