Jazz and dinner -- Chicago
Jun 28th, 2016, 11:21 AM
#1
Original Poster
Jazz and dinner -- Chicago
We’ll be in Chicago for a couple of days in late August and would like to find a place to hear jazz while having dinner (like Iridium or Bluenote in NYC), if possible. So far on-line I’ve only found one Jazz place which does this, Andy’s Jazz. Besides Andy’s Jazz, I’ve looked at Jazz Showcase (doesn’t serve dinner but is centrally located, so nearby restaurant recommendations could work as an alternative) and The Green Mill (much further away with restaurants nearby, but not serving dinner either). Anyone know of any other restaurants which might have live jazz and serves food in the central/downtown area?
Jun 30th, 2016, 05:56 AM
#5
Original Poster
I appreciate the info on Rosa's. Looks like it has a great reputation for Blues. No dinner there, but it's becoming clear that might not be possible. However I checked who would be performing the two nights we'd be in town. One night Rosa's was closed, the other had a performer who's music we didn't care for that much. I'll keeping checking other venues. Thanks for your suggestion.
Jun 30th, 2016, 08:34 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, Kathleen. Chicago has so many amazing restaurants, but I never hear of one that is known for live music. It seems like music and food excel in their own venues.
I'm not any sort of expert on Jazz. Certainly the Green Mill is an historic, amazing lounge for live music, but I'd never eat there.
And Davenport's is an inviting space to listen to live music, but again, not known for food.
http://davenportspianobar.com
A downtown place that seems like a casual joint--but has been open forever--is the Redhead Piano Bar. Maybe you recognize the musicians, there...? But again, I'd eat elsewhere.
http://theredheadpianobar.com/?music
Best of luck in your search!
I'm not any sort of expert on Jazz. Certainly the Green Mill is an historic, amazing lounge for live music, but I'd never eat there.
And Davenport's is an inviting space to listen to live music, but again, not known for food.
http://davenportspianobar.com
A downtown place that seems like a casual joint--but has been open forever--is the Redhead Piano Bar. Maybe you recognize the musicians, there...? But again, I'd eat elsewhere.
http://theredheadpianobar.com/?music
Best of luck in your search!
Jun 30th, 2016, 10:07 AM
#7
Original Poster
Thanks. I think we'll just pick a good restaurant, then go to hear some jazz at either Green Mill, Jazz Showcase or Andy's Jazz (depending on who's performing). I checked the two sites you mentioned, but they're not exactly what we had in mind. On to plan B. Thank you both again.
Jun 30th, 2016, 11:07 AM
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ChgoGal is correct. You go to a music venue for the music and to a restaurant for the dining.
Buddy Guy's Legends and the Jazz Showcase are in the South Loop, not the "downtown" Loop area. Andy's Jazz Club is in River North. And The Green Mill is in Uptown. (Although it is somewhat better than it was, you do not want to be wandering around in Uptown not knowing where you are going, particularly later at night. You don't even want to take the Red Line back - take a cab.)
Before I get off the subject, Andy's has a two-hour table limit, as noted on their website.
The OP doesn't indicate if everyone in their party is over 21. Wherever they go, whether it be a jazz or blues club, they will run into age limitations. Some of the clubs do allow those under 21 - but only with strict limitations (shown on their websites).
As the OP probably already knows, there is normally a cover charge pp (plus drinks). So figure at least $45-70 pp for just the evening musicale entertainment.
That being said, there are a couple of more upscale restaurants in the more central "downtown" area which do have some music. Shaw's Crab House has live music in the Oyster Bar and Catch 35 has their piano bar - when you walk in the doors. (Of course, the further from the bar area you are, the less you can hear the music.)
One area which the OP may be interested: On N. Halsted St. in the DePaul University area of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, there are two sister jazz clubs, right across the street from one another: Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. B.L.U.E.S. is the much smaller venue of the two. (Sunday evenings, pay the cover at one and get into the other for free.) Anyway, there is a great deal of choice of very good to better restaurants in the immediate area.
Since the OP is coming at the very end of August: Every year, the Chicago Jazz Festival is held over the Labor Day weekend at Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. But that weekend isn't the only time jazz will be in the air. There are ancillary events leading up to the Jazz Festival.
Here is the website for the Jazz Institute of Chicago: jazzinchicago.org Click on "Events". You will see the Jazz Club Tour for 2016 hyperlink. Click on it and you will see all the clubs to which the tour goes.
Here is the website for the Chicago Jazz Festival: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en...nts_dates.html
In addition, the Chicago Cultural Center may have additional concerts pre-festival. They just don't have their August calendar posted yet, but I'd take a look when they do.
Now, let's talk about other venues which do have both music and food - and other attractions as well:
On Tuesday evenings, at the Museum of Contemporary Music: Tuesdays on the Terrace: mcachicago.org/Calendar There is both the Terrace Buffet (@ $27pp) or outdoor grill products. Reservations, if not required, highly recommended.
Wednesday evenings at the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Patio at Café Brauer: Locally Sourced at the Patio: http://www.lpzoo.org/locally-sourced-patio (in conjunction with the Old Town School of Folk Music - local products as well)
Also Wednesday evenings at the Shedd Aquarium, Jazzin at the Shedd: www.sheddaquarium.org/jazzin/ BTW, you can see the Navy Pier fireworks from this vantage point.
Buddy Guy's Legends and the Jazz Showcase are in the South Loop, not the "downtown" Loop area. Andy's Jazz Club is in River North. And The Green Mill is in Uptown. (Although it is somewhat better than it was, you do not want to be wandering around in Uptown not knowing where you are going, particularly later at night. You don't even want to take the Red Line back - take a cab.)
