Now that you know what to do on the last day of the year, what to do about the first? New Year's Day promises many things to many people – including thousands of epic hangovers ringing loudly up and down the shores of Lake Michigan. On the plus side, it won't be that smoky around town.
In fact, this New Year's just might be the one to give up puffing on those cancer sticks. The new statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants goes into full effect on 1/1 – the only places smokers will be able to get their fix are those that make over 80% of their revenue from the sale of tobacco. And don’t expect to hunker shivering in the doorway, either; the ban includes a smoke-free zone of 15 feet around entrances to public places.
But back to dealing with your impending hangover. A number of places around town would love to help you:
The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club is hosting a “Hangover Heaven” event where fruity champagne cocktails ($3) and special menu items like andouille sausage wrapped in puff pastry ($7), artichoke and spinach dip with Parmesan and garlic crostini ($9) and blackened NY strip steak with orechiette pasta and four-cheese truffle cream sauce ($25), will help take the edge off (5:30 PM–2 AM; 773-525-1111).
Over at Fat Cat, New Year's Day brunch is set to feature an "endless" mimosa champagne fountain and special dishes like $10.95 chorizo hash with scrambled eggs, queso fresco, pasilla salsa and crispy tortilla or $8.95 rosemary-apple-caramel pancakes (11 AM–4 PM; 773-506-3100).
Meanwhile, Citizen Bar wants to wish you a happy new year with a $25 “Hangover Brunch” including entree (with choices like grilled Italian fennel sausage with roasted peppers over white polenta, and Amaretto brioche French Toast with glazed cherries, apricots and whipped mascarpone), coffee and juice. Not to mention three hours of unlimited mimosas and bloody marys (seatings at 10 AM, 11 AM and noon; reservations recommended, 312-640-1156).