The Orchid is decorated 1940s-style, with beautiful wood, mirrors, and black and gold accents. The 300-capacity showroom has a stage on one end and a raised seating area and 40-foot bar at the other. On the sides are gigantic portraits of jazz greats, like Cab Calloway, and in the middle are a dance floor and strips of fancied-up tables that give the effect of a wedding reception. And many dress that way, some women in black dresses, men in suits. But fear not, jeans-wearers won't be kicked out."It's the only retro supper club left in Chicago," says Shannon Broderick, director of operations. "Our Supper club runs on Saturday evenings featuring an 18-piece big band, fan dancers and tappers in the ultra-sophisticated ambience of our art deco showroom."
The Black Orchid was named after the original Black Orchid located on Ontario and Rush back in the '40s and '50s, Broderick says. "Live entertainment was its trademark, and the club featured headliners such as Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte."
The Black Orchid Supper Club was opened four years ago by owner and executive producer Marc Curtis. Curtis aimed to give the venue a special reverence to the supper clubs of yesteryear, like the Copacabana and Chez Paris. "The result is a $1.5 million design project that interprets the best elements of the '30s '40s and '50s" Broderick says.
The Orchid is home to the Grammy-nominated Doug Lawrence Orchestra. It also hosts a variety of entertainers and music headliners like Cyndi Lauper, Dianne Schuur, Jennifer Holliday, Joe Piscopo, Ann Hampton Callaway, Reva Rice, Michael Feinstein and Jimmy Webb.
"We also produce our own show – the Supper Club revue show – and we do a variety of private events such as wedding receptions, fund-raisers and corporate events," Broderick says.
The Black Orchid is limited with food and drink during concerts, but does have options "We have our own kitchen and chef that can accommodate a variety of menu options for private events," Broderick says. "And for our concerts, we offer delicious hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
Drinks range from $9 martinis to $150 for a bottle of 1993 Don Perignon. One special is the Black Orchid martini, which contains chilled Absolut garnished with Chambord and served straight-up.
The Black Orchid does not post a calendar of concerts, though you can seek them out online, or call (312) 944-2200. The club is not open to the public every day. "We are more like a mini Park West – open when we are booked, with private and public events throughout the year," Broderick says.
Photos courtesy of the Black Orchid|
Ms. Gonzalez
Written by Guest on 2007-11-29 22:27:34
What happened to the black orchid? Is it closed now. I am trying to find out.  |
Black Orchid Lives On
Written by Guest on 2011-09-01 19:13:16
The Black Orchid may be closed, but the bar lives on ... in downtown hot town, Phoenix Az at the Duce, a 1928 warehouse gone old school that serves up vintage cocktails that Dean, Sammy and Ol' Blue Eyes would love. |
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