Must-see entertainment in Illinois

  • Frank D'Rone (Chicago jazz legend) performing on stage at Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Uptown.

    Green Mill

    Chicago

    The timeless – and notorious – Green Mill was Al Capone's favorite speakeasy (a trap door behind the bar accessed tunnels for running booze and escaping…

  • Second City

    Chicago

    Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and more honed their wit at this slick venue with nightly shows. The Mainstage and ETC stage host sketch revues …

  • 500px Photo ID: 67672379 - The famous blues club.  Not to be missed.  Chicago, IL.

    Buddy Guy's Legends

    Chicago

    Top local and national acts wail on the stage of local icon Buddy Guy. The man himself usually plays a series of shows in January; tickets go on sale in…

  • Steppenwolf Theatre

    Chicago

    Steppenwolf is Chicago’s top stage for quality, provocative theater productions. The Hollywood-heavy ensemble includes Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, Martha…

  • Grant Park Orchestra

    Chicago

    It's a summertime must-do. The Grant Park Orchestra – composed of top-notch musicians from symphonies worldwide – puts on free classical concerts at…

  • Neo-Futurist Theater

    Chicago

    The Neo-Futurists are best known for their show The Infinite Wrench, in which the hyper troupe makes a manic attempt to perform 30 original plays in 60…

  • Old Town School of Folk Music

    Chicago

    You can hear the call of the banjos from the street outside this venerable institution, where major national and international acts such as Richard…

  • Hideout

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Hidden behind a factory past the edge of Bucktown, this two-room lodge of indie rock and alt-country is well worth seeking out. The owners have nursed an…

  • Whistler

    Chicago

    Hometown indie bands, jazz combos and DJs rock this wee, arty bar most nights. There’s never a cover charge, but you’d be a schmuck if you didn’t order at…

  • Constellation

    Chicago

    The producer of Pitchfork Music Festival opened this intimate club, which actually breaks down into two small venues inside. The city's hepcats come out…

  • Metro

    Chicago

    For more than three decades, the Metro has been synonymous with loud rock. Sonic Youth and the Ramones in the '80s. Nirvana and Jane’s Addiction in the …

  • Blue Chicago

    Chicago

    Commanding local acts wither the mikes nightly at this mainstream blues club. It's a pretty spartan setup, with a small, narrow room that gets packed…

  • Rosa’s Lounge

    Chicago

    Rosa’s is an unadorned, real-deal blues club that brings in top local talent and dedicated fans to a somewhat derelict Logan Square block. Get ready to…

  • Chicago Magic Lounge

    Chicago

    Hidden behind a wall of laundry machines is the secret entrance to Chicago's only purpose-built magic lounge. See amazing feats of prestidigitation seven…

  • Davenport’s Piano Bar Cabaret

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Old standards get new interpretations and new songs are premiered at Davenport's, a magnet for the local theater crowd. The front room is a fun, inclusive…

  • iO Theater

    Chicago

    One of Chicago's top-tier (and original) improv houses, iO is a bit edgier (and cheaper) than its competition, with four stages hosting bawdy shows of…

  • Chicago Theatre

    Chicago

    Take a gander at the illuminated six-story sign – it's an official landmark and an excellent photo op. Everyone from Duke Ellington to Dolly Parton to…

  • Lights from traffic in front of Goodman Theater

    Goodman Theatre

    Chicago

    One of Chicago's premier drama houses, with a gorgeous Theater District facility. It specializes in new and classic American productions and has been…

  • Lyric Opera Building.

    Lyric Opera of Chicago

    Chicago

    Tickets are hard to come by for this bold modern opera company, which fills the chandeliered Civic Opera House with a shrewd mix of common classics and…

  • Chicago Shakespeare Theater

    Chicago

    Snuggled into a beautiful glass home on Navy Pier, this company is at the top of its game, presenting works from the Bard that are fresh, inventive and…

  • Empty Bottle

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Chicago’s music insiders fawn over the Empty Bottle, the city’s scruffy, go-to club for edgy indie rock, jazz and other beats that's been a west-side…

  • Music Box Theatre

    Chicago

    It hardly matters what's playing here; the Music Box itself is worth the visit. The restored theater dates from 1929 and looks like a Moorish palace, with…

  • House Theatre

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    This exhilarating company presents a mix of quirky, funny, touching shows written by up-and-coming playwrights – magic, music and good old-fashioned…

  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra

    Chicago

    Riccardo Muti leads the CSO, one of America’s best symphonies, known for its fervent subscribers and an untouchable brass section. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is the…

  • Schubas

    Chicago

    Set in an old Schlitz brewery building, Schubas presents twangy acoustic artists, plus indie rock acts on their way up (like the National and Janelle…

  • Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

    Chicago

    Hubbard Street is the preeminent dance company in the city, with a well-deserved international reputation to match. The group is known for energetic and…

  • Winter's Jazz Club

    Chicago

    One of the city's newer clubs, Winter's provides an elegant little room for straight-ahead jazz. National and local performers let loose for an audience…

  • Thalia Hall

    Chicago

    Midsize Thalia hosts a cool-cat slate of rock, alt-country, jazz and metal concerts in an ornate 1892 hall patterned after Prague's opera house. A…

  • Chicago Children's Theatre

    Chicago

    CCT is dedicated exclusively to putting on quality productions for young audiences. Many plays are adapted from children's books, and many use puppets or…

  • SummerDance

    Chicago

    To boogie with a multiethnic mash-up of locals, head to the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park for SummerDance. Bands play a wide range of toe-stepping…

  • Jazz Showcase

    Chicago

    The Jazz Showcase, set in a gorgeous room on the eastern side of the historic Dearborn Station, is Chicago's top club for national names. In general,…

  • Chopin Theatre

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Looking for a tasty slice of Chicago fringe theater? Maybe something oddball, interactive, thought-provoking or just plain silly? The 100-year-old Chopin…

  • Gene Siskel Film Center

    Chicago

    The former Film Center of the School of the Art Institute was renamed for the late Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel. It shows everything from…

  • BLUES

    Chicago

    Long, narrow and high volume, this veteran blues club draws a slightly older crowd that soaks up every crackling, electrified moment. As one local…

  • Lincoln Hall

    Chicago

    Hyped national indie bands are the main players at this ubercool, midsize venue with excellent sound. The front room has a kitchen that offers small…

  • The Davis Theater in Chicago's Lincoln Square was recently renovated, but the iconic sign remains.

    Davis Theater

    Chicago

    Thanks to a renovation, the century-old Davis has burnished its deco charm while adding modern amenities such as stadium seating and state-of-the-art…

  • The independently owned Logan Theatre in Chicago is home to an Art Deco-style bar and lounge.

    Logan Theatre

    Chicago

    Established in 1915, the Logan Theatre is one of Logan Square's most enduring landmarks. A major renovation in 2012 unearthed gleaming marble walls and a…

  • Guaranteed Rate Field

    Chicago

    The White Sox play in this modern stadium. They're the Cubs' South Side rivals. Tickets are usually cheaper and easier to get than at Wrigley Field; games…

  • Soldier Field

    Chicago

    The Bears, Chicago's NFL team, tackle at Soldier Field from September through January. Arrive early on game days and wander through the parking lots – you…

  • United Center

    Chicago

    This busy facility is Chicago’s arena for big-name concerts and sporting events. The pro-hockey team the Blackhawks (www.nhl.com/blackhawks) and pro…

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