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Though it sounds ironic, sipping an ice-cold vodka lemonade at Fireplace Inn hits the spot.

Tuesday Jan 08, 2008.     By Dana Kavan

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Drink of the week: A wild berry vodka lemonade at Fireplace Inn.

The damage: $6 for 16 ounces, $12 for 32 or $15 if you really want to get crazy with 44 ounces.

Thousands of bars in Chicago, why this one? I've been inadvertently snubbing my neighborhood since moving to Old Town nine months ago. I love walking through its skinny streets flanked with Victorian-era homes; it's rich with history and undeniably beautiful. But its nightlife options, which tend to garner a bit older of a crowd and even feel slightly suburban, never felt, well, like options. Sure, I'll stop by the beer garden at Corcoran's in the summer, but I find myself heading north nearly every weekend.

This particular Friday night out, my friends and I had finished putting away countless slices of maki at Cafe Sushi on Wells, and had planned to meet friends in Lakeview post-meal. But it was cold, and Fireplace Inn was oh-so close. It couldn't hurt to finally give a watering hole in the 'hood a real shot, right?

How it went down: We headed straight for the enclosed patio, bypassing the dining room where people were diving into slabs of ribs and seafood. The space, with its high, steepled ceiling and brick and wood accents, channeled a ski lodge-one that catered to sports fans with its oodles of TVs. We bellied up, our backs to a digital juke box that kept spitting out Bob Seger, Britney Spears and other artists that had us questioning our decision to stay local. The moment we saw the large, electrical vat of lemonade churning on top of the bar and Berghoff brews on tap, though, we knew it couldn't be all bad.

I realize it's a bit ironic to sip an icy vodka lemonade at a spot called Fireplace Inn, but I always follow a "when in Rome" philosophy when it comes to boozing, and my bartender swore the summery blend was by far the restaurant's signature beverage. I could pick from any number of flavored Finlandia vodkas, and opted for the wild berry one to add a dose of fruitiness. The pale yellow, cloudy, tart libation topped with a cherry tasted like pure candy-super sweet but not belly-ache inducing.

Would I want to become a regular? As we hung out, a bachelorette party and a 21-year-old's birthday shindig moved into the room. While these are normally signs of a bar that would test our patience, Fireplace remained decidedly cozy yet lively. The moment our drinks got below the half-way point, we were immediately asked if we needed another. And, once we started plugging our picks into the juke, the music fit the ambience perfectly. I'll likely continue my weekend treks to other areas, but it's good to know that I don't have to travel far for an enjoyable night out.

Dana Kavan scours the city for drink deals so good you'll offer to buy a round and creative libations that outshine your average on-the-rocks concoctions. Want to give Dana tips on where to rack up a bar tab? Share your finds before her next night out.