FULTON MARKET — Get ready to party like its 1999.
Asrai Garden is bringing ‘90s Wicker Park to Fulton Market later this month to celebrate the popular floral boutique’s 20 years in business.
The longtime Wicker Park florist will turn its new larger location in the Ace Hotel, 309 N. Morgan St., into the long-closed places that surrounded the original shop in the ’90s, including Earwax Cafe, the Lava Lounge and Jinx Cafe.
The celebration, which coincides with Asrai Garden’s second anniversary in Fulton Market, runs from Saturday, Nov. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 1.
As part of the transformation, the whole Ace Hotel is getting in on the action. City Mouse’s menu and interior will honor Earwax Cafe, which was known for its vegetarian-friendly diner fare. Stumptown at the Ace will pay homage to Jinx Cafe, and the upstairs bar Waydown will host the Silver Room and the Beat Parlor pop-up.
Nearby businesses are getting in on the party as well. The Blind Barber, 948 W. Fulton Market, will become the late Lava Lounge, with guest DJs and bartenders, and Morgan’s on Fulton, 950 W. Fulton St., will turn into the Boom-Boom Room, a legendary dance party that used to take place on Monday nights in Wicker Park hosted by Jojo Baby.
The hotel will also host an art gallery, curated by Heaven Gallery, filled with photography and art from the late nineties.
Throughout the weekend, some proceeds from Stoli-made cocktails will benefit Healthy Hood Chicago, which provides affordable fitness classes in Pilsen.
Asrai Garden owner Elizabeth Cronin opened the original North Avenue Asrai in 1999.
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