The Chicago PPC

 Parties, Pub Crawls, Beach Volleyball, and other fun stuff since 1994.  Chicago Is Our Playground!

Last Week's PPC Picture(s) of the Week!
Go to Fridge Door Page for This Week's Pic's
 

Check out the PPC "Refrigerator Door" for the latest news on PPC parties, events pictures, classifieds, and other PPC-related stuff!

Pictures from the 2005 Event on Kodak
EasyShare!!
 

Sandy and the early birds get it going at the PPC's 9th Annual 12 Bars of Christmas Lincoln Park Neighborhood Pub Crawl. More pix from our annual blowout can be found here.

Dr. Craig who came in all the way from Hawaii joins the PPC veterans (Mahu, KK and Chris) to tie one on in 2005!

My buddy Andrea (right) who is one of the newer die-hard regulars at the 12 Bars once again brings out the crew for our annual classic.

Last but not least we have his Festa-ness himself making a celebrity appearance at the PPC's 12 Bars showing why he's "cash money". Don't forget Festa's 12 Bars is this Saturday in Wrigleyville! Click here to purchase tickets for this annual wipeout!

Special Thanks the Official Beer Sponsor of the PPC's 10th Annual 12 Bars of Christmas - Stella Artois!

Check the Schedule for our growing list of Stella Artois beer specials!

Highlights for 2006 will include:

• FLIGHTING: This thing is getting a bit too big to all be in the same bar at the same time, so plan on moving it along in smaller groups for better service at the bars (get your drinks faster!). Specials are being negotiated with the bars across longer windows to accommodate this.
   
• TWO-BAR HALFTIME PARTY AT KELSEY'S AND KENDALL'S: To properly celebrate halftime of the crawl (and carb up at Lincoln Ave Pizza by the Slice, if necessary) we will be visiting Kelsey's and Kendall's simultaneously and have reserved an extra long window on the schedule for the halftime party. These bars are right next door to each other and people will be encouraged to move freely between them.
   
• TWO-BAR "HOME STRETCH" PARTY @ THE HIDDEN SHAMROCK & DURKIN'S. NEW FOR 2005! Our old favorite Durkin's is back on the route again this year, however their backrooms are booked for private parties so we're doubling them up with The Rock. Specials are good at both bars for the full hour - go to whichever one is less crowded please!
   
• TWO-BAR ENDING PARTY AT THE UNION TAVERN AND MIX (formerly CRUSH): Again this year we'll be ending at two places instead of one because the crawl has become too large for most bars in Lincoln Park so we're doing both. Mix will be more for listening to music and/or dancing and The Union will be more for those who just want to hang out - freedom of choice and as these bars are across the street from each other, people are encouraged to circulate freely between them.
   
• YOU TOO CAN BE AN "ALL STAR": For those who remember last year's event, we once again did the foil stars to stick to people's nametags as a kind of "bogey count" to show how many bars you were at. One star per bar and you don't need to drink anything to earn a star, just be at the bar itself. Mad props to those who can collect all 12!!!!

13th Annual Chicago Fourth of July Party 2004
Event Information

This year's theme is "All Good Things...The End of An Era".

Update: Pictures from the 2004 Party! "Last Call"

Grant Park Pat Benater Outing: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=kuxb1a3.9hympodj&x=1&y=dxjqei

BBQ Picnic at Party Central: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=kuxb1a3.8d18tsfb&x=1&y=egigyz

Scavenger Hunt Pub Crawl #1: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=kuxb1a3.5juq9cdj&x=1&y=-4480oh

Scavenger Hunt Pub Crawl #2: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=kuxb1a3.4xu2kjaf&x=1&y=rc7vps

2004 Calendar of Events

1) Sat 6/26 (Evening) Chartered Booze Cruise on Lake Michigan  Click here to register
2) Sat 6/26 (Night) The traditional Post-Cruise Party at the Hangge Uppe
3) Sat 7/3 (Night) Fireworks in Grant Park
4) Sun 7/4 (Afternoon/Evening) Last Ever PPC BBQ Picnic Scavenger Hunt/Pub Crawl in Lincoln Park

Click here for the 2004 Registration Form (When available)

Click here for more info on the 2004 festivities!!

Thanks to all the flappers and gangsters who joined us to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre right next door to the place it happened (note the unique twin granite columns featured in both the historic and current photo's above). The night started off with a specially scheduled Chicago Gangster Tour on the black school bus where we jaunted around town to see the venues associated with  Chicago's Roaring 20's gangster activity. The the party returned to 2120 N. Clark for the main event which started off with our gracious host, Steve, who officially declared the end of Prohibition and started the libations flowing. I think everyone would agree that  great time was had by all and we're looking forward to the 2nd Annual event in 2003! Thanks again Steve for a great party!. You can check out Nora's pictures from the party by clicking here or Sean's pictures from this event here.

Farewell to a Lincoln Park Legend

'Tis a sad day indeed. Here is a shot of the demolition in progress of the legendary Harp & Shamrock Club at 1641 W. Fullerton. One of the last great dive bars in Lincoln Park and a place where I knew both the owner and many of the bartenders. I remember many a times sharing a beer with friends from my fraternity (the proprietor, Jerry Walsh, was one of our brothers), especially when I first arrived in Chicago before I got into the PPC thing. Time and the economics of area finally overtook the grand old lady (land was worth more than the bar as a going concern). Other special memories include watching the Chicago Police Department's Emerald Society Drum and Bagpipe Corps play there on St. Patrick's Day. At least much of the memorabilia accumulated over the years was donated to the Chicago Historical Society. I for one plan to raise a glass to note this sad passing.

---- Harp & Shamrock, 1885-2003 ----

"Prom of the Living Dead" - the PPC-Sanctioned Halloween Party sets a new single event turnout record! 350+!!!

Saturday, October 27, 2001. The date two great Chicago Halloween party traditions collided to become The Perfect Storm. The legendary Frank Jamora North Racine Ave. Halloween bash and the Adam, Brett, and Larry Bash on Washtenaw combined for one epic event in the 4000+ sqft Doom Room..

Although the true turnout may never be known, it is estimated by reliable sources that approximately 350 revelers (we stopped counting at 300 at midnight) visited the legendary "Doom Room" that night. Because we exceeded our turnout by at least 50%, not a drop of alcohol was left on the premises by the end of the night. It is rumored that heavy equipment is being borrowed from Ground Zero to aid in cleanup efforts. But a great time was had by all!

Special thanks to Adam, Brett, and Larry, our hosts and the legal residents at the Washtenaw house not only for allowing us to join their party at their place, but also their prep, bartending, and cleanup efforts. And Frank with his 700+ MP3 collection and mixing board kept the tunes coming all night and the dance floor packed. And last but not least, thanks to Sebastian and Tom helped with logistics and the door, and Steve (pictured above, as "Devo") who took a staggering 185 pictures (gotta love digital cameras) and posted them on his MSN Communities website (Click here to go to Steve's photo album) as well as all the others who also helped out. My roommate John also took some incriminating photos (Click here for John's Pix). Last but not least I finally got off my butt and developed a roll of film (Click here for Fuji's pictures from various fall events).