| THE WALKTHROUGH 06.24.08 1:39 PM |
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| Live Music Venue for 1,500 Opens in West Loop |
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When the city decided to erect an "L" train stop in the spot formerly occupied by Bottom Lounge, the live-music institution began looking for a new home in 2005. In early June, the new venue finally reopened, overtaking a former auto body shop in the West Loop. The sprawling, two-story space can accommodate as many as 1,500 guests if bought out entirely; options for smaller groups are also available.
On the lower level, a front room filled with a long bar and elevated booths leads to a lounge-like area off to the side, which features low-slung tables, silk lighting fixtures, and oversize paintings decorating exposed-brick walls. The back room of the lower level holds a separate bar and a stage for live acts; there's also a backstage area with greenrooms, showers, and a washer and dryer for any big-time acts that come through the venue. The front area of the lower level can fit approximately 260 guests, while the back can hold 320. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | The raw nature of the space makes it a blank canvas for events.
Photo: Courtesy of Bottom Lounge |
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 | Attached to the upper level, a deck overlooking the city skyline has a 150-person capacity.
Photo: Courtesy of Bottom Lounge |
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 | Oversize tiki statues inspired the upper level's "Volcano Room" title.
Photo: Courtesy of Bottom Lounge |
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Dubbed the Volcano Room, the 5,000-square-foot upstairs area features a copper-sided bar and wooden tiki statues. A drop-down projection screen along the front wall allows for laptop and DVD hookups; there are also private restrooms, a fully loaded DJ booth, and a 2,500-square-foot patio that overlooks the city skyline.
The Bottom Lounge offers a lunch, dinner, and late-night menu of American fare like burgers, salads, and pastas; private groups can also order catering from a list of preferred vendors that includes J&L.
—Jenny Berg
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