Entertainment in Chicago
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Longman & Eagle
It’s easy to walk right by this shabby-chic tavern, as the sign in the window is so subtle it’s almost invisible. Inside, 52 bourbons and 26 whiskeys prop up the bar, along with several craft beers and fancy comfort food like wild-boar sloppy joes and Kobe beef meatballs. At the time of research, the owners were planning to open a six-room inn on the upper floor.
reviewed
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New Apartment Lounge
The only night to come to this storefront venue on the far South Side is Tuesday, when octogenarian saxophonist Von Freeman leads his long-running, roof-raising jam to rousing calls from the ultracasual, deep-listening audience. The session starts at 10:30pm, but if you want to get into the tiny room, come early. Brave audience members can sit in with the legend.
reviewed
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Ten Cat Tavern
Pool is serious business on the two vintage tables that Ten Cat co-owner Richard Vonachen refelts regularly with material from Belgium. The ever-changing, eye-catching art comes courtesy of neighborhood artists, and the furniture is a garage saler’s dream. Regulars (most in their 30s) down leisurely drinks at the bar or, in warm weather, head to the beer garden.
reviewed
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Beauty Bar
The owners of the Empty Bottle had a hand in this venue. The interior is an imported and restored late-1960s beauty salon from New Jersey. ‘Martinis and manicures’ are the shtick, and you can get the latter anytime for $10. Genre-spanning DJs spin nightly. If the Beauty Bar sounds familiar, it’s because it’s part of a chain with outposts in several US cities.
reviewed
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Simon’s
An Andersonville mainstay that has been around since 1934, Simon’s is a dimly lit musicians’ watering hole. The jukebox rocks an eclectic menu ranging from Robert Gordon to Elastica to Television to The Clash. In winter, in homage to its Swedish roots, Simon’s serves glogg (spiced wine punch). A giant neon fish holding a martini glass marks the spot.
reviewed
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Harold Washington Library Center Readings
Several writers each month come to the country’s largest library, the Harold Washington Library Center, and give talks about their current projects. Recent guests have included Salman Rushdie and No Reservations author Anthony Bourdain. The library’s author calendar can be seen on its website, or drop by the library for a flyer.
reviewed
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Berlin
Stepping off the El at Belmont has long been one of the city’s best bets for finding a packed, sweaty dance floor. Berlin caters to a mostly gay crowd midweek, though partiers of all stripes jam the place on weekends. Monitors flicker through the latest video dispatches from cult pop and electronic acts, while DJs take the dance floor on trancey detours.
reviewed
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Bluebird
Rustic Bluebird’s candlelit bar, oak tables and exposed brick walls give it a casually romantic, good-for-a-first-date ambience. The lengthy, well-curated beer list focuses on small-batch and global pours, and there are several wines available by the glass. To quell the stomach, order a cheese or charcuterie plate or perhaps a Belgian chocolate waffle.
reviewed
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Whistler
Hometown indie bands and DJs rock this arty bar most nights. There’s never a cover charge, but you’d be a weenie if you didn’t order at least one of the swanky cocktails to keep the scene going. Whistler hosts the very fun ‘movieoke’ the first Monday of the month (like karaoke, only you act along with the movie scenes playing on the screen behind you).
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Harry Caray’s
Across from Wrigley Field and named after its famed announcer, this outpost of the local Harry Caray’s chain caters to pre- and post-Cubs-game guzzlers a bit more demurely than its neighbors. If something feels familiar, almost gamelike, while you’re bellied up to the 60ft-6in bar, well, that’s the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate.
reviewed
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Big Chicks
Uptown’s Big Chicks has an enjoyable split personality. During the week, the bar is a cozily sedate place for gay and straight to socialize beneath the sizable collection of woman-themed art. On weekends, though, gay men pack the stamp-sized dance floor and boogie until all hours. Every Sunday, Big Chicks hosts a legendary free barbecue brunch.
reviewed
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Victory Gardens Theater
Long established and playwright-friendly, Victory Gardens specializes in world premieres of plays by Chicago authors. The Wall St Journal called it ‘one of the most important playwright theaters in the US.’ It’s located in the historic Biograph Theater, where bank robber John Dillinger – aka Public Enemy Number One – was shot in 1934.
reviewed
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Buddy Guy's Legends
Top local and national acts wail on the stage of local icon Buddy Guy. The man himself usually plugs in his axe in January.
