Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar presents…

Tues Feb 19 – Bartender’s Choice

Maria’s expert mixologists mix up the tunes and cocktails

Weds Feb 20 – Deep Into the Vibe – DJ Joel Gonzalez

A compilation of house music to italo disco from new wave to alternative rock.

Thurs Feb 21 – Middle Eastern Funk, Psych & International Twists – DJ Catieo

Spinnin’ funk, psych from the 60s and 70s, garage-psych and psych-folk plus a range of unexpected international tunes

Fri Feb 22 – Eclectic Ladyland – DJ Joe Bryl

An aural exploration into the wide reaches of recorded music showcasing the best in new releases, re-issues and rare crate diggin’ finds. Warm sounds, soothing cocktails and beers are flowing all night.

Sat Feb 23 – Future Is Cancelled – DJ Mike Broers

Pairs rare electronic jams with strange cinematic gems for this multimedia extravaganza.

Sun Feb 24 – The Thrift Score: Incredibly Strange Record Night – Host Glenn Russell plus special guests

Digging deep into little heard thrift store finds from the personal collection of some of Chicago’s groove merchants

Mon Feb 25 – Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow – DJ Nolan C

Featuring underground and classic Hip-Hop cuts along with the original jazz tunes that were used as samples and inspiration

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Sun Jan 17 – DJ BEAT TRAVLR

This is a journey into sound with local hip hop producer BEAT TRAVLR w/ special guests featuring hip hop/down tempo

Mon Jan 18 – Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow – DJ Nolan C

Featuring underground and classic Hip-Hop cuts along with the original jazz tunes that were used as samples and inspiration

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Level Eater 6.66 summons you…

The sixth annual edition of the fantasy art and gaming event, Level Eater, takes place on January 23, 2016 from 5pm-midnight at the Co-Prosperity Sphere.

Come play Dungeons & Dragons with some of Chicago’s great Dungeon Masters! We’ll teach and play the new (5th Edition) of the game, using it to fight evil and save the land.

Everything you need to play is provided for the event — but bring cash for beer, nosh, and maybe a magical treasure to help you in your quest against the Six Dire Demons

Level Eater 6.66 features work by: Onsmith + Nudd, Catie Olson, Matt Hilker, Dillon Yothers, Erin Page, Barnaby Strueve, Albert Ugarte, Jake Meyers and others.

The Dönermen Food Truck will be vending Teutonic street eats, and a mystery live performance is scheduled to amaze you. Extremely limited edition Level Eater 6.66 hoodies and merch will be available, too.

Admission is $25. Entrance includes your choice of a Level Eater 6.66 T-shirt or a silk screen poser printed by our friends at Teetsy. You will also receive a complementary Level Eater ale made exclusively for this event by 3 Floyds and Marz Community Brewing Co.
This past weekend 4 troubled heroes started a quest for a cursed treasure. Thus began the prequel to our annual Level Eater Show. Have a listen.

This past weekend 4 troubled heroes started a quest for a cursed treasure. Thus began the prequel to our annual Level Eater Show. Have a listen.

If you wish to battle the Six Dire Demons during the live roleplaying session beginning at 8pm please sign up at the show or email ed@smallma.org to be put on the RSVP list and read on..

The Six Dire Demons vex and hex and bedevil the land.

They are the children of a hellish demigod, aspects of forbidden might and profane power loosed upon us by the hubris of wicked warlords — and the promise of treasure.

We battle not for riches, not for glory, but to save the land and its people from a generation of darkness that shall corrupt us all if these enemies see their plans fulfilled. Our only hope is to confront them all at once with steel and spells and wits — to bring the demons down before they can warn each other and unite to destroy our lands.

We must defeat them. We have one night to band together into six groups of adventurers, one night to strike, one night to save the land from evil.

And so we seek brave and hearty souls to carry blades and wield magic against these foes.

More than that, we need heroes and heroines of cunning and courage, for the Six Dire Demons are not only fearsome but conniving and ingenious themselves. Each of them is a shade, a facet of ancient power, one lingering aspect of a dead demigod. They are:

• The Lord of Fury
• The Cat of a Thousand Deaths
• The Baron of Blood and Bone
• The Brilliant Countess of Acheron
• The Thrice-Dead Witch
• The Beautiful Horror

Proceeds of the Level Eater 6.66 show go to building WLPN, Lumpen Radio

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If you are wondering what we thought kicked ass last year we asked our in house team of beer experts, brewer/bartenders and beverage directors what their favorite brews (and ciders) were for 2015. The lists are in no particular order and you will notice very little overlap.

What were your favorites?

