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