Category: Nightlife

Andersonville offers all kinds of bars, but my favorite for a casual night out is Simon’s Bar. Tell your girlfriends to come as they are and not fuss with high heels or dresses. The jeans and tennis shoes crowd here comes for drinks and conversation, not to dress and impress.

Look for the neon light shaped like a fish with a Viking helmet and cocktail and the Swedish flag. Mingle at the long dark wooden bar or relax at tables and wooden benches along the walls. Try the comfy couches in the back by the gas fireplace and the jukebox, which is loud enough to enjoy but not won’t drown out your conversations. Bands sometimes play here on weekends but the occasional cover will not be more than a few dollars.

Simon’s has the old Swedish charm that made Andersonville unique. My favorite drink here is glogg, the traditional Swedish red wine punch strengthened with vodka and infused with plump raisins and slivered almonds. Glogg costs only $4 here and comes with a gingersnap. No drink warms you better on a snowy night. With fruit, nuts and antioxidants it almost seems healthy. The bar offers a broad selection of flavored vodkas and microbrews like Goose Island and Red Seal Ale, but drink prices remain reasonable. Don’t count on bar food here but enjoy do drinks after dinner at any nearby restaurant or a cocktail before a play at Annoyance Theatre or the Neo-Futurariam.

Impress your friends with the history of Simon’s. This bar dates from 1934. Before that, there was a speakeasy at this location. The small wooden booth near the front door was a booth for cashing checks in the Depression, after many customers lost faith in the banks. Faith in beer and liquor has stayed strong here, though. The yellow murals on the walls have said “Wilkommen” to generations of neighbors and friends.

As so many Chicago neighborhoods gentrify and cocktail prices become downright insulting, it’s comforting to know that some watering holes remain the same. I’ve enjoyed Simon’s Bar with my friends and met some good people there. The place feels as comfortable as a living room for drinks and conversation. The bar stays full, not because of advertising or trendiness, but because its patrons honestly like it and bring their friends. Hang out as long as you want, because here you can afford it.

Have you been noticing the same trend I have lately - that “Dive Bars” are in, but the places springing up are really more like a commercialized Crabby Ole Mondays than a genuine hole in the wall? Well, for those of you who are fed up with the wanna be’s can rejoice, because The Mutiny truly IS a dive! It’s dark, dank and really rank, where the pool is free, the drinks are cheap, there’s never a cover and the guy’s can claim the dubious distinction of relieving themselves in what is quite possibly the world’s largest urinal… one of which us rubber necking ladies feel the need to get a sneaky peek of!

This is a place where you can shackle yourself to the bar and get loaded from a mere twenty, thanks to the frosty half pitchers! At the same time, you can get acquainted with the regulars, some of which are really past the expiration date, all while admiring a dizzying array of local art on the drop ceiling tiles overhead - some of it is really impressive! Add to that a fun juke box that caters to just about every rockin’ taste and live bands that pass a pitcher around for tips (since they don’t charge at the door). How much fun can a group have when they really do want to slum it?

The bands that play here are usually of the Punkish persuasion, though 80s cover bands and metal acts do find their way inside. The tie that binds is the acts are all pretty much starving artists looking to get a little stage time, so don’t expect too many up and comers or bands traveling from anywhere further than the south side. However, just like the prizes in a Cracker Jack box, you never know what you’re going to get: probably nothing with much pizzazz but plenty of moxie to make up for it.

Now of course, that make shift stage in back looks like it’s ready to collapse at any second, the sound is pretty bad, there aren’t a whole lot of places to cop a squat, there’s a weird smell you can’t quite put a finger on and Fire Marshall Bill might have something to say about the crowds. But personally, I think it just adds to the charm. The people are genuinely nice and easy going, and the bands play their hearts out, hoping to rattle a few wallets in order to scrape up some gas money home. Really, this place is a whole package, and singling out all it’s ills and woes does not do it justice. Needless to say, elitists, germaphobics and A-List bands would probably rather find someplace else to go.

