Wear one or go naked - your choice!
"Let me axe you somethin'..."
We get it all the time. Well, here are the answers!Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the PCNW?
A: For many years, Eric Elmer and Brian Fontana were just talk. Slurring their words, they'd yap about big plans to throw a party along a train line, reducing the need for designated drivers that were always in short supply.One day in late 2007 it clicked: the old Chicago/Northwest line ran right past several bars that the guys knew well, from their years playing in bands and/or hosting karaoke shows. What if a dedicated crowd of fun-seekers were to leave the driving to Uncle Metra? They could conceivably hit multiple towns up and down that line. This idea may have dissolved into the next pitcher of beer were it not for Brian's lovely wife Kara, who picked up the phone and started calling.
Suddenly it was no joke-- and with the design help of Dave Zortea there were suddenly logos and t-shirts and websites. But would it really be a pubcrawl? Would anyone show up? Those questions were answered on the morning of March 15th, 2008 when the Palatine contingent got on the train and saw many strangers sporting PCNW gear, all taking that leap of faith and pushing open the door of Nick's Pub at 11:00am-- an hour when no reasonable person would start boozing. But St. Paddy's magic filled the air, and as the day progressed, the crowd grew and a legend was born.
Q: Why isn't it the NWPC?
A: See above: the now-defunct Chicago/Northwest train line gave us our name and our logo.Q: What's the route?
A: It varies slightly from year to year, but in the past and for the foreseeable future, the PCNW kicks off at Nick's in Edison Park, which opens at 11:00am. From there we visit some other beloved EP locations and then catch the 3:55 to Mount Prospect. In years past, the crawl has extended to Arlington Heights and Palatine as well, with mixed results. But you can always expect a good variety and plenty of places with decent food: part of responsible drinking is eating something, so it might as well be delicious.Q: I don't live on the Northwest line, so how do I get in on this?
A: We urge you to take a train. Consult the Metra schedule on this site and leave the car at home. (Route and Train Schedules here) Take your local downtown and catch the Northwest line from there. We aren't your mom (though she had a lot of fun on last year's PCNW) so it goes without saying: don't be stupid. Call a cab, reserve a hotel room, whatever you gotta do. The PCNW is comprised of seasoned partiers and bargoers, we don't take kindly to amateurs who endanger themselves or others.In fact, HOTEL ROOMS for Crawlers are now available!
*Click Here* for Arlington Hts Doubletree info!
Q: Do I have to buy a t-shirt or dress like a green fool?
A: Not if you hate fun. Just bring your purse/wallet/murse/European shoulder bag and make sure you've got all the cash you'll need. We try to line up as many specials as we can but the crawl ain't free and Uncle Metra charges $5 for unlimited Saturday riding. But if you want to look snazzy in a PCNW shirt or wear a button with pride, we got you covered - new stuff at the PCNW store.Q: How long do you think you can keep this up? Isn't it time to grow up and act your age?
A: No thanks, looks good on you though.
Got something we missed? Fire us off your question(s) and maybe we'll steal it from you to use here! Email us: pcnw@thebridgeburners.com
