Bill

I'm heading to Chicago for the first time around St. Pat's day. I'm looking for some funky suggestions for night life/interesting sights&restaraunts. There's nothing worse than seeing a new city and winding up at a Hard Rock or chain type place for entertainment. Something off the beaten track would be great.
Thanks All, Bill

Ann

I don't know if this counts as funky, but at least it's Chicago. Try Second City, the comedy club where most of the best comics we all know have trained. It's lots of fun.

Owen O'Neill

Try a night at the New Checkerboard Lounge on Muddy Waters Blvd. - the South side. It's a real authentic blues club. The audience will be a mix of local neighborhood folk, a few tourists and some hard core blues fans who come from near and far - the music is the draw. Very relaxed, friendly atmosphere and a nicely mixed crowd in both race and ethnicity. I went by myself and had a great time - much better than Kingston Mines, Buddy Guy's Legends etc. Don't even worry about who's playing - rest assured the music will be great.

Suzanne

St. Pat's day is a blast in Chicago. If you are interested in the Irish bars try Fado's, Irish Oak, Cullen's, or Blarney Stone. (The last 4 suggestions are in Wrigleyville.) Only warning...because St. Pat's falls on Saturday there will be A LOT of people partying early! Dinner suggestions: I love Gibson's Steakhouse, Cafe Iberico for Tapas, Flat Top Grill for stir fry, or Mia Francesca for Italian. Have fun!

jen

Go to the Bucktown/Wicker Park area-- the Adobo Grill is great for Mexican, and the Soul Kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants in the city (be prepared for a wait). After dinner, you can't spit without hitting a funky or trendy or just plain off-beat bar. a couple of my favorites are the Get Me High Lounge (sorry, can't remember the intersection to save my life), Tuman's Alcohol Abuse Center (Chicago and Leavitt, and Nick's (Milwaukee just south of North Ave.) for good live music on the weekends-- open til 4:00 on Fridays, 5:00 on Saturdays, if you're really hard-core.
Also, for something different, go north a bit to Diversy Rock-N-Bowl (Diversy and Elston-- a bowling alley in a rock and roll nightclub atmosphere... don't know how else to desribe it, but it's lots of fun-- one warning: I have had trouble getting a cab from there later at night, and the surrounding neighborhood is kind of sketchy- so if you go, I'd go earlier in the evening.
www.metromix.com is a great website for restaurants, nightlife, and events here in Chicago. Have fun!