The Tiny Lounge — Chicago
While visiting Chicago, a local friend offered an insider’s tour of favorite neighborhood haunts—places far removed from the usual tourist stops. One of those discoveries was The Tiny Lounge, a beloved bar once located at 1814 W. Addison.
True to its name, the space was narrow and intimate, filled with black leather booths, velvet drapes, flickering candles, and a back room that carried the atmosphere of a classic Chicago speakeasy.
A Plastic Lens and a Painterly Image
I photographed the lounge’s neon sign using a Holga camera, the wonderfully unpredictable plastic-lens camera I often carry for its soft focus and expressive character. The film was black and white, later scanned in color on a Nikon Coolscan. The subtle tonal shifts produced a palette that feels almost painterly—perfectly suited to the lounge’s nostalgic mood.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
The Tiny Lounge was demolished in 2006 during renovations to the Addison Brown Line station. Just before the building came down, we returned with a framed print of this photograph and presented it to the owner, Colleen Flaherty, who graciously accepted it.
The bar itself may be gone, but the photograph preserves a small piece of its Chicago spirit.
Awards and Exhibitions
Visual Arts Alliance — 40th Juried Open Exhibition, Third Place (2024)
Limited Edition
Issued in a total edition of 15, with 2 Artist Proofs.
The edition applies across all sizes. Signed and numbered by the artist.
