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Weekend Warrior
Chow down on some meat-free fast-food and browse a bevy of Polish artifacts this weekend.
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Clean Clothes Without Percs
Sharon takes her duds to the Greener Cleaner for brighter, carcinogen-free whites.
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Sunday Sippin'
Bargain beer and a decent quesadilla make ending the weekend all the easier.
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Weekend Warrior
From Cincinnati-style chili to Chicago blues, this weekend's best bets have the Midwest covered.
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Fresh Veggies, Hold the Lead
Before planting a bounty of edibles in your garden, be sure to test your soil.
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Ole Your Way Toward May
Score $3 tapas and satisfying sangria on weeknights or weekends at Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba.
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A Proud Heritage
Sharon celebrates diversity this spring by starting heirloom seeds.
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Sing Me a Song, Piano Man
Erin gets to enjoy piano music without having to warm up with scales.
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I Guess I'll Go Keep Worms
Sharon starts a worm composting bin and turns her trash into treasure.
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Hand Me Another Half-Carafe
A Mano's $5 bar menu makes it easy to snack as you drink—and you won't have to leave work early to enjoy it.
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Delivered on the Pizza, Not the Service
An all-you-can-eat deal will have you gorging on pizza and pints...until your waitress decides you're done.
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There's Gotta Be a Catch
For the seafood lover, eating responsibly can be slippery business.
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A Booze Bender Makes it Better
A long weekend going out around the city is the cure for this common, consistent cold.
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Wee Little House for Wee Little Plants
A handy friend gives Sharon advice on how to build a cold frame.
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A Bargain on Bubbly
Erin finds a reason to celebrate nothing at a Wednesday night Pops for Champagne tasting.
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Home Green Home
Sharon takes a tour through a green building and learns how Chicago is leading the way in sustainable construction.
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Deep Tissue at a Discount
For less than 35 bucks, you can buy a reasonable rubdown.
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Bringing Up Baby
Life with an antioxidant-rich kombucha culture isn't all mushrooms and squiddles.
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Wi-fi Woes
Erin checks out two wi-fi spots, only to find they don't pan out as wi-fi finds.
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Green Leaves
Sharon shares three great eco-focused reads to kick off the new year.
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Making it Work
One day Erin's in, the next day she's out...braving the cold for "Project Runway" and drink deals.
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The Green Gift Guide
A short list of planet-friendly gift ideas to make your holidays a little greener.
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Something Smells Fishy
The deals at Redfish leave Erin hungry for more.
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Give Thanks for Local Farms
Making a feast of locally grown foods is easy if you know where to look.
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A Bummer of a Bar Buffet
Cheap beer, free food and a fried snack nightcap help start the week off strong.
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Not Too Cold to Ride
Sharon shares her survival guide to all-weather biking.
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Show Me the Dollar Signs!
Erin and friends confront HC's ambiguous mid-week drink deals.
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Grateful Us
Centerstage is thankful for...a lot of things, it seems.
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Green on the Catwalk
High fashion designers are becoming eco-conscious. But what the heck does that mean?
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Saving Screwdrivers for a Rainy Day
Forget cats and dogs. At Nick's Fishmarket, it's raining $6 screwdrivers and two-buck appetizers.
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The Great Bottle Debate
Sharon wades through the bottled water quagmire for a sip of clarity.
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A Tasting for a Ten Spot
Erin's down with Wine Down, Foodlife's monthly wine tasting.
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Live Free and Drive
Sharon joins I-GO car sharing and enjoys the best of both worlds.
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Addison (Red)
You can find more than sports and suds in Wrigley.
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Dealing with Downtown
After catching a flick, Erin digs around downtown for a Saturday night food and drink deal.
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Bedding Down for Fall
Sharon does some autumn planting with a little guidance from the Chicago Botanic Garden.
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Excessive Eggs for Less
Egged on by her parents to find spots with all-you-can-eat breakfast foods, Erin hunts down the city's bargain brunch buffets.
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Buckets of Rain
Bring water to the table by redirecting your downspout and collecting rain in a bucket.
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Bring On the Bingo Man
Erin discovers Bingo isn't just for old folks, especially when it comes with table tappers and pub grub.
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Cold Comfort
Sharon rigs up a DIY air conditioner to cool her apartment without warming the planet.
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A Sweet Steal
Waterhouse's $3 chocolate martinis leave Erin and friends with a bargain bar tab.
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It Takes a Village to Raise a Tomato
Sharon rolls up her sleeves to get the dirt on urban farming.
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Wi-Fi Findings
Tired of working from home, Erin embarks on a tour of spots—from bars to coffee shops—where she can log on sans fee.
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Scrimp Your Ride
Our new eco-expert learns do-it-yourself bike maintenance from West Town Bikes.
