The economy is in bad shape…  Movie tickets are $10.50 each…  A ball game will run you $40, and that’s just to get into the stadium.  So how can you have a good time with your pals this summer, on a budget.  The answer?  Pub trivia!  Here is an updated version of  the best locations in Chicago to play. 

Flounders – (Wednesdays) – Located at 2201 N. Clybourn, this sports bars regularly attracts quite the crowd for its trivia night.  And why shouldn’t they?  They test patrons with seven rounds of trivia, including a theme round (aka Simpons trivia or all NFL questions), a name that tune round, a visual picture ID round, and more.  Additionally, this place is reasonable!  They have $1.99 steak or chicken tacos ALWAYS, and almost nothing on the rest of the menu tops $8.  And with $3 pints on special, you are sure to have a blast with your buddies.  Plus, if you are smart enough, the cash you win will cancel out the little bit you spend on the evening.

The Coach House (Wednesdays) – This unassuming place is at 950 W. Wolfram is the older brother of sorts to Uncle Fatty’s (the bar next door).  But don’t let the exterior fool you.  Once you walk in this place, you will be impressed by the wood interior and warm décor: this bar feels lodge-y and hip.  And it is!  You will realize after a few minutes that this bar’s patron’s like to enjoy themselves.  Tuesdays are board game night, and Thursday is flip cup night, but Wednesday is Trivia Night.  And they do it right here.  First off, the night starts with FREE pizza.  And every time you hit up the bar, you flip a coin.  If you call it right, you get your drink for HALF-PRICE!  And that’s just for starters. 

The actual trivia here is a blast, and includes a round of humming a song to your team which, if won, earns your team a round of shots.  Other rounds are equally fun, and before you know it, you will have had hours of fun.

Vines – (Thursdays) – Vines is not your corner bar.  While often overrun with Cubs fans post-game, This Wrigelyville location is large, open, and is as much restaurant as it is bar.  And the food, especially the flatbread pizzas, is actually really good.  If you are looking to class up your trivia night, this is the place to do it.  And, you still won’t have to drop a lot of dough to enjoy yourself!  Vines boasts half-priced cheeseburgers with fries and $10 Domestic Pitchers and $15 Pitchers of Harp or Guinness.