Fun and entertainment Chicago

As its name indicates, House of Beers specialises in beer. There are dozens of kinds of beer in there; The right bar, with its beer pump arms, serves only beer. If you want other alcohols, a whisky "on the rocks" for example, you have to go to the left bar. When you sit in the room, you're surrounded by two bars, and it's as hard to choose between Guinness and scotch than to stay sober.

Like any good Irish pub, the Finn McCool's is dark and attractive. It is used to drink (beer and spirits) and to eat (large salads and sandwiches) every day of the week, in the bar or on one of the top round tables. When you enter Finn McCool's, you quickly realize that something is too much. But what? Oh yeah, maybe it's the eleven TV screens and the two giant screens set around the corner. It's sure that if you want to relax your eyes, it's better to avoid. On the other hand, football days are festival!

Rock Bottom Brewery proves that there is not only Budweiser in the United States. Here, we sit down at the bar to taste the multitude of brewed beers offered by the establishment. In summer, you can sip your pint in the "biergarten" on the roof with a view of the skyscrapers. This is where managers and employees meet after the offices close. You can also eat on the spot, but the food is quite ordinary. We'll mainly order food so that we have something in our stomachs other than beer!

Most of their addresses have a wireless connection system. Two addresses: at the crossing of Lake Street and LaSalle Street and at the Clark and Madison crossing in the Loop. Go to www.starbucks.com to find other places of connection. Starbucks is not the place to advise as local coffee because there are all over the planet! The connection is free for one hour if you eat.

An ideal stop-off at the end of a stroll, or before heading back to the heart of the buildings, Café Michelle beckons in the Lakefront marina. A sign gives you the lowdown: 2 hours maximum! Apart from that, you can't say you're not welcome. On this busy corner, it's a nice place to stop for an ice cream, a beer or a cocktail, facing the boats. Ice creams can also be taken away. This is a very pleasant place to stop at sunset, when the sky offers a pastel gradation of blue, yellow and red hues.

Under the aegis of the iconic figure of Harry Caray, the Chicago Sports Museum will take you on a retrospective of the history of all major sports. It's informative, but also interactive. You can practice free throws in basketball, or quarterback throws in a simulated American soccer game. And don't forget to pass through the long corridor behind the bar, where newspaper clippings from the last 100 years trace the greatest moments, exploits and curses on Chicago teams.

If you're looking to go out on a budget, but still want to get off the beaten track, Sleeping Village is the place to go. It's also a social venue, organizing events outside the concerts. Beer, cider, coffee, live music - that's how they sum up their credo. A huge plus of this place is the $1-a-beer evening, organized from time to time and communicated on the facebook page. Saturday nights are devoted to techno, with live DJ sets. In short, an affordable, good-natured and highly eclectic venue.

The city in background, daylight, fresh lakeside air... and your favorite artist right in front of you! That's the panorama offered by this venue, ideal for the warm weather. But before that, the path is strewn with pitfalls: they don't respect their bag size policy, so unless you have a transparent one, you'll have to pay US$10 for the locker. In summer 2022, the Pavilion welcomed major artists such as Alicia Keys and Norah Jones.

Located behind the Pritzker Pavilion, this theater hosts many artistic performances, especially dance shows. It is home to the Hubbard Street Company. The building that houses the Harris Theater is a thousand miles away from the Chicago Theatre and the many historic theaters in the city: rather modern, it was built in 2003, and is distinguished by its glass facade through which the beautiful lobby can be seen from outside. It can accommodate nearly 1,500 spectators.

Far from fearing the shadow of its famous elder Second City, Up Comedy Club produces excellent improv and one-man shows. Get there early if you want a good table. Beware, as is often the case in this kind of place, the audience can be taken to task! Avoid the first two rows if you don't want the comedian(s) to start a conversation with you. You can eat on the spot, but the food is decent without being extraordinary. In any case, it is rather difficult to chew when you are laughing out loud!

9 Muses is a bar, which also serves as a restaurant, concert room, and much more. It is one of the favorite places of the Greek community, but also of all neighbors, hellens or not. We drink ouzo more than reason, try to rebalance with a few delicious pitas, and the evening gets fast. Friday and Saturday, DJ's heat the atmosphere.

This store and bar was opened by beer enthusiasts, who can taste the beer on the spot or take it away. Two large screens are installed behind the bar and allow you to watch the sports matches in a friendly atmosphere (or overexcited when the city's teams are playing). You will also be informed about the origin of the 16 draft beers offered, their taste (bitter, fruity...) and their size. The atmosphere is very relaxed, a lot of students and young executives come to relax around board games. Quizzes also take place.

This beautiful building, opened just before the 1893 World's Fair, housed a movie theater for years. When the movie theater closed, the place sat empty for 40 years. It was in 2013 that it was purchased and renovated by a group of Chicago restaurateurs. It is now a concert hall with an eclectic lineup that will delight music lovers. The venue also hosts shows and performances. There's something going on almost every night! In the basement is the Punch House bar and John Dusek's Tavern.

The Holiday Club, with its 1960s look, exudes a kitsch atmosphere, right down to the website. For over 20 years, the place has been known for its excellent cocktails. But the main attraction is the themed evenings, which draw people from all over the city. It's karaoke on Wednesday, comedy show on Thursday, 1980s on Friday and 1990s on Saturday night. Plus, they've got a pool table, video games, jukebox and photo booth to immortalize the evening! Holiday Club also serves food.

