Exposed. Bare. Naked. Peeled. Stripped. Uncovered. OK, well not exactly uncovered, but graysong and Sukie got an eyefull during the photo shoot when they invited me to be on the Nightspots cover that ran a couple weeks ago. People keep asking me how I feel about it. How do I feel about what exactly? Apparently you didn't see me at Fireball last year on the center stage. Or better yet, on the Spin float at Pride. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'll show you
anything if you ask nicely. It was my idea to get buck and I loved it. Thank god they make 12" records so I could cover it all ... want more? You know who to ask.
These days it seems that nightclub facelifts are the thing to do. Many are reinventing their club by
washing the grime off the walls and revamping the style. We've all seen how poorly it's been executed in some clubs. I won't name names, but some spaces have become too awkward. This trend of odd angles disturbs me. But when it works, it works well. And when
it's done with style, the
transformation is breathtaking.
Name that club: Black glossy tiles enrobe the entrance. Three-hundred and sixty degrees of main bar greet you in the main room. It's sister bar quietly perches across the dance floor. A brand new upper level wraps its way around the entire club, complete with a floor-to-
ceiling glass walled lounge, two fully stocked bars, and elevated seating that offers a view of almost everything from almost everywhere. Two accessible DJ's, new
bathrooms, and parties that are hotter than ever.
Give up? It's Crobar. They reopened their doors in late 2003 with an entirely reworked space. Gone are the days of the dark and industrial space that ushered many girls and boys into the world of the
warehouse club. Now a high style addition to the beautifully diverse scene in the Windy City, Crobar has returned with a bang.
Sunday's are still gay, but "Glee Club" has been traded for the moniker "Anthem". The main floor DJ's are hot off the Circuit scene, working the crowds that live for their music. Upstairs in the lounge, local DJ's are behind the decks, but sadly there isn't any House on Sunday nights. One of the things I loved most about Glee Club was hearing Freddie Bain spin his
ferociously unique House sounds upstairs. After talking to people around the club, quite a few agreed that House was missing from the scene. (Shameless plug: I can bring my records ANY Sunday night you'd like ... ) But Crobar is Crobar and we love it just the same. It's beautifully reworked and I highly recommend stopping by to
experience the difference.
411 tip of the week: Sound-Bar's publicist is making noise about the club opening. Keep your eyes and ears open. I truly hope we can see it happen.
Until next time, my heart beats with you in 4/4.
Peter Mavrik
petermavrik@hotmail.com