Tom Lynch

The Sunday afternoon crowd at the Wicker Park Ann Sather's is offered a special treat--an ABBA-inspired atmosphere for a disco dining experience. Multicolored streamers hang from the ceilings, the waitstaff wears pitch black ABBA T-shirts with silver lettering, a disco ball spins from above. Oh, and "Crazy World" blasts through the speakers.

"Welcome to our ABBA brunch," the young host greets his guests, guiding them to their seats. Sather's is packed. A waiting list becomes necessary. The ABBA afternoon appears to be a success.

"They are known for their cinnamon rolls," a Polish woman informs her brunch date over a plate of white frosting. "Not for their music." Obviously, the Tom Tunney-owned restaurant chain is looking to expand its horizons. A strobe light pulsates from behind the kitchen door and reflects a spectrum of colors off of the various ABBA record sleeves displayed in the windowsills. "That light is making me a little sick," says one girl while she chews on her scrambled eggs.

It doesn't seem like anyone has ordered the ABBA Swedish Sampler (one Swedish pancake, one Swedish meatball, one Swedish potato sausage, one egg, and cinnamon rolls). It's mostly eggs and fruit at this party. Passersby stare into the windows, mostly attracted by the green and pink "ABBA" signs pasted up to attract customers. "What's happening in there?" a man asks his friend. The friend doesn't know.

Ann Sather's is Swedish. ABBA is Swedish. They put two and two together.

(2004-05-05)

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