Crystal Lake's FML draws young clubbers
Childhood friends Michael Leyva and Joseph Manna have worked in the night life industry since college. When they learned that Crystal's Party Bar in Crystal Lake was closing, they decided to open their own spot. Friends. Music. Libations., or FML for short, opened in November within the bar's former space in the Holiday Inn Chicago NW Crystal Lake Conference Center and has been bringing in young crowds looking to dance the night away.
Motif: The interior has been entirely redone, ditching Crystal's Party Bar's throwback décor in favor of a more baroque vibe. The space features black-and-white wallpaper and is decorated with plenty of old-fashioned clocks and mirrors. White columns stand around the bar and beneath the balcony over the dance floor. You'll need to arrive early to get a seat, and the booths around the dance floor and seats by the fireplace are especially coveted. The floor is illuminated by dancing lights and periodically covered with fog from a smoke cannon. Two TVs over the dance floor run customer photos. A dancing box gets more use later in the evening, after female patrons have had a few cocktails.
The upstairs area is only open on busy nights. It features another fireplace area for private parties, with red couches and red curtains.
Crowd: Young professionals come in between 8 and 11 p.m., giving way to an even younger clubby crowd by midnight. Saturday is the busiest night. The dress code isn't tightly enforced, though guests seem to come out in nice duds anyway.
Service: The bar prides itself on great service, and staff members are trained to be as helpful as possible, which includes walking guests to the bathroom rather than just pointing it out. They also keep a shelf of batteries and phone chargers to lend to guests who need them. Five to six bartenders are on duty every night, so you'll never have to wait long to get a drink.
Liquid consumption: The bar will whip up whatever you want, but the focus is on bottle service. Champagne is especially popular, served with a sparkler attached. The club plans to add bottle lockers so regulars can store any liquor they didn't finish.
Music: DJs spin every night, with a focus on top 40, dance remixes and mash-ups. They've been bringing out Chicago talent, and the goal is to keep making FML a place to catch well-known acts in the suburbs, whether they're spinning all night or playing in the hotel's banquet room and then performing in the club as an after party.
Admission: No cover Wednesdays; $5 Fridays and Saturdays. Check the club's Facebook page for a password for free admission.
Parking: There are plenty of free spots in the Holiday Inn's lot.
Overall: Friends. Music. Libations. offers a city-style club scene complete with Chicago DJs. The only thing missing is the long drive.
Friends. Music. Libations.
800 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, (815) 356-6000, doyoufml.com
Hours: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday; 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday