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Inside Pilsen's hipster hangout

Sunday Jun 20, 2004.     By Patrick Sisson

Bars + Clubs Feed

Skylark

Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Friday; 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday

Age: 21+

Cover: None

Dress: The outfits here tend to match the vintage decor, exhibiting creative combinations of thrift store finds. You’re also likely to see a few items from the latest Carhartt and Dickies collection.

Best way to get there: The Orange Line Halsted stop is a decent walk directly south; there’s also an even more distant Red Line stop at Cermak/Chinatown. Your best bet is to drive (if you don’t plan on throwing back too many beers) and take advantage of the decent street parking, though the #8 Halsted bus is a good vehicular alternative.

Vibe: A hotspot for the bohemian types in Pilsen, Skylark is a no-nonsense hangout that certainly gels with the owner’s other venture, the Rainbo Club. The tables look like they were imported from a school cafeteria. Translation? There’s no pressure here, just space to grab a cheap drink and relax.

Quick tour: After spotting some figures liberated from a garage sale from the windows outside, entering Skylark is like going into a souped-up VFW hall. There are raised tables to the right, a few videos games and pinball toward the back, a selection of flat tables and a bar lining the back wall. Bands will occasionally play, but don’t bet on it. Adding to the atmosphere is a photo booth in the back.

Crowd: Organized to be a local gathering place, Skylark’s setup ensures that this spot will gather a hip, mostly young crowd to meet and mingle. It’s also chill enough that you can creep into a corner and remain under the radar. Pilsen’s growing reputation as an artist’s outpost makes this a spot to be seen.

Night to go: What night isn’t good for an unpretentious spot with cheap beer and solid soul food? Even weekdays find a medium-size crowd gathering inside.

Claim to fame: A quirky spot that isn’t afraid to get rid of the attitude, dish out tater tots as a side dish and fly a few unique flags on the back wall.

You’ll feel like you’re in: A subdued mix of Elks Club and kitsch design, all done up to create a hipster’s bachelor pad in Pilsen.

Music genre: Providing a great soundtrack for conversations, this spot plays mostly alternative rock and some country, keeping things relatively chill and comforting.

Beyond the barstool: A great menu that leans heavily toward sandwiches and Southern cooking, like the catfish sandwich, waffles and collard greens, is available for lunch and dinner. The bar, which maintains its original woodwork, features plenty of cost-saving options like Pabst, as well as robust microbrews like Two Brothers or Bell’s.