Loud and proud

Expect big-club partying without the pretension at new River North spot Ontourage

By Ellen Fox

Club snobs may sniff at Ontourage because it occupies Dennis Rodman's old Illusions space, re-opened by a restaurateur from Cicero. But don't be so quick to dismiss it--this two-story nightclub is an unpretentious spot where you can lose yourself in big-club cacophony and still be able to find your friends.

A $10 cover charge (a relative bargain), cranked-up techno and house, two dance floors and a couple of chill-out areas make for an old-school nightclubbing experience. The target demo is the same twenty- and thirtysomethings that frequent nearby Y,
except instead of having Y's lounge vibe and cutting-edge decor, Ontourage is focused on music and dancing.

The name: Owner Craig Pesek wanted to blend the club's Ontario Street address with the word "entourage."

Inside: Think futuristic design, circa 1990, with lots of brushed metal and light panels that change colors--like the working man's Frank Gehry. The main room contains a medium-sized, hardwood dance floor, nook-like seating and a go-go-worthy platform. On opening weekend, however, dancers were scarce.

The second floor, accessed via a circular staircase, was a lot more lively, perhaps due to its comfier feel. It's got a smaller dance floor, ground-level DJ booth, curtained VIP room, cream-colored, overstuffed couches and a tiny fireplace.

Sounds: Ear-splitting, lung-thumping, toe-tingling techno, trance and house, with a DJ on each floor. DJ Psycho-Bitch is slated to spin Thursdays.

Drinks: Bottle service is big. Since there's plenty of room to sit--not to mention the fact that drinks are expensive (beer starts at $4.50, cocktails $7.50)--it might not be such a bad idea for a group of friends to go in on a bottle ($175-$200).

Crowd: Predominantly young and clubby, with the odd bachelorette party and a couple of fortysomethings here and there.

What to wear: Belly-baring club clothes (thank God for the coat check!) and big boots for girls; hair gel appears to be mandatory for boys. Also sighted on opening weekend were a pink wig, a Paris Hilton lookalike and some Corey Hart eyewear.

Ellen Fox is a metromix special contributor.