Places To Go, Things To Do

Playbook Has Raised the (Sports) Bar

Patrons can eat, drink and enjoy flat-screen merriment at new Niles venue.

Seeking some grown-up respite, perhaps with food, adult beverages and televised sporting events? Try Playbook Ultra Sports Bar, a family-owned establishment which opened in Niles in June. The venue should satisfy die-hard sports aficionados, as it has some 30 flat-screen TVs – and a 100 inch LCD display - which broadcast sporting events including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, boxing, auto racing and soccer. The spacious layout has a sleek, modern feel, with plenty of dark wood, stone and glass in evidence.  A patio offers warm weather outdoor dining.  In keeping with the sports theme, the waitresses are garbed in tank tops and shorts/skirts combinations. Playbook offers a menu of assorted appetizers, entrees and desserts. Besides…

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Playbook Sports Bar Opening

It has 30 flat-screen TVs, including two on the outdoor deck, and offers 30 beers.

With a varied menu, lots of flat-screen TVs  and a modern interior that emphasizes wood, stone and other natural materials, the owners of Playbook Sports Bar hope sports buffs in the area will become its fans. The sports bar at 6913 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, which has a 100-inch HD television as well as about 30 others, is having a ribbon cutting today  and a grand opening Tuesday, June 21.  "We're hoping to attract sports enthusiasts. We're aiming for Niles locals but also trying to get a geographic range of  people from the city, since we're so close to Edison Park, and other suburbs," said Dorian Ozymko, the manager. Playbook offers a full menu, with appetizer, sandwich, entree and dessert items. Ten beers are on tap, with 20 available …

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Lunch in 30: Beacon Tap

Long-standing Des Plaines landmark fails to impress

Sandwiched between Algonquin Road and Oakton Street is the Beacon Tap, an establishment known for its drink specials, live music and more than 50 years of history in Des Plaines. It may be a summer sanctuary during the warmer months -- complete with outdoor seating and a volleyball court – but that certainly wasn’t the case on a blustery Saturday afternoon in January. Unfortunately, the food did little to help warm my spirits. In fact, my meal was borderline cold, which baffled me because they weren’t busy at all. The place was so empty I could have heard my soda fizzling if it weren’t for the 15 plus TV’s blaring. I suppose that’s to be expected, though, due to the restaurant having a sports bar-esque atmosphere. But with only two …

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