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Drink and Ink, Where You Can Watch Your Friends Get Tattoos on TV, Opens

By Jackie Kostek | October 23, 2014 4:44am | Updated on October 23, 2014 11:34am
 The tattoo-themed bar is next door to The Tattoo Factory.
Drink and Ink Opens in Uptown
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UPTOWN — A tattoo-themed bar is nothing new. A bar that has a live video feed of people getting tattooed is new.

“There’s a 60-inch flat screen behind the bar so people can watch their friends get tattoos,” said Paul Collurafici, owner of The Tattoo Factory and the new bar next door, Drink and Ink, at 4443 N. Broadway.

Collurafici said the idea for Drink and Ink, which quietly opened three weeks ago, came after observing too many bored people watch their friends get tattoos.

“Tattoos take a long time to do,” said Collurafici, “so I thought, I’ll make a beautiful little waiting room and decorate it like a real, old-school tattoo parlor.”   

Jackie Kostek says Collurafici has worked for over four years on the plan:

The 900-square-foot bar is essentially an extension of The Tattoo Factory — the ceiling features three massive tattoo-inspired designs, the ATM ... is placed within a statue of the Virgin Mary, and the seat covers are hand tattooed.

To celebrate the bar’s opening, Ald. James Cappleman (46th) will be slinging cocktails for customers as a guest bartender on Friday.

Tressa Feher, the alderman’s chief of staff, said Cappleman has worked with Collurafici over the past couple years to acquire the licensing and permits required to open the bar.

“Uptown has a lot of diversity and a great art scene,” Feher said. “This kind of adds to that art scene, the fact that you can watch tattoo artists work, that’s fascinating.”

Collurafici will also be guest bartending Friday’s soft opening party, which begins at 7 p.m.

“I do know how to make a rum and Coke,” Collurafici said, with a laugh. He said highly trained bartenders will also be on deck serving drinks if his skills prove to be subpar.

Drink and Ink’s celebration will continue Saturday night with a breast cancer fundraiser and a grand opening night slated for Nov. 1.

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