(773) 395-2700

1315 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622 41.9106 -87.661

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Neighborhoods: Goose Island, West Side

Reviews & Ratings for Exit

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11 reviews

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/18/09

Vaudezilla presents BROADZILLA! (Free Burlesque Show)

by redhotannie

The Last Friday of Every Month!

May 29, 2009

10:00pm & 1:00am SHOWS

Exit Chicago

1315 W North Av, Chicago IL 60642

Cover Charge: FREE!

People always say “You get what you pay for.” We respectfully submit that you get a whole lot MORE than what you pay for when you come to the premiere FREE burlesque show in Chicago – “BROADZILLA!”

Check out all the stuff you get for NO COVER!

- TWO burlesque sets in one night! Come early for our 10:00 show and stay late for our 1:00am show

- TWO sassy hosts: Vaudezilla’s very own Red Hot Annie and Wham Bam Pam keep the shows fast, funny, and ferocious with the help of the prettiest pickup girls in town, the Vaudezilla Vixens!

- SWAG BAGS! That’s right. You get free stuff! Magnets, pens, candy, tee-shirts, and all kinds of fun stuff from Vaudezilla and sponsor PBR.

- Plus performances by the most appealing peelers in Chicago:

May 2009's Performers Include:

Violet Vogue

The Flaming Dames

Siren Jinx

Backdoor Aly

Bizarre Sally

Apple Venus

Coo d'Twat

Miss Teddy Bare

MsPixy

Viva La Muerte

Jolie Roberson

Petite Moll

Vaudezilla's Red Hot Annie

Vaudezilla's Donna Touch

Vaudezilla's Wham Bam Pam

Vaudezilla's Maria May I

Dolls of Doom

S.I.R.

and so many more!

  • Pros: free burlesque shows!
3 Star Rating: Average

02/18/07

What dancing?

by metallijaymz72

OK....I hadn't been to The Exit in a good 8 years. I was just there on Saturday Feb. 17th 2007. What a difference. Apparently the city of Chicago re-zoned the area into what is basically classified as a "no dance club zone". So I digress.....there is really no longer dancing at The Exit. The music was also turned down MUCH lower than I remember on my previous visits. Tables and chairs were placed on what I remember to be the dance floor area. The music downstairs (jukebox) was also very low volume. The drinks are ridiculously overpriced, but that didn't stop me from dropping a good $150.00 on them with my wife. Anyhow, I give it a 7 or so. I do however want to really emphasize the change is not The Exit's fault. You have the typical politicians and city officials to thank for that.

  • Pros: Music,Service
  • Cons: Drink prices,Dancing not happening
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/13/06

great atmosphere, decent people, expensive/weak drinks

by rachel_hoo

This place is a great place to dress however you like and not be afraid of sticking out like a sore thumb!! Great DJ music, different themes every night - $5 cover after 9? on weekends. The crowd seems generally cool. The only con is the drinks can get expensive and they are made really weak! though they do have drink specials on the weekdays, such as $2 black-and-blue beers...enjoy! ;)

  • Pros: unique, diverse, after hours
  • Cons: can get expensive
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/31/05

Hell Yeah !!

by carnivore63

I used to hang at the "ORIGINAL EXIT " on Wells St / North Ave back in latter 70s & 80s and this Exit now lives up to the Original name ..if your a PUNK or a ROCKER this still is your home RIP O'Banions - & La Mare

  • Pros: music, music, chicks
  • Cons: parking
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/25/05

So Damn Cool!!!

by tknocker

I Love the exit. The first bar I went to in the city that understands cool punk vibe crosstones of metal and industrial atmosphere is so cool I had my band Diamond Rexx record a a rock video there. If you want to spend a night in the coolest diviest rock and roll atmosphere the city has to offer the exit is the bar 4 U dont dress up. dress out there. lipstick leather and bring your laid back additude and hang with some cool cats and dolls. Its Like Partying in a Video/Movie But its realitytrendy for Rockers not the izod

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/12/05

The best!

by mandioca

If you are looking for the alternative scene, Exit is the best bar in Chicago. Downstairs always plays punk rock and some heavy metal. Great music that, even though is loud, still creates an athmosphere that is good to hang out with friends and meet other people. Upstairs is the dance floor and the music they play will depend on the night. It ranges from Industrial Goth, Heavy Metal, Punk... The music is super loud and it is hard to talk unless you go to the very small room in front of the back bar. The athmosphere upstairs is however, the best! It is the most fun place and the people are very approachable and friendly.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/17/05

FINALLY a break from our "norm"!

by ftf9103

My girlfriend and I came up for the Das Ich show at The Bottom Lounge, which was cancelled. Later that night after driving around the city for a few hours we came across Exit. We stopped in because it looked like "our" kind of place (there's nowhere like it here in this crap-hole we call Cincy). But, I digress. We sat at the bar there on the bottom level taking in the sounds until we found out that it was Bondage Night. We headed up stairs into the best Industrial spinning bar I've ever been to. All the greats were playing, Ministry, KMFDM, NIN, TKK. My girl was rather bummed out when she heard that the DAS ICH show was cancelled. But once we came upon Exit it livened her up GREATLY! Thanks for a wonderful vacation Exit and to ALL Chicago. See you in October!

JUSTIN & LORL

  • Pros: GREAT MUSIC, GREAT STAFF, GREAT PEOPLE
  • Cons: No RedBull for Vodka

12/03/04

Skull and crossbones marks the spot of Chicago's most famous punk/industrial dance club.

by Contributor

In Short
The Exit crowd's look--black leather, PVC and latex--recalls Chicago's industrial heyday, when the Wax Trax label had cachet. But the people are as nice as their threads are intimidating. Amid the gothic, post-apocalyptic decor, the main level features a lengthy bar, pool table and vintage motorcycles bolted to the ground. Vintage '40s and '50s porn plays on monitors upstairs, where a second bar and the caged dance floor (equipped with smoke machine) reside.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/26/03

Honey, I'm Home

by mintie

Exit has a reputation for being scary, where all manner of kinky stuff goes on.

To me, Exit is like being home where music is hard and people dress like freaks.

Downstairs, the bar is usually whipped into shape by Mistress Donna. In back, stairs lead up to the dancefloor. Bars at either end host Chicagos friendliest industrial bartenders - Christy, Carolyn and Kristin.

Downstairs is like a local pub. However, these locals are tattooed, pierced and spiked. Music is loud Punk or Metal and cheezy porn plays over the bar.

Dancefloor open Thursday Sunday where the less agile line the fence watching people dance to thumping industrial. Weekends can get packed, especially when the trixie bus arrives after 2.

Depending on the night, Jeff Moyer, Joe Garza or Pascal spin. All informed on the latest industrial. Sundays, Moyer spins a variety of newwave, goth, synthpop and industrial.

Mintie

  • Pros: music, friends, music
  • Cons: trixies who gawk, trixies making fun, trixies can't dance
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/03/02

Long time

by West_Side_Igy

It's been more than a year since I've been to Exit. But what I do remember is that I loved the music, atmosphere, and the staff. I've never been to a bar that the staff was so courtious. Today is my birthday and I'm planning on making an appearence there this Saturday. Hopefully with a big group.

  • Pros: lots of room, music, staff
  • Cons: i'm a southsider

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