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Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Founded in 1919, this orchestra is something of the kid sibling to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, made up of younger players who often graduate to the big-time professional symphonic institutions around the world. It’s the only training orchestra of its kind in the world, and, amazingly, tickets to performances at Symphony Center are free.
reviewed
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Back Room
This venerated Gold Coast jazz room is so cozy that there isn’t a bad view in the house, even when you take in the stage via a long mirror. If the small main floor gets too tight, head up the spiral staircase and take things in from above. Bop purists be warned: the tunes here can get more than a little smooth. There’s a two-drink minimum.
reviewed
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Trap Door Theatre
This ragtag operation once had to hold a fundraiser to purchase a bathroom for its tiny theater, but it is starting to draw bigger audiences for its consistently great productions of European avant-garde plays and originals. A recent production of The Bitter Tears of Petra Van Kant won three illustrious local After Dark awards.
reviewed
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Excalibur
The building, which once housed the Chicago Historical Society, has been remade, with three levels of dancing to mainstream house, hip-hop and ‘80s tunes. Other areas of the funhouse include jukeboxes, electronic games, pool and the occasional performance by a spirit-conjuring necromancer. Suburban and touristy crowds adore it.
reviewed
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Velvet Lounge
Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson (one of the founding members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) owned the Velvet and played here regularly until he passed away in 2010 at age 81. Visiting jazz musicians often hang out here late at night. The place rocks especially hard during the Sunday night jam sessions.
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Funky Buddha Lounge
The Buddha shakes with hip-hop and house music (plus chunks of funk, neosoul and old-school rap). It’s usually a mixed crowd dancing in the room, which is unobnoxiously decorated with antique lighting, mural-covered walls and big ol’ Buddhas. Next door the sister venue, Butterfly Social Club, serves organic cocktails while DJs spin.
reviewed
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Matchbox
Lawyers, artists and bums all squeeze in for retro cocktails. It's small as – you got it – a matchbox, with about 10 barstools; everyone else stands against the back wall. Matchbox sits by its lonesome northwest of downtown, near the Blue Line stop at Chicago.
reviewed
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Globe Pub
This warm, dark-oak pub is ground zero for English soccer and rugby fanatics, since it shows all the international league games on satellite TV. It even opens at 6am for big matches so patrons can watch the action live. The kitchen cooks up a traditional English breakfast daily, and the taps flow with ales from the homeland.
reviewed
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Vision
Vision throws some of the best techno parties in Chicago. Big-name DJs like Sasha, Doc Martin and Derrick Carter have all spun here, and the crowds of 2000-strong visit every weekend to dance (rather than pose) under the laser-lit extravaganza. The recently expanded club also plays hip-hop in the smaller of its two spaces.
reviewed
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Deja Vu
Open until 5am (!) on Saturdays, Deja offers more than just a deliriously late last call. The decor at this friendly place is a mix of opulent Middle Eastern and garage sale art deco, with free pool thrown into the mix. Between Thursday and Saturday, music is served up by live bands or DJs, sometimes asking a modest cover.
reviewed
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American Theater Company
ATC has been around for more than a quarter century, putting on both new and established works by American playwrights. To give a sampling: the 2010 season included Speed the Plow by David Mamet, a new R-rated version of the musical Grease and a world premiere by Dan LeFranc titled The Big Meal.
reviewed
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Lincoln Hall
Owned by the same folks as Schubas, clean-cut Lincoln Hall is larger but with the same acoustically perfect sound. Hyped national indie bands are the main players, but when they’re not on, DJs and free movie nights take over. The front room has a kitchen that offers small plates, sandwiches and coffee from noon onward.
reviewed