Bars We Love: The Whistler Turns 15 Years Young!

Hey there Chicagoans (or anyone who has passed through our great city), have you heard the news? Our beloved Whistler has just turned 15 and we couldn't be more proud of them! This legendary craft cocktail bar and live music venue located in Logan Square has been our go-to spot for years, and we're thrilled to see it celebrate such a huge milestone.

The Whistler has been celebrating all September long, with an amazing three-day-long bash of specialty anniversary events during the last week of the month. They've got some exciting things planned, including a special rendition of their weekly jazz performance series "Relax Attack Jazz Series," featuring the first band to ever perform at The Whistler, Matt Ulery's Loom. They're also releasing the exclusive first-ever The Whistler cocktail recipe booklet, and bringing back the long-running music act TTTTotally Dudes for one-night-only. It's going to be epic!

"We wanted to create a space focused on artistic pursuits in a neighborhood that was quickly becoming populated by artists like ourselves," says Helmkamp. "Since then, The Whistler has grown into a multifaceted space where we approach everything we do with the mindset of an artist - whether it be through performances on our live stage, art displays in our storefront gallery, or our approach."

The Whistler story is an inspiring one. Originally opened in 2008, it was the brainchild of graduates from New York University, Helmkamp, and Brenner. They envisioned a space where local musicians could perform and artists could display their work. After Brenner purchased the space at 2421 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the pair realized that one element was missing – a bar. After a successful campaign to end a longstanding moratorium, Helmkamp and Brenner obtained the first new liquor licenses in Logan Square in several years and opened doors to what would become a beloved neighborhood hangout for arts and cocktail enthusiasts alike through their innovative drink menu, eclectic live music shows, and storefront gallery featuring the works of local artists.

Since then, the Whistler has been a staple of Logan Square's nightlife and arts scene, and we're proud to have them in our community. Founded by friends Billy Helmkamp and Rob Brenner, The Whistler is part cocktail bar, part live music venue, part art gallery, and part record label. They've got a robust creative cocktail program that helped pioneer Chicago's craft cocktail movement, and earned them a spot on GQ Magazine's "25 Best Cocktail Bars in America" (2010). They eventually won Time Out Chicago's "Bar of the Year" in 2016 and Chicago Reader's "Best Bar" in 2019.

The Whistler's stage has hosted a lineup of live music and DJ performances over the years, including notable acts like Angel Olsen, Whitney, and Hannibal Buress. They've also hosted community-focused programming like LGBTQ+ dance parties and 80s Japanese Disco sets. And we couldn't help but also mention our good friend of DWG DJ Greg Feelgood who has been DJing at the Whistler for the last few years and throws down once a month as part of his Feelgood Saturdays; check out his mixes here! . On top of all that, The Whistler has served as a record label, helping amplify the visibility and notoriety of local, independent musicians.

If you want to check them out, you can do it IRL and Online that the following locations: 

• Address: 2421 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60647
• Website: whistlerchicago.com
• Instagram: @whistlerchicago
• Facebook: facebook.com/whistlerchicago
• X/Twitter: @whistlerchicago

Hats off to the Whistler and all their accomplishments over the last 15 years. Cheers to many more years of success and amazing cocktails and their continued Journey in our beloved city!

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