Photo: Kristine Sherred
Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar
While Ed Marszewski has been known around town for all kinds of activities and activism, including the annual Version multimedia festival, over 100 issues of Lumpen magazine and eight of Proximity, the journal of art and urban studies, part of his life has always been centered around his mother’s bar in Bridgeport. Once known as Kaplan’s Liquors, Maria’s, family-owned since 1986, is a Chicago tavern in the classic style, half bar and half liquor store. Its latest transformation from dive bar to community asset opened in August, retaining features of the old tap room while adding an art deco cooler, chandeliers made of beer bottles; butcher block tables and co-partner Mike Marszewski’s beer-can collection in the bathrooms. Ten beers are on tap and close to a hundred craft beers and microbrews are stocked, with a rotating seasonal beer list and freshly concocted cocktails each month. Art, DJs and events are part of the tapestry as well.
960 West 31st
(773)890-0588
communitybar.wordpress.com
Audience choice:
Binny’s Lincoln Park
1720 North Marcey
(312)664-4394
binnys.com
Best of Chicago 2010
