___________________________________ #5 Cuatro Cuatro, Chicago Dancers at Cuatro – Photo by Rhome on Flickr This place starts our list off with spice. Cuatro is a small restaurant and bar located on the Near South side. Featuring nights with live music blended with DJ sets, Cuatro is a venue on the bleeding edge of the underground House music scene in Chicago. Look for regular DJ sets from Jesse De La Pena, DJ Nick Nonstop, FLX of 3 Degrees Global and Monna Samuka. Cuatro www.cuatro-chicago.com 2030 south wabash avenue chicago, illinois 60616 312.842.8856 p Get directions to Cuatro, Chicago ___________________________________ #4 SmartBar Justice at Smart Bar, Chicago, April 27 2007 SmartBar, Chicago Although I’m not a big fan of this venue, I can’t deny that Smartbar brings in some of the hottest DJ from around the United States. Located in Wrigleyville on the North Side, this place is smack-dab in the middle of Cubs country: not exactly House head-friendly. Despite that, native daughter Colette, Detroit Deep House triumvirate the Three Chairs and San Francisco legend Miguel Migs of Naked Music have played there several times over the last couple of years and ripped it. SmartBar may be grimy, but they book awesome shows. SmartBar www.smartbarchicago.com 3730 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60613 (Two blocks North of Wrigley Field) Get directions to SmartBar, Chicago ___________________________________ #3 Zentra Derrick Carter at Zentra, Chicago Zentra, Chicago Zentra is a Deep House citadel. Roy Davis Jr., Alton Miller, Cajmere (a.k.a. Green Velvet) and Louie Vega are a just a few of the heavy hitters that have recently graced the 1s and 2s at Zentra. With two levels and an outdoor lounge area, Zentra is a local favorite for anyone who wants to hear good House music and hit on hot girls. No guarantees you’re going to score, though. Zentra Nightclub www.zentranightclub.com 923 W Weed St. Chicago, IL 60642 Get directions to Zentra Nightclub, Chicago ___________________________________ #2 Green Dolphin Street DJ Funk and Kid Sister entertained Daft Punk and entourage at Green Dolphin. Photograph: Sean Dorgan Green Dolphin Street. Photo by muddylipschultz on Flickr The Boom Boom Room has been the most consistently packed and musically cogent House music night in Chicago for 18 years. That’s no small feat in this town. During most of that time, the Boom Boom Room was hosted at Green Dolphin Street, an eclectic West Loop haven where the LBGT community shows us straight folks how to really get down. Gene Farris, Diz, Frique, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, Kevin Saunderson…the list goes on and on. You can always count on the Boom Boom Room for a Monday night House music extravaganza. Green Dolphin Street www.jazzitup.com 2200 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60614 Get directions to Green Dolphin Street, Chicago ___________________________________ #1 Sonotheque Sonotheque – Photograph by Clayton Hauck Sonotheque, Chicago Listening to a House set at Sonotheque is truly a treat for music connoisseurs. Intimate and out-of-the way, Sonotheque lives up to its name for being a quality venue with a great sound system. Ron Trent, Rich Medina, Greyboy and Mr. Peabody Records have all come to Sonotheque in recent months. Although the DJs might turn it up a bit too loud sometimes, I must say, this place is my favorite place to hear House music in Chicago! Sonotheque www.sonotheque.net 1444 W Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60642 Get directions to Sonotheque, Chicago
