Ward Eight Nominated As 'Best New Bar'

Just two months old, Evanston's Ward Eight cocktail bar is already up for "Best New Bar" in Time Out Chicago's annual dining awards.

The bar at 629 Howard St. was the only Evanston establishment nominated in any category for the magazine's 2013 Eat Out Awards.

“We want it to be a community type bar,” co-owner Cody Modeer told Patch when the bar opened in December. “We want people that are intellectuals, like the old artist bars in Paris.”

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Modeer opened the bar and small plates restaurant along with his wife, Anne Carlson, both of whom previously worked as bartenders at In Fine Spirits in Andersonville. The couple will focus on creative cocktails incorporating quality spirits, from local purveyors like Evanston-based FEW Spirits and North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff. 

Some of their recent concoctions include the Blood & Sand, which dates to 1922, (incorporating Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth and orange juice) and the new invention A Sunshine Fix (blueberry tea-infused Journeyman gin, ginger syrup, lemon juice, soda water and bitters). Along with cocktails, Carlson and Modeer also serve wine, beer and small plates. 

To see the full list of restaurants nominated for Eater Awards, visit Time Out Chicago's website.