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Scott Cramer and Jillian Valentino host Outdanced, a sexy, sweaty, pansexual party with cutting-edge acts.

Monday Feb 11, 2008.     By Maya Henderson

Bars + Clubs Feed

Megaclubs, where music is an afterthought to cover charge, dress code and bottle service, dominate Chicago's club scene. Thankfully, young, artsy types, who eschew downtown nightlife politics but still want to show off their style, can hit up Outdanced.

Every Tuesday at Funky Buddha Lounge, Scott Cramer, 26, and Jillian Valentino, 24, of Avant Trill Productions throw a sexy, sweaty, pansexual party, with cutting-edge electronic/indie remix acts, like Crystal Castles, JD Samson, Simian Mobile Disco and Dandi Wind.

Although young, Cramer and Valentino are party vets. She got a taste for throwing parties at 18, when she and her roommates would turn their Logan Square apartment into a makeshift club, complete with a soundsystem and DJs spinning for the post-rave set.

Cramer also began throwing parties around the age of 18, but in a five-bedroom house on a half-acre in Elgin. When he moved to the city, he learned the ropes of music booking and publicity as an intern at the Abbey Pub, where he's currently employed as a publicist.

Cramer booked Valentino to DJ at an event at Four (now Evil Olive); they became friends and soon started making plans to throw parties. At the time, Jillian hosted the most popular lesbian night in Chicago, but wanted to make it more about music than sexuality, and Outdanced was born.

"It's a great night. We have regulars and a fan base," says Valentino. "We're sponsored by Odd Obsession movies, so we have crazy films showing on the projector. We have $1 drinks, cheap cover and a great energy. No one is doing this in Chicago."

What's your favorite hidden gem in Chicago?
Jillian Valentino: Sunday open-mic night at Gallery Cabaret.
Scott Cramer: The Hungry Brain on Belmont. I never get to go there enough.

If I were to come to your neighborhood, where's one place you'd insist I go?
JV: Well, I live in Wicker Park, so if it's fashion, I'd suggest Una Mae's. For food or a drink: Rodan.
SC: A Taste of Heaven in Andersonville has the best pastries.

What are you guys listening to right now?
SC: Klanguage, Iggy Pop/Stooges and Chromatics.
JV: Glass Candy, Ec8or, Kap Bambino.

And what are you drinking?
JV: Grey Goose vodka gimlets. I'm also known to be quite the Jager drinker.
SC: I used to be big on vodka and Red Bull, but I know it's bad, so I'm weaning myself off of Red Bull and on to whiskey [laughs].

Where's the one place that you'd love to throw a party?
SC: Union Station.
JV: Union Station? Hmm, that'd be a good one.

What's one thing we should know about you that we don’t?
JV: I'm Sicilian and Bohemian, and I have two gold teeth.
SC: My secret third leg.