It’s a pay day Friday and it’s 5pm. You and your coworkers need to shake the week off, and you need some joint nearby to knock back a few. Where to go? Hit that cool Olde Englishe Pubbe - Monk’s! (Yes, the extra “E’s” are tongue in cheek.) Okay I admit it - I’m a sucker for places that ooze that old world charm chalet regalia to them. It just feels so cozy! But there is a whole lot more to be had at this place than just its looks, because the food and drinks are so on time. And throwing peanut shells on the floor is just plain fun, okay?

When you open those gigantic wooden doors and walk inside this dark, charming pub, the steel city skyline and the roar of the overhead train can feel like it’s a million miles away. You crush peanut shells on the wooden floors as you scope out a spot and snatch up a bowl for yourselves. You may then notice the glass bottles in the walls, if your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. But if you haven’t, you have at least picked up on the smell of the burgers, and of the chatter and laughter from the other Loopers who are also looking to unwind for the weekend. That’s what this place is all about, and it does a good job of doing it.

Some folks tap this place during the week for their lunch breaks, but the service is rather mixed depending on how busy they get. However, you rarely wait more than fifteen minutes to get a seat, so if you have an hour break, it works out. Most people order the burgers here, be it beef, turkey or veggie - all of which are delicious! And curly fries are just plain awesome! If burgers aren’t not your thing, you can relax, as an extensive bar menu is available to accommodate all tastes. Try the portabella sandwich - it’s incredible!

If I need to point anything out about this place is that you can’t miss it, but no one else can, either. Therefore, it’s a good idea to nominate one guy from your group to leave the office early and scope out a spot for the rest of yas, because the happy hour crowd can really pack the place. And after that first encounter, you just might have to set up a rotation on that nomination, because it might end up being your group’s regular thang!

Dude! Oh my Gawd this place is fuggin AWESOME! Horns way up! Not only do they mix a mean drink and serve up a nice selection of brews, but the music is pumping, the tattooed waitresses are hot and cool as hell, there’s an outdoor patio and Wow! they make some really incredible pretzel bun burgers and sandwiches named after some of my all time favorite bands! And whoa! Jack on tap? What a marvelous concept!

What’s cool about this place is that it feels so much like when I go out to a metal fest, minus the bands and vendors, of course. The majority of the patrons are guys, so those of the rockin female persuasion are that much more welcome. And tattoo flash used as wall paper in the blessedly clean bathrooms is pretty cool as well! The music is obviously Metal, going from one extreme to the other, and kept at that perfect volume, where you want to jam out and talk to the buds you came with at the same time without losing your voice.

Lots of Belgian brews are to be had here, so you beer connoisseurs can rest assured you won’t have to gulp down swill while chowing down. And yep, plenty of the hard stuff to keep the rest of yas happy, too! But it’s the food most people come for, and Kuma’s certainly does not disappoint! Why oh why are pretzel buns not the standard for burgers, because they really should be! And for folks who fear burger and bar joints are just greasy dives can relax, because just about every sandwich can be ordered up veg, many of which feature plenty of healthy toppings!

Now besides the sandwiches, those fries they make deserve some serious praise all on their own. If you have never had fresh cut fries, then you are really missing out - perfect in every sense of the word. And why on Earth is macaroni and cheese never this good when I make it? That blue box in the pantry is just simply awful in comparison! The calamari they serve is pretty good too, with a garnish of deep fried basil no one should live without trying.

Kuma’s has been getting a lot of praise lately from mainstream reviewers, so needless to say, this place gets really busy on the weekends, even in the summer when the patio is open. Even so, that 1½ to 2 hour table wait on the weekends is definitely worth it, and I admit to being a pretty impatient lady! And thankfully, street parking isn’t a pain! I just hope these guys can expand for more tables and hopefully able to start having bands play here!

Here's an up and comer hangout the south side is taking full advantage of! It's blessedly free of self righteousness, sells a full line of beer and liquors, has a great juke box and even has it's own little pub grub restaurant inside that sells pretty good food at decent prices! Those driving down there at night might miss it on the first swing, as it's situated within a strip mall on a four lane street, across from Sprawl*Mart. There's plenty of parking along the south side, so there's no need to fight over the few spots up front.

Bands are just starting to get booked here, so for right now, it's still a bit of a word of mouth deal. Even so, word of good places to hang out and catch a show catches on fast, and this place is definitely getting the recognition it deserves. It seems the bands booked are pretty varied, though they seem to rotate within the rock and metal genres, as well as host their fair share of 80s cover bands.

