Can you hear them now? Sound-Bar made a giant thud on the Chicago club scene a year-and-a-half ago when, after a gala sneak-peek party, licensing and permit issues prevented it from opening to the public. While it’s been sitting silent, its owners have kept themselves busy by opening upscale lounge Y (224 W. Ontario St. 312-274-1880). But Sound-Bar’s 20,000-square-foot, multilevel and multisensory luxury nightclub space is finally set to open Friday. It features color-coded rooms with cocktail menus to match, two DJ booths, nine bars, four lounges and some tripped-out bathroom stalls that change colors when occupied. 226 W. Ontario St. 312-787-4480.
Ginbucks
He’s already an attorney and filmmaker, but now Scott Preston has added another title to his resume: bar owner. His newly opened Ginbucks in Wicker Park may look like an ordinary watering hole upon entering, but Preston, whose credits include co-director of the forthcoming straight-to-DVD low-budget horror flick “Route 666: The Mother Road,” has created a bar that he hopes will be anything but frightening. Note the director’s eye for detail: a slate fireplace, antique lighting fixtures and bar pillars and $4,000 European hand-blown track lighting. The idea is to create what Preston calls an “urban lodge,” meaning a place where a guy can stop in for a beer and watch the game on one of the four large plasma-screen TVs, while enjoying non-standard pub grub like Cornish game hen or seafood kabobs. Preston chose the name as a tribute to his grandfather’s favorite cocktail: a mixture of gin, ginger ale and lemon juice. Stop by while you can try one for only $2. 1469 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-384-1439.
Rockit Bar and Grill
Chicago club hot shots Billy Dec and Brad Young, perhaps as penitence for making so many people wait behind Le Passage’s velvet rope, are promising a more laid-back atmosphere that “checks the attitude at the door” at their new space opening in late April. But with an interior designed by Oprah pillow-fluffer Nate Berkus, and a menu planned by Patrick Robertson (onesixty blue’s opening chef), we suggest you do some glamming up before showing up. Entree selections include a jumbo lump crab sandwich with avocado and citrus beurre blanc and a Kobe burger with foie gras. Sounds expensive. The large first-floor dining area reflects the space’s past life as a lamp factory, featuring exposed beams, brick walls and a 75-foot skylight. An upstairs lounge softens things with rich browns and creams, pool tables and plasma TVs. 22 W. Hubbard St. 312-645-6000.
Butcher’s Dog
In case you haven’t had your fill of St. Pat’s fun, the team that brought you Garrett Ripley’s (712 N. Clark St. 312-642-2900) and Pepper Canister (509 N. Wells St. 312-467-3300) has launched yet another Dublin-styled bar, this one in the Printers Row area. It promises to have the same authentic Irish hospitality as its sibs, ditching gimmicky schlock. Look for honey-colored paneling with mahogany trim and cool, industrial-style lighting above the big wooden bar. A grand-opening party is set for later this month. 649 S. Clark St. 312-922-6922.
Sangria Cafe
Get ready for spring at Sangria, slated to open the first week of April in the Clybourn Triangle with Wally Vincenty (formerly of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!) at the helm. Sharing a building with Circus nightclub, Sangria will primarily serve as an upscale tapas restaurant, featuring recipes from 24 Latin countries. But with 12 varieties of sangria available, including champagne, pomegranate and passion fruit, we think the bar might make a prime cocktail destination on its own.
