Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Schubas Tavern Country and folk singer-songwriters have found a
home in this divine little concert hall located in a former Schlitz tavern. It's a
friendly and intimate place, best experienced from one of the wooden booths
ringing the room. There's music 7 nights a week, and Schubas occasionally hosts
big-name performers such as John Hiatt and Train. You also find a bar up front
and an attached restaurant, Harmony Grill, where you can grab a pretty good
burger and fries after the show. 3159 N. Southport Ave. (at Belmont Ave.). & 773/525-2508.
www.schubas.com. Tickets $10-$15. Subway/El: Red or Brown line to Belmont.
Wild Hare Number one on Chicago's reggae charts is the Wild Hare, in the
shadow of Wrigley Field. Grab a Red Stripe and dance to bands from Jamaica
and elsewhere, including Burning Spear, the Wailers, Shabba Ranks, and Yel-
lowman. The atmosphere inside the bar—dark and slightly dingy—might have
been transported from a side street in Montego Bay. 3530 N. Clark St. (between Addi-
son and Roscoe sts.). & 773/327-4273. www.wildharereggae.com. Cover usually $5-$12. Sub-
way/El: Red Line to Addison.
CABARETS & PIANO BARS
The Baton Show Lounge Catch the city's long-running revue of female
impersonators at this River North lounge, which has been showcasing fabulous
“gals” in outrageous getups for more than 30 years. Shows are held Wednesday
through Sunday at 8:30pm, 10:30pm, and 12:30am. This is a very popular spot
for bachelorette outings, so be prepared for some groups of rowdy women in
your midst. 436 N. Clark St. (between Hubbard and Illinois sts.). & 312/644-5269. Cover $10
plus 2-drink minimum. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
Coq d'Or Whether you're huddled close around the piano or hanging back on
the red Naugahyde banquettes, this old-time, clubby Chicago haunt in the his-
toric Drake hotel offers an intimate evening of song stylings. The Coq d'Or
claims to be the second bar in Chicago to serve drinks after the repeal of Prohi-
bition in 1933—and the place hasn't changed much since then. In the Drake hotel,
140 E. Walton St. (at Michigan Ave.). & 312/787-2200. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State.
Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret The youthful hipster environs of
Wicker Park isn't the first place you'd expect to find a tried-and-true piano bar
and cabaret venue. But Davenport's is doing its best to revive a fading art form.
Owner Bill Davenport and his partners have transformed a single-story store-
front into an intimate, chic gem that provides a much-needed showcase for
Chicago-bred talent, with a sprinkling of visiting performers from New York
and LA. The piano bar in front is flashier than the subdued cabaret in back, fea-
turing a singing waitstaff, blue-velvet banquettes, funky lighting fixtures, and a
hand-painted mural-topped bar. The cabaret's sound equipment is first-rate.
1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. (just south of North Ave.). & 773/278-1830. www.davenportspianobar.
com. Cover $8-$20. Subway/El: Blue Line to Damen.
Jilly's Named for Frank Sinatra's former manager, Jilly's has a retro feel that is
timeless, not dated. Music and a lively buzz from the patrons spill into the street
during warm weather, and piano stylists and trios play the dark room decorated
with photos of the Rat Pack, Steve and Edie, and the like. This is the nightspot
for wealthy Gold Coast residents, so dress to impress. 1007 N. Rush St. (at Oak St.).
& 312/664-1001. www.jillyschicago.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago.
Redhead Piano Bar The Redhead attracts a well-heeled, sharp-dressed Gold
Coast clientele, which tends to be older—at least in terms of the gents, who
usually outnumber the ladies here. Yesteryear memorabilia, such as movie-star
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