There are certain franchises that become bigger than the books and movies that they start out as. Harry Potter is one, Star Wars is another, but there is one fandom that truly seems to rule them all...and it's Lord Of The Rings. Now, fans of Frodo and Samwise can live out their dreams of drinking like a hobbit or an elf at a pop-up bar in Chicago.
Replay Lincoln Park, the bar that's hosted pop-up bars based around Harry Potter and Parks and Recreation, announced it would be putting on yet another themed pop-up created by the Pop-Up Squad. And this one will take fans right to the Shire.
"The One Pop-Up to Rule Them All," as reported on in Food and Wine, will feature everything from set recreations to themed food and drinks. You can pose in front of a Hobbit hole, gaze upon a giant Smeagol, and even converse with Gandalf, who will be on hand to disperse wisdom.
But let's get to the food and drinks. As far as food, you'll have things like corn dogs called Gandalf’s Corn Staff, Lord of the Wings, and One Onion Ring To Rule Them All, which are all provided by Zizi's Cafe.
As for drinks, it's a totally over-the-top situation. There are three bar areas with 14 themed drinks total. My favorite? The “My Precious Shot” which is made with dark rum, orange liqueur, and Cajun seasoning. Yeah, you can catch me downing a few of those and flirting with the Legolas cut-out...
The pop-up bar opened this week and so far has no end date...but I wouldn't hesitate in case it disappears sooner than you think. Of course, you need to be 21 and over to enter, but there's no cover...oh, and you probably can't be possessed by a ring which contains all the evil and hatred in the universe either. They probably won't let you in.
