Joe Rosenberg

But even before the bar opened, they also had had to figure out how to find graft, and they had no idea how it worked. How would inspectors ask for handouts? What words would they use? And how were they expected to hand over the bribes exactly?

But even before the bar opened, they also had had to figure out how to find graft, and they had no idea how it worked. How would inspectors ask for handouts? What words would they use? And how were they expected to hand over the bribes exactly?

But they didn't know the dance. They didn't know the language. But luckily, they had found this accountant.

But they didn't know the dance. They didn't know the language. But luckily, they had found this accountant.

His name was Phil Barish.

His name was Phil Barish.

And Phil Barish showed them the exact steps of the corruption dance. The bribes were small, but they were coming in from hundreds of bars across the city. So they added up.

And Phil Barish showed them the exact steps of the corruption dance. The bribes were small, but they were coming in from hundreds of bars across the city. So they added up.

In other words, he wasn't just their accountant. He was also their corruption broker.

In other words, he wasn't just their accountant. He was also their corruption broker.

So the photographers climbed up into a hidden loft, positioned behind a fake air vent, and they waited. And remember, before it opened, the bar had serious code violations, things that really were dangerous. So the first big test came with the fire inspector's visit.

So the photographers climbed up into a hidden loft, positioned behind a fake air vent, and they waited. And remember, before it opened, the bar had serious code violations, things that really were dangerous. So the first big test came with the fire inspector's visit.

And there was something else that Pam and Zay and the Sun-Times were able to document. Not only did they find and prove incontrovertible government graft over and over again, but in creating a bar, they had also created a tiny new world. And that tiny world was peopled with stories.

And there was something else that Pam and Zay and the Sun-Times were able to document. Not only did they find and prove incontrovertible government graft over and over again, but in creating a bar, they had also created a tiny new world. And that tiny world was peopled with stories.

There quickly grew this cast of regulars at the Mirage.

There quickly grew this cast of regulars at the Mirage.

Then there was the guy they called Lost Weekend.

Then there was the guy they called Lost Weekend.

And then, of course, there were fights because, you know, it's a bar.

And then, of course, there were fights because, you know, it's a bar.