12 minutes away there is a place called Durty Nellies Pub in Palatine, IL, Not sure how good the food is maybe Bag end can help, they got 2 bands scheduled for saturday night 6 dollar cover Irish pub, they do cove national acts David allan Coe and Johnny winter are scheduled in June. food is wings, nacho's etc typical pub grub.
As far as me goes..It doesn't matter I eat it all pretty much and music well..it's all good..Just don't try to take me to the Opera, blues rock jazz and funk works well for me.

I saw Alan Holdsworth, JJ and Chad Wackerman at Durty Nellie's a couple of years ago. They were in for a Drum Pad seminar (a drum shop of some repute, also in Palatine I believe).
Mike

That sounds like a great idea! A lot more relaxed. Getting downtown and back for those staying up in the Barrington area could be a bit of a pain the ass. Not only that, but for the locals such as myself who will have all their equipment in their cars, there's the issue of what to do with it all once we're downtown. I, for one, would have to go home, drop everything off and then head downtown. I'll spend the entire evening in the friggin' car driving around.Plus it removes any time constraints if we just keep it all local. Durty Nellies gets my vote!

Here's the link to Durty Nellie's Entertainment page.
I'm gonna check the links for this week's acts, as I don't recognize the names. This week I believe is the start of Gospel Fest, next week is BluesFest (only three days this year).
 
Parking downtown is also a source of concern.
 
from west suburban boy
Mike

While visiting with Mike (dadabass2001) this past weekend he mentioned parking prices in Chicago have gone up considerably. Here is a link to parking information in Chicago. If you click on the area you are going to it shows all of the parking garages. If you click on the parking symbol it will show you information about the garage.  
 
From cloudy
 St. Charles, Keith

can't do big amp rigs, but any of the locals are welcome to use my room at the Day's Inn to lock up their Basses while we are out eating,  but you must  pick them up when we get back.
I just couldn't  get a good night's sleep knowing that I was in the Alembic Brothel and couldn't touch a single one!

Does Dirty Nellies have a separate restaurant room?  If Rock Candy is playing we're not going to hear ourselves and, judging from the video on their site, I suspect I'd MUCH rather listen to you guys talk than to them play.  
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on May 26, 2009)

Durty Nellie's is cool with me. I'm not to fond of driving downtown anyway. In fact I'm leaving the rental car at the hotel Friday and taking a  cab to Wrigley Field.
 
OO

Bill, I just checked out their MYspace page and they show a "Back Room"  

 and a "Mezzanine" where they serve the food.

  Should work out OK. But I'm cool with what everyone else wants.  OO

Good news is that Rock Candy doesn't even go on until 10. So we should be fine.

Bill and I can hit Denny's, being musicians and all it just seems *right*...  

Durty Nelies is a nice venue..I've seen a bunch of acts there.  
The mezzanine is best in my opinion..they serve food (pub grub) and has its own bar..what more could you want. They also have a good sound system and the view from upstairs is good. Oh, and its own bathrooms.  
And..they take reservations..just need a head count.
There is also a public parking area directly behind it thats free after 6 or 7 pm.
The bottom picture Olie sent is a great viewing area.
But no Bill, they do not have a seperate dining area..although they do have 2 'beer gardens'.
Hope that helps.
 
Gary

Oppps..almost forgot.
Cover for most things there is $20 or less..that should be posted on their website. Many times its under $10  
 
G

That works for me OK, count me in if we have to make a reservation for the Mezzanine or back room

Go for the mezzanine..cant see the bands from the back room