GIVEAWAY! How To Play Your Cards Right: Chicago Date Ideas

As they say in life, you play the hand your dealt. But what if you could just buy the whole deck instead? Well luckily you can! If you are anything like me, you easily get stuck in you own Chicago neighborhood bubble. It’s close, it’s comfortable and why mess with a good thing right? Well here are two easy ways to help you get out or your restuarant rut without the effort.

1. A La Card Chicago – I found this in the bottom of my stocking this past Christmas. Amazing how Santa knows best. It comes with 52 cards, each representing a different Chicago restuarant (see website for the list). It tells you the type of cuisine, neighborhood, price range and even includes a little paragraph of all the highlights. And the best thing of all? Each card is a $10 gift card!!! Just go to 3 restaurants and it has paid for itself. Talk about a great excuse. You can buy this for $32.50 plus tax (includes shipping fee). If you don’t want to pay for shipping, check out the list of local places that sell A La Card here.

2. The Drink Deck – It doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out. Basically the same idea as the first one…just adult beverages instead. Talk about an even better excuse. Check out the website to see the list of places included. Spend a minimum of $30 on food and/or drinks and receive either $10 off or a 20-30% discount on your bill. Upside about these cards is they DO NOT EXPIRE. Total is $44.95 with shipping and handling. You can also pick this up at any of the big four Binnys locations in Chicago. Going green? You can get it on your iPhone! Going on Spring Break? Consider Drink Deck your “Bar Enthusiast’s Tour Guide” with the New Orleans, Miami and Portland decks! And it won’t take up much room in your carry on either.

***So now to the good part. I am going to GIVE AWAY one free A La Card Chicago Deck and one free Chicago Drink Deck. I will be doing it two ways. 1. Whoever gives me the best new restuarant/activity idea (specifically for Chicago) and 2. By random. Just write in the comment section below to be considered! It can be something that is great to do with friends, family or your lover. I will announce the winner this Friday. May the best man win!
 
References: Chicagoist, Chicago Free Info, Drink Deck, A La Card, Binnys