As Sidetrack celebrated and honored its past June 19, the popular Lake View bar also took a step into its future.
The annual anniversary party featured 1980s drink prices and four popular food trucks, including The Fat Shallot and The Slide Ride, offering free food.
More than 1,500 came into Sidetrack for the festivities.
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The celebration also included the 20-year-plus tradition of supporting Vital Bridges/GroceryLand, as donations were accepted of new personal grooming or cleaning products.
"The anniversary party is our way to say thank-you to the Chicago community, to share so many successes and victories over the years," said Brad Balof, who was formally introduced as the new general manager, replacing Chuck Hyde. "This year's event was a great success."
And it was much larger and grander than past anniversary parties, which have been only two hours and invitation-only. This year, the Sidetrack party went all night and everyone was invited to celebrate.
One of the event highlights was a staff video to Cyndi Lauper's hit song "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."
Balof said Sidetrack's entire staff of 50-plus worked the party, including 23 bartenders.
Balof has worked at Sidetrack for 13 years, serving in the past as a barback, security staff, bartender and shift manager. He also has long been the resident in-house emcee. Balof, 35, is partnered to Jason Kennedy, who also attended the party.
"I am so excited, honored; this is a great opportunity," Balof said during a small break on his first official day in his new job. "Chuck Hyde taught me everything I know and filling his shoes is going to be a big task.
"I am very excited to transition into this new role at a place that I care very deeply about. Sidetrack has been a lot of things to a lot of peopleand it's definitely the best thing in my life."