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The Show Must Go On

Gourmet popcorn and television pairings around town

award-winning movie snacks!

The Oscars are Sunday, and that means two things: TV and gourmet popcorn. Luckily, you can find both at some of our city’s finest establishments. Below, our award-winning picks.

Revolution Brewing 
What: Known for its fist-shaped beer taps, this Logan Square brewpub’s snacks are legit.
Dish: Bacon fat popcorn.
Pop goes the pork fat: Kernels are popped in bacon fat, then tossed with fried sage, shaved Parmesan, and crispy bacon shards for an umami explosion.
Drink up: To complement the fattiness, Revolution suggests a heartier beer pairing like the Anti-Hero IPA.
Get cozy:
Two TVs at the downstairs bar, five screens upstairs. No silver lining necessary.

Old Town Social
What: This 10,000-square-foot bar is where Jared Van Camp (Nellcôte) made his charcuterie famous.
Now playing: The recently overhauled menus include snacks galore.
Dish: Caramel and cheese popcorn made with Nichols Farm popping corn is an elegant riff on the salty-sweet Chicago-style combo.
Front-row seat: The space is packed with 23 flat-screens, for multiangle Day-Lewis ogling.
Pick your poison: From beer and spirits to wine and cocktails, you won’t be miserables.

Fountainhead
Hollywood via Ravenswood: Mahogany woodwork, a fireplace, and crafty bar food set a moody scene.
Dish:
House-made kettle corn studded with caramel and cashews is amour at first bite.
Raise a glass: With 27 beers on tap, plus bottled beer, whiskey, and wine, you’ll be drinkin’ like Lincoln.
Tune in: The TV hovers above the bar. And so will you.

Three Aces
What: The Little Italy haunt touts itself as part Italian countryside, part American farmhouse, part Keith Richards’s basement bar.
Dish: Scallion-flecked popcorn with Parmesan served with a side of roasted garlic hot sauce that’ll take you from zero to (dark) thirty in no time.
Best supporting cast: Arancini, Bolognese fries, and light-as-air donuts round out the menu.
VIP: Give yourself the star treatment at one of two booths outfitted with a TV.

Photo: Sheila Paras / Getty Images