No disrespect to your favorite neighborhood hole in the wall—every dive bar is special, but Town Hall Pub just happens to be especially awesome. From a quick glance, it seems like most dives: the stale ammonia-and-old-beer stank; the dinginess; the jukebox; the mirror above the bar with an image of stampeding horses on the left side and a ship (like the one on the Old Spice bottle) to the right; the old yellowing postcards, advertisements and rock posters peppering the walls; the front part of the bar that operates as a small liquor store when you need a quick pick up; and the color photo booth in one corner and Golden Tee in another.
Town Hall Pub also happens to be in the middle of Boystown, and while all are welcome here, it's hardly a part of the gay scene. If you're looking for a hottie to hook up with, you'll do much better visiting any of the number of other clubs and bars on North Halsted Street. The scene here is generally students, rockers and old men. That's because drinks are cheap, PBRs are never more than $2 and mixed drinks go from $4 to $6. If you're hungry the bartender can throw a pizza in the oven for you, but it's just a Home Run Inn frozen pizza. If you're not too drunk, head next door to Nookie's to fill your greasy needs or across the street to Chicago Diner for something a little healthier.
But what really makes Town Hall stand out is that it holds one of the best dance parties in the city. The second to last Wednesday of the month is Get Outta the Hood night, the craziest, sweatiest, fun young hipster party in all of Chicago thanks to underground superstar DJ duo Flosstradamus, who'll play everything from Wham! to Too Short in a set, and get the crowd practically bouncing off the walls. When was the last time a dance party broke out at your neighborhood dive?
Centerstage Reviewer: Maya Henderson