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The Most Inexpensive Meal of the Day
Breakfast for less than $4? Instant oatmeal, pack your things. We're done.
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Sunscreen Shopping: No Day at the Beach
Julia tackles the question of earth- and skin-friendly sun protection.
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High Time for High Tea
Blimey! Snacks and sips do make an afternoon complete.
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Get The Monkey (And Everything Else) Off Your Back
Julia finds new freedom by fixing up her bike to haul her gear.
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Is it Really All That Jazz?
Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MCA leave Erin underwhelmed with watered-down drinks and barely audible jazz.
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French Fries and Faux Chicken Nuggets?
Julia finds a way into the fast food nation without sacrificing her eco-minded ideals.
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A Tale of Big City Tap
This Lakeview bar goes from day to night mode in a jiffy, with slick deals to boot.
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Imported Tip: Swap Your Clothes Montreal-Style
Clothing swap parties are Julia's new favorite way to shop.
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Sangria Worth Celebrating
Move over, Columbus: I've discovered a drink deal out of this New World.
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It's Only Natural
A visit to the naturopathic doctor leaves Julia feeling more informed and less toxic.
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Wine Down Wednesday
Matilda has wine deals and a reason to put on pants? I'm there.
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A Drop in the Bucket
Julia becomes a composter-in-training with encouragement from her urban-dwelling, composting friend.
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Gone Greek
Erin becomes a born-again Greektown-lover after a trip to Venus during happy hour.
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Singing the Recycling Blues
Julia gives us the run-down on pilot recycling program and offers helpful tips toward joining the recycling revolution.
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Eco-Friendly Fun
Stave off energy-chugging behavior with these conscientious ways to kick back, consume and imbibe.
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Smooth Sailing
It's all about nightly deals and a nautical theme at Weather Mark Tavern.
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Healthy/Organic Eating on the Cheap
Julia learns a happy lesson from Healthy Dining Chicago publisher Laura Bruzas.
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Greening Your Modes of Transportation
Give your CO2-factory-on-wheels a rest and take these alternative rides for a spin.
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Cutting Bangs...and Beauty Costs
Erin gets a stylish shearing for a Super Cuts cost at the Aveda Institute.
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Eating My Way Through FamilyFarmed
Julia puts on an earth-friendly pound (or ten) at the FamilyFarmed.org EXPO2007.
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Cheap Bar Detectives
Erin and friends continue on their search for perfect pub-ness.
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Greenie Cooking Tip: Make Your Own Veggie Stock
Protect your system against the seasonal plummet (and even cinch your waistline) with homemade vegetable broth.
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DIY Flights, Fancy Bites
Get drunk at a place where only the name makes you dizzy.
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The Finish Line
Julia finishes up the eight-week Green Challenge by rethinking what goes in the trash and down the drain.
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South Loop, South of the Border
Don't wait around for spring to start your spring break. Because I don't think it's coming.
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Hunting Down the Phantom Load
As much as 40 percent of the electricity used in the US comes from appliances that aren't even turned on!
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Happy Meal, Indeed
Good things come in small packages. Sometimes, chicken and corn do, too.
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A Food And Fashion Overhaul
With the Green Challenge at its halfway point, Julia looks at bad fabrics and from-far-away fruits.
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Take Me to the City
I'll take Manhattan. The one I can afford.
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Green Challenge, Week Two
My first mission: a face-off with the biggest eco-offender in my life—my car.
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Everything But The Kitsch'n Sink
Though honestly, the sink is probably used in preparation of the free food and drinks.
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Don't Count Carbs, Count Carbon!
Julia sets off on an eight-week challenge to reduce her weight...in carbon dioxide emissions.
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Thai One On
Get spicy food and drink for a five-spot.
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The British Are Coming. No Wait, They're Here.
Will a very Dickens Christmas get this city-goes-country girl in the holiday spirit?
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Don't Chuck that Tube Down the Chute!
Ready to kill your TV? Just be sure to recycle it.
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Drinking Before the Day Is Done
With happy hours, there's not always so much at steak.
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Greenie Craft Corner
Recycle your sweater into a fab winter hat.
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A Many-Martini Evening
Looking for five-spot cocktails? Follow your way through the Green Door.
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No Gift Receipt Required
Craft your way to a handmade holiday gift.
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The Gift of Your Presence
Give the one-size-fits-all gift of your time along with your present.
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Made-in-Chicago
Support the city's makers and shakers by buying local goods for your holiday gifts.
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Gifts from the Vine
Personalize your bottled pick with help from your local wine purveyor.
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Horn of Plenty
Julia gives thanks for the autumn bounty by checking out fresh options from local growers.
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Annie Oakley, Get Your Gun
A furry animal-lover sets her aim on sporting clays.
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Giving Cans a Second Chance
Attitude-free cheap vodka cocktails, served up on Thursdays.
