On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Jazz & Blues, Lounges, Performing Arts
Neighborhood: UptownLawrence (Red)
Loading...
Went here for the first time last night and was thoroughly impressed with the Uptown Poetry Slam (which happens every Sunday night from 7 - 10.) The emcee Marc Smith has been running this show for over 20 years and is a fantastic performer and improviser in his own right...the poem he ended the night on, a reflection on how he has fallen short of his ideals, was heavy and genuine. Unexpected, as for most of the night Smith's an affectionate prankster.
The show begins with an open mic, then has a feature performer, and then the slam competition. The feature performers last night (a duo who tossed their individual poems back and forth in frenetic quasi-collaboration ) were very good and I regret that I didn't catch their names. (Note to Green Mill: you should list the names of the feature performers on your website, dig?)
The slam contestants were hot and cold, as they should be. Ultimately you're going there for the energy, to see someone put themselves out there, to catch snippets of feeling....
The band who accompanies the slammers keeps you from drifting away. I was completely won over by the pianist who performed her own song in a sweet-as-honey voice about how quickly you can detest someone who strikes up a conversation with you.
As far as the place itself, it's cozy and laid back. There's a long bar that winds around from the entrance to the stage area as well as tables and chairs that get filled up quick so don't try to be fashionably late--early is better.
For 6 dollars, you'd be hard pressed to find a comparable night of creativity and verve.
This place always reminds me of having my tongue ripped out. I suppose this has nothing to do with the music, or the drinks (the only whiskey sour ever worth purchasing. Froth, people!), but Joe E. Lewis. Google that shit.
Anyways, I keep finding myself here more and more often. I have even come enough that the unfriendly doormen are not so rude anymore (or maybe I'm just used to it) and we only get hushed once a night or so. I've even got the cash or amex policy down, so I always arrive with at least 40 bucks (it always seems to cost that much. but once the whiskey starts coming, how can i stop?)
This place is significantly better when you are lucky enough to snag a table and are at a show that allows talking. Quiet shows are great when you aren't with people to actually spend time with them, but don't plan on going to listen to jazz on a Monday and also catch up with a college friend. You will only look askance and bob your head together.
In terms of the best night, always look at the calendar before you go. Do not assume there will be jazz on Sunday; you will be at a poetry slam. Thursday is my favorite night; it's swing night (which sounds lame), but they have a great big band, old people lovingly dance and they have this shtick where an announcer pretends it is on radio broadcast like its 70 years ago and we're at the Aragon. Wednesday is fun too (Gypsy Jazz!) and some weekends they have some awesome special events. Music always goes late into the night.
There is always a cover, so don't be that annoying in group in front of me who didn't know it'd cost $6-12 dollars to get in and then stand there debating for 5 minutes. Get over it.
They have 3 beers on tap, and a full bar, but drinks are kind of pricey and tiny. I know I mentioned this, but the only drink to get here, save for straight whiskey, is a whiskey sour. I know, I know, the drink in general is an abomination of heaven's nectar, but it's really well executed here. They shake the shit out of it, yielding froth abound, it's more citrus than corn syrup, and the orange slice and cherry will occupy you when you feel awkward looking around, not knowing how to react to jazz you really don't get.
psst, they have a parking lot no one seems to know about!
I went here on a Friday to meet up with some old friends to celebrate a lads birthday a few months ago and definetely had a great time. I came late and was suprised to find myself paying about $12 cover for the live jazz band. (worth it). My friends arrived earlier and amazingly took over a reserved booth that I eventually learned was Al Capone's booth of choice! The place was standing room only for the majority of the night and for the most part silent. The band was kickass as we downed several pints of beer and cheap bottles of cabernet. The bathroom was hilarious because It was literally the size of a closet and located almost ON STAGE. Its pretty cool when you leave the loo, and everyone goes from staring at the band, to staring at you with your zipper down.
Rock the shiz,
Silky
It's like stepping into a time machine.
Best enjoyed when it's rainy/foggy and very late.
Went on a Saturday night to see an out of town band from NYC. There was a small cover charge, but that's no different than any other jazz club on the weekends. Gotta pay the musicians! The music was top notch but the Quartet, billed as being from NYC, was 1/2 filled with Chicago ringers. Great players, still, but a bit misleading...
