Post by title1parent on Nov 25, 2009 5:21:50 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1903449,Dangerous-night-to-drive_au112509.article
Tonight's a dangerous night to be on the road
For younger crowd, Black Wednesday kicks off the season
November 25, 2009
By HEATHER KRYCZKA For Sun-Times Media
Tonight, crowds of young adults will swarm to bars throughout the Fox Valley in celebration of one of the biggest party nights of the year: Black Wednesday.
Yes, Black Wednesday. Haven't heard of it? It's the night of Thanksgiving eve, when college students and graduates returning home for the weekend escape family obligations for a night out with friends.
AVERAGE DUI OFFENDER
JUST THE FACTS
The average DUI offender is:
• Male (80 percent arrested are men)
• 34 years old (61 percent are younger than 35)
• Arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend
• Caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.16 — twice the legal limit
SOURCE: Illinois Secretary of State
DUI DEATHS
• 4: Alcohol-related fatalities over Thanksgiving weekend in 2008 in Illinois
• 11: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2007
• 7: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2006
• 8: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2004
SOURCE: Illinois Department of Transportation
"It's the biggest bar night of the year, along with New Year's Eve," said Troy Smith, general manager of Sullivan's Steakhouse in downtown Naperville.
"We anticipate a very busy bar," said Smith.
And bars across the Fox Valley are hoping for the same, offering drink and entertainment specials in an effort to lure the crowds.
Sullivan's is featuring a Goose Island Beer Dinner: a five-course, five-beer dinner for $55.
Cazadores Bar and Grill, at 110 N. Lake St. in downtown Aurora, is planning a big night for patrons, and food is just part of the package. Julian 'Jumpin' Perez and Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez will be taking over the restaurant for the evening. Tickets are $18 at the door.
In Oswego, Howey's on 71 is having a Black Wednesday event featuring music, drink and food specials for those looking to work up their Thanksgiving appetites. Draft beers are 50 cents, and live music kicks off at 5 p.m.
"It's a crazy, crazy, fun, fun night," said Jessica Buckley, manager of Bar Louie in Naperville. "(Black Wednesday) is always our biggest sales night of the year."
Aurora resident Mike Varzino, 23, and his closest 40 friends received invites to their clique's yearly Thanksgiving blitz.
What started in high school at Steak 'n Shake or Denny's as a way to hang out with friends in town for the holidays has since shifted into a more age-appropriate adventure, Varzino said.
"Now we're 21 and we're older, so we can go to a bar," he said. "It will be fun. Everyone you grew up with gets back together. Some of these people I haven't seen in years."
For recent college graduate Melissa Mozwecz, 23, a Naperville resident who recently moved to Denver, Thanksgiving break offers an opportunity for "relaxing, seeing family and getting a break from work."
Tonight, Mozwecz plans to meet up with old friends from high school and college to go out for dinner before bar-hopping downtown Naperville, and she already knows what to expect.
Mozwecz has been out for Black Wednesday before. "It's the only time I've had to wait in line (in) downtown Naperville for the bars," she said.
Staff writer Erika Wurst contributed to this story.
Tonight's a dangerous night to be on the road
For younger crowd, Black Wednesday kicks off the season
November 25, 2009
By HEATHER KRYCZKA For Sun-Times Media
Tonight, crowds of young adults will swarm to bars throughout the Fox Valley in celebration of one of the biggest party nights of the year: Black Wednesday.
Yes, Black Wednesday. Haven't heard of it? It's the night of Thanksgiving eve, when college students and graduates returning home for the weekend escape family obligations for a night out with friends.
AVERAGE DUI OFFENDER
JUST THE FACTS
The average DUI offender is:
• Male (80 percent arrested are men)
• 34 years old (61 percent are younger than 35)
• Arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend
• Caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.16 — twice the legal limit
SOURCE: Illinois Secretary of State
DUI DEATHS
• 4: Alcohol-related fatalities over Thanksgiving weekend in 2008 in Illinois
• 11: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2007
• 7: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2006
• 8: Alcohol-related fatalities in 2004
SOURCE: Illinois Department of Transportation
"It's the biggest bar night of the year, along with New Year's Eve," said Troy Smith, general manager of Sullivan's Steakhouse in downtown Naperville.
"We anticipate a very busy bar," said Smith.
And bars across the Fox Valley are hoping for the same, offering drink and entertainment specials in an effort to lure the crowds.
Sullivan's is featuring a Goose Island Beer Dinner: a five-course, five-beer dinner for $55.
Cazadores Bar and Grill, at 110 N. Lake St. in downtown Aurora, is planning a big night for patrons, and food is just part of the package. Julian 'Jumpin' Perez and Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez will be taking over the restaurant for the evening. Tickets are $18 at the door.
In Oswego, Howey's on 71 is having a Black Wednesday event featuring music, drink and food specials for those looking to work up their Thanksgiving appetites. Draft beers are 50 cents, and live music kicks off at 5 p.m.
"It's a crazy, crazy, fun, fun night," said Jessica Buckley, manager of Bar Louie in Naperville. "(Black Wednesday) is always our biggest sales night of the year."
Aurora resident Mike Varzino, 23, and his closest 40 friends received invites to their clique's yearly Thanksgiving blitz.
What started in high school at Steak 'n Shake or Denny's as a way to hang out with friends in town for the holidays has since shifted into a more age-appropriate adventure, Varzino said.
"Now we're 21 and we're older, so we can go to a bar," he said. "It will be fun. Everyone you grew up with gets back together. Some of these people I haven't seen in years."
For recent college graduate Melissa Mozwecz, 23, a Naperville resident who recently moved to Denver, Thanksgiving break offers an opportunity for "relaxing, seeing family and getting a break from work."
Tonight, Mozwecz plans to meet up with old friends from high school and college to go out for dinner before bar-hopping downtown Naperville, and she already knows what to expect.
Mozwecz has been out for Black Wednesday before. "It's the only time I've had to wait in line (in) downtown Naperville for the bars," she said.
Staff writer Erika Wurst contributed to this story.