Given Chicago’s legacy of prohibition-era architecture, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that Dorian’s might have a storied history. In the days when liquor was outlawed you would find “speakeasy”, hidden parties you just didn’t talk about, all throughout the city. In the case of Dorian’s you actually have to pass through a record shop to reach the venue.
Once you enter Dorian’s venue you are treated to a great example of ingenuity by design. The very extensive bar is the preeminent structure around which everything else is built. Even the main performance area is placed immediately above the bar. The angles of the establishment show how imaginative one can be when working with limited space. They somehow managed to include a DJ booth as well. On for the evening was DJ Kinky P.
Even if a full band might be playing, (in this case I made a brief appearance with The Drastics) sound is still kept to conversational levels. From the front entrance it barely registers. I would imagine this “hot spot” being built at a time when noise complaints could potentially land one in jail with a federal case pending.
Exiting is a quick escape leading right to the street I did not find the tunnel entrance, but maybe next time.
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1939 W. North Ave, Chicago IL
Website: https://throughtherecordshop.com