Lakeview Dog Lounge Will Host Events For Dogs And Their Humans
By Sophie Lucido Johnson in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 21, 2016 9:49PM
Move over, cats: You may have won the internet, but the lounge scene is still open territory. (Territory pun intended.) Chicago approved an ordinance for a cat café last month, but it probably won’t open until the middle of the year; meanwhile, SIT Chicago will open its first Dog Lounge (called SIT Social) in Lakeview on May 14.
The lounge, which will be located at 3920 N. Ashland Ave., will be the place to be for BYOB events for humans and dogs. (The BYOB part is for humans only, though, obviously.) They'll host “Doggie Singles Nights,” for instance, where uncoupled dog owners can mix, mingle, and play icebreaker games with their dogs in tow.
As SIT owner Victoria Elena Nones put it, “Dogs are the best icebreaker there is, right?”
Nones didn't meet her own boyfriend with a dog in tow — actually, neither of them currently owns a dog at all. "We foster. That's how we contribute to the community. We watch them until they are ready to be adopted, and then we let them go," Nones said. They're currently looking after a pup named Mabel.
Nones' boyfriend, Ian Sherwin, also rents the art gallery next door to the SIT Chicago space. (It's no coincidence—they share the lease.) Sherwin will open up his gallery to Nones' clientele, too, for a series of planned "Paint Your Pets" nights. Visitors can leave their dogs in Nones' space, then paint in Sherwin's—for a fee, they can even get their pet pre-outlined on their canvas. Nones stressed that painters aren't confined to dog pictures, either. They can paint any pet they choose. This is the one event where cats are welcomed—at least in spirit.
Other events in the works include a Yappy Hour, for local business owners and entrepreneurs who want to network with their dogs; Puppy Showers, private events for expectant puppy-havers-to-be; Dogprov, Chicago improvisers doing comedy with dogs; and Dog Birthdays, private events to celebrate your canine's special day.
During the day, SIT Chicago will also be a "boutique" doggie daycare." It’s a space for dogs to hang out, socialize, go on the treadmill, and be in a laid back environment,” Nones said. (Yes, you read that correctly: There’s a treadmill. Nones said that dogs typically love treadmills. "You'd be surprised.")
Nones has been working in Lakeview as a dog walker for years—though without a brick-and-mortar location—so SIT Social already has a number of dog walking and pet-sitting clients. She's also excited to add new dogs to her roster. In order to bring a dog to SIT, though, clients need to have a new client meeting and a behavioral evaluation (no Hounds of Hell allowed).
SIT's launch party is planned for May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at 3920 North Ashland Avenue. Like all of SIT Social's evening events, it's B.Y.O.B. (The last B is for both booze and border collie.)