Pat Gosset
Almanac – Farmers Reserve Blueberry

Almanac – Dog patch Cherry

Almanac – Barbary Coast

Alesmith – Speedway Stout

Crazy Mountain – Tequila Aged Lava Lake

Coedo – Shiro

Goose Island – BCBS Rare

Lagunitas – Waldo special ale

New Belgium – Felix

Oskar Blues – Death by Coconut
New Day – Imperial Breakfast Magpie

Eric Olson
Spiteful – Alley Time
Ballast Point – Grunion
Founders – Spectra Trifecta
Pipeworks – Lizard King
4 hands – resurrected
Central State – ottermellon
Transient – Ardent
Oskar Blues – Death by Coconut
Destihl – Dosvidanya
Marz – Rubys Tears

Ken Zawacki
9 Beers & 1 Cider
Pipeworks – Blood of The Unicorn (Can)
Almanac – Barbary Coast
Half Acre – Golden Tuna
Marz – Jungle Boogie
Anderson Valley – Briney Melon Gose
Surly Brewing – Todd The Axe Man
4 Hands/Pipeworks – Square Grouper
Maine Brewing Company – Lunch
Russian River – Consecration
Citizen Cider – bRosé

Gio Fretz
Vandermill Nunica Pine
Founders Blushing Monk
4 hands  Chocolate Peanut Butter Milk Stout
Lagunitas ScareCity #3: High West-Ified  Imperial Coffee Stout
Marz – Jungle Boogie
Ballast Point – Grapefruit Sculpin
The Bruery White Oak
Cigar City – Jai Alai IPA
21st Amendment Toaster Pastry

Daniel Bouchard
Buckledown – Belt & Suspenders
Two Brothers – Atom Smasher
Shorts – Spruce Pilsner
Ale Syndicate – Roe’s Hill
Spiteful – Working for the Weekend
Almanac – Dogpatch Sour
Lagunitas – Citrusinensis
4 Hands – Passion Fruit Prussia
Founders – Blushing Monk
Pipeworks – Twin Pines Mall

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Join us tonight for Sabado Gigante with DJs Tropicalazo &Tony “The Luck of Lucien” Medina

The Bright lights and slashing horns work in tandem with the Rolling Bass and the Drum Breaks for a night of musical treats

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Tues Dec 8 –  Lechstafari

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Our good friends at New Belgium Brewery will be hosting a special tasting at Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar on Tuesday, November 10 (6-9 PM) of Hop Stout & Le Terroir beers. Known for their very popular amber ale, Fat Tire, New Belgium have (since 1991) been dedicated to the development of craft beer with their humble beginnings garnering enough praise from friends and neighbors that the owners Jeff and Kim took their basement brewery commercial in 1993. Along with local artist and neighbor Anne Fitch they began hand making their iconic labels with her distinctive watercolor designs. In 1996, they brought in Peter Bouckaert, a Belgian Brewmaster previously working at Rodenbach to help influence their love of sour beers.

Le Terroir • 7.5% 12 IBUs

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THE BEST ITALIAN BEEF sandwich in Chicago will be decided November 14, in WLPN 105.5 Lumpen Radio’s first annual BRIDGEPORT’S GOT BEEF competition, a live broadcast BEEF BATTLE in front of a studio audience.

Eight local beefs will be judged by celebrity judges including 11th Ward Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson, Michelin-Starred Chef Kevin Hickey of the Duck Inn, Bridgeport Food Critic Chuck Sudo, 9th District Police Commander Daniel Godsel, and Vanessa Sanchez of Yollocalli Arts Reach.

For too long, Bridgeport, the birth place of the Italian Beef, has been left off haphazard “Best Of” put out by clickbait journalists.  This disrespect will end November 14, when BRIDGEPORT’S GOT BEEF, hits the airwaves.

The evening will be hosted by the Host of Radio Free Bridgeport, John Daley. The live broadcast will feature music about beef, live judging and more.

Limited tickets are available, and attendees will taste each of the beef sandwiches, enjoy complementary beverages, and cast their vote to decide who makes the best beef sandwich in the neighborhood.

Participating restaurants include: Phil’s Pizza, Ricobene’s, Soluris, Johnny O’s, Kathey De’s, Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery, Turtle’s Bar and Grill, Mangia Fresca, and others.

Proceeds of this event go to Public Media Institute, the organization that manages WLPN 105.5FM, Chicago’s newest independent radio station.

Get a ticket here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridgeports-got-beef-tickets-19192325763

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Tagged Bridgeport, co-prosperity sphere, Italian Beef, Lumpen radio, WLPN

Join us while the weather permits, for some complementary KoPo BBQ with Chef Won Kim of Kimski’s.. We are sick and tired of waiting for our new joint to open, so come get some…

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Maria’s was mentioned  in the recent October 9, 2015 USA Today’s article called “South Side story: Chicago’s urban renaissance“. We are glad to be part of some positive changes in the neighborhood.

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