Mock Turtlefest 2025!!!
First things first: TOMORROW NIGHT, that would be Thursday... I'm behind the bar and we're going to finally watch - on the projector - the greatest LSD comedy ever made (by Otto Preminger): SKI-DOO.
If you can imagine a film starring Jackie Gleason, Carrol Channing, Groucho Marx, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Mickey Rooney and a set-designed by the geniuses behind the Batman TV show where the 3rd act involves a whole prison of people in a song and dance number while tripping their faces off that you might (MAYBE!) begin to understand a fragment of this powerful piece of the American Cinema Canon. (or is that cannon?)
I'll start the show around 8pm. I will try to remember to pick up some popcorn to give you. All you have to do is bring a good attitude, a light heart, and a jelly roll full of $20 dollar bills to stick into my brazier. (is that how you spell that?)
There's no time like this chaotic, non-sensical, slightly terrifying and mostly annoying point in history to come out and have fun with people you love that you know or are about to know.
And speaking of non-sensical and slightly annoying:
It's that most magickal time of the year once again.... MOCK TURTLEFEST SEASON!
Yes. Yes. YES!!
Saturday, October 4th from 3pm - 11pm it all begins to happen again...
Here's the memo sent to all branches of our organization this morning at 6:36am:
STRANGE PEOPLE OF EARTH,
LET IT BE KNOWN, BY HOLEY WRIT & SWEATY DECREE, THAT SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH 2025 IS OUR 5TH ANNUAL MOCK TURTLE FEST.
YOUR ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
EXPECT MANY A SAUSAGE AND PRETZEL A-PLENTY.
EXPECT STRANGE COMPETITIONS OF STRENGTH AND CUNNING (WE HAVE ELIMINATED THE GAMES OF WIT DUE TO CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES).
EXPECT STEINS OF AMERICA'S GREATEST FAKE MARZEN BEER MADE FROM A RECIPE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY THE UNITED STATE'S FIRST AMBASSADOR TO CARCOSA, JOHN MAREK, ESQ.
EXPECT, IN TRIUMPHANT RETURN, THE FREAKING RON SMOLLEN ORCHESTRA, PLAYING ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE OOMPA OOMPA SONGS. SING-A-LONGS ARE NOW ENFORCED BY LAW.
THIS IS A HIGH ROLLING DAY OF RESPECT AND HONOR TO FASION'S FINEST BOUNTY: THE MOCK-TURTLENECK. WEAR ONE. OR WEAR SOME LIEDERHOSEN (SP?) OR WEAR ONE OF THOSE BLUE SKIRTS THAT ARE SO ADORABLE. WE WILL BE GRANTING PRAISE UPON THE WORTHY AND RETRIBUTION UPON THE HUMORLESS AND LAME.
JOIN US OR SURRENDER LATER. YOUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS.
THE MGT
So, there you have it. All the information you need to properly free your mind, body and spirit. Oh, one other thing; NEVER LOOK A SEA MONKEY IN THE EYES!
See your real soon!
You can see all of our events on our event calendar at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/events
You can see what's currently on tap at IBW LODGE #1 at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/whats-on-tap
Happy Lobster, Free Music & CUFF32!
BIG NIGHT tonight with Happy Lobster Food Truck at 5p and a FREE LIVE rock show at 9p!
Make sure to hit the Chicago Underground Film Festival this weekend in Hyde Park and devour and be devoured by their incredible programming for this year's festival. And, while you're there, say HELLO to our little friend KING NEPTUNE who is guarding the hallway to the theaters.
And why not drink one of the CUFF beers we made for the festival this year? If you take a photo of yourself drinking one and tag us, we'll pick a winner randomly and hook you up with a gift card for here at IBW LODGE #1.
CUFF is in its 32nd year of knock-out, brain-bending programming. If you love film and care about the arts, then go support this fantastic festival. Love things ravenously while you still have them!!!
Speaking of loving things, I'm sure you'll love to know that Der Zaubertaub is back on draft and in 16oz cans to go.
Come on in and enjoy 30-40 zauberstaubs and get your weekend started on the wrong foot!
We open at 4pm and we've got plenty of room out back so you can enjoy your Friday afternoon.
See your real soon!
You can see all of our events on our event calendar at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/events
You can see what's currently on tap at IBW LODGE #1 at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/whats-on-tap
SCHEDULE & MENU FOR 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!
Tomorrow, September 6th is our 4 Year Anniversary Party!!!
Here's the schedule for the day as well as the phenomenal looking SMASH BURGER menu from KarajoChow!
And, there's no reason to wait for tomorrow to come play with us. We've got a FREE LIVE SHOW tonight!! Me and Forbes will be behind the bar punching up the world for you. Come by and hang for a bit... and win extra points by TIPPING IN CASH!!!
LET'S DO THIS THING!!!
You can see all of our events on our event calendar at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/events
You can see what's currently on tap at IBW LODGE #1 at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/whats-on-tap
IBW Lodge #1 4 Year Anniversary Party THIS SATURDAY!
This Saturday, September 6th is our 4 Year Anniversary for this here Beer Jalopy we call home. It's been 10 years for the business as a whole and, truthfully, it's about 17 years since we first started (poorly) planing this thing.
I'm not sure Time means much of anything anymore post-COVID. We don't seem to process it the same way. It doesn't seem to behave the same way. So, I'm not even really sure what we are celebrating here. Survival, maybe?
But, regardless, we will celebrate. Who needs a sane or reasonable reason to celebrate anyway?
We'll have live on-site tattooing starting right at 2pm from Angel Silva. This is first come, first served, so, if this is something you want to do, get here early and post up.
The DUNK TANK will be back in action once again. You can start missing all the shots you do take around 3pm.
There will be food and, of course, beer. We'll have some barrel-aged stuff we've been sitting on on tap at some point.
After the sun goes down we've got a free live show featuring TIJUANA HERCULES, NONAGON & SHARILLA.
Speaking of free, live shows, we've got a show on Friday as well:
Come hang with us all weekend starting on Thursday. In fact, just bring your sleeping bags and never leave. It's blissssssss.
You can see all of our events on our event calendar at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/events
You can see what's currently on tap at IBW LODGE #1 at https://www.ibw-chicago.com/whats-on-tap