Entertainment and Nightlife
You can find it all in Chicago: world-class theatre, off-beat experimental stuff, symphony, opera, dance, legendary impov, blues and jazz clubs, music and film festivals, and more.
Let me get you started, by giving you the info and links you need to find whatever interests you.
FOR GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE INFO (all types)
You can find searchable events calendars and info on theater, dance, opera, classical music, comedy, film, bars and clubs, festivals, and more, at the following sites:
Chicago.metromix
The online entertainment guide from the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago.citysearch
This link takes you straight to the events calendar.
Chicagoreader
Online version of the alternative weekly paper. Contains both mainstream and more offbeat entertainment and nightlife listings.
TimeOutChicago
Online version of the weekly arts, entertainment, dining, news, and events magazine. The site is a little cluttered, but the information is comprehensive, hip, and current; there’s a good searchable events calendar which includes critic’s picks; I like that Time Out provides public transportation directions for most venues.
FOR THEATER and PERFORMING ARTS INFO
The following links are focused on theater and/or other performing arts information:
ChicagoTraveler
Chicago Traveler is a terrific visitor info site; this link takes you straight to their Chicago Theater Information page. You’ll find a guide to the venues, what’s playing, maps, nearby restaurants and hotels. There’s also a nice article on Going to the Theatre in Downtown Chicago by Zahra Ink which will “steer you through the process of seeing a play in downtown Chicago.”
Chicagoplays
Website for the League of Chicago Theatres, an alliance of theatres dedicated to supporting and promoting theatre in Chicago. Especially good search feature for all sorts of performing arts. The site also provides an easy link to hottix.org, the source for discounted Chicago theatre tickets.
A GOOD CHICAGO THEATRES LOCATOR MAP
ChicagoTraveler.com is a good source for simple online maps. Click here to see their locator map for Chicago theatres.
FOR COMEDY and IMPROV
Chicago Comedy Association.
Link takes you to a list of comedy theatre members, with links where you can get show information, tickets, and maps.
The Second City
Legendary improvisational theater whose alumni include John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Tina Fey, and on and on.
FOR INFO ON BARS AND CLUBS, including legendary CHICAGO BLUES
TimeOutChicago
Start here for music, bars, and clubs info. The site is a little cluttered, but the information is comprehensive, hip, and current; there’s a good searchable events calendar which includes critic’s picks; I like that Time Out provides public transportation directions for most venues.
Chicago.metromix
The online entertainment guide from the Chicago Tribune.
Chicagoreader
Online version of the alternative weekly paper. Contains both mainstream and more offbeat entertainment and nightlife listings.
