LaSalle Power Co.

River North, Chicago – Situated in the historic LaSalle Powerhouse building – built in the 1800s to run Chicago’s cable car system – LaSalle Power Co. is a 20,000-square-foot depository of widescreen sports, dance beats, and half-naked Australian men.

Early evenings draw after-work young professionals to the ground floor, where they can catch the Cubs on myriad flat-screens by the bar or relax with a few pints on one of the elevated lounges.

Expansive rows of tufted gold leather chairs and warm lighting give the space a vintage feel, but the pool tables in back and celebratory cheers on game days highlight the distinctly sporty vibe.

Well-dressed clubbers looking for a dance party, however, will find it upstairs, where a trendier crowd fills the intimate dance floor to groove to house and Top 40 hits, or chills between sets on black vinyl couches and around reserved tables near the small DJ booth. Brightly lit by spherical lamps, the space is airy and open early in the evening, though by night’s end the line at the bar is usually several sweaty bodies deep.

The third level gets just as sweaty as the all-male revue Thunder From Down Undergyrates for wild groups of gal pals slurping vodka lemonades and hiding their wedding rings. The hunky Aussies onstage dress – and then undress – as cowboys, firemen, and Spartan warriors, encouraging crowd participation much to the delight of the soon-to-be brides joining the men onstage as their bachelorette parties cheer them on.

Variety is definitely the spice of life at LaSalle Power Co., where three levels and three distinct vibes electrify the night with something for just about everyone.    ← read less