We couldn't get a seat anywhere and it was only 8:30pm. That's my only beef with this Club, it gets crowded, and people end up standing around. The owner did set us up with two flimsy folding chairs, but as soon as bar stools opened up, we made a break for it!
I love the wide age range of the patrons, and the club filled up with young sexy club goers as the night went on. But as full as it got, getting a drink was never a problem!
I hadn't been to the Green Mill in a long time, and in my mind this place has kind of a "tourist attraction" "speakeasy has-been" reputation that's not quite deserved. Well, save for the German tourists that requested "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" from the band playing modern jazz...
We stayed long enough to see the changing of the band guard and the local Deep Blue Organ Trio blew away the "NYC" cats. Kudos to them! I would like to see LESS "shushing" here. I've played jazz plenty of places in the City and it's not like jazz standards needs pin-drop quietness from the patrons. Jazz is not a museum piece and need not be treated as such. Still, everyone at the club was very nice, and the high level of service and the talent of the musicians will bring me back.
I saw a show here last Sunday night and really enjoyed it. My parents were in town and I wanted to take them to a real Chicago Jazz club that had a lot of history and this was the place. I took them to an 11pm show on a Sunday night and was glad we got there early to find a seat because halfway through the first set, the place was packed. The atmosphere was really something, my dad mentioned how the booths looked exactly like the ones in the gangster films.
All to often I go to see live music that I can't even hear because the people in the bar are talking too loudly, but the Green Mill was refreshingly different. The Green Mill wants to respect the musicians by asking patrons to keep a quiet conversation during performances so people can enjoy the music.
We originally came to see the Kimberley Gordan trio because we heard great things, but Kim was sick and it was just Chris and Andy. They were set up in the center of the bar, which I thought was pretty cool and the music was great. I will definitely be back!
I wrote this article for my college newspaper. I love this place. Hope this helps!
On nights when Al Capone strode into the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, then co-owned by a henchman of the infamous Windy City mob boss, the house band would break into his favorite song "Rhapsody in Blue". From the time Capone took a seat in his wide booth facing the front door to the time he left out the back, no one was allowed to leave or enter the premises.
The notorious booth isn't the only relic from the roaring '20s that remains in this historic jazz bar--in fact few concessions have been made for changing times, much to the benefit of the bar's time capsule ambience. When the bartenders pull a disappearing act behind the counter, they're vanishing through a trapdoor leading down to the storeroom where in Prohibition days bootlegging tunnels led across Lawrence Ave. to Lake Michigan. The jukebox, which plays songs by legends such as Louis Armstrong and pieces recorded live at the lounge, was last updated to play 45s instead of 78s. As York, a long-time regular at the Green Mill introduced to me by the bartender, put it "they try to keep it as close to the bone as possible here".
The Green Mill was converted in 1986 from a dive bar to a jazz lounge by current owner Dave Jemilo, who also introduced a reverential approach to the bar's music. Live jazz is now performed nightly at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, and during performances the audience is expected to be silent--a policy that will be enforced.
"You can come here for music almost every night of the year," York tells me, "and all of the [musicians] will talk to you...everybody here is friendly." From 5-8 pm organist Chris Foreman, who just returned from a tour opening for Steely Dan, plays on the Hammond B-3 behind the bar. A variety of well known local musicians like the Saber Tooth Quartet and the Green Mill All Stars (brought in by Jemilo in 1986, they've now been featured at the Green Mill for 23 years) play Monday-Thursday nights at 9 pm ($6 cover fee) and styles of jazz at the Mill include bebop, Dixieland, contemporary, progressive, and swing.
Friday and Saturday shows ($12 cover) are sure to be standing room only, but York assures me that you can get a seat right in front of the stage by arriving about an hour early. The Green Mill even allows customers to bring in their own dinner, so pick up at one of many diverse local restaurants like Demera Ethopian Restaurant across the street or Fiesta Mexicana next door while waiting for the main show to start. Every Sunday night at 7 pm jazz is temporarily suspended while the weekly poetry slam, a tradition since '86, commences ($6 cover). After the spoken word artists there's more live music until closing time.
