A nightlife guide for chicago

Chicago has been a major player in the jazz scene since the genre first appeared, and music aficionados will not be disappointed with the current scene. The downtown area is an especially good place to start. Andy's Jazz Club on Hubbard and Jazz Showcase on Grand are two of Chicago's oldest and most respected jazz clubs. A little further north, Green Dolphin Street is an elegant restaurant featuring nationally-recognized jazz acts, and of course the Green Mill, in the Uptown neighborhood, is a must-see: it was formerly a speakeasy run by Al Capone.

Fans of live music may also want to check out one of Chicago's numerous piano bars. Howl at the Moon, now a national chain of piano bars, got its start in Chicago and features dueling piano players. For a more low key experience, try the Redhead Piano Bar, also downtown. One of the few Chicago bars with a dress code, the Redhead has a smoky, upscale lounge kind of vibe. Down the street, martini-lovers cram into the tiny Grape Street and Vine to hear a mix of classics and more modern pop songs performed by a panama-hat-wearing piano player. Outside of the loop, Jilly's Piano Bar, located on Rush St., is named after Frank Sinatra's former manager and plays all the rat-pack favorites. Davenports, in the Wicker Park neighborhood has a piano near the front of the bar, and a room in back for Cabaret performances.

For more modern live music, Chicago has a number of live rock venues, running from tiny storefront clubs to large, multi-level theaters. The biggest of Chicago's rock music venues is Metro. Located near Wrigley Field, Metro hosts a variety of shows, from local acts to national names. The Riviera Theater is a mid-sized venue that also hosts its share of national rock acts. The building is an old theater, and although it's become a bit run down, the antique accoutrements are worth a look. And anyone who doesn't like the standing-room-only mob on the first floor can try to find a seat in the balcony. Other mid-sized rock venues include the Aragon Ballroom, Double Door, and the Vic Theater. Among the smaller venues, Schubas, Empty Bottle, and Abbey Pub all have large hipster followings.

Live music is not the only entertainment in Chicago. The dance club scene is burgeoning here as well. Excalibur is a three-story dance club known for its diverse crowd. The older crowd can get nostalgic to the top forty hits of the 70's, 80's and 90's on the first-floor, while a hipper crowd grooves to house, hip-hop and techno in "Club X" upstairs. For a wilder night, Crobar is known for its hard-partying patrons. The trendiest bars go in and out of business in a flash, but Vision, Sound-bar, and Spy Bar are all newer clubs with good word of mouth. In addition to traditional dance clubs, Chicago has a number of specialty clubs. Berlin is a popular gay club in a predominantly gay neighborhood. Exit and Neo both cater to Punk, New Wave and Goth fans.

Chicago is a beer-drinker's town, and there are bars here for just about any taste. The intersection of Rush and Division is Chicago's version of Bourbon St. Although the alcohol has to stay inside the bars, the crowd often spills out onto the street. A variety of small bars and clubs attract a wild group, but She-nannigan's is the heart of the party. Weed St. also offers a wild time. Joe's bar raucous music can be heard from the street, where a line forms to get in. Next door, at Hogs n' Honeys, you can dance on the bar or have a go at the mechanical bull. For the more athletic, North Beach features sand volleyball courts and a cosmic bowling alley in addition to more traditional bar games such as darts, air hockey, and billiards. This area is also home to strip clubs and off track betting.

For something a little tamer, the Wicker Park neighborhood is a good place to see Chicago's artists and hipsters. Centered around the 6-corner intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North Ave. During the day, the area's trendy boutiques and low-key coffee shops dominate the scene, but at night the area bustles with twenty- and thirty-something artists and professionals dining and drinking at smoky lounges and dive bars.

A swankier crowd gathers north of Wicker Park, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Lincoln Park is generally an upscale neighborhood, were the bar patrons dress to impress. However, DePaul University is located nearby, and the influx of college students lightens up the otherwise stuffy neighborhood.

Just north of Lincoln Park, the Wrigleyville neighborhood is where the sports fans are. Centered around Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, the area is filled with sports bars and pubs. During the summer, the beer gardens fill up with drunken revelers, especially on game nights. John Barleycorn and The Cubby Bear are popular places to watch the game or celebrate afterwards, and they often host live music when there isn't a game.

The Lincoln Square neighborhood, an up-and-coming area with a heavily German influence, attracts a more diverse crowd. Here, German retirees mix with college students and professionals at authentic German establishments. Grab some schnitzel at the Chicago Brauhaus and head down the street for a weiss bier at Huettenbar.

Of course, each of Chicago's neighborhoods has a distinct vibe, and the city is more than just a sum of its parts. A blues club on the South Side will offer a very different experience from an Irish pub on the North Side. Likewise, the city's various ethnic neighborhoods can transport visitors from the Midwest to the Far East, Mexico, or Europe. Like its history, Chicago's nightlife is rich and diverse, with new surprises around every corner.