It Begins

After the Elephant and Castle on Whyte closed down, we needed to find a new place to call home.  So we decided to hit every pub on Whyte Avenue, working our way from the north side of Whyte ave from 99th street to 109th street, then back the other way along the south side.

The Rules:

We have to give a fair shot to every bar along the way, with a few rules and exceptions:

1. No lines, no cover

   If we can't get in to a place, we leave and go somewhere else.  After 3 tries, we strike a bar from the list and don't come back.

2. There must be a dedicated bar and seating area.  

   There has to be an area where no minors are allowed, with tables and chairs available (other than just at the bar itself).

3. Within two blocks of Whyte

   All bars within 2 blocks of Whyte ave are included.  Bars further out can be added if everyone agrees

4. The five of us must be together

   The five E&C regulars have to be there for a visit to count.  We can go without someone being there, but it doesn't get knocked off the list unless we're all there

5. We must have at least one pint

   If everyone *truly* hates it we can agree to leave early and go somewhere else, but we have to have at least one pint and it has to be unanimous.  Mostly hating it is not enough.

6. If a place opens after we've passed it, it's included 

   This may take awhile, if a bar opens after we've gone past it's location, we still have to go there.

7. Nothing in the Sheppard Building

   The former home of the E&C is off-limits.

This means we'll be visiting some places we normally think of, like restaurants or hotels with attached bars.  It definitely means places we'll be visiting places we'd normally avoid.  I really hope Cook County always has cover.