"They take care of their customers here," York maintains, "...and you're never more than 2 minutes away from getting a drink". They also know how to have fun at the Green Mill; Thursday-Saturday come ready to dance! On weekend nights the jam sessions last until 4 or 5 in the morning and Thursdays the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra delivers its best big band swing (late night post-show sessions also mean a reduced cover, anywhere from free to $6. http://www.greenmillja... provides a detailed calendar).
The Green Mill hosts their annual Toys for Tots benefit Wednesday December 9th. Stop by on this evening when the cost of admission is replaced by the donation of a child's toy--even the band's fees will go directly to charity.
Great music and interesting setting, but the drinks are a little pricey and I believe they only accept cash. I would definitely still come here again sometime because the music was great and the musicians were friendly and conversed with patrons towards the front.
I must have been in the wrong frame of mind to really enjoy this place. I know it's a jazz club and I was totally prepared to pay a pretty hefty cover upon entering. $12 wasn't so bad, but I was highly, highly turned off when the bouncer very bluntly (and meanly) said that there is "absolutely no talking once you enter and the performer begins." Really? No talking at all absolutely ever?
That immediately set the tone of this place for me. Fairly pretentious staff, annoying patrons and insanely expensive drinks. I paid $5 for a diet coke. Awesome. I'm sure I'll be back in the future, hopefully when there's someone that I actually want to see. However, as of my first experience here, I wasn't at all impressed and I just can't see myself coming here to hang out and listen to some jazz.
I can't say much that hasn't already been said here, so just let me say this is THE jazz spot in our fair city. I've been introduced to types of jazz I hadn't previously known existed here.
Plus I get to listen while channeling the bad-ass energy that just flows through the space from the mafioso who used to chill there in Capone's days, including Al himself. The bar obviously recognizes this, as they have a framed picture of Al Capone right next to the bar. Definitely not a jazz hand to be seen here.
I loved it, and apparently lots of other people do too, given the crowd. Suffice to say, I'll return to this cool little spot.
If you haven't been loudly shushed by jazz fans at the Green Mill, you have yet to complete the Chicago experience. For six bucks, this is the best deal for high quality jazz I've ever had.
This place is packed every night without fail by about an hour into the first set, you get the idea that jazz is the focal point of the place when you are asked to be quiet and turn off all cell phones during the show by the leather jacketed, splendidly mustachioed bouncer. I appreciate the reverence to music, but was a bit off put by the reminder.
The place has charm, hasn't been touched since Capone visited (they still advertised their new-fangled air conditioning!), and has fairly comfortable seating, albeit at often horrible sightlines. Drinks miraculously get through the crowd to you if you are seated, and the waitresses never seem to get bothered by the tight spaces and crowds.
It gets a little stuffy because they PACK it in most nights and the crowd is pretty damn pretentious most nights (sometimes I think they shush to act superior), but it does make my top 5 or 10 list of places to take people if they are visiting Chicago
A few impressions on my first visit to the Green Mill.
1. It's larger than life reputation led me to believe that this place would be huge... it's not. There are less than a dozen or so booths and a few tables and then some bar stools. It would be hard for this place not to be packed. The intimate size creates nice sound quality and a legitimate need for patrons to be quiet.
2. The old school booths, wall decor, and stage really boost the places charm. Nothing fussy about the place, you can come in a t-shirt and dirty jeans, or get dressed up and nobody will notice.
3. The bathrooms, which you enter as if you were on stage, have the same white bar soap and pedestal sink that my grandparents used to have. Very nice.
I still like this place but my latest visit makes it hard to not say anything. I was there with some tourist friends of mine since it showed up on their list of places to visit. Why wouldn't it? A cheap cover and live music every night, in a legendary space that has the first poetry slam every?
Not so fast, junior. The staff has always been a bit pretentious but they were helpful this time. Except for one guy, the door dude who said I gave him six when I know that I gave him two fins. I put up a fight but my two guests were already heading towards the front. I can't say that I didn't enjoy myself that evening but it casts a damper on the experience that night and on this place as a whole. Boo
I love the Mill, what's not to love? Cheap cover, great live music-and sometimes you get a surprise… Read more »
I have never had a bad night here.
Love the room, drinks, people and most of all the music.
You could pretty much walk in here any night and see a great band for a very small entrance fee. I especially love the fact they ask you to NOT TALK during the concert.