Known for its theme nights and gay nights, this Lakeview nightclub is the place to be for crazy nights out in Chicago. In fact, it was voted best nightclub in the city by USA Today in 2019 and best gay bar in the country in 2021. Le Berlin has been keeping Chicago revelers dancing into the wee hours since 1983. Go to their website to see the line-up: from geek nights to drag queen parties to a Madonna night, you won't be bored! The music is eclectic, with a penchant for alternative electro.

Delilah's is a friendly bar in the Lakeview district, with a student atmosphere that's not to be sniffed at. The place doesn't look like much, but there's always a great atmosphere and, for those in the know, the establishment offers a huge selection of whiskies. Beer tastings are regularly organized. On a more cultural and festive note, well-known DJs are a regular feature of the program, and the venue also hosts numerous vernissages and film screenings.

The Hideout isn't just an indie music venue, it's also a place where poets, comedians and political apprentices gather to debate current affairs. It's one of the favorite bars and concert halls of Chicago's youth. Andrew Bird, Neko Case, Guided by Voices, The New Pornographers, Wilco, The Flaming Lips have all taken their first steps in this legendary venue. The stage is as small as the venue itself, but that's part of The Hideout's charm, and it's easy to appreciate its intimate feel.

Located just across from the comedy club The Second City, old sketches of local characters adorn the walls of Chicago's best dive bar, as well as numerous paintings. It must be said that the bar owner, Bruce Elliott, is also a painter in his own time. He had his 15 minutes of fame in 2008 with his nude of Sarah Palin standing on a polar bear skin, gun in hand. This was followed by a series of "political porn paintings" still visible on the walls of the harbour. An institution in the north of the city opened in 1958. Not to be missed.

There's no way to know that behind that big black door is the temple of the Chicago nightlife! Untitled Supper Club is a Michelin Guide 2021 award-winning restaurant, bar, club and concert venue. The whisky menu is the most varied in the city. Young people flock to this address to enjoy its many themed evenings, in its various rooms and atmospheres. During the week, there is happy hour, Absinthe night and the "Unbridled Night", an unbridled cabaret night. On Friday, it's DJ night and on Saturday, burlesque night. So many choices!

Located in the Water Tower, this theater was founded by Northwestern University students, including David Schwimmer, best known for playing Ross in the cult series Friends. Looking Glass Theatre Company aims to be at the forefront of American experimental theater. The mission of this small 270-seat theater is to encourage collaboration and artistic invention among its participants. Alice in Wonderland and The Arabian Nights have been reinvented here.

This theater, in the middle of the Navy Pier, is the only theater in Chicago that offers primarily Shakespeare performances. The great classics of the British playwright, such as Macbeth, answer the call, as well as some of his lesser known works. But also plays related to his world such as Red Velvet, dedicated to Ira Aldridge who was the first African-American actor to play the role of Othello in Shakespeare's eponymous tragedy.

A true institution, The Aviary is known as one of the best bars in the world. Creativity is the key word here, and the result is always harmonious. The list of cocktails is impressive and if their names don't ring a bell, since they are specialities of the house, you can trust the bartender to cook you the drink of your dreams. If you wish, you can be guided through a tasting of three cocktails, from the lightest to the most intense. An establishment that deserves its reputation.

This is the latest establishment of successful chef Stephanie Izard, also in charge of Little Goat two blocks away. This restaurant, with its large bar and lounge area, is an excellent place to enjoy delicious Asian-inspired cocktails and highly successful Chinese specialities. Dim sum are particularly tasty and are perfect for a shared snack. The decoration gives the impression of being in a Chinese restaurant that is both chic and authentic. A glamorous address.

Perhaps less well known than Buddy Guy's or Andy's, this establishment has an excellent blues and jazz program, and has the advantage of not being very touristy. Opened by Joe Segal in 1947, this club is particularly cherished by Chicagoans for its authenticity and the passion it conveys. Despite various moves around the city, Jazz Showcase has not lost its clientele, perhaps also because, even when there are people around, no one is ever turned away. Be patient, the concerts are really worth the detour.

This old, untidy-looking street corner bar will deliver its cachet to whoever dares to push open its door. Take a seat in the diner-style banquettes or directly at the bar, where you'll gaze at some beautiful old bottles. The place is cosy and the cocktail bar lives up to its reputation in the neighborhood. Ludlow Liquors has a speakeasy feel to it, but the large, rootsy outdoor terrace and the tags in the bathroom sadly detract from the period postcard charm. Burgers are also available.

In a district where there are a lot of clubs, this discotheque of rather modest size can literally save your evening. It is half hidden in the middle of a block, and the dress code is not too strict. It is quite possible to enter in sneakers, although shorts are not allowed for men. The Electric Hotel is therefore a good option if you want to extend your evening until late. The mix, electro of course, follows the tracks at high speed without abusing the music too commercial.

The Metro is a legendary venue on the Chicago scene, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022. In the early days, it was mainly a venue for local artists, before its growth attracted a number of headliners over the years: Iggy Pop, James Brown, The Whites Stripes... The venue is relatively small, seating around 1,000 - but that's part of its charm - and prices are affordable. What's more, the Metro is one of the venues hosting Lollapalooza's OFF festival, with Green Day performing in July 2022.