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Dennis Rodman’s Illusions
157 W. Ontario
| What would you expect if you heard that Dennis Rodman has opened a club? I know what I expected: something as wild as Rodman is on and off the basketball court, a club that a lot of people would be afraid to enter, a club that would be really weird. Well throw all of your expectations away, Illusions is nothing like you would expect from Dennis Rodman. |
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The outside of the club has a large billboard of Dennis on a motorcycle, and that’s about the toughest image of the club you will find. As you walk through the doors, you get the exact opposite of a guy in a leather jacket on a bike, you are greeted by hosts in tuxedos. There is a large staircase leading to a second floor on the left and Rodman’s famous wedding gown in glass on your right behind glass. Women were allowed in free (at least on this night) and men are charged $10 after 10 p.m. Our host asked if we had a table, which we did, and he led us into the ground floor room of Illusions. |
| We walked into a room that gave us the illusion of being in a 30’s gangster film. We were seated at a table close to a stage, which featured a band playing smooth jazz. I ordered a couple of Heinekens ($5.50 per Heineken) and we sat in the room for a while. The whole room looked really classy. The band and wait staff were all in tuxedos, the room was decorated nicely (the only out of the ordinary decoration was a neon Rodman head with changing hair colors), and there was floor space available if you wanted to dance. The jazz band was just one part of the Las Vegas-type show that was being featured. After the band, a comedian, a magician, and other acts were to follow with their own performances. Three $28 per plate dinners were offered and several seafood appetizers could be purchased during the show. Still looking for weirdness, we finished our beers and went up to the second floor. |
| I was expecting the second floor to finally be the Crobar-esque, freak-filled dance bar that I had earlier anticipated. However, the second floor of Illusions again defied my expectations. The main room was much like a house party, a place where everyone can have a drink and chill out. There is also a cigar room on the second floor featuring a good selection of cigars and a cigar vendor who had a Vegas showgirl style outfit on. The cigar room has a large mural of Dennis Rodman scenes, other memorabilia such as some of his gym shoes and party outfits, and a fireplace. Close by there is also a steel pool table and a DJ playing some party music. It’s a real cool floor if you are just looking for a place to bring your friends and hang out at and be able to hear each other talk. Drinks are also available by a bar on the far end of the room and in various little tubs in corners of the room. |
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| We hung out on the second floor for a while and observed the various
people who were at Illusions. A lot of people were dressed rather formally for the club
and some people were dressed like they would dress for any other club in downtown Chicago.
It seemed that the crowd was a mix of tourists, everyday club hoppers, and yuppies who
wanted to be seen at the newest hot club in Chicago. Illusions gave me the impression that
it wanted to treat its patrons as sophisticated guests and I felt like I was living the
good life for one night. |
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We walked down to the first floor again at about 12:30 and the 30’s jazz room I had left a little over 2 hours ago had transformed itself into a dance club. I guess I missed the magician and comedian. It was kind of a close fit inside, but it was a place to dance if that was what you were looking to do. The DJ played various dance music to the well dressed crowd as we stayed on the first floor the rest of the night. |
| In summing up Illusions I can not help but say again how it is nothing like what I expected from our bad-as-I-wanna-be Bull, Dennis Rodman. It is a very unique place that is a good place to go if you want to just hang out, see a Vegas-style show, or dance in the company of some of Chicago’s finest dressed wait staff. Rodman and his people have put together a very classy nightclub together that is sure to be the talk of the town for a while. I recommend Illusions to anyone who is a Rodman fan, likes a more formal night club, or is visiting from out of town. |
Dennis Rodman’s Illusions is Now Closed