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The Gift of Giving
From soup kitchens to cooking classes, here are a few ways to lend a helping hand.
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Grateful Us
Centerstage is thankful for...a lot of things, it seems.
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Pinot Noir Without the Lysol
A toast to organic wine, straight from Oregon's wine country.
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Hip, Sober Halloween Happenings
Skip the rubber-spidered bar scene and head to one of these Halloween happenings instead.
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Deep Dish, Shallow Pockets
Getting a deal on Chicago-style pizza (Diet Coke included).
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A Cuppa Fair Trade, Please
Figuring out exactly what Fair Trade means...and where to get coffee with the stamp of approval.
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Feeling A Little Snacky?
Don't hang out with me; I've had a hard time finding cheap eats this week.
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DIY Decor
A wise greenie saves some cash by refashioning old gear to redecorate her space.
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The Circle of Cheese
Two girls, 64 goats and the open road...talk about a country adventure.
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I'm Sorry, TGI What?
Eat like a queen early in the week.
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From the Tree to the Tummy
A trip to an orchard yields a 20-pound bounty of apples.
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Is There Such Thing as a Free Meal?
Free food can be hard to find, but low-price liquor? Everywhere you turn.
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Shopping With the Chef
Mastering the famers' market with Chef Noah...then eating our spoils in gourmet fashion.
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Frugal (and Froo-Froo) Martinis
Cap the weekend off with a little Boystown martini madness.
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Ode to the Heirloom Tomato
Get thee to your local farmers' market and fill a bag with these beauties before it's too late!
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Oh, Mr. Lincoln
Got $5? Then you've got dinner, my friend.
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For Picnic's Sake
When country leisure with a dash of romance calls, it's obviously time for a picnic.
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Needle Me
Last Thursday, I let a woman I'd just met stick a needle between my eyes.
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Strap on the Stilettos
Drink discounts and impractical footwear? Happy hump day.
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Making the Most Out of Mulch
Community gardening is quite fulfilling, sunburn and all.
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I'll Take Seconds, Please
When is funny most fun? When it's free...and held on the famed Second City stage.
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Hi-Ho Cherry O
Baking the great American pie.
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I Have Difficult Hair
Luckily, Aveda's earth-friendly haircare comes cheap...if you know where to look.
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Taking On The $1.95 Menu
Cheap eats aren't always what you bargain for.
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The Avocado Chronicles
This not-so-green-thumb tries her hand at growing avocados...and more.
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Totally Tanked Thursdays
Get blotto at Grotto on Thursday nights. I did.
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Go Fly a Kite
Get outdoors with the best toy to have in the Windy City.
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I Say Jam, You Say Jelly
Making tasty fruit spreads in the kitchen at Vie.
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Totally Thrifty Thursdays...and Fridays
Free museum walks without any annoying docents.
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Dump the Chemicals
This week's eco-adventure: Purge the toxic household cleaners!
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Bottles Up!
Half-price bottles of wine make Monday a little less dry.
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Getting Juicy
Taking on the healthy kind of liquid diet, celery and all.
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Tippling Over Trivia
Get out your movie memory—but leave the bowling ball at home—on Thursday nights.
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Going My Way?
Get on board with the debut of Centerstage's enviro-health column.
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Bar-side Book Readings
Low-cost lit you can wash down with a beer: A win-win for all.
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Under-a-Buck Beer
With Cactus' Tuesday night beer deals, the desert has never felt less dry.
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Happy Hour, Take Two
Get more drink (but not necessarily alcohol) for your dime at Tizi Melloul.
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A Stitch in Time
An old-school quilting bee see this city girl with needle in hand.
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Hunting the After-Work Deal
The death of the American Happy Hour sure makes working a lot harder.
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Beer Tasting
Trying new brews the cheapest way possible.
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Experimenting With Freebie Music
Music, like life, is at its best unpredictable.
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Comfort in the Kitchen
Whipping up a country meal involves a lot of potatoes.
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The CD Listening Party
Open bar, lots of music and a girl named Stacy.
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Swanking It Up
Maybe the W stands for "Weally inexpensive"
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Central (Purple)
Head to the burbs for bakeries and boutiques.
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Winter Rescue
Beat the cold-weather blues with these healing escapes.
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The Bargain Bellini Brunch
Start Sunday right with a cheapie cocktail.
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Jackson (Red)
Where the traders hang.
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Check Out The Gallery Scene, Cheapo!
Art, while generally quite expensive to buy, is often free to look at.
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Washington/Wells (Brown)
A gateway to work and play in the Loop.
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Argyle (Red)
Everything you'd expect from a station with a red pagoda.
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Party By Theme
Beat the winter woes with a novel approach to your private party.
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What, I Don’t Get an Ax?
Christmas tree-chopping in the country.
