Samantha Ronson at 8fifty8 Showcase Fridays: Photo gallery

What is it exactly that mainstream partiers want these days? Hell if I know, but 8fifty8 is mixing up the big club formula slightly—in an effort to guess what they want next week. The club isn't dramatically different from what we've seen before—but its difference in emphasis is telling. This past Friday night, new-on-the-scene West Loop club 8fifty8 reintroduced itself to the media—after two weekends of celeb-accented parties for the public (Joe Manganiello of True Blood one weekend, Sasha Grey another).

Photos: Darkroom Demons

Celebrity circuit up-to-the-minute big name DJs
DJ Samantha Ronson was the main attraction, turning in a favor for her friend DJ Mr. Best, who spins parties for the likes of Nikki Hilton and Britney Spears. It won't be the last time we see Ronson in these parts. 8fifty8 is building on its relationship with Outfit Events, a powerful nightlife promoter in Chicago that has emerged in recent years and makes no bones about its celeb DJ associations. Outfit's contribution is significant in that it's made quality hip-hop-leaning club music a cornerstone of its programming, not an afterthought. 8fifty8, which occupies the space formerly known as Reserve, has hosted such talent previously—I took in several DJ AM sets in the space back when the late superstar DJ was a regular feature in Chicago. The club will feature Ronson, who's previously held a monthly residency at Crimson Lounge, at the forefront its DJ rotation on Showcase Fridays—with Mr. Best curating the series. The good news is that Ronson has honed her game in recent years. Friday, she went from banging fresh hip-hop jams to some upbeat rockers to some ironic folk interludes with panache—honestly, she was deserving of a more attentive, unhinged audience on the dancefloor Friday night. But I imagine that once her audience finds her, 8fifty8 will be packin' 'em in for extended booty-moving sessions.

Mixology in the club? Better mixers make better drinks
8fifty8's people tell me that their recipe for success is a bit different from the flashy club formula. Rather than an expensive and risky build-out the space has received a more subtle makeover—somewhat gaudy gold accents that characterized the club this weekend will actually be gone, soon as well. While bottle service will remain a focus—there's an extensive be-seen bottle service area set off around the entrance to the second floor space—the club is pushing the idea of quality mixers for everyone—always organic fresh juices over the cranberry-from-a-gun you would have gotten five years ago. Friday night, Chicago area mixologist Peter Gugni was in the house and the club was highlighting cocktails such as a delectable basil gimlet during a media reception. If the clubbers are demanding enough, the club will likely keep this up. But I wonder if 8fifty8 will attract a crowd attentive enough to know the difference.

Getting treat like a celeb by an almost-celeb
Celeb-circuit wannabee partiers must be appeased. She's not quite a star, but she's charming and evidently found to be easy on the eyes—Stacie the bartender from The Hills, recently relocated to Chicago and was bartending at the club Friday night. I can imagine she'll attract a loyal following. Elsewhere in the club, VIP servers tend to be the all-stars drawn from other clubs—expect bubbly and attentive service that's willing to go the extra mile for the those making reservations.

As to weather 8fifty8 will fall more toward the classy, the sleazy, the young or the experienced on the nightlife scale—that'll largely be up to the flavor of regulars it attracts on the weekends. Right now, it could go any of a number of ways.

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