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The lounge behind the trapezoidal bar.

Tuesday Jul 05, 2005.     By Pete Beatty

Bars + Clubs Feed

Dress: Ask the guy in overalls and a golf hat. No, really, ask him.

Best way to get there: The Red Line Argyle stop is a short walk to the east, and the No. 36 Broadway bus stops right outside.

Vibe: Clearly an outstanding example of progressive interior design circa the re-election of Nixon, Lakeview Lounge is actually pretty well-preserved and clean, given the potential for decay and the impressively dated interior. As with all after-hours bars, the Lakeview has a split personality: There are the regulars, an older, friendly gang, and there are the barcrawlers who show up late on weekend nights to soak up the dive flavor.

Quick tour: Just one tidy room, to your left immediately is a massive singles jukebox, and on your right is the awesome trapezoid-theme bar that runs the length of the room. There are a few booths tucked in the front and back corners; a stage, complete with drum kit, mirrors and even tinsel (they mean business here), is carved out of extra space behind the bar.

Crowd: The early crew is assembled of pre-hipster Chicagoans from around Andersonville/Uptown, along with a few friends of whoever is doodling musically that night. The late-night crowd is a grab bag of ages, spending power and looks, but tends to favor the younger, grottier crowd. Everyone is united in a common appreciation for booze, chatting and carbon monoxide.

Night to go: House band Night Watch is only on duty from Thursday through Saturday, so if you're mining the ironic-barhopping angle, you might as well know that. Respect that "Girl From Ipanema" is the second song in its set. If you're just looking for someplace quiet to drink, stick to school nights.

Claim to fame: It's not actually in Lakeview, nor can you see the lake. (Although you can't really see the lake in Lakeview either.) Apart from bad one-liners: The trapezoidal bar is awesome. I mean it.

Music genre: Night Watch drops bombs on the crowd from 10 p.m. on, and a jukebox takes care of things on its off nights. The tunes are much more country than you'd expect, giving Carol's a run for the expatriate Southerner in Uptown's confederate dollar. Expect classic rock, soul, C&W and literally zero chance of hip-hop or dance.

Beyond the barstool: You can smoke! And there are potato chips for sale, an electronic dartboard and arcade game that takes on the sport of either golf or bowling; you'll have to call in forensics for clarification on that.

On the shelves: Standard dive fare, although the prices have climbed northward. Call drinks are $4-$5, beers are $3-$5, and most bottles have the price of a shot/cocktail written on them in Sharpie, so you can dispense with the indignity of pricing inquiries.

Lakeview Lounge at 5110 N. Broadway; (773) 769-0994. Open noon-4 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon-5 a.m. Saturday; 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Sunday for the 21+ crowd. Never a cover.