Crescendo Nightclub in Chicago

I have to start off with the fact that Crescendo is one of my favorite Chicago nightclubs. It is classy, busy, and cozy. Yet its usually not full of very pretentious people, is not over-crowded, and is not tiny.

Crescendo Staff

Their bouncers are cool, never unfair or disrespectful, and I will stick to that even though a few weeks ago they didn't let one of my friends in, who was underage (she never had any problems in other Chicago clubs). Their security people inside are also nice - even if they have a problem with what you are doing, they will point it out in a very polite way. Bartenders are allright, rather quick at making drinks and keeping waiting rather short, though there are always a bunch of people just hanging around the bar, making it hard to get to. Drinks are average-priced, not watered down and are made the way you request them with no problem (so if you ask for it to be strong, they make it that way).

Music and DJs

They play house and various top pop and hip hop songs from the radio. But mostly house/dance music. I don't think I've ever noticed the DJs at Crescendo mess anything up, so I'd say they are top-notch. Music volume is set to the maximum comfortable limit (unlike some other clubs I've been to), so you can still talk (loudly) without the need to yell in your conversation.

Crowd

Crescendo crowd appears to be predominantly below 30, predominantly good-looking, classy, though not the most "elite" (I actually find those annoying sometimes). People appear rather happy at the Crescendo dance lounge and I've never seen a fight in this place.

Setting and Interier

The entrance is slightly below the clubs main floor, so you have to go up a short flight of stairs when you come in, but the stairs are wide and sufficiently lit, making the pass comfortable and safe. At the end of the stairs there is usually a bouncer who makes sure that the stairs stay clear for passage, but once in a while there will be a jam anyway as people stop at the top of the stairs to decide where they will go next.

Crescendo only has one long bar, which is across a rather long but somewhat narror dancefloor from the entrance. The only problem with bar access are a few columns that run parallel to it several feet away. Because of these columns and the people that hang out by the bar, it sometimes becomes hard to get to (columns block the people trying to let you through).

To the right of the bar is a VIP area, surrounded by 5 to 6 foot high walls at the sides (except front and back, where it is blocked by ropes and bouncers). And behind the VIP area, there is another small dancefloor which is usually more clear than the main one. Furthermore, there is additional seating and tables on one side of the VIP area and in the back of it. Thus, about half of Crescendo's floor area is taken by reserve-able seating areas.

There is also a small downstairs area in Crescendo with the stairs going from near the club's entrance. The bathrooms are downstairs along with coat check and a round couch (facing outward). There is also a small bar there, but I don't remember if it is usually serving anything to customers, and tall two-person tables with bar-type chairs run along the perimiter of this round-shaped room.

Summary

Cozy and even somewhat romantic (which is odd for a club) bringing together of a lounge and a dance club, makes Crescendo one of my favorite night spots in Chicago.

Spy Bar in Downtown Chicago

Spy Bar is located in the same buildnig and right below my favorite bar in Chicago, Hop Haus. And as much as I like Hop Haus, Spy Bar is just not my type of place. Even though I very much enjoy going to other clubs (such as Crescendo, Le Passage, Sound Bar, Crobar, etc.). Here are some positives and negatives I can share about Spy Bar.

Pros

Spy Bar has a real underground feel to it - like you are at a hidden party that only cool people know about.

Cons

SPy Bar has a real underground feel to it - like you are in a crammed basement of an industrial building.

This club feels like a a hallway - it is long with the entrance on one side, though there is a wider area at first, where the main bar is located, it still is always severly overcrowded (at least it feels that way). I understand that some people like the crowded feel of clubs, but I don't - at least not that much. The situation is made worse by the fact that it is very hard to walk around the club due to its narrow walkways. This club feels like the biggest safety hazard to its patrons - crowded, narrow, exit all the way on one side, small stairway leading to the exit... I'm sure there are additional exits (as required), but I just don't know about them, thats why I'm saying that it only "feels" unsafe.

Summary

Music is great (to my likes), there are two bars, lighting on dancefloor is appealing, the confetti that they sometimes rain on people is fun, crowd is nice, though I saw fights there 2 times out of 3 or 4 times I've been there. But, this place just feels like... small! I didn't think that I was claustrophobic, but the ceilings, the "narrowness" and darkness (its dark in the rather long hallways connecting main bar and the "dancefloor") of 70% of the club. It just takes away from this place for me. If I remember correctly, Spy Bar is more of an afterparty place for many people - perhaps thats why people enjoy it more. I was rather sober there, maybe when you are drunk it doesn't seem as gloomy and small.

I know that my thoughts about this place are rather negative, but I definitely don't hate it. The thing is - I Like venues with higher volume, with high ceilings, wide walkways. I don't really like small college type bars and other small crowded places. I think that small cafes and sushi bars are great, there are no drunk people standing around, and the small space makes them feel nice and cozy. If there Are drunk people standing around - I want the venue to be large. Though I know that there are a ton of people who do not share this opinion with me (why else would college bars be so damn popular).

If you haven't been to Spy Bar - go check it out yourself!