Exit: If You're Looking to Shake Things Up…
Saturday, March 18, 2006
The only thing I love more about the biker-bar-esque punk/industrial rock dance club that is known as Exit is taking my unsuspecting friends or co-workers there for the first time. The skull-and-crossbones sign hanging outside doesn’t make them as edgy as the often-intimidating bouncer upfront—and the occasional line of Harleys parked nearby. My friends’ eyes only grow wider as they get ushered inside into a dark club that leads up some stairs to a dance floor surrounded by chain fencing. As the pounding industrial or punk beats blare through the sound system, you can see their eyes widen in a mix of awe, fear and amazement—it’s this “deer in the headlights” look that makes it easy to spot any first-timer to Exit.
The funniest part is, for the most part the crowd and staff at Exit are way more friendly than the most refined bars in Lincoln Park—significant proof that looks aren’t everything. In fact, I love coming to Exit precisely to escape the myriad yuppie bars that lie across the Chicago River. It’s a refreshing change of pace, and the industrial goth music is very easy to get into after a couple of well-priced beers. The ability to people-watch (yes, there are some characters that float about) and dance without looking like a chump (your herky-jerky white man moves will be lost in the sea of dancers) make for an invigorating night of entertainment. If you’ve got a “second wind” after a night of drinking downtown, this is the perfect bar to unfurl your sails (assuming you can stand loud music, of course).