There are two stages, thanks to its banquet hall adjacent to the main entrance, with the main stage opposite the large bar. The sound and lighting are pretty good and carries well, even into the bathrooms way in the back, which are somewhat clean. Merch booths for large show cases form just about anyplace that has room, though are mindful to keep the fronts of the stage areas open for the fans.

When the place gets busy, the one gripe is that there really should be more than a single server behind the bar. Even so, the girl I've seen back there seems to handle herself fairly well under the circumstances, though the wait can be rather annoying.

Now here is a place you can go to any night of the week and, even if all the bands were worse than disappointing, you can guarantee you will have a good time. There are so many pluses to the Bottle that the few negatives that is has can be far out weighed.

First off, there is that no cover Monday night deal, where while the bands can be varied and inherently hit or miss, the drink prices are more than fair, and there's a little tucked away game room nook that allows you to escape from the occasional suckiness. When the bands are good, the place can get really crowded. Either way, take advantage of the game room to catch a breather, and don't forget to buy some merch! Also, not many places can boast of being able to offer change back for a fin, including tip, of which the servers more than deserve.

Since the bands booked at the Bottle can swing from one direction to another, it's a good idea to check ahead for their lineup. Quite a few great bands have played here right before they struck it big, so if you have even an inkling of wanting to check something out, you really should!

Parking and public trans are definite issues, and people not from the area can find the neighborhood to be a little on the scary side. The mirror in the women's bathroom is kind of a non point, since the graffiti all but covers it, rendering it useless. Then again, who really goes to a place like this to powder their noses? And yes, the Bottle has its fair share of douche bags, but they're at least the kind that regular folks can associate with, just as long as they don't talk over the bands performing.

Be sure to bring cash to this cardless bar, as the cash machine bears a sign warning users it is truly the World's Slowest ATM, if it's even working that night. There's a pool table, classic arcade games and a photo booth too, which are a whole lotta fun! Then there's that black cat people sometimes come across by the merch booths, though I personally have yet to see it. Non human residents are cool, okay, and trying to spy such a mythical creature makes for a fabulous, drunken quest between sets!

This is a spot that definitely has its ups and downs, depending on your perspective. The bar has really earned its name due to its small capacity, and the upstairs verses the downstairs seem to be two completely different bars altogether.

As you come in, you'll immediately notice the blessed amount of bench seating available, which is great when you come in a pack. Also, since most people go there to see a show, seating is fairly ample, even on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar staff up there are pretty friendly, accommodating and know a thing or two about making a mixer, and the prices are fair, though nothing to write home about. The bathrooms however are pretty dingy and strewn with graffiti, but hey – that just makes for good bowl reading! Just be sure to hover and squat!

Yes, the Elbo Room brings in its fair share of decent local bands, and yes, it's in a fair location when it comes to finding parking considering the area, but that downstairs stage really doesn't do a whole lot of favors for anyone. The stairway can make you feel claustrophobic with those loose, winding steps, the stage is small and on the floor, the sound is pretty bad, it's more like hanging out in your mom's low ceiling basement than at any kind of real venue and wow does it get HOT down there, even in the middle of a frigid Chicago winter! And because of the layout, set changes take an awful long time, since there just isn't enough room for bands to set up and tear down in the same amount of space. However, places like this do allow fans to get up close and personal with their favorite bands, which can be a big positive under the right set of circumstances. Also, its strange, angular layout has plenty of little nooks to hide out in, though the bar stools are rickety, not at all comfortable and are in very short supply.

Overall, the Elbo Room is probably a good place to go if your friend's band is playing, so go ahead and support them! If you stay upstairs, it also serves well for finding a place in the neighborhood to bring a group of friends. Other than that though, the place really doesn't have much to stand on its own.

Whiskey lovers unite! Even if you're not particularly fond of the overall punk scene, there really is no place like Delilah's when it comes to getting schooled from their massive selection of whiskey, neatly categorized on its own menu by type, country of origin and year. The bizarre, morbid artwork gracing the walls spiral in your head faster than the libations that go down oh so smoothly, and the edgy music in the darkened rooms add to that overall effect of transporting your hum drum life into something a little more rebellious.

