Augenblick in the city’s North Center neighborhood has everything going for it: great beers; interesting, attractive patrons; cool art; out-of-the ordinary live music several times a week.
But one of the best things about the cozy tavern is that it is not located in that congested bastion of hipper-than-thouness, Wicker Park. Which means visiting Augenblick doesn’t involve worrying whether (a) you’ll find parking and (b) you are wearing the appropriate chunky-heeled black shoes.
“We take pride in being a bar that people from all walks of life feel comfortable in — no matter what their race, creed, color or sexual orientation,” says David Butler, who, along with partners Henry Borczyk and Michael Hecker, has owned Augenblick for 3 1/2 years. “We want everyone to feel welcome.”
And judging by the crowd one recent Sunday, everyone — and their dog — does feel welcome: The middle-aged gay couple slouched in the funky, ’60s-era Naugahyde chairs, sipping Guinness Stout. The twentysomething blond guy with buzz cut and baseball hat swigging his Anchor Steam and chatting with the well-pierced, leather-wearing young African-American woman. The ponytailed, goateed, thirtyish Latino guy drinking coffee with his pals. The ale-swilling tableful of clean-cut looking, J.Crew-wearing yupsters. The Asian woman of indeterminate age sitting alone, tapping her toes and savoring her martini with three olives. And the massive gray-and-white malamute who’s wandered onto the stage and is busily sniffing the bongo player.
This diverse group of about 50 or so is assembled to hear the flamenco-influenced Latin music of Carlos Ortega and Casolando, a quartet with three guitars and a set of bongo drums playing a mix of original tunes and covers. It’s a good-sized crowd for 10:30 on a Sunday night; nearly every seat in the small, narrow storefront bar is occupied. And, amazingly enough for a venue of this size, the music is not excruciatingly loud but rather at a pleasant level that allows conversation.
In fact, the entire tavern — which, according to Butler, was a “house of ill repute” years ago — seems to be set up to promote confabulation. In addition to the nondescript bar that occupies a large portion of the space, there are a dozen or so tables with chairs and a vinyl banquette that runs nearly the length of the room.
Augenblick features live music every Sunday and Tuesday and the occasional Monday. Frank Orall (of Poi Dog Pondering) and friends entertain the first Sunday of each month, Ortega and his group take the stage the second Sunday, and the country rock band Churchkey plays the fourth Sunday. Butler, who used to own a music production company, books the bands and rotates a new group in every third Sunday.
On Tuesdays, carrying on a tradition that began more than eight years ago with a former owner, Augenblick takes on a Gaelic air. Three groups, also in rotation, play traditional Irish music. Violinist Sean Cleland (of the Drovers) and friends perform on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, Sean Nua with members of the Muck brothers play on the first Tuesday, and RiRa plays on the fourth Tuesday.
Though Augenblick normally pulls a thirtyish and up clientele, on Tuesdays, Butler says, it’s not uncommon to see folks in their 70s.
“Tuesdays are even more crowded than Sundays,” he says. “By 9 p.m. it’s standing-room only.”
Which is not so bad, since standing allows a better view of the works of local artists, which line Augenblick’s aqua, brick red and royal blue walls. Butler changes the art every four weeks or so; artists come in with slides of their work and he picks those pieces he likes to put on display.
“Young artists like to show their work here,” Butler says. “Galleries usually take 40 percent of the price of a piece. We only take 10 percent, and it goes to the bartender who makes the sale.”
Works on display during a recent visit seemed to have an insect theme going. A large piece near the tiny stage — which is tucked away in an alcove in the back of the bar — depicts a guy who looks like TV’s Al Bundy plucking ants from an anthill and putting them in a coffee can. Next to that was an extreme closeup of a fly, and across the bar hung a painting of insects doing something unmentionable.
But even better than the art is the bar’s beer selection, which includes a fine array of micro brews, such as Bels Amber ale, Sprecher Black Bavarian, 3 Floyds Scottish ale and Rogue Dry Hopped ale.
Butler’s obviously a beer man, so much so that he plans to open another spot in July, a restaurant with brewery to be on North Clybourn Avenue and called Hopcats Brewing Co.
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the facts
Mondays through Thursdays, 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fridays and Sundays, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturdays, 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.: Augenblick, 3907 N. Damen Ave. Call 773-929-0994.
