Bi/lesbian bars and nightspots in Chicago

I don't seem to be finding much from Google searches so I thought I'd throw this out to all you knowledgeable Chicago residents.

I'm going to be coming up in July with a group of bi women and we're trying to find a nice spot for 30-somethings to go dance and hang out on a Friday night. It seems that there are lots of places for men, but very few for women. We'll be staying at the W on the lake, so we don't want to travel to the burbs. Any suggestions?

Thanks very much!

I have no idea why there aren't a whole lot of options in Chicago for lesbians, but there aren't. The few I know of are in Andersonville. I think Friday is salsa night at Star Gaze. T's is also a good place, but they don't have a dance floor. You could also try Berlin if you want to get your dance on.

Star Gaze
5419 N. Clark St.
773-561-7363

T's Restaurant and Bar
5025 N. Clark St.
773-784-6000

Berlin
954 W. Belmont Ave.
773-348-4975

Star Gaze
5419 N. Clark St., Chicago
Tel: (773) 561-7363

http://centerstage.net/dance/clubs/star-gaze.html

Big Chicks

5024 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
773-728-5511

-the closest Chicago comes to the diversity and eclecticism of some San Francisco clubs

Owner Michelle Fire displays a portion of her huge
queer fine art collection on the walls. Weekends there's a free buffet. Next door is her generally well-thought-of American Bistro, Tweet.

Big Chicks weekends are packed(and mostly male) but they dj probably the widest range of music you'll hear in a Chicago gay bar. i.e.: no Hi-NRG pabulum. Wide age range as well.

If not for dancing, I'd definitely make the effort to pop in for a drink during the afternoon/early evening if only to soak in the convivial ambience and art. The mixed-gender barstaff would surely point you in the right direction for any women-focused clubbing.

Big Chicks is right nearby Li'l Saigon(Uptown)...all the Vietnamese/Thai/and a bit of Chinese you could ask for.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/bars ... ating_heds

http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/3719069

edit 23:

In reading online reviews you may grok that Big Chicks is male-oriented or merely ancillary to Boystown. Nothing could be further from the truth. In it's heydey(for me...when I lived nearby...mid-90's) it was a lot more integrated(at least on the weekends), but, like so much else, it was "discovered" and to a small extent co-opted by the inanities of the dominant Chicago milieu.

Simply put, it's the only gay bar in Chicago that resembles those in more cosmopolitan gay communities(read: diverse, self-aware). It's where I always send friends who want a feel for the quirkily-inviting.

and the neighborhood isn't all that sketchy---it's no Boule Mich, or Lakeview, for that matter...but...really...thank god, for that...

Good Luck

The original poster said that this is a group of women, and as I recall, Berlin is mostly a guy place, though the last time I was there (which was, as I recall, the last time I went non-ballroom-type dancing), it was a riot.

David "Been thrown out of some of the best bars in the city" Hammond

David Hammond wrote:The original poster said that this is a group of women, and as I recall, Berlin is mostly a guy place, though the last time I was there (which was, as I recall, the last time I went non-ballroom-type dancing), it was a riot.

David "Been thrown out of some of the best bars in the city" Hammond

I was there a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday party and the place was a pretty good mix of gay/straight and male/female. The birthday girl is a lesbian and it was her choice to go there, so it might be a good option for this crowd.

However, I will say that I really enjoy the crowd at Big Chicks. My group of friends (gay men, lesbians, and straight me) all have a great time there.

I used to frequent Berlin back when a Friday/Saturday meant hopping from bar to club to bar. Though located in Lakeview, I don't consider it a gay bar(though certainly gay-affiliated). Berlin is more of a throwback to Chicago's House palaces; it gets insanely-packed(or, um...it used to...I imagine it persists). It's tiny, not a hangout; a temple to the beat.

Having said that it's worthwhile as a glimpse into Chicago's dance subculture w/o having to put up with "bridge and tunnel" circuses like Crobar.

Perhaps a dying breed, there do remain the odd House clubs always off-the-beaten path.

