Smelly Cat cocktails anyone?
Inside the Friends pop-up Replay Lincoln Park
One Chicago bar is going “on a break” (or are they?) for the month of November.
Starting on Friday, November 9, Replay Lincoln Park has transformed into a 1990s-era Friends themed getaway, mixing decor from Monica and Rachel’s apartment, Chandler and Joey’s place and Central Perk to recreate the experience of hanging out with your six favorite fictional pals. Other decorative surprises, inspired by unforgettable jokes and scenes from the show, will be strewn throughout the space.
The immersive experience will include plenty of photo opportunities with the decor and cardboard cutouts of the characters, 90s dance parties, karaoke nights, trivia contests and more themed events, like Sunday, November 11th’s “Moist Maker Turkey Sandwich Sunday Funday” from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m and a foosball tournament featuring a $100 prize on Wednesday, November 14 at 7 p.m.
Special themed cocktails range from $7-$12 and include creations like Gunther’s Central Perk Espresso Shot (coffee-infused tequila with cinnamon), Smelly Cat (Maker’s Mark, creme de cacao, lime, coffee liqueur and fernet) and the seasonally appropriate Chanberries (vodka, lemon, St. Germaine, agave, blueberry). Other drinks are inspired directly from foods prominently featured on the show, like the Moist Maker (gin, lemon, apple cider syrup, lavender bitters) and Mama’s Lil Cheesecake (Vanilla Stoli, Strawberry Pucker, cream, lemon).
Replicas of the characters’ apartments Replay Lincoln Park
To kick off the first weekend of sitcom nostalgia, a local Chicago couples, who are major fans of the TV show, will be married at the pop-up bar this weekend. Joey Tribbiani will not be officiating.
Replay’s Friends pop-up won’t charge a cover and will be open daily: Monday – Thursday from 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Fridays from 3 p.m. – 2 a.m. and on weekends from 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. Sunday nights will also feature the chance to play “cups” with the bartender to win free shots.
While the Central Perk hangout from Friends does not exist in real life (it was a soundstage, based on fiction), Central Perk has popped up in various iterations over the years, including a 2014 pop-up in New York’s SoHo neighborhood to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Friends, and, of course, fans can visit the Central Perk Cafe soundstage on an official Warner Bros. studio tour in Los Angeles.
Friends fans who also love The Office can plan to return to replay after the pop-up closes at the end of the month, when the bar transforms into another popular fictional hangout: The Dunder Mifflin Office, Scranton branch. On November 29th through January 5th, the bar will celebrate the annual Dunder Mifflin Holiday Party. Work friends or real friends can text 312-505-5942 to book in advance, due to limited availability.
I’ve written professionally since 2013, when I graduated Columbia University with a B. A. in creative writing. Since, I’ve contributed to Mic, Thrillist, Teen Vogue, Bon Appetit, Glamour Refinery29, Racked, INSIDER, VICE and beyond, along with several New York based newspaper…
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