I especially recommend ALFONSO PONTICELLI and SWING GITAN on Wednesday nights and ALAN GRESIK SWING SHIFT ORCHESTRA on Thursday nights.
ps Don't let the guy with the Dali mustache and a stern face at the door scare you :-)
Green Mill. I like it tho I don't love it.
I like the decaying exterior with its multitude of flickering lights which entertain the drunken eye. I like that the interior is all dark, sad, and messy like a tough, aging torch singer. I'm not big into poetry slams, but I do enjoy piano jazz. The drinks are only decent. The crowd is only regular (with the exception of spoken word events). It could be worse.
The Green Mill.... This place is an unpretentious place for Jazz. It's dark and narrow and always jam packed. I've been there 10+ times, but never ever sat down for a performance as the seating is very limited and the place always fills up pretty early.
The atmosphere, although historic since Al Capone used to come here, is just okay to me. It's a bit too dark, narrow and a bit run down, but it's all about the music and it's good here.
The Uptown location can be a bit seedy after dark, but the neighborhood is slowly gentrifying. The crowd is surprisingly young for Jazz, but in Chicago, everyone seems to love jazz. If you're more about the music and less about the swanky jazz club environment, this is the place to go.
Midnight on a Thursday and this joint was jumpin'!
There was still a line out the door to get in and the place was packed with young and old alike jostling to find some space. (I wouldn't necessarily get there early to snag a booth since you'll just have folks standing crotch-to-your-eye-level if it's a popular night.)
The big band still had an hour left in their set and it was such a treat to hear standards like "Do Nothing 'Till You Hear From Me." The announcer performing old-fashioned radio-style commercials and 1940s-esque newsreels also set the mood. Loved it! (P.S. Even though the live music ended at 1 a.m., I believe they said the Green Mill didn't close until 4!)
I'll conclude with some unsolicited advice: Just because you think you're a sweet swing dancer does not mean that you should attempt to lindy hop on a crowded dance floor, though it is amusing to watch everyone give you the evil eye when you do.
Chicago institution, frequented by Al Capone, now a living beast for jazz and world-class music.
I've been wanting to come here for years upon years and only JUST made it out there. Green Mill looks like a small tiny bar from the outside.... one that I wouldn't make plans to come ahead of time. But inside, the music is bopping and the decore is right out of the old-tyme era.
Wednesday nights host a group that mixes Spanish-style guitar with jazz standards (violin, accordian, upright bass, and rhythm guitar). This group was smoking great and had a great crowd cheering them on the whole night. For a Wednesday night show, it is rare to see a venue THIS packed, THIS frequently. It just shows the quality of the music acts and the love of Chicagoans for great music.
I will undoubtedly come back here for more shows. Arrive early to get the nice velvet booths near the stage (otherwise, you'll be standing near the back and won't see anything).
I'm not going to repeat how cool this place is. It is. And it does so in a very real and genuine way. What I will provide is some of the details that make this place an original:
#1 The door man, who looks like a traveling carnival strong man, complete with a handle bar mustache, a throw back tough guy leather jacket, and a gruff take-no-nonsense demeanor.
#2 The no talking and no cell phone policy. They are deadly serious about this. Don't talk and don't even think about answering your cell phone.
#3 Contrary to #2, the single bar phone rings at an impossibly loud level throughout the show. How this can happen, I do not know. But the place is deadly quiet, save the 1970s old school phone ringing like a fire alarm.
#4 The bathroom that is practically on the stage. Ok, if you have to go to the bathroom, plan carefully at the Green Mill. It is literally a foot off the stage, so when you come out you feel like you are getting a round of applause. Very awkward to say the least, but if you have to go there is little choice. However, the entertaining bathroom graffiti partially offsets the location.
That's it - so go ahead and enjoy some of the best jazz and atmosphere in Chicago.
So I'm from out of town, and I don't know the history or the amazing-ness of the institution in general, but I can speak to my experience on a Saturday night.
First, the man who works the door is INTENSE, to put it mindly. He yelled at us that NO TALKING WAS ALLOWED and almost shoved us inside when we were trying to wait for all our friends to have paid to get inside. Of course, you shouldn't talk when someone is on stage, but, having never been there, I wondered.. "Is everyone here going to be like this?"
