Time flies, doesn’t it? Because I feel like I was just writing about Memorial Day for last year a few days ago. Then, boom! It’s 2022! Well. Continuing Urban Matter’s beautiful tradition, here’s your golden list of activities and special deals to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago this year. Whether you’re down for a good picnic, or prefer to do a trivia showdown with your friends — we’ve got something for you!

aliveOne

2683 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

After the barbecues, patrons can head to aliveOne at 5 p.m. for half-off all beer and cocktails from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. along with Memorial Day specials like $4 Old Style, $5 shots of Evan Williams, and a $7 PBR and whiskey shot combo. At 8 p.m., guests will enjoy free music trivia from Whaddayaknow and free pool all night.

Central Park Bar

2924 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60618

Chicagoans can keep the Memorial Day weekend party going and join Central Park Bar as they host a Patio Party sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Co. on Tuesday, May 31 at 7 p.m. The party will be held in their new 3,500 square foot, dog-friendly Backyard Bar complete with covered outdoor bar, bumper pool table, picnic tables, porch swings and fire pit. Guests will enjoy custom glass engravings from New Belgium, games, prizes and more. Patrons can kick off the festivities early with Central Park Bar’s half-price happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cody’s Public House

1658 W. Barry Ave. Chicago, IL 60618

With easy street parking and a quick Uber ride to and from Wrigley Field, Cody’s Public House is the perfect post game stop for the Cubs vs Brewers doubleheader on Memorial Day. Cody’s game day specials will include $4 Old Style tall boy cans, $6 Spiteful Brewing Bleacher Bum Blonde and $6 Cubby Bombs. Guests are invited to “Bring Your Own Meat” (BYOM) and use the grill in Cody’s beer garden to grill up all their game day favorites. Cody’s beer garden also features TVs, darts and bean bags. For reservations, email [email protected].

Estelle’s

2013 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60647

For Chicagoans looking for a casual spot to wind down after Memorial Day weekend, Estelle’s will open at 10 p.m. on Monday, May 30. Specials will include half-price BYO (build-your-own) burgers all evening. Patrons can also try Estelle’s National Burger Month special, a “BurGyro” for $16 featuring gyro beef and lamb slices, tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, and a six-ounce beef patty on a bed of lettuce.

Mac’s Wood Grilled

1801 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Mac’s Wood Grilled celebrates Memorial Day Weekend, summer’s unofficial kickoff, with holiday food and drink specials. Look for warm-weather drink deals such as $4 Bud Light Sour Seltzers, $4 Topo Chico Seltzers and $4 Pink Whitney Vodka Lemonades.

Food specials include a classic Fried Chicken Sandwich, with fried chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and dill pickles; and a Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, with fried chicken breast, housemade Buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and dill pickles. Both fried chicken sandwiches are served on a Turano Baking Company brioche bun and come with a side of fries ($16 each). The bar also features a Smoked Cheddar Bacon Brat with caramelized onions and stone-ground mustard on a Turano Baking Company pretzel hoagie bun (served with fries, $14). The specials are available during regular business hours Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30 (11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday).

The Goddess and Grocer

all locations

The Goddess and Grocer is kicking off summer with its Memorial Day Goddess Grill Box this year. Serving 2, the menu features a variety of bartender batched cocktails, appetizers, sides, ready-to-grill entrees, and extras to choose from. Available for $85, orders can be placed for delivery or pickup online. Some featured items from the grill box include:

• Mint To Be – Old Forester bourbon, lemon, mint, simple syrup
• Livin’ Easy – Tito’s Vodka, fiorente elderflower liqueur, grapefruit, lemon
• Spinach and Artichoke Dip with assorted chips
• Herbed Hummus Spread
• Southwest Street Corn
• Drunken Noodle Salad
• Bangkok Street Chicken – boneless thighs with ginger, lemongrass
• Thai Sun Drenched Tofu – marinated tofu with pineapple and tamarind

Lure Fishbar

616 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Lure Fishbar (heart of downtown; 616 N. Rush St.) is offering Picnic Baskets to-go, launching Memorial Day Weekend. The picnic baskets are PERFECT for those enjoying outdoor concerts at Millennium Park, boating on the Lake, or those simply looking for an elegant meal to share on their balcony or porch at home.

• The picnic baskets are $125 and include Lure signature items:
  2 Lobster Rolls
• Coleslaw
• Pickles
• Chips
• 2 Sushi Rolls
• 2 cookies

For those looking for a drink option, Lure will include a bottle of wine (guest’s choice) for an additional $50.

The Cafeteria

840 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60610

The Cafeteria, the multi-restaurant, upscale food hall concept in River North, will offer buy one, get one free smoothies from Planta Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30. Typically priced at $9 each, guests may create a custom smoothie or go with one of the signature offering like the Blueberry Spirulina with blueberries, almond milk, bee pollen, chia seeds and bananas or the Wake Up with coffee protein, bananas, cold brew coffee, chocolate covered cocoa beans and dates.

Soul & Smoke

1601 Payne St, Evanston, IL 60201

Let Soul & Smoke feed the whole family this Memorial Day weekend with a Chicken and Rib Tips Family Meal for hot pickup! Soul & Smoke’s Family Meal services 4 to 6 people with Grilled BBQ Chicken, Rib Tips, family-sized Mac & Cheese, Apple Slaw, Cornbread, 12oz BBQ Sauce bottle for $105. Pickup is available from Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30. Preorder is available on Tock.