Hear Chicago After Dark, From Live Bands to Vinyl
Listen from a bar stool, join the crowd at a show or take a booth for drinks and wings. A vintage lounge, an alternative dive and a Japanese-inspired listening room offer different settings for the evening.
Bars and Performance Spaces
California Avenue Weekend Sessions
The California Clipper has operated in Humboldt Park since 1937. Red lighting and vintage furniture frame the cocktail lounge. Live music runs nightly. Shows typically carry a five dollar cover. Entry is restricted to guests aged 21 and older. Friday hours run from four in the afternoon until two in the morning. Saturday closing is at three in the morning. Choose a stool at the wooden bar or an armchair for a drink.
After Midnight on Western
Saturday hours at Empty Bottle run from 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM. Entry is for guests aged 21 and older. Weekend admission ranges from 15 to 20 dollars. Alternative bands and experimental acts play this Ukrainian Village dive bar. A raised upper floor accommodates packed crowds. Exposed brick and a stamped tin ceiling frame the space. The bar sits at the back of the performance floor.
Japanese Roots on Chicago Avenue
Guest DJs play jazz and house on vinyl at Wax Vinyl Bar in West Town. The listening room takes its cues from Japanese jazz kissas. A high-end sound system carries the music. Order wings alongside a signature cocktail. Wooden tables and booth seating sit beneath spherical pendant lights. Admission is free for guests aged 21 and older. Friday and Saturday hours run from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
