Chicago
The Vic – a vintage 1912 vaudeville theater – now hosts big-name bands several nights a week, and second-run Hollywood and cult films on the off nights…
Must-see entertainment in The Great Lakes
Cincinnati
Opened in 1913 as a silent-movie house, the dramatic-looking Woodward now welcomes indie rock, alt country and metal bands to its stage under twinkling…
Chicago
Bring on the punk and the all-ages shows. Graffitied Reggies books mostly touring hard-core bands at the Rock Club. Next door, Reggies' Music Joint is for…
Chicago
This well-regarded troupe works in a nifty theater hewn from the old Water Works Pumping Station building. The ensemble cast – which sometimes includes…
Milwaukee
Gorgeous art-house cinema from the 1920s, and an inspiring venue to catch an indie favorite or Hollywood blockbuster. The name refers to the distinctive…
Chicago
This beloved organization is all about knocking down the cultural walls that surround traditional classical ensembles. Expect broad-minded premieres and…
Chicago
Popular enough to draw big names on the blues circuit, Kingston Mines is so noisy, hot and sweaty that blues neophytes will feel as though they’re having…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
This ragtag operation once had to hold a fundraiser to purchase a bathroom for its tiny theater (located in a converted garage), but it's now drawing…
Ohio
The Dayton Dragons, a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, have sold out every game at Fifth Third Field since it opened in 2000. Fireworks, kid…
Milwaukee
This multipurpose venue in the middle of downtown is home to the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and the often – but not always – excellent local college team, the…
Chicago
Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta and Justine Chen’s The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing are recent season headliners – indications of the critically acclaimed,…
Chicago
It presents some of the most innovative plays for children in the country, from blockbusters such as School House Rock Live to lesser-known works like…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
A trendy crowd comes to Subterranean, which looks slick inside and out. The main room upstairs draws good indie rock, funk and hip-hop bands; Thursday is…
Chicago
Calling all ice hockey fans: this shiny arena, a stone's throw from United Center, is where the Blackhawks practice. You can watch the sessions for free…
Detroit
The grungy Magic Stick is the place to go for rappers and rock bands on the rise. The attached Majestic Theater hosts larger shows. While the venues have…
Michigan
This multi-room venue has been hosting live music for more than four decades. Genres span rock, metal, hip-hop, electronic dance music and more. The…
Chicago
The James M Nederlander Theatre, built in 1926, is known for its stunning Far East architectural elements. For almost a century it was called the Oriental…
Chicago
This long-running storefront venue presents original plays and fresh stage adaptations of literary works by writers from Nabokov to William S Burroughs…
Chicago
This Chicago company was founded by one of the most important people in the history of American dance, Gus Giordano. Now headed by his daughter Nan, the…
Cleveland
The Cavaliers play basketball at the Fieldhouse, which was closed at the time of research but is due to reopen in October 2019 after a $185 million…
Chicago
It claims to be the world's first theater dedicated to science fiction and fantasy. There are two stages: a 120-seat main stage and the 40-seat black box,…
Chicago
The Royal George is actually four theaters in one building. The cabaret venue stages long-running mainstream productions such as Late Nite Catechism, a…
Dance Center at Columbia College
Chicago
More than an academic institution, the Dance Center is one of the most focused collegiate modern-dance programs in the country and has carved out a fine…
Chicago
Long established and playwright-friendly, Victory Gardens specializes in world premieres of plays by Chicago authors. It’s located in the historic…
Ohio
The Ohio State Buckeyes pack a rabid crowd into legendary, horseshoe-shaped Ohio Stadium for their games, held on Saturdays in the fall. Expect 105,000…
Cincinnati
Acoustically pristine Music Hall is where the symphony orchestra, pops orchestra, opera and ballet hold their seasons. A $143 million renovation,…
Chicago
One of the largest choral and orchestral groups of its kind in the USA, MoB brings the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to vibrant life. Its…
Chicago
This comfy jazz club programs a far-ranging lineup of local traditional, swing, bop, Latin, fusion and Afro-pop acts, along with the occasional big-name…
Chicago
The Promontory is Hyde Park's first hipster music hall. The rustic room with huge windows hosts jazz, soul and funk musicians, as well as DJs several…
Chicago
This comedy shack has been booking well-known jokesters for more than three decades. The shows last around two hours and usually include a couple of up…
Detroit
Opened in 2017, this is Detroit’s spiffy arena for big-name concerts and sporting events. Detroit’s rough-and-tumble pro hockey team the Red Wings (www…
Chicago
A Chicago improv mainstay for more than 30 years, the Annoyance masterminds naughty and absurd shows, often musicals such as Tiny Fascists: A Boy Scout…
Minneapolis
This downtown stadium is home field for Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins. The season runs from April through October (that is, if the Twins play…
Chicago
Newbie comics line up hours in advance for Wednesday's open mike at the Laugh Factory. Such is the cachet of its parent LA club, where everyone from…
Chicago
The calendar at Elastic Arts is far-reaching and impossible to pin down – one day will see a funk band, the next an experimental video screening, and the…
Minneapolis
The National Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves play from October to April at the Target Center, which is fresh off a $140 million renovation…
Wisconsin
By day, a popular sandwich shop and spot for a break and a cup of coffee. By night, the Acoustic shifts gears to become one of the downtown area's most…
Chicago
One of two downtown outlets selling same-week drama, comedy and performing-arts tickets for half price (plus a $5 to $10 service charge); the other one is…
Chicago
UP is part of the Second City family and shares the same building, though it has a different entrance. It's a smaller space that hosts more experimental…
International Screenings Program
Chicago
The same group that puts on the Chicago International Film Festival hosts a free program from June through September showing foreign films in the Chicago…
