Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
262
Tips
If You Have a Sitter: The Music Scene
Chicago is home t o the world's most popular and widely hear d style of blues
and is an impor tant venue for jazz. S o book a sitt er, grab some dinner , and
then head f or one of these standout clubs . Just r emember, it's going t o be a
late night: M any music v enues don't get hopping until af ter 11pm. Plan t o
arrive bet ween 9 and 10pm t o allo w time t o get seats in the club , ha ve a
drink, and r elax before the sho w. Most clubs c ontinue to pulse until the w ee
hours, depending on what 's happening onstage .
FIRST, HOW TO CATCH THE BLUES:
Celebrate the women of blues at
Blue Chicago,
736 and 536 N. Clark St., R iver
North (
&
312/642-6261;
w ww.bluechicago.com), which sho wcases t op
female talent. The cover charge is $6 to $8.
B.L.U.E.S.,
2519 N. Halsted St. between Wrightwood and Fullerton avenues,
Lincoln Park (
&
773/528-1012;
www.chicagobluesbar.com), satisfies the most
ardent fans with liv e music 365 da ys a year, since 1979. The dark, narrow club
places patrons up close to performers. As at Kingston Mines (described later in
this box), expect to spend the evening standing. The cover is $5 to $10.
If Chicago is the body and soul of blues music, then
Buddy Guy's Legends,
754 S. Wabash Ave. between Balbo and 8th str eets, South Loop (
&
312/427-
0333;
www.buddyguys.com), is its heart. Everyone from Eric Clapton to Muddy
Waters has stopped in to jam and listen to the best in blues at this club owned
and operated by blues legend Buddy Guy. Every January, Guy plays a series of
shows that sell out early. The cover charge is $10 to $15.
A great place to see a sho w, the
House of Blues ,
329 N. Dearborn St. at
Kinzie Str eet, R iver Nor th (
&
312/923-2000;
w ww.hob.com), c ould mor e
appropriately be called the House of P op. Although it's decorated with Missis-
sippi Delta f olk ar t, the bands that pla y her e t end t o be r ock g roups, '80s
novelty acts, and the oc casional hip-hop or r eggae. Concerts are in a theat er
that re-creates a g ilded European opera house (minus the seats), and stage
views ar e pr etty good no matt er wher e y ou stand . A r estaurant also ser ves
lunch and dinner with hometown blues accompaniment. The popular Sunday
gospel brunch, off ering a S outhern-style buff et, brings a diff erent Chicago
gospel choir to the stage each week; the three weekly “services” often sell out,
so get tickets in advanc e. The c over varies fr om about $15 t o $45 f or a big
name.
Kingston Mines,
2548 N. Halst ed St. bet ween Wrightwood and F ullerton
avenues, Lincoln Park (
&
773/477-4646;
www.kingstonmines.com), has t wo
stages' worth of blues g reats. It may not be up t o par with Buddy Guy 's, but
10
Lookingglass Theatre Company
A rising star on the Chicago theatrical scene,
Lookingglass produces original shows and unusual literary adaptations in a highly physi-
cal and visually imaginative style. (Its location in the Water Tower Pumping Station—just
off M ichigan Ave. and within walking distance of many do
wntown hotels—makes it
