World City Guide

Nightlife

When the sun goes down, Chicago comes alive with a variety of entertainment venues, which vary from the boisterous (dance clubs) to the serene (wine bars). The main entertainment districts are Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Old Town and Streeterville (north of the Loop), Greek Town (west of the Loop) and the newest hot spots - River North, Wicker Park and Bucktown. Rush Street, once the happening place, is making a comeback with its many new upscale restaurants and outdoor cafes. Most bars close around 0200 or 0300 on Friday and Saturday nights, but outdoor gardens close at 2300. Nightclubs stay open later and often have cover charges of US$3-20, weekend nights being more costly. Drinks vary from place to place, but beer averages about US$4 and cocktails about US$7. There is no dress code for bars, but there are for some clubs. The minimum drinking age is 21 years.

Check www.chicagoreader.com or www.cityofchicago.org or www.metromix.chicagotribune.com for comprehensive reviews and details.

Bars: Looking for a happening singles bar? Visit Original Mothers, 26 North Division, which was featured in the movie, About Last Night; Butch McGuire’s, 20 West Division Street; or The Lodge, across the street at 21 North Division. Also popular with twentysomethings is the laidback Bar Thirteen, 1944 West Division Street. To sip a Crocodile Hunter or a Key Lime Pie martini, twenty- and thirysomethings gravitate to the black leather couches at the hip Lithium, 1124 West Belmont.

Diehard Cub fans spend their time at sports bars near Wrigley Field - Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 West Addison or Hi-Tops, 3551 North Sheffield. The spacious Joe’s Bar, 940 West Weed Street, is a combination live music, Thursday night karaoke and sports bar. Its many TVs and 14 different satellite feeds make it a favourite hangout for avid sports fans.

If wine bars are more to your palate, get a grape education with every glass of wine at Bin 36, 339 North Dearborn Street, or try The Tasting Room, 1415 West Randolph. This chic, two-floor bar offers sweeping skyline vistas with every libation. For those who prefer the bubbly, there is Pops for Champagne, 2934 North Sheffield, which boasts more than 140 different kinds of the stuff.

There is alternative country acts or a soul-gospel DJ at the 1940s-styled California Clipper, 1002 North California, and map mavens will enjoy the Map Room, 1949 North Hoyne Avenue, which, on Tuesday evenings, has a free buffet with a different international cuisine each week. For both sipping and scenery, nothing can compare to the spectacular views from the lounge of the Signature Room at the 95th at the John Hancock, 875 North Michigan Avenue.

Casinos: Though gambling is illegal in Chicago, there are several riverboat casinos located just outside the city: Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, The Majestic Star Casino and Trump Casino Boat in Gary, Harrah’s East Chicago in East Chicago, Hollywood Casino in Aurora, and the Empress Casino in Joliet.

Clubs: The Dragon Room, 809 West Evergreen Street, has three floors of dancing, and the Romanesque fortress-styled Excalibur, 632 North Dearborn, is an equally popular dance setting. Salsa favourites include Rumba, 351 West Hubbard Street, Rancho Luna del Caribe, 2554 West Diversey Parkway, and 2300 Nacional 27, 325 West Huron Street after 2300. There is jazz, blues and dancing at The Cotton Club, 1710 South Michigan, which is patterned after the famous Cotton Club in New York City’s Harlem.

Comedy: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Rick Moranis got their start at the popular Second City, 1616 North Wells Street, Old Town (website: www.secondcity.com). The city’s best stand-up comedian spot is Zanies Comedy Club, 1548 North Wells (website: www.chicago.zanies.com). Such notables as Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Jackie Mason have performed there. Teams compete for audience approval at Comedy Sports, 2851 North Halsted. Expect to pay a cover charge of US$5-20 at most comedy clubs and some also require a two-drink minimum.

Live Music: Chicago has a healthy musical tradition covering everything – jazz, rock, country, blues and piano lounges. Blue Chicago, 536 North Clark and B.L.U.E.S., 2519 North Halsted Street, are where the tourists go to hear live performers. The neighbourhood is iffy but the jazz is great at the nearly century-year-old Green Mill, 4802 North Broadway. It also hosts the Uptown Poetry Slam on Sundays. Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 South Wabash, has also been around for quite a while. House of Blues, 329 North Dearborn, at the base of Marina City, features rhythm and blues in the evenings and a Gospel brunch every Sunday. At the Elbo Room, 2871 North Lincoln Avenue, sounds range from rock and acid jazz to funk, soul and pop. Other venues include Metro, 3730 North Clark Street, which is popular with the pierced tongue crowd, House of Blues, 329 North Dearborn, and Double Doors, 1572 North Milwaukee Avenue.

Useful booking numbers are Jazz Hotline (tel: (312) 427 3300) and the Concert Line (tel: (312) 666 6667). Tickets for rock concerts can be purchased from Ticketmaster (tel: (312) 559 1212).