Lit brings city vibe to suburbs
An increasing number of clubs in the Western suburbs have been catering to young suburbanites looking for a city-style night out without the trip into Chicago. The newest of these is Lit, which opened at the end of September in Aurora. A place to see and be seen on Friday and Saturday nights only, Lit is working to build a following with guest DJs and celebrity appearances like an upcoming visit from Vinny of MTV's reality show “Jersey Shore” on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Motif: Candles and projected whirling colored lights provide much of the illumination at Lit. The space has plenty of tables with dark plush chairs, benches and couches. Colored lamps or large candles sit in the corners and small tables are topped with bands of tea candles. Flat screen TVs showing music videos are mounted on the walls, corners and behind the bar. The main bar has wood slats on the front and a curved top with lights embedded in it.
A moderately sized dance floor separates the two bar areas. The second bar features candles on wall-mounted shelving and white curtains between sitting areas, though the space is closed when the place is quiet.
The classy vibe carries into the bathrooms, which feature marble walls and basin sinks that look like they were carved from rocks.
Crowd: The club was empty when we arrived at 9:30 p.m. Friday but things picked up a little after 10, with a few twentysomething couples and groups trickling in dressed on the nice side of casual. We were told Saturday nights are busier, bringing in up to 300 trendy people in their 20s and early 30s.
Service: The bartenders were excellent. The first woman we ordered from was friendly and recommended a clever but simple drink. The Malibu and pineapple juice she mixed us was delicious. When we started asking for martinis, she referred us to the bar manager. He made us a great first round based on his favorites from the club's drink list and then used what we liked to tailor a second round.
Liquid consumption: Most of the tables are reserved for bottle service, and the club serves up plenty of bottles of Belvedere and Patron. If you are ordering drinks at the bar, Lit offers an excellent selection of specialty martinis. The South Sider was our favorite. The mix of a full shot of Jameson, cranberry juice and apple liqueur was impressively smooth, with the cranberry juice blending perfectly with the whiskey and the sweet apple flavor. The Bleacher Blue Tini, a blend of Effen black cherry and sour mix topped with a splash of Blue Curacao, was a light and citrusy sipper. If you're looking for something simple, the standard cocktails we ordered were also perfectly mixed.
Music: Resident DJs along with guest DJs from around the world spin each night, typically playing a mix of Top 40 and house tunes. When we were there, the focus seemed to be on '80s music, including The B-52's “Love Shack” and Madonna's “Like a Virgin” played straight or just lightly remixed. Volume is loud, but conversation is still easy.
Admission: Cover is free before 11 p.m. with a reservation and $5 after.
Parking: There are plenty of free spots in the strip mall lot.
Overall: Lit has a great atmosphere and top-notch drinks. If it can bring in bigger crowds, this club will really shine.