This is probably your best bet..
@tmosphere in Andersonville
http://www.atmospherebar.com/home.html
(sorry, can't figure out how to make url link work)
Atmosphere
5355 N Clark
Chicago
773 784 1100

Louise wrote:This is probably your best bet..
@tmosphere in Andersonville
http://www.atmospherebar.com/home.html
(sorry, can't figure out how to make url link work)
Atmosphere
5355 N Clark
Chicago
773 784 1100

I haven't been. Looking at the site @tmosphere(in spite of it's Andersonville location) appears pretty similar to its Boystown dancebar ilk. Andersonville, despite its contemporary identification as a lesbian enclave---w/ a dearth of lesbian bars btw, is also a prime location of Chicago's leatherbars, gay male stripbars, and bath houses.

So...what makes @tmosphere standout from the Boystown crowd?

I've been to @tmosphere several times and I've always been the only female in there, and I'm not even a lesbian. It has an older and more low key crowd than in boystown, but I can't say I'd recommend it for anything beyond a few drinks.

merkay wrote:I've been to @tmosphere several times and I've always been the only female in there, and I'm not even a lesbian. It has an older and more low key crowd than in boystown, but I can't say I'd recommend it for anything beyond a few drinks.

-that was sorta where I was headed in my post: the club's site looks very male oriented...

-not that @tmosphere isn't a great place(again, I've never been)...back to the original poster looking for a girl's nite out: from my casual perusal(and your experience) @tmosphere doesn't look like it quite fits the bill.

Here are a couple of other options, gleaned from friends. I haven't been to either, so I can't comment personally on who hangs out there, but they're apparently popular with local women. Lost & Found supposedly caters to an older crowd with a jukebox for dancing. The Closet has a small dance floor, videos and a dart board.

Lost & Found
3058 W Irving Park Road
773-463-7599
Centerstage

The Closet
3325 N Broadway St
773-477-8533
Metromix

Lost & Found is one block away from me, easily making it my closest neighborhood bar. Sadly, no matter the time of day, no matter how empty of patrons, and no matter the female friends that accompany me, they refuse admittance all of my gender. I've peered longingly through the windows, pining for one of the many tasty taps they appear to have, and for one of those comfortable-looking bar stools but, alas, I'm resigned to walk an extra block and a half to the next closest watering hole. A real shame in the dead of Chicago winter.

Ha Ha.... the Lost and Found!!! That was a bar we used to go to 30 years ago! We'd all drive in from Aurora on a Saturday night and us country girls would mix it up with the city folk. Yes, an older crowd, we were in our 20's ( 30 years ago, remember), I remember one night they had a 3 piece polka band! But it was a good place to go to dance, there was certainly nothing like it back in Aurora.

i'd recommend the closet if you're out on saturday night. it's sorta dead until after midnight, but then it really starts hopping. t's is pretty fun on a friday night; that seems to be their "ladies night." and atmosphere is not a guy's bar - - there are mainly ladies present. it's always pretty lame, though.

there's a really nice wine bar, joie de vine, at 1744 w. balmoral, that caters to the ladies. seems to be a crowd of mainly professional women. you could go there first, and then try the various clubs in andersonville.

i would not recommend lost and found.

have fun!

I have had a couple of enjoyable evenings at Marty's Wine and Martini Bar.

I would characterize Marty's as a Straight-, Bi-, and Lesbian-friendly Gay bar.

Marty's Wine and Martini Bar
1511 W. Balmoral
773.561.6425

E.M.

Hamburger Mary's will certainly be open by July (possibly later this month actually) and it is at the corner of Clark and Balmoral. It's a great space, two floors, lots of windows and an outdoor sidewalk area. It might be a good place to start your evening.

Speaking of wine bars on Balmoral, you may want to try Joie de Vine. I live down the street from it and the crowds I see are primarily women (not that I can assume they are lesbians, mind you - but many lesbian friends have hung there). I believe it is lesbian-owned as well. Very friendly spot. Nice sidewalk seating.

Joie de Vine
1744 W. Balmoral