Talk about splashy! River North’s newest lounge/club opened Wednesday with a preview party that drew media, scenesters and aging club guys sporting too-tight Ts and faux tans. Brought to you by the owner of Moda, get ready for Climax (insert joke here), which opens to the public Friday. The 6,250-square-foot nightspot is certainly spacious! Three bars are spread across four rooms, including one with a 35-foot ceiling and dramatic skylight.
We spied gorgeous architectural artifacts on our visit--check out the pair of 750-pound griffin lights flanking the main bar. The enormous, turn-of-the-century gargoyle light fixtures were salvaged from an East Coast mansion; the adjacent room features a couple of large stone pieces saved from a building lost in the Chicago fire. While those expensive details are certainly impressive, a leopard print wall and other elements show that a discernable design theme is certainly lacking.
One final thought … We’re not sure what, uh, moved us more: The groan-worthy name, which brings the posh factor down a notch, or the tacky light box images of a scantily clad, wet young woman frolicking with half-naked men.