This is a bar lover's bar, make no mistake, which is surprisingly unpretentious in comparison to just about every other bar in the area. Finally, a place where everyone can feel just as welcome as their money is! Big kudos for that alone. Many a liver has been replaced due to this place, but yet no one seems to care. The punkiness has calmed down somewhat from its heyday, but Delilah's still has its overall FTW attitude that very few places in town can claim. The juke box has a great selection of music, but if the staff don't like what you picked, they do have a tendency to knock down the volume while your selection is playing and kick it back up when they approve.

Every section of Delilah's is the place to be: the bar staff and the majority of the patrons are pretty cool, and even a wait in line for the surprisingly clean bathrooms can be a place to strike up a good conversation and make new friends. Even the bar stools are comfortable, and probably need to be! After all, there are just so many interesting conversation starters to choose from! Drink specials throughout the week keep people coming back for more, and even on its busiest nights, the place is big enough to support actual chit chat with your group, whether you came with them or formed your posse right there and then.

One special word of mention is that the proportions of liquor to mixer will vary, based on the particular server, but it can go for the better. Many times, that JB and 7 will be almost all JB, and when there's a special going on, a ten spot can really go a long way! Unless you go to a genuine “bum bar”, you're not going to be able to stretch your dollar like that, that's for sure!

Ah yes, the Cubby Bear, where the party is sure to continue whether the Cubs win or lose, the Miller runs $5 a can (though no one complains out loud), and it seems that everybody in there needs to have their ID's double checked, due to the overwhelmingly young crowd. Even with its frat boy and trixie flaws, this bar is a must do after the game and has been a local institution for decades, even way back in the day when Wrigleyville was far from a hip place to see and be seen. Nice big tvs dot the overhead landscape, so no matter where you are, you can be sure you can see the game, just in case you left the bleachers a couple innings early. The bar staff knows a thing or two about mixing a decent drink, but don't expect the service to be exceedingly swift. Even so, it still is a pretty cool sports bar overall.

The Cubby Bear is also legendary as hosting some great underground bands of all genres and calipers. The intimate stage allows folks to get up close and personal with their favorites. Now while I personally find it to be a badge of honor, it can get pretty loud in there, so be prepared to have that after show ringing going on in your ears after a show.

If you want to actually feel your legs and hold a decent conversation with your buds, stop by on an off season weekday. The food is nothing special, but the people in there will be a little more mature (on all levels!) and it really is a great sports bar. This is also one of the places in town that hosts live band karaoke on Wednesday nights, which really knocks up the rock star status a few notches for the daring few, and it tends to make mediocre singers sound a whole lot better.

So yes, make no mistake, they're definitely open year round, because the Cubby Bear does not believe in waiting 'til next year to have a good time.

Humboldt Park is a neighborhood that is in a constant state of change, but there are some things that never will. One of its many main stays is the California Clipper, a place that has really rolled with it but firmly holds onto its roots. And hey – where else are you going to find a bar that has grape soda on the fountain gun and has a bingo night? Seriously! That cool grape goodness makes for some fun vodka and gin mixes!

This place screams retro, but it's really not, because all that vintage red decor and lighting has been around about as long as that rusty lighted sign out front. It's about as jazzy as the Green Mill but with a mix of rockabilly and other fun styles blended together to make for a fun night. This is one of the few places where you can order something from the way back machine like a Tom Collins or a bourbon mixer and the bartender can do it without dusting off a recipe book, and yet are equally talented to whip up a flirty Cosmo all the same. People who frequent the lounge come from all walks of life, from hipsters to And since its location is right by the huge park itself, those wanting to start off when the sun is still out can chill out there, too. Snack on some tamales or corn from the outdoor vendors beforehand and go with it.

Now yes, granted, Humboldt Park still has its very seedy side to it, so it's probably not a good idea to go wandering off California Avenue after dark, unless you travel in packs. Parking can be tricky later at night as well, but nowhere near as hard as around other popular hangouts. But fifteen years ago, locals said the same thing about neighboring Wicker Park and Bucktown, so the general synopsis states the trend towards a better neighborhood will definitely follow. I say, embrace that state of flux and revel in it while you still can!