Thinking about going out? Instead of looking for the newest fancy place, go to one of the most notorious bars in Chicago – Green Mill Cocktail and Lounge. Located in Chicago’s Uptown area, this authentic place has been around since 1907. It was one of Al Capone’s favorite places to hang out and a memorabilia wall can tell you a little bit of history when you get inside. When I moved to Chicago, Green Mill was one of the first places I visited, recommended by my English teachers. “If you want to experience the history and grasp the old American culture, you got to go there,” they said. So, we went out on a Thursday night. There was live music and the cover was $10, however, you could get a cocktail for as little as $6. We were there around 10 p.m., but you better get there early if you want a nice booth near the stage and dance floor. Moreover, if you want to sit where Al Capone used to, you definitely need to be there before the crowd.
Yes, Al Capone’s favorite booth is the best one, because it is located where he could see both doors from Broadway and Clark. During the 1920s, Green Mill, like Chicago, had become mobster territory. The bar has underground tunnels, twisting under the streets and connecting it with other buildings. You can get there through a secret door behind the bar. While there, the bartender showed us the door and he opened it, and it was scarily dark down there. Even though we could not go down in the tunnels, visiting Green Mill was fulfilling enough.
The bar’s authenticity is well preserved. The booths, the bar and the small stage are all from the time when the place first opened. There is not a single sign of a contemporary spirit. The Green Mill is a place where you can see a mixture of people. I went on a Thursday night, and, at first, I thought I was the youngest there, but later I saw young parties of people rushing inside, all there to share the love for the music.
Even if you are not a jazz fan, you can have an amazing night, experiencing a side of history that is not usually in the textbooks. The Green Mill also offers Uptown Poetry Slam on a Sunday night, which began at the Mill in 1986, and will end your week extraordinarily.
For more information go to www.greenmilljazz.com to see the events calendar or you can go there in person at Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago, IL 60640.