1. It's not unusual to go on a bender after quitting time on Friday, but with the 4th falling mid-week, why not try McFadden's Star Spangled Weekday Bender. Tuesday features fiesta-inspired specials such as $1 tacos, $2 Corona and Corona Lights, and $4 margaritas; recover Wednesday with the hair of the dog at the build-your-own bloody mary bar, or try 25 cent wings, $1 cans, $2 well drinks and $3 shots.

2. When your friends fail to organize a BBQ, never fear: Victory Liquors saves the day with its American Buffet $20 meal package Tuesday. Fill up on burgers and hot dogs from 5-9 p.m.and wash it down with domestic drafts and select cocktails. Then on the 4th of July, specials include half-price burgers, $1 bottles and $3 select cocktails.

3. There's no work on Wednesday-and hell, maybe you even took the rest of the week off-so go for a big night out and get Derailed. The monthly Old Town pub crawl kicks off at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Try and stay on the party train all night, or pop in at one of the participating bars. Crawl starts at Wells on Wells (8 p.m.), then moves to Fireplace Inn (10:10 p.m.), Suite Lounge (11:20 p.m.), Corcoran's (12:30 a.m.) and finishes at late-night bar Burton Place (2 a.m.) Drink specials along the way include $5 Effen cocktails, $3 Miller Lites, $5 bombs with XL energy drink.

Need more places to party on July 3 and July 4? Let us light you up

Despite closing its Evanston location last month and its Wacker Drive location 10 days ago (and its Chicago-based corporate headquarters on Friday), Cereality -- the fledgling chain trying to do for Cocoa Puffs what Starbucks did for the coffee bean -- says you can expect more Chicago stores. Stan Synkoski, the company's chief operating officer, says the company's in talks with a major strategic partner to "aggressively expand" as a fully franchised operation. Synkoski says that the company's original plan to open both corporate-run and franchised stores was scrapped when it when the demand for franchises became "overwhelming." He says right now there are 26 franchises in the works -- a new operation has just opened in Charleston, S.C. July 1. While the 2,200 square-foot Evanston location, which was originally intended to be both restaurant as well as a training and distribution center for the chain, will not reopen, Synkoski says the Wacker Drive location is being considered for a co-branded operation with the new strategic partner, who at this point remains anonymous. Stay tuned for more details...

Did you ever visit Cereality? Do you think a cereal-only restaurant could really be the next Starbucks?