Down the Rabbit Hole
Sushi on Top, Bunnies Down Below

Let us set the scene.

You start out for a quiet evening of sushi—maybe at the little place on the corner—and by the end of the night find yourself in a glorious, sweaty, sake-fueled swirl of lights and pulsing music in some mysterious underground lair.

And you haven't even left the little sushi place.

Welcome to the Rabbit House at Usagi Ya, an invite-only weekly party (don't worry, you're on the list) launching Saturday night in the basement of an otherwise sedate Wicker Park sushi house.

You can start by coming in and filling up on bowls of savory udon, chicken teriyaki and a jalepeño-and-truffle-oil roll called the Fireball before heading downstairs—but that's strictly optional. Just tell the hostess you're looking for the Rabbit House and she'll show you to an inconspicuous door in the center of the dining room, leading to what was until recently a bland party room. Emphasis on "until recently"…

Now, you'll find a lounge that's half 2001: A Space Odyssey and half 1970s Palm Springs rec room, complete with burnt orange ceilings and pillow-lined banquettes. This Saturday expect a hip-hop and house mashup to set the mood (though the music will rotate weekly) as you knock back a tequila-laden Mexican Samurai.

You never know who you'll meet at these places.