Slick's Lounge

-By Jennifer Johnson

Clubbing has become a mainstay for entertainment on the weekends in Chicago. Night-lifers are trading in their jeans and sweatshirt attire-mostly associated with the sports bar scene, and are getting dressed to the nines to go out dancing in a more upbeat atmosphere. However, when considering the cover charge, high-priced drinks, coat check and valet, a night out at the clubs can burn a pretty deep hole in your pocket. Generally by the time you walk in the door you have already spent anywhere from $20 - $40. Not to worry though.

Slick's Lounge is exclusive in the respect that it has no cover charge and free street parking is always available. "Slick's Lounge is different than any other club in the city, the music is always jamming and it keeps the crowd dancing," says Rick Coppola, a regular of the club.

When you first step foot into Slick's Lounge you immediately walk into a huge dance floor where people are showing off their moves and getting their groove on. The dance floor is in the center of the room and occupies most of the club. Surrounding the dance floor are on one-side tables and velvet booths on the other. Behind the dance floor is the bar, which is usually packed so getting a spot at the bar is unlikely. Closed off by sheer curtains is a VIP lounge that has its own bar, so you need not have to fight the crowd to buy a drink.

"Slick's is unlike any job I have ever had," says Tera Murray a bartender at the club. "The crowd is so diverse and the club is always packed, it is hard to find a minute to catch my breath."

On different nights Slick's offers varying types of music, including R&B/soul, house, hip-hop, dance, and funk/acid jazz. A variety of DJs spin throughout the week, but the bigger names in the club industry plays on the weekends, like Justin Long and Sativa.

"Friday nights at Slick's is jammed packed," says Murray. "DJs spin hip-hop and the crowd never stops dancing, from behind the bar it looks like it is hard to find your spot on the dance floor."

Slick's Lounge is a 21 and over club, although the ages range from typically 21 to 35-years-old. The crowd is diverse; they are there for the music and dancing. The best part about Slick's is that it is open late, so it draws various kinds of people at all hours of the night.

"I know that when it gets late and I feel like dancing that Slick's is open," says Stephanie Huls a patron of the club. "At least for me when I go out on the weekends I have a tendency to spend a lot of money, so when it is late at night and my funds have dwindled and I still have energy, I go to Slick's Lounge. I always seem to find a diverse crowd with an overall good vibe."

Another bonus about Slick's Lounge is that it offers a full dinner menu. The cuisine is assorted, ranging from French, to Italian and Jamaican foods.

"Where else in the city can you eat and dance at the same time," asks Murray. "I know when I go out with my friends I don't always enjoy drinking, but at Slick's even I have a good time because I can eat and dance, and their food is good."

Slick's Lounge is located at 1115 N. North Branch Street, just off Division Street near the intersection of Division and Elston. Slick's Lounge is tucked back in an industrial part of the city and is open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Monday, 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday. The phone number is (312) 932-0006.

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