It's funny how I seem to fall in love with things in life that aren't people; a song by Sucker DJ called "Lotta Lovin", chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, studying Japanese ( Nihongo no benkyo ga suki desu! ) , and Mensday.
Mensday is a long standing tradition in my circle of friends. One of us will occasionally start calling around: "Hey, you down for Mensday?" "Yeah, I could use a little Mensday tonight" "Are you feelin' Mensday?" "Definitely, I need some Mensday" etc.
Mensday ( Men+Wednesday ) is our code word for dollar drink night at Spin, THE Wednesday night place to be for a lot of Halsted. As far as Halsted traditions go, this one has run a long time and has no end in sight.
The real name for the night is "What The F#ck Wednesdays." Apropos, of course because really, if you're gonna go out on Wednesday night why not get happy as Hell for $10? $5 at the door and five $1 drinks will do just about anyone right. I speak from experience. Trust.
It's busy. It's REALLY busy. It's the busiest night of the week at Spin. Every bartender you know and love is on staff to make sure you get your hands around your favorite drink. One word of caution; Absolut isn't associated with a $1 drink. Neither is Grey Goose, Stoli, nor any other call liquor you might want. But what you lose in quality, you can more than make up for in quantity. Order two at a time to make your trips to the bar easier. Again, trust.
The crowd is all over the place. Old, young, male, female, undecided, gay, straight, you name it, it's represented. It's no wonder that Spin has been heralded as one of the most diverse bars on the Halsted strip. Yes, it's frighteningly busy. But there is something contagious about a big crowd having fun. When everyone around you feels good, you can't help but join in.
Each week the party is alive and going strong. On the dance floor, veteran DJ Jungle Jorge pounds out his thundering sound. Blending his unique mix of pop and progressive, you can't help but move when he's behind the decks. Spin's flagship night deserves a top DJ and the match is flawless.
But don't think people only dance in the back. Up front, VJ Terp brings you the hottest videos from nearly every musical genre. Terp's brilliance is in his formatting. The high art of working a crowd used to belong exclusively to the DJ. Not any more. It takes a perceptive eye on the crowd, flawless timing, and a strong relationship with your music. Terp's got it all and it shows. Hang out for more than three videos and you'll undoubtedly hear someone yell "ohhh, this is MY SONG!"
Every Wednesday Spin's doors open at 8:00 PM. Cover is $5, well drinks and draught beer are $1. 800 W. Belmont at Halsted ( 773 ) 327-7711
As always, my heart beats with you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
petermavrik@hotmail.com
