Felt When it fell to earth and landed smack-dab in the middle of Boys Town last October, Felt sent out just the right signals that had everyone’s nightlife antennae twitching with curiosity: an illuminated bar, chic velvet furnishings, boy-band-pretty bartenders. Fortunately, the bar quickly dropped its piano/cabaret format (we already have Voltaire and Gentry for that, thank you) and simply continued doing what it does best: provide a hip, trendy backdrop for the gay Diesel/Armani Exchange set. Yes, the space is rather “snug,” but that doesn’t bother this crowd, especially considering that this long, narrow room is somewhat reminiscent of a fashion runway. Features such as a live DJ on most Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Felt martinis, which are served in crushed ice snow globes, prompted Out magazine to name Felt as part of its “Gay-A list” for Chi-Town in its September 2002 Fall Preview Guide. But what we’re most impressed with is that as gays and lesbians continue to migrate to Andersonville and Edgewater, propelled by the notion that Lakeview is transforming into a more heterosexual neighborhood, opening a new gay bar in the middle of Boys Town is a brave (and stylish!) testament to the thriving gay community on Halsted.
3341 North Halsted (Felt is closed)
Audience choice: @mosphere 5355 North Clark (773)784-1100
