Yelp Chicago.
Viagra Triangle.
I'm meeting some friends for drinks tomorrow night in the Viagra Triangle. We don't want to do Martini Park since it's too loud and we don't want any meat packing club. Where should we go. any suggestions?
Martini Park is pretty far from Viagra triangle, IMHO. Elm Street liquors is never super packed until midnight, and is kinda nice.
What the hell is the Viagra Triangle?
Strip of bars/restaurants on Rush and Division and going south on Rush towards Chicago. It's called "Viagra" triangle because it's characterized (or stereotyped) by older men with money going after young 20 somethings (or many times, the other way around). It's the tourist-bar meat market. Lots of fun.
I think it's hilarious that this stupid phrase still characterizes this neighborhood. Every time I go to Tavern or Hugos or Gibsons, I have a great time. I've always met fun people of all ages and all sexes. Yeah, it's a pretty good mix of locals and tourists, but this notion that the bars are all filled with old men hitting on 25 year old women is ridiculous.
It's where Gibson's, Lux Bar, etc is. Quite the fun place for people watching.
My question is. Viagra has been around, what 10 years? What did people disparagingly call it before?
Nothing really. Just "gold coast" or "that park area that's sort of shaped like a triangle – you know, where Gibson's is – in the Gold Coast"
I guess I have no business going there form any angle. Probably why I've never heard of such a thing.
I learn new stuff on yelp everytime I log on.
See my review of LEVEL. lol.
What did they call it before?
Actually, it used to be called just "rush street". 'nough said.
I love Gentry, however, it is technically a gay bar (though not in the Boystown sense- it's rather upscale, chill, and the ambiance is good) so if you are going with any guys that would be weirded out by this, it might not work. There's always a good mix of people in there, though.
Ditto what Sophie said. Up until 15 years ago or so, the Viagra Triangle actually wasn't nearly as nice. The bars on Division, Gibsons, and Jilly's have been there as long as I can remember. A lot of other stuff, like Tavern, Lux Bar, Sutton Place Hotel, Chipotle, Big Bowl/Corner Bakery, Tea Geschwender, Anthropology, Border, etc. weren't though. Most of those places were retail, but not nearly as nice. Anthropolology and Borders used to be a Walgreens and McDonalds. Lux Bar used to be this supposedly sketchy bar that closed before I was old enough to go. Sabon used to be a travel agency or some dumpy retailer. The Puma Store used to be Solomon Cooper, a pharmacy. Carmines, at one point, was a big hot dog place. The Walgreens at State and Walton was Jay's, a chill bar that got moved to Orleans and Erie and then became Rino. I remember walking with my parents when I was little, and my mom told my sister and I that it wasn't a very good neighborhood. I'm not sure I'd go that far, especially since we lived 3 blocks away and it was all but crime free, but there were a lot more shady characters back then. There still are plenty, of course, but they aren't nearly as prevalent. Now there are a whole lot more wealthy older men with girls that have fake tits. Lux, Jilly's (especially Jilly's), and Tavern are famous for this for a good reason.
So where did Barbara end up going?
I hung out there at night once and its definitely not all viagra-y. There were quite a few younger guys down there, as were there older women. I liked Tavern on Rush for talking purposes, its not very loud. Drew Barrymore and her crew hung out there, if that means anything.
Brett K. Chicago, IL 77 friends 122 reviews.
I thought it was named the viagra triangle because of all the viagra the coked out yuppy 20 somethings have to take in order to date-rape the girls they meet.
Pinaki S. New York, NY 319 friends 375 reviews.
Interesting. I'd say also Wrigleyville on Clark meets that definition. There's also a string of lower key bars in Lincoln Square and Roscoe Village. In reality, there are at least 7 places in the city you can bar hop to 5-6 bars. (two areas in 'wicker park', as most people call division and damen too)
Matt L. Chicago, IL 406 friends 321 reviews.
Nina, depends on your idea of hip, but generally speaking, the flashy places are in River North or Fulton Market.
Jo W. Chicago, IL 88 friends 549 reviews.
Martini Park is nowhere near the VT.
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