Restaurants, bars spread the holiday mood with seasonal pop-ups

Watching holiday movies in December is a classic tradition, but this month you can actually step into one. Hi Nonny in Arlington Heights is hosting a pop-up based on “A Christmas Story”. The bistro and venue are all adorned with props from the film such as a flagpole, leg lamp and Red Ryder BB gun.

Hey Nonny co-owner Chip Brooks plays a famous “A Christmas Story” scene at Arlington Heights bistro, which is adorned with decorations from the holiday movie, including the fragile leg lamp, left.
– Mark Welsh | Staff photographer

“We just thought it would be fun to make some kind of holiday decoration that had a theme,” said co-owner Chip Brooks. “A lot of people love the movie ‘A Christmas Story,’ and of course there are a lot of funny pictures that come with it.”

The venue will also broadcast the film throughout the season, serving specialties inspired by the film, such as Randy Hates Meatloaf, Chinese Christmas Egg Rolls and Doggone Turkey, which is turkey rolled in stuffing. And for a treat, consider Christmas Story Tart, a cranberry and citrus pie with hazelnut crust. On the drinks side, you can get themed drinks including Drink Your Ovaltine, a blend of vanilla vodka, crème de menthe and cocoa; Triple Dog Dare, which combines bourbon, RumChata and eggnog; the bone lamp, a mixture of spicy rum apple cider and pear nectar; and the shooting special – Shoot Your Eye Out – otherwise known as Fireball.

Hey Nonny spreads holiday joy with her ode to “A Christmas Story”.
– Mark Welsh | Staff photographer

Hey Nonny first used the theme in 2019, but was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s just one of many places in the Chicago area that are turning into the holiday season.

“Especially this year, people are looking for things to do,” Brooks said. “Everyone was cheated on for some of their Christmas cheer last year, and I think we and other restaurants are trying to give people the opportunity for fun.”

Hey Nonny is at 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights, (224) 202-0750, heynonny.com/.

To catch up on lost time, here are some of the other holiday pop-ups that are open throughout the Chicago area.

Buffalo Creek Brewing is bringing its Alpine Biergarten back in German style this winter.
– With permission from Buffalo Creek Brewing

Buffalo Creek Brewing

360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, (847) 821-6140, buffalocreekbrewing.com/

The brewery brings back the German-style alpine Biergarten that it operated last winter, and welcomes guests to warm up around several campfires and heat lamps and offers casts for extra coziness. The two-hectare wooded area will be decorated with lights and holiday decor.

Borrowers can warm up around several campfire sites while sipping brews at the Buffalo Creek Brewings Alpine Biergarten.
– With permission from Buffalo Creek Brewing

Westin Chicago northwest

400 Park Blvd., Itasca, (630) 773-4000, elfpopupchicago.carrd.co/

The Buddy the Elf Pop-Up Christmas Experience immerses you in the movie “Elf” with re-enactments of Walter Hobbs’ apartment, Gimbles and an interactive Claus-O-meter to measure the state of the Christmas mood. For $ 50 for lunch or $ 100 for dinner, you can enjoy a four-course meal designed to satisfy Buddy’s unique sweet tooth with dishes including mini chicken and waffles with maple syrup and sweet corn, rib-eye with tasty chocolate sauce and a giant bowl of ice cream .

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

12 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, (312) 940-3552, chicagoathletichotel.com/

Happy: A Holiday Pop-Up Bar takes over the hotel’s first floor and adorns it with festive décor and flashing lights. Enjoy cocktails, wine, beer and barbids, including Chicago Mix popcorn and dry-aged beef chili. Proof of vaccination is required to participate.

Graystone Tavern

3441 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago, (773) 666-5450, 8crazynightschicago.com/

8 Crazy Nights, Chicago’s only Hanukkah pop-up bar, features more than 14,000 blue and white lights plus dreidel decorations, lanterns and menorahs. Enjoy Jewish food, including matzo ball soup, several spins on potato pancakes, breast and vodka-infused gelédonuts. There is also a wide selection of themed cocktails, shots served in a menorah and a special Circumsessionable lager from Empirical Brewery served on tap exclusively during the pop-up. Along with turning the turntable, you can play Connect 4 with Hanukkah gelt and the Jewish versions of Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity.

Houndstooth Saloon

3369 N. Clark St., Chicago, (773) 244-1166, houndstoothchicago.com/

Griswold’s pop-up features decor inspired by “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” plus themed drinks and dishes such as the Christmas bonus, a sandwich made with creamy peanut butter and fig jelly and cousin Eddie’s Eggnog, homemade eggnog with brandy. Come at 19:00 on Wednesday 8 December for team film trivia and have brunch with Santa from dinner until 15 Sunday, December 19th.

Hubbard Inn

110 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, (312) 273-6207, hubbardinn.com/

The River North venue transforms into The Christmas Inn with different themes on each of its three floors. The first floor houses a classic magical Christmas, while the second embraces kitsch from the 60s, and the third is decorated with neon for a Christmas apocalypse. $ 20 gives you access to the entire room plus a holiday cocktail from a menu of mulled wine, white chocolate martini and pomegranate cosmos. In addition, there are festive events throughout the run, such as decorating gingerbread houses at. 19:00 on Mondays 6 and 13 December and holiday trivia at 19:00 on Thursday 9 December and Friday 17 December.

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