The MiD emerges on Top

I’d be lying if I said that the MiD has NOT become one of my favorite clubs in the past year,  mainly because of the huge amount of great talent that goes through this place all year round.  Whether it’s a huge party weekend, a concert or festival after party, or just a weekend in Chicago you are almost guaranteed to have  some great talent go through the MiD’s doors. This creates a good reputation which makes people come back and come back they do as there is almost always a line outside this place after 11:30 (after most free entrance offers expire).

Location wise The MiD is close to a few other spots like 8fifty8, Lumen and Victor Hotel. So like Proof it’s a good place to start or finish your night as you have a few other options within walking distance. Most of the time I've heard people starting off at Lumen which closes at 2 and finish at the MiD which closes at 4.

The MiD is a three level space with an amphitheater type of set up around the slightly elevated Dj stage. When you walk in you reach a staircase, when following it downstairs you see a coach check room and some bathrooms. On the main floor you have two bars lining opposite walls with a dance floor/bottle service seating. Depending on the night there might be a smaller dance floor with lots of seats behind it or just a full dance floor.  In front of the dance floor is the slightly elevated Dj booth. I say slightly because when you put your hands up the Dj can pretty much high five you which makes for an intimate atmosphere.  Upstairs you have another bar on one side of the “U” shaped upstairs balcony and on the other you have seating. In the middle you have more clean and spacious bathrooms.  Whether you are on the first floor or on the second you’ll always have a great vantage point of the Dj booth which is great.

The only thing that blemished this specific visit to The MiD was the fact that the lights were turned on at 3:30am and everyone was being asked t o leave. Now I’m not educated in Chicago law and ordinances so I’m not sure  if this was done because everyone has to be out of there by closing time 4am BUT if I’m paying a cover to party till 4am I expect to party till 4am, not 3:30am and be asked to leave.

Besides the one blemish the MiD is a place every Chicagoan should visit and experience at least once. Most will return, more than once for that matter. The MiD does well what many clubs in Chicago don’t do, they bring in the necessary talent to keep things fresh and the people coming back. Having a good resident Dj as Nathan Scott does not hurt also. I hope to see you at the MiD sometime and I come here frequently.

Ultra 2013 Major Announcement!!

 Watch the linked movie below for over 14 minutes of footage describing why you should NOT miss the 15th installment of Ultra Music Festival the largest EDM festival in North America.

But if you are too impatient to wait and hear the announcement i took the liberty of viewing the entire video to bring you the great news. ULTRA WILL TAKE PLACE OVER 2 WEEKENDS THIS YEAR NOT JUST ONE!!. Weekend one march 15-17 and weekend two March 22-24.

What do you think of this news? comment down below.

Stereo

September 14

Stereo located at 5610 W Diversey Ave. occupies the same space as Jedynka formally did. After Jedynka went through a renovation a few years back I guess so did its name. But besides that cosmetic makeover it’s still the same place it used to be which some will like and some wont.

This is the only club thus far where I can say the crowd makes or breaks the atmosphere. Unlike most of downtown Chicago clubs where the crowd is generally more diverse in terms of age and nationality, there is a very specific group of people that goes to Stereo.  Stereo just as Jedynka is known for being a “Polish Club” and it lives up to its name.  Being that it’s located in whatever remains a Polish community that keeps moving west to the suburbs.

The club itself looks good after going through a renovation with the bathrooms and bars getting a nice face lift while the dance floor generally stayed the same.  When walking in you see a bar lining the right side of the club and next it you have tables lining the walls. At the end of the bar opposite side of the building you have your bathrooms which are large and clean which is a big plus. Next to the large bar you have a dance floor with the Dj booth elevated with winding steps on each side going down to the dance floor. On each end of the dance floor you have two more bars which also have ample seating around them.

Stereo does have a separate room where most birthday parties are catered, as that room is next to the dance floor and is as long as the building. Here is where you find couches lining the walls and some larger tables for birthday parties. There is also a bar lining the wall closer to the dance floor.

We visited Stereo on a Friday night where guys paid a $10 cover to get in while girls were getting in free till midnight. Drinks and beers what 50% off which made a jack and code $4.50 while my occasional corona was $5. Seems like a good deal for the beer anyway, but it’s scary to think that on a regular night a drink at this place is $9, which is more of a downtown Chicago price without the benefits. 