The answer was, yes. The bartender was horrible. We stood at the bar for 15 minutes while he pretended he couldn't see us, trying to get the other bartender to wait on us while he did nothing. The other bartender also would not come over to us. Finally, he lowered himself to help us out, gracing us with his horrible attitude AND his horrible drinks.
I'll give it 3 stars because I'm sure the place is nice and the people lovely, but that night, it was fairly terrible.
http://static.px.yelp....
The Green Mill is a "MUST SEE" when coming to Chicago. Especially on Thursday nights when the Alan Gresik Swing Shifr Orchestra is playing.
On Sundays, Kimberly Gordon performs. She's great too.
If you come on Thursday, make sure you order a Long Island Iced Tea from Jason and you will not be disappointed. This is a REAL Long Island, not the mix you're used to from Chili's or TGI Fridays.
Get the full calendar here: http://www.greenmillja...
When you walk in Big Al will take your money. Don't give him any lip even if he gives it to you....I'm just saying.
On Thursdays the cover is only $6!!! A steal for a 20 piece big band.
They play 3 sets from 9-1pm. If you want a seat, get there early. I like to hang out in the back (at the entrance) so that I can hear the music and talk with my friends.
Oh and it's cash only!
The Mill is THE place for history and jazz in the city. The doorman can be intense, but if it is Big Al (the name says it all.....a grumpy-looking biker guy with a secret heart of gold!), then you can really do alright with a little smile and a, "Hey, Big Al!" He loves to be appreciated:)
Thursday nights for Swing Night were all the rage for me back in the day, but you can EASILY catch any of the other fabulous acts any other night of the week for a decent cover price. If you are into Swing Gitan, then check out Wednesday nights! Sunday nights are mellow and fabulous, too. Chris on the Hammond organ is a religious experience (had it only once and really need to get back there!). He plays with a mind-blowing talent and energy that made me want to join a church:o The Manhattans will knock you on your tail, but the $5 general wines are alright to substitute for a lighter drinking night. You can bring food in, too, from other places (HINT HINT- The Mini-Burgers from CREW- right next door!!!).
A lot of very talented musicians and singers float through these doors, so don't miss it! It can get very crowded, though. And if you go on any other night but Thursday, you do have to play "Shush Shush" for the duration of any given set. Hey- it's jazz, Peeps.....show the respecto;)
Late Night Saturdays are kick a**. Sabertooth starts pretty late (around 11pm), but they rock and are really cool dudes. If you stay until the closing hour (4am), be prepared to meet all kinds of people!:) Well, that can happen any day of the week, really.
Why have I lived in Chicago for over a year and never been here before? I'm sad that I missed a year of the Green Mill.
Stopped in late for a first date quick cocktail. It was the perfect spot. Cozy and full of character. I have no idea on the prices of the cocktails, but they sure to make a good one. I had a lil' buzz after just one and a half G&Ts.
The decor is fab and the crowd is a hoot!
What a classy little lounge!
I'd been meaning to check out the place since I've always heard good music blaring from the little side door. I hadn't realized how fashionably retro the interior was until I walked in. After ogling at the decor, I went straight for the bar, where I paid $6 for a strong rum and Coke. Just how I like 'em!
My friends and I had a great time listening to the band, who sounded like they were playing music out of a Woody Allen movie, and sipping on our drinks.
We'll definitely be coming back, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
I'm not here to start trouble, but I didn't enjoy being here at all. I had no idea about the no talking rule, or I wouldn't have come. If you like Jazz, poetry and spoken word entertainment, than this place really is for you. It's just not for me.
The area around the bar isn't good, music and entertainment I don't enjoy, plus limited interaction with friends equals what I think hell would be like. (For me).
But if you enjoy it, more power to you! Have fun!
This place was great! Got there at 8pm and no one was there (Thursday night) and i was afraid it would be a slow night.
45 minutes later, the place got full! By 9pm the jazz band was rockin', couples swingin', it was a great place! I would definitely go back again!!
Great atmosphere. Great history. Great music. Especially if you're a music lover.
