Nightlife in Chicago
# The lights of Chicago rise high above the shores
of Lake Michigan
UNDAUNTED by the
weather or the working week, Chicagoans turn out en message at night. Blues
icons echo in clubs city wide, DJs spin eclectic sounds, and improve and comedy
clubs unleash edgy, experimental performers.
Late Bar is off
the beaten path on a forlorn stretch of Belmont Ave, though it’s easily
reachable viathe Blue Line train. A couple of DJs opened the club in 2010, and
its new-wave vibe draws fans of all stripes: mods, rockers, punks, Goths and more. Saturday’s 80s night are
popular (latebarchicago.com; 3534 W
Belmont Ave, Avondale; 8pm-4am Tue-Fri, until 5am Sat).
Smart Bar a
couple of blocks north of Wrigley field, this downstairs adjunct to the Metro
(known for loud rock) is a dance and music lover’s dream. The Djs here are
often more renowned than you’d expect in such as a small, intimate venue, with
a veritable who’s who of forward-looking break artists, house and trance Djs
holding down the turntables (smartbarchicago.com;
3730 N Clark St, Wrigleyville; 10pm-4am Wed-Fri & Sun, until 5am Sat).
Debonair Social Club
it’s mostly a younger, hipster crowd dancing their butts off at Wicker Park’s
Debonair. The main action takes place on the upstairs floor, which draws big
crowds for the can’t-sit-still oldies mash-ups, hard rock and new electro. The
downstairs floor is less hot and packed, though still lively. Reggae and
burlesque shows entertain on other nights (debonairsocialclub.com; 1575 N
Milwaukee Ave; 9pm-2am Wed-Sat).
Blues this veteran
blues club in Lincoln Park draws as slightly older crowd that soaks up every
crackling, electrified moment. As one local musician put it: ‘The audience here
comes out to understand the blues.’ Local stars like L’il Ed and the Blues
Imperials grace the small stage (chicagobluesbar.com;
2519 N Halsted St; 8pm-2am, until 3am Sat).
Green Mill sit in
Al Capone’s favourite spot at this authentic cocktail lounge, complete with
curved leather booths and colourful tales about mobsters who owned shares in
the place (a trap door behind the bar leads to tunnels where they hid their
bootlegged booze). It’s also a great venue for jazz acts (greenmilljazz.com; 4802 N Broadway;
12pm-4am Mon-Fri, until 5am Sat, 11am-4am Sun).
Hungry Brain the
Sunday Transmission jazz series is the best time to get a feel for this
unassuming, comfortable Roscoe Village dive that’s full of well-worn,
thrift-store charm. On that and other nights, some of the city’s best young
jazzers drink cheap and let loose, often resulting in inspired sessions (umbrellamusic.org; 2319 W Belmont Ave,
Lake View; from 8pm, closed Mon).
Comedysportz the
gimmick? Two improve teams compete with deadly seriousness to make you laugh
hysterically, in a Whose Line is it
Anyway? Style showcase of comic invention. The bawdier late show excepted,
it’s all family friendly-but no less entertaining for that (comedysportzchicago.com; 929 W
Belmont Ave, Lake View; Thu-Sat).
IO Improvolympic
founded in the 1980s, this theatre teaches and hosts performances of
improvisational comedy. Notable alumni include Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Vince
Vaughn and many others. With performances on two floors, shows hinge entirely
on audience suggestions, and each turn can run 40 minutes or longer (ioimprov.com/Chicago; 3541 N Clark
St, Wrigleyville; open daily).
Second City this
club is best symbolized by John Belushi, who earned a place in the Second city
improve troupe before moving on to fame and fortune. Second city’s shows are
sharp and biting commerntaries on life, politics, love and anything else that
falls in the crosshairs off the comedians’ rapid-fire, hard –hitting wit. An
offshoot, Second city Etc, has riskier and lower-cost acts (secondcity.com; 1616 N Welss St, Old Town;
open daily).
The Days Inn has
perks such as free Wi-Fi, health club access and hot waffle breakfasts. Avoid
the standard doubles if you’re claustrophobic – kings are significantly roomier
(daysinn.co.uk; 644 West Diversey
Parkway, Lincoln Park).
# The Burnham is
situated right in the heart of the Loop
Housed in the landmark 1890s Reliance Building, rooms at the
superslick Burnham have gold and blue striped silk draperies, mahogany desks
and chaise lounges (burnhamhotel.com;
1 W Washington St).
One of Chicago’s newest luxury hotels, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago models itself
on the style of ‘20s Parisian glamour. The handsome rooms are large and very
well appointed (waldorfastoria3.hilton.com;
11 E Walton Street).
Chicago’s Top Record Labels Chess Record The original home of the blues in Chicago, Chess
Records helped launch the careers of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and served
as a catalyst for early sessions by Chuck Berry. Bloodshot Records at the heart of the left-of-centre American roots
genre that fuses punk with old-school country music (bloodshotrecords.com). Delmark Records America’s oldest
independent jazz and blues label, Delmark has produced artists such as junior
Wells and Otis Rush, Sun Ra and Dina Washington (delmark.com). Thrill Jockey made famous by ‘postrock’ bands of the ‘90s, Thrill
jockey has consistently introduces new genres and styles (thrilljockey.com).
From Bill Murray to Steve Carell, many of America’s finest
comedians launched their careers at Second City, Chicago’s world famous comedy
club. Discover more travel tips on the hoteltravel.com
American Airlines, BA and United fly direct from London
Heathrow to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ba.com).
The airports is 17 miles northwest of the city. There’s a 24-hour train service
on the Blue Line to and from the Loop, but you’re better off using a shared
shuttle van service such as Airport Express (to Loop hotels; airportexpress.com). Taxis cost around
£25.
The ‘L’ train system, together with the bus network, is an efficient way to get
around. Ventra tickets are ideal for visitors – a single, which includes two transfers,
while a day pass (transitchicago.com).