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Penny Wine Is Still A Deal
Spend your laundry money on hootch.
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Berwyn (Red)
The gateway to Andersonville.
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Damen (Blue)
A fresh look at old favorites.
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Chicago (Blue)
We've found even more West Side goodies.
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Channeling Christmas at Christkindlmarket
No really, it's OK to spoil yourself. Especially when it's free.
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Spending Sunday At The (Music) Salon
An afternoon of free-of-charge music.
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Western (Brown)
More fun stuff in Lincoln Square.
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Irving Park (Brown)
What no one told you about Ravenswood.
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Clark/Division (Red)
Debauchery meets the Gold Coast.
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Nosy Neighbors
The South Loop wants to take you out.
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69th (Red)
Places worth a visit in a changing 'hood.
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Fullerton (Brown/Red)
Fun for the co-eds and co-workers.
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BYOB Saves Bucks
They provide the food; you bring the hootch and everybody wins.
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Belmont (Red/Brown)
From fruit tarts and happy babies to Mexico-in-Epcot.
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Belmont (Blue)
Exploring Little Poland.
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Free Funnies
Wednesday nights at i.O. bring great laughs.
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Oak Park (Blue)
Gateway to the southwest 'burbs.
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47th (Green)
Back on the road to Bronzeville's glory days.
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Spa Savings
Beauty treatments for the thrifty.
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Division (Blue)
Finding fun off the strip.
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Al Fresco Audio
No matter what the city says, leave the liquor at home.
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Damen (Blue)
And then there's more.
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Clark/Division (Red)
Happenings on the east side.
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Where's the Party?
Plan a bash at a bar so it won't involve someone vomiting in your bathroom. Well, unless you drink too much at the bash at a bar.
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Ashland (Green)
Don't be put off by its pretty exterior.
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Chicago (Blue)
Just a few steps from fun.
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Wasting Away in Margaritaville
Park Grill woos landscape-lovers and lushes.
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Midway (Orange)
From a love potion loaded warehouse to a Lithuanian museum.
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High-Fun, Low-Cost Weekends
Get ready to chew on these bar specials.
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Granville (Red)
Twentieth-century change among 20th-century antiques.
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Sedgwick (Brown/Purple)
Down to earth digs touting beer gardens and cake batter.
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Oak Park (Green)
This west suburb goes hip.
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Danny's Reading Series
Listen up for free, 'natch.
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Thorndale (Red)
Diamonds in the rough.
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Madison/Wabash
Glam and gritty under Madison's tracks.
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Paulina (Brown)
Lakeview rocks on the west side.
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Chicago Antique Market
Talking treasures with Sally Schwartz and Kathleen Finley.
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Merchandise Mart (Brown)
Great things lie beyond the Mart.
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North/Clybourn
Putting the "Clybourn" back in the stop.
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Western (Brown)
Old world mullets vs. hipster mullets.
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Belmont
There's more to Belmont than flashing lights.
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The Grass is Always Greener
Going organic at Prospera Farms.
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Roosevelt (Red)
Finding fun beyond the fests.
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Armitage (Brown)
On your mark, get set, consume!
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Wine Good Time
Sip a variety of vino—and horde your elbow space—at Bin 36's Tastings.
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Sarah's Pastries & Candies' Chef
Sweet talking with Sarah Levy.
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Cermak/Chinatown (Red)
Winter may be over, but heading south is still wise.
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Chicago
West Town meets River West in the land of artists, yuppies and old Italian men.
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Buck Beers?
Not bad for a hump day evening out.
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Grand (Blue)
Italian spots beckon the young and old.
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Pilates, Equine-Style
Country riding gets too hot to trot.
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Diversey (Brown)
We keep coming back.
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Main (Purple)
Not so mainstream as its name suggests.
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Hot Pink
Think Pink for a free girl's night out.
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Library (Orange, Purple, Green, Brown)
Back to the books, the basics and the best brunch in town.
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Quincy (Orange/Brown Lines)
Homemade beef to high end hotels.
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Paulina
Out on the town, West Lakeview style.
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Chopsticks and Cinema
Stuff yourself with sushi and take in a monster movie.
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Clark/Division (Red)
Stop, shop and go.
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Cut-Rate Canoodling
A crash course in blissing out on a limited budget.
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Sedgwick (Brown)
From Lebanese cuisine to Mexican and motorcycles.
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Davis (Purple)
Commercial centers aren't all chain-laden.
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What Is...Bar Trivia?
In this game, winning takes a backseat to drinking and fun.
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Logan Square (Blue)
Traversing the Wicker Park path.
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Diversey (Brown)
The octopus of L stops.
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Division (Blue)
Continually becoming a destination of choice.
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Jarvis (Red)
Garish neon gets traded for tree-lined streets.
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Damen (Blue)
The spot that doesn't stop.
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