The Smiling Moose on the South Side is Closing — But You Can Still Find Burger-and-Beer Bliss in the ‘Burbs

The Smiling Moose on the South Side is Closing — But You Can Still Find Burger-and-Beer Bliss in the ‘Burbs

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER “Am I happy? Are you kidding? I’m making beer!” says Mike “Scarfo” Scarlatelli as he heaves a 50-pound bag of malted grain onto his shoulder. I mean, I had to ask the question — just days ago he announced that The Smiling Moose, the punk rock bar he founded in 2003 on the South Side, would close by the end of May. Many longtime customers (myself included), spent hours sharing photos and chatting online about the Carson Str…