Whether it's a friend or family member who's coming to visit me, I love taking them here. Be mindful of the band playing though, as certain acts here may have a no talking policy during the performance. If it's a date and you want to let your eyes do the talking, this might just be the place. Good drinks here too. Be warned that it may be crowded and you may have to stand for awhile. Arrive early if a seat is most important to you.
Slight brusque doorman only adds to the charm, that's how good this place is. I've never seen jazz this fantastic - not for this bargainous an entry charge anyhow ($12). The atmosphere is great, as everyone is there to enjoy the music. The sevice is swift and the drinks aren't too expensive - we enjoyed a decent bottle of cabernet for in the region of $20.
It's not somewhere to spend every Friday - conversation is obviously tricky - but for any visitor to Chicago I'd say it was a must. Head there early - after about half 8, the tables are full and it's standing room only.
I came here back in January with a group of 8, not knowing how this place works. I didn't know it was normal to share your table with strangers and I did not know you should get there early if you want to get a decent seat for a huge party. Sad to say, we wound up leaving after being there for 10 minutes
On Friday a good friend thought it would be a good idea to check it out. We hopped on the red line and it let us off, right by the club. It was about 7:30 when we arrived and there was pretty good seating available. We paid the $12 cover and ordered some not too expensive drinks (great makers & coke here). We were treated to the sounds of the Victor Goines Quartet: Victor Goins (sax), Dana Hall (drums), Melina Rosenburg (bass) and Brian Cohen (piano). They provided us with some of the best jazz tunes I have ever heard.
This place is truly legendary. This place has been around forever and Alphonse Capone was once a frequent visitor here. I love the bright marquee at the entrance and made sure I took a pic in front of it. Very classy 1930's feel on the inside and they tell you to shut off your cell phone and be quiet while the band is playing.
This is a great place and a must do for all Chicagoans that love jazz as well as visitors/tourists.
Ah Green Mill, how I love to hate thee......
You are like a lover I cannot stand, but keep coming back to........you cheat me out of my money with you cover charges....regardless how early one shows up. You always over crowd the place so seating is an issue.......Though your bands are great and keeps drawing me back to my old hood..........yet your bartenders are not the greatest in the world or very attentive to say the least.......but your décor is as authentic as you get for pre-war Chicago.....yet your draw in too many freakin tourist to make it worth my while to visit on weekends...........
Ah...how I wish I could stay away, but alas, I cannot.
Got there in the middle of a monsoon but it only added to the charm of the evening
The door man with the evil henchman mustache gave my lady a hard time due to forgetting her ID but it was cool to get into it with a grizzled chicagoan
was lucky enough to score a booth right to left of the band and we just sat there listening to great jazz and drinking scotch
Great night
Oh snap, I need to re-apply my red lipstick!
Yes, this was my first thought as I walked in the door. It's rare that a place lives up to my expectations--especially when it's a sizzlin' hot speakeasy straight from Al Capone's day. But the music was hot, the drinks were cold, and the ladies were lovely!
Before I get too corny, let me stress I was visiting from Dallas, where our smoky jazz scene leaves much to be desired. So I was just thrilled to be around sloe gin fizz, men in zoot suits, and lots of hair grease.
Being the cheap bastard I am, I was a little disgruntled to shell out 12 bucks, but honestly, it's worth it. Where else can you see an amazing live show in a beautiful club like the Green Mill with a (mostly) awesome audience? (By awesome audience, I mean that the people were old and polite--my favorite combination.)
The only things I would do differently? Wear a fabulous vintage dress, bring a gentleman to dance with, and get there early! We got there right when the show started, and all the tables were already full. Trying to dance, stand, drink a cocktail, and look suave is not easily done.
A beautiful place to wax poetic about the good ole' days...
Some of the best jazz in the city--perfect atmosphere. The bartenders are professional and make great drinks (decent pint of Guinness, actually)
I popped in here with a friend for a drink. Everything about this place is very real, from the stressed-out bartender with a mouth like a trucker, to the persistent doorman. I need to catch a show here, as that's what this place is known for, but I was definitely digging the throw-back vibe. I will be back.
For about four years, I spent one night a week at this vestige of vintage fabulousness catching the Mighty Blue Kings throw down their retro fantastic music. Aside from that, I had been on many occasions for random jazz greats like Kurt Elling, Paticia Eder, some guy I met with crazy hot sideburns, poetry slams and after the Riv cocktails.
