J. Parker Unveils Retractable Roof To Public

Outdoor patios and roof areas are boons for businesses during Chicago's warmer months, but they're not as big of an asset during days like today, when the city is buried by snow.

This has forced business owners to be creative. Parson's Chicken & Fish converted its backyard into an ice skating rink. Kaiser Tiger has turned to the winter sport of curling.

Meanwhile the Boka Restaurant Group, the management team behind the J. Parker in Lincoln Park, have decided to go full Skydome. Monday night will be the first time the public gets to experience the bar's retractable glass rooftop. The new rooftop will cover the open-air space on the 13th floor of the Hotel Lincoln, fully sheltering patrons from snow, rain and cold, allowing the bar to be open all year. Here's a computer animation on how the roof will work when Chicago's not experiencing a blizzard:

Chef Paul Virant, whose restaurant (Perennial Virant) is on the Hotel Lincoln's ground floor, even has created a cold-weather menu including a beef shank chili and shrimp slider.

The beverage program, curated by Allie Kim, includes three hot and boozy drinks: the Rockin' Chair made with Cruzan 9-spiced rum, Laird's Applejack, Demerara, butter and cinnamon; the Out of Nowhere mixed with Maestro Dobel, Marie Brizard White Cacao, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, coffee and topped with whipped cream; and the Smoke Rings mixed with Old Forester 100-proof bourbon, Marie Brizard white cacao, root beer Demerara, a whole egg and Mezcal.

Check out the food menu below:

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