Eric S.
Yelp
DO THE SAFETY DANCE
"We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind
Cuz your friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well they're
No friends of mine!"
This bar/club in Ukranian Village features a very lively scene on Fridays and Saturdays, but on other nights it's a roll of the dice.
On one occasion, LeAnn P and I waited 60 minutes in line to gain entry, while another time it was under half an hour. The bouncer/doorman could be one of the (many) perps on Law & Order: SVU. He's friendly, but too much so. Unabashedly flirting with drunk girls half his age, he's got a decent sense of humor but something about him rubs me the wrong way.....probably because if you're a girl, he will literally rub you....the wrong way.
Apart from Creeper McSkeezy, the bartenders are GREAT. One of them gave us free shots the night before Halloween and another was lightning fast in getting us our drinks amidst a thirsty weekend crowd. Patrons are mostly men & women in their mid 20's/early 30's, usually hammered and loads of fun to be around. Australian rugby players, vacationers from Ohio, local townies and everyone in between, a good mix.
Music has been fantastic for the most part, especially on those Friday/Saturday nights when the DJ plays retro tunes (Whitney Houston, Prince, Men At Work, etc). The multiple TVs around the bar display the corresponding music videos, which makes me think of the college bars back at Purdue. *sigh* Those were the days.
For all you single females out there, I'd advise against traveling alone due to the strong likelihood of being groped. Actually, even in a group of girls you might still experience some substantial butt-touching. And if that's your thing, great! Just a friendly heads up from someone who is firmly against Donald Trump's stance of "grabbing 'em right by the p*ssy."
The bathroom at the back of the bar is laughably tiny, and every so often the DJ's annoying birthday announcements ('yo yo yo it's Maggie's b-day today lemme holla atchu girrrllll') results in some nasty speaker feedback that has me reaching for earplugs. The lighting setup is okay for dancing but it's nothing like the Neon Cactus in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Prices for booze aren't the greatest ($6 cans, $8 mixed drinks), although given this place's popularity and proximity to Wicker Park it's to be expected. If you dig a loud, club-like environment, 80's/90's music, and a bustling dancefloor, Innjoy is the spot to be at on the weekend. Be prepared to wait in a long line outside, though.
LADIES: if you ever feel uncomfortable while in here, just step outside for some fresh air with your gal pals before returning to the sweaty mob inside. Also, I'd recommend doing the safety dance. You know, for your own personal well-being/Innjoyment :)
"I say, we can dance if want to, if we don't nobody will
And you can act real rude and totally removed
And I can act like an imbecile!"