All in all you must ask yourself 3 questions before you decide to go to Stereo. 1) Do you have many Polish friends to come here with and or you enjoy the company of Polish people? 2) Do you like Euro and Disco Polo music? By this I mean straight up Euro music that Dj Marski make millions of ski mixes of and the notorious Polish wedding dance music that only Polish people listen to. 3) Are you comfortable with a club at least half full with people older than you by an average of 5-7 years?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions I think you might enjoy stereo but if you answered no to one or more of these questions I think you’d rather skip visiting Stereo.

!Ultra 2013 tickets go on sale October 17!

As I write this we are officially 161 days and just under 15 hours till Ultra Music Festival 2012 in Miami. As the biggest electronic music dance festival in the US which take place during Miamis Winter Music Conference, it's no surprise tickets sell out quickly every year. This year early bird tickets go on sale October 17, yes that is in 5 days!!.  Below i have included a link to the site, i hope you get your tickets.

Ultra Music Festival Ticket Website!!!

Need SHM tickets !?!?! No problem

Monday, Oct 22nd - The Mid and React Presents are proud to help release the one and only Swedish House Mafia's newest Album "Until Now." This Absolut sponsored event includes giveaways such as tickets to see Swedish House Mafia in February at UIC and various S.H.M. gear such as posters, glow bracelets, stickers, and t-shirts. Come rock out with our hometown originals Mixin Marc and Dj Gus Karas and lets make this Industry Monday a night to remember.

RSVP HERE for NO COVER!!!

Vision

September 8

Vision has been known in Chicago as one of the better night life spots to host big name Djs and a place for everyone to go to late night after other bars and clubs close. It is the sister club to Excaliber given that they are in the same building and you walk into them just through separate entrances.  The problem with living up to this reputation is that in the last few years other promoters have been doing a better job at hosting big name Djs and after parties to concerts and music festivals. This was apparent after North Coast Music Festival this year as most Dj after parties were at House Of Blues or The MiD just to name a few different venues but I digress.

Vision occupies a huge space.  When walking in you are greeted by a bar a small dance floor and stairs that lead up two more levels. On level two you have the Dj and another bar with plenty of couches and chairs to sit on or you can hang out on the railing and look at the dance floor below. On the third level you have a similar situation but the Dj booth is replaced by a set of tiny bathrooms. This makes for a very long and unsatisfying march up three flights of stairs to take care of business.

On the third floor there is also a walkway to cross over to a much more open space with several more bars a much larger dance floor, with what is a Dj Stage elevated above the dance floor surrounded by several more levers of balconies which creates a cool atmosphere as the crown packs the space.

I spent a good chunk of my night trying to locate several friends throughout the club (they don't go clubbing much) which could hurt someones overall experience, but that being said Vision is not a place you can visit once to see everything it has to offer. Looking at its floor plan online it seems I have missed many locations which is why they were omitted in this review.

That being said I'd have to add that Vision provides a unique birthday package compared to other clubs I've either hosted or experienced elsewhere  Not only does the birthday host receive a free bottle of champagne (most clubs) he/she receives a wristband worth 10 house shots (only seen it at Vision), everyone gets in free before midnight and if guests get in before 11:30pm they receive 2 free drink tickets (similar to Soundbar) not a bad way to get a few people started on a good buzz if you ask me.

Bottom line visit Vision maybe even give it more than one shot. The club itself has a specific personality. Explore it and see where you like to party most. I'd book a birthday here because the package seems to go above and beyond anyone else I have visited to date. But getting here by 11:30 to take advantage of those drink tickets (birthday parties only) you might be one of only a few people in the club as it is open till 5am on Saturdays.

Bounce Music Festival

So Halloween is just around the corner and as always Chicago night clubs and promoters will be hosting several events to ring int he occasion the weekend before the actual day, as it turns out to be a Wednesday this year.  If you are looking for something NEW this year and are able to get out to Bloomington IN (really close to Indianapolis) on Wednesday October 21st check out Bounce Music Festival showcasing Dada life and Borgore. Get your tickets HERE!