steve wrote:When it was the Crash Palace it had a decent regular crowd of bons-vivants and harmless crazies. Got weird and heroiny when the name changed and the Ministry hangers-on took it over. Haven't been in there in years.

Actually, this transition to heroin and Ministry hangers-on took place when it was Crash Palace. At that point, I more or less gave up on the place. It didn't become Delilah's until Rick no longer managed/owned the bar.

As far as bars go (not music venue/bars) the Pontiac is the only place I can stomach anymore.

I've stopped going out for the most part and I'm saving shitloads of $$$. I highly recommend it.

i think it's just one of those things where at one time it was ok, and now, due to the neighborhood changing and people getting older, the bar has changed a bit too. whatever.
i know plenty of people who work/have worked there and they're all good people who live to play good music and have a good time. including Mike. I just hope he gets the new Bottom Lounge open before people start laughing at him.

Hans wrote:As far as bars go (not music venue/bars) the Pontiac is the only place I can stomach anymore.

i want to be clear here, i'm not judging Hans, because as far as i know, i don't know him at all,
but
the Pontiac is one of the first places in the city i would fire bomb without hesitation, and i would feel no remorse whatsoever for the people i murdered in the process. that place is the epitome of Wicker Park becoming a meat market shit hole. the posturing and "look at me" factor of everyone i see sitting on that patio when i walk by make me fucking sick.

hopelesshomo wrote:

Hans wrote:As far as bars go (not music venue/bars) the Pontiac is the only place I can stomach anymore.

i want to be clear here, i'm not judging Hans, because as far as i know, i don't know him at all,
but
the Pontiac is one of the first places in the city i would fire bomb without hesitation, and i would feel no remorse whatsoever for the people i murdered in the process. that place is the epitome of Wicker Park becoming a meat market shit hole. the posturing and "look at me" factor of everyone i see sitting on that patio when i walk by make me fucking sick.

LOL I really appreciate your sentiment but I don't go there when the patio is filled with that shit you describe. There are plenty of times throughout the week when the bar is empty and I can go there and chill. The bartenders there are usually really cool offering up free shots which is pretty much unheard of anymore.
but
I think there are plenty of other bars that need to be firebombed before you firebomb Pontiac:

CANS
Northside Bar and Grill
Debonair
That new SHITBAR The Flatiron, formerly The Note
SALUD

Just firebomb Pontiac when it's crowded. Then you know I won't be there.

BTW this started as a thread about a Lincoln Park bar. I never get up to that neighborhood (Lakeview) are there ANY decent bars up there?

Delilah's was fun up until say, 6 or 7 years ago. It seems overrun by people I don't really want to hang around.

Flaneur wrote:Does Delilah's still have a pinball machine? I played a lot of Medieval Madness there around 2000, and a lot of Galaga at the foot of the stairs. I've played pool with interesting strangers there, good skinheads and bad.

yes, i think it's currently creature from the black lagoon. their pristine addams family has been moved over to the bottom lounge. i like delilah's on maximum r&b night and on drizzly gray afternoons. it's nice to be able to have a few beers and play pinball while listening to comfort music and feeling drafty.

Although the popped collar contingent is usually in full effect there, it has the following:

1) An amazing selection of Whisk(e)y.
2) Whisk(e)y specials every night.
2) PINBALL!
3) A decent jukebox.

With all of the aforementioned items present I can pretty much ignore/scowl at anybody else around me. Just let me get a drink, you not sloppily knock into me and spill it and I will be fine going about my business. Thanks.

I have no problems with this place, but like joelb go right after work when it's nearly empty. Delilah's is just about the halfway point on my commute and I frequently hop off the bike for a pint or a nip and read for a couple of hours. Nobody bugs me and I don't run the risk of hearing Fall Out Boy. Adding to the plusses of whiskey and pinball, the place is DARK. Chicago seems to have something against dark bars and restaurants.

People seem to really hate this place, though. When I've suggested going there I don't think there has ever been a positive response.

itchy mcgoo wrote:I have no problems with this place, but like joelb go right after work when it's nearly empty. Delilah's is just about the halfway point on my commute and I frequently hop off the bike for a pint or a nip and read for a couple of hours.

Thank you for this. I'm going to to make sure we "randomly" run into eachother again. It's been some time.