I fell in love a long time ago and I fall in love even more every time I step foot in the sanctuary of all things swing and swank. From its gangster glory to its musical mecca, I have loved the Mill all the way.
I love this place. Okay, so there are a couple of flaws. For example, the no talking during performances thing. Umm, are we in school? And then they don't really enforce the rule. No, I wasn't shh'd but the people in front of me were talking incessantly. It wasn't their talking that was annoying. It was the fact that they were standing in front of me and every time they leaned in to talk, they blocked my view.
The drinks were small and pricey but stiff! I loved the decor. I saw Dee Alexander and she was amazing. I definitely will be back!
One thing I love about this place is its ability to create a weekend vibe, smack dab in the middle of the week.
I personally stick to the off nights to save some money and avoid the crowds, although on Saturdays after midnight, the free swing band can be fun.
It also helps to have good cheap surrounding entertainment, such as the annoyance theatre (for cheap comedy) and uptown lounge (for cheaper drinks).
I cannot over-emphasize how much I love this place. It is by far my favorite Prohibition-era speakeasy that I've ever been to. The atmosphere is so 1920s that you'll feel like you're dreaming. The bar is old, the wood is old, the cash register...this place is overflowing with old-school vibes. I'm not just raving about it because it was Al Capone's favorite speakeasy either, the music they play will easily get you swimming in the feeling. Be warned, though, they only accept either cash or Mastercard. I loved the atmosphere, the bartender, the music, and the beer so much that I have vowed that I will never step foot in Chicago without paying a visit to the Green Mill. Can't wait to come back!
It was Easter Sunday and we were tourists in Chicago. It was 28 degrees and dark outside, approaching 9pm. Having heard remarkable stories about the Green Mill on Yelp on and on TV, I deplored my friends to come with me. They were skeptical any place would be that fascinating at 10pm on a cold, easter Sunday night, but they had nothing better to do than watch HBO in the hotel, so they agreed and off we went.
The Green Mill really surpassed my admittedly high expectations. What a classic joint! The entrance leads you down the long, narrow part of the bar, which makes a sweeping, circular L-turn towards the back room, where there are plenty of tables, booths, and large stage. I assumed we'd be listening to jazz on the large stage, but I hadn't realized there is a small stage, just enough for 2-3 cramped behind the circular turn of the bar. The night's jazz musicians - nobody of particular significance - came on stage and it was lights-out wonderful from there. Almost no amplification, just a drummer, a vocalist, and organist. Silky smooth and jazzy in a cartoony, caricature kind of way. Except it wasn't a romantic movie, it was reality. I didn't fall in love with a beautiful woman, but I almost felt like I was doing so was inevitable had I stayed there longer.
An amazing place - the kind of place you dream about and wish were true. It is true. I had no idea.
Everything that's great about this place has already been said. But as a long-time, sometimes solitary, all-girl patron, let me give you a few tips:
1. Don't walk home from here late at night by yourself, no matter how street savvy you think you are, or how tightly you hold your handbag. I can't tell you how many nice conversations I've had with rock dealers after a show. I used to talk to anyone because I was a 22 year old IDIOT. I'm lucky that naivety didn't land me in the gutter. (Those guys always tried to cut me a good deal, though, I gotta say.)
2. This is not a place to come get wasted, unless you do it quietly and to better enjoy the music.
3. It's worth it to take an evening nap and stick around for the post-midnight shows.
4. Please take a Tuesday night and listen to the Deep Blue Organ Trio. You won't be able to fully appreciate Prince until you hear that amazing cover of "Raspberry Beret." Truly, truly makes me happy.
5. If you bring a date and get a booth for the evening, you are guaranteed to fall in love. And, OK, if that doesn't work, get a vodka gimlet. I swear, the way they make them here, that's a love affair in and of itself.
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Near Southside
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: North Center
Category: Music Venues
...these are the places we would visit with…
This is one category I take too personally to hear…
When the sun goes down, you'll find me here...…
I can't stand my sedentary nature in the winter…
In the winter, here's where I cuddle up when I go…
My visit to the great windy city - the home of the…
You have friends coming in from out of town? They…
Going to school here everyday has shown me a thing…