Before I get off the subject, Andy's has a two-hour table limit, as noted on their website.
The OP doesn't indicate if everyone in their party is over 21. Wherever they go, whether it be a jazz or blues club, they will run into age limitations. Some of the clubs do allow those under 21 - but only with strict limitations (shown on their websites).
As the OP probably already knows, there is normally a cover charge pp (plus drinks). So figure at least $45-70 pp for just the evening musicale entertainment.
That being said, there are a couple of more upscale restaurants in the more central "downtown" area which do have some music. Shaw's Crab House has live music in the Oyster Bar and Catch 35 has their piano bar - when you walk in the doors. (Of course, the further from the bar area you are, the less you can hear the music.)
One area which the OP may be interested: On N. Halsted St. in the DePaul University area of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, there are two sister jazz clubs, right across the street from one another: Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. B.L.U.E.S. is the much smaller venue of the two. (Sunday evenings, pay the cover at one and get into the other for free.) Anyway, there is a great deal of choice of very good to better restaurants in the immediate area.
Since the OP is coming at the very end of August: Every year, the Chicago Jazz Festival is held over the Labor Day weekend at Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. But that weekend isn't the only time jazz will be in the air. There are ancillary events leading up to the Jazz Festival.
Here is the website for the Jazz Institute of Chicago: jazzinchicago.org Click on "Events". You will see the Jazz Club Tour for 2016 hyperlink. Click on it and you will see all the clubs to which the tour goes.
Here is the website for the Chicago Jazz Festival: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en...nts_dates.html
In addition, the Chicago Cultural Center may have additional concerts pre-festival. They just don't have their August calendar posted yet, but I'd take a look when they do.
Now, let's talk about other venues which do have both music and food - and other attractions as well:
On Tuesday evenings, at the Museum of Contemporary Music: Tuesdays on the Terrace: mcachicago.org/Calendar There is both the Terrace Buffet (@ $27pp) or outdoor grill products. Reservations, if not required, highly recommended.
Wednesday evenings at the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Patio at Café Brauer: Locally Sourced at the Patio: http://www.lpzoo.org/locally-sourced-patio (in conjunction with the Old Town School of Folk Music - local products as well)
Also Wednesday evenings at the Shedd Aquarium, Jazzin at the Shedd: www.sheddaquarium.org/jazzin/ BTW, you can see the Navy Pier fireworks from this vantage point.
Jun 30th, 2016, 11:22 AM
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Correction: I meant "blues clubs" when I typed "jazz clubs" when describing Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S.
Sorry - was thinking ahead to what I was going to tell you next and didn't see it during my proofreading.
Sorry - was thinking ahead to what I was going to tell you next and didn't see it during my proofreading.
Jun 30th, 2016, 12:03 PM
#10
Original Poster
Thank you. Not being from Chicago, my location title designations are clearly inaccurate. Apologies. Downtown to me simply covered a much greater area. We can certainly take cabs if the area we go to warrants it. And not to worry about ages—we two are retired professors.
We’re in town for a couple of days after a stay in Madison, WI, and before heading home. We thought it would be nice to hear great music and have a nice meal (emphasis on music) like we did in NYC a couple of times at the Iridium and Bluenote (you can have both). However, I now think we’ll go for just a fine meal somewhere. Flights were booked before we found out about the Jazz festival, and we will miss even the pre-night of Jazz Club Touring (which sounded great).
One thing you pointed out that might be nice as it’s on our last evening, is the Tuesdays on the Terrace. And, I’ll keep a look out for the August calendar for the Chicago Cultural Center.
We’re in town for a couple of days after a stay in Madison, WI, and before heading home. We thought it would be nice to hear great music and have a nice meal (emphasis on music) like we did in NYC a couple of times at the Iridium and Bluenote (you can have both). However, I now think we’ll go for just a fine meal somewhere. Flights were booked before we found out about the Jazz festival, and we will miss even the pre-night of Jazz Club Touring (which sounded great).
One thing you pointed out that might be nice as it’s on our last evening, is the Tuesdays on the Terrace. And, I’ll keep a look out for the August calendar for the Chicago Cultural Center.
Jun 30th, 2016, 01:38 PM
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are welcome.
We do try to let visitors know that "downtown" can be a really fluid term, depending on the source. If you ask a local where "downtown" is, the answer will be the Loop.
Could be mistaken but I think that the extremely large emphasis for The Iridium and the Blue Note is that they are music venues - that just happen to offer a limited menu. Same as Andy's and Buddy Guy's - and some others in Chicago. If you look at the general theme running through all of the reviews on any of the websites for those first two, I think you'll see what we are saying here as well.
Just to be clear, I was not offering up those alternative options to replace your going out to a restaurant to dine. My suggestion is they are in addition to it. Just like when you go to a music venue.
We do try to let visitors know that "downtown" can be a really fluid term, depending on the source. If you ask a local where "downtown" is, the answer will be the Loop.
Could be mistaken but I think that the extremely large emphasis for The Iridium and the Blue Note is that they are music venues - that just happen to offer a limited menu. Same as Andy's and Buddy Guy's - and some others in Chicago. If you look at the general theme running through all of the reviews on any of the websites for those first two, I think you'll see what we are saying here as well.
Just to be clear, I was not offering up those alternative options to replace your going out to a restaurant to dine. My suggestion is they are in addition to it. Just like when you go to a music venue.
