Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Wrigley Field in Chicago is the second-oldest major league baseball ballpark in the country. It is the home of the National League's Chicago Cubs. The field is on the north side of the city in the busy Lakeview neighborhood. The immediate area surrounding the park is called Wrigleyville and includes a high concentration of bars, restaurants and stores. Lakeview and nearby neighborhoods are filled with things to do nearly 24 hours a day.
Just two blocks north of Wrigley Field is The Metro, a well-known concert venue. It is famous for hosting top-notch concerts and providing a stage for up-and-coming artists. The Chicago band, Smashing Pumpkins, performed their first and last concerts at The Metro. Artists such as Prince, James Brown, Nirvana, Oasis and many others have performed at the club. The Metro's downstairs area is the home of Smart Bar, a dance club on the circuit of a world's top DJs. Smart Bar stays open until 4 a.m. most days and until 5 a.m. on Saturdays.
The Metro and Smart Bar
3730 N. Clark St.
Chicago, Illinois 60613
773-549-0203
metrochicago.com
www.smartbarchicago.com
Kingston Mines is Chicago's oldest blues club. It is located on Halsted Street. It has two stages and is open seven nights a week. Blues musicians perform until the wee hours of the morning, 4 a.m. on most days and 5 a.m. on Saturdays. Legendary acts play the club as well as young blues artists. Kingston Mines attracts a diverse crowd, from foreign tourists drawn to its legendary status to local students who pack the club on its "college nights." The club also serves Southern-themed food. The menu features ribs, catfish and deep-fried food.
Kingston Mines
2548 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois 60614
773-477-4646
www.kingstonmines.com
Lakeview's Halsted Street is the center of the city's gay village and is lined with clubs, restaurants and specialty shops providing visitors with an array of choices for recreation and shopping. World-renowned DJs perform at many of the clubs on Halsted, and the street is the main route of the city's famous annual Pride Parade.
A landmark in Boystown is The Center on Halsted, one of the country's largest gay and lesbian centers. The center provides all types of programming, including cutting edge arts performances in its theater. At the end of every summer, Northalsted Market Days takes place on the street. It is the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest.
Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois 60613
773-472-6469
centeronhalsted.org
Northalsted Business Alliance
3656 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois 60613
773-883-0500
www.northalsted.com