Over my illustrious career (of course saying that with a bit of sarcasm), I have had a tremendous run through many of the legendary watering holes in Chicago. I have had my fair share of partying with celebrities, to grand openings, to legendary closes like the final night at Shelter, Harry’s Velvet Room, Kaboom and Elixer to name a few. I enjoyed all these places, but since my first journey to the big bad city from the safe haven of the burbs, the nightlife has changed.

It hasn’t necessarily changed from a scene and a be seen environment, or I am not referring to the changes in the hospitality industry gearing more towards bottle service and VIP areas, I mean changes to me. I remember one of my fondest memories when I was under 21 going to Bassa Nova with a live band playing Gypsy Kings covers and a crowd of scantily dressed women with sharp looking men tore up the dance floor.  It was amazing, it was vibrant, it was spirited and I was hooked!

Inspiration comes in so many forms. Certain things resonate with us that don’t with others. We think some of the movies we have seen are the greatest movies ever when others can take it or leave it.  It’s not that they don’t appreciate our infinite wisdom and the depth of insight we possess, it’s simply because we are different.

We look alike, we talk alike and for the most part we act alike, we’ll leave that for a different discussion, but we come from different roads, different experiences in life that sets us apart from each other. That’s why we are so infinitely fascinated with people that are our opposites because it is foreign territory. It is a place we haven’t traveled instinctively.