Whichever way the bid decision breaks, Friday will go down in history -- either as a chapter in Chicago's Homeric epic, or a footnote in the annals of Rio's history.
Daley Plaza will be Ground Zero for all things Olympic bid announcement on Friday. But if that kind of crowd isn't to your liking, here's some other options to share a piece of history with your fellow bid-supporting man.
Park 52 Viewing Party
5201 South Harper Ave., Hyde Park, (773)241-5200
Why not catch the big announcement near the site of the proposed Olympic stadium? Park 52 restaurant will start the party at 11 a.m. Nosh on Olympic-themed special menu items such as the Ancient Greek Games Burger, the Red White and Bleu Burger and the Windy City BBQ.
Timothy O'Toole's Pub
622 N. Fairbanks Ct., (312)642-0700
Channel the luck of the Irish at this Streeterville spot which will have 47 televisions tuned in to the live events. The festivities will kick off at 1:45 a.m. Friday, when Chicago makes its presentation to the IOC. Olympic-themed menu items include Olympic Rings (onion rings), Nacho Average Athlete (Irish Nachos) and Pitching the IOC ($10 pitchers of beer). Doors re-open at 10 a.m. Friday for the live festivities leading up to the announcement.
Harry Caray's Tavern
33 West Kinzie St., 312.828.0966
The downtown location will open its doors at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and tune its TVs to the developments in Copenhagen. They're offering a special $20.16 three-course Olympic Committee Lunch Menu, highlighting items the Chicago Olympic Committee enjoyed at the restaurant on their last night in town.
Best Party to Crash
The Chicago Tribune reports that Coca-Cola is throwing an invitation-only party in Millennium Park on Friday night called "Celebrate the Spirit." The party will go on regardless of the outcome of the announcement. Olympians such as Shawn Johnson, Apolo Anton Ohno and Evan Lysacek are expected to appear at the event, held at Harris Theater's Rooftop Terrace. Invite only.
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