We attended Trickery on Saturday 04/18/26. Aaron was adept at working with a diverse audience to…read moreinclude them and maintain control of his performance in a very intimate setting. Because it's BYOB you'll get the 20-somethings that feel they have to get loaded beforehand and then act the fool while attending (do you hear that "Neil"? No one wants the focus on you acting like it was your first experience with alcohol) but Aaron was skilled at bypassing them without causing tension or escalating bad behavior. Aaron's attitude is one of someone who has worked hard to make this little venture work, and he deserves respect and recognition for his obvious commitment and work ethic. His act included variations of tricks performed by other magicians, with his own twists. He is an expert at sleight of hand and distraction, which is considerably more difficult in a room about the size of an average residential living-room. He had an appropriate sense of humor aligned with an audience coming to Boystown, an overtly gay neighborhood in Chicago (if you're not familiar). However he wasn't garish, flaming, flamboyant, or offensive; he managed a perfect balance of innuendo humor and audience engagement without being cheap or ingenuine. The snarky one-liners will likely go over your young kids' heads (although bring them to an early show, your 9 year old doesn't belong in Boystown at 10 pm on a weekend), and he carries himself with class avoiding the use of profanity or graphic terms. Again, I can't overstate that his tricks were amazing, impressive, and captivating - as magic should be. You leave the show shaking your head and wondering how it's done - which truly makes it "magic". You would be hard-pressed to spend $36.36/person for an hour of live entertainment that can match Aaron's performance. Pro-tip: If you're driving there you will need to use an app to reserve parking, as there aren't garages like downtown Chicago and every street is filled with so many signs there's no way you will return and find your car not-towed or not-ticketed. Chicago does this on purpose to generate revenue; you'll see "street cleaning" on Tuesday from xx hour to xx hour, no parking when snow is over 2 inches OR any time from Dec 1 through April 1, loading zone, 15 minute stopping/standing with flashers, no parking, residential permit zone only, bike lanes, bus stop restrictions, etc. If you find street parking and think you've beaten the system, think again. Nobel Prize Laureates, Rhodes Scholars, Ivy League PhDs, Mensa members - you can meet them all at Chicago Central Auto Pound retrieving their vehicles. Stephen Hawking couldn't drive, but if he could and he parked in that neighborhood all the quantum mechanics in the world wouldn't make his towed car reappear from the Chicago Parking space-time continuum. The nice thing is if you do reserve parking and give yourself enough time you can walk to many, many restaurants and bars in the area that are open even after the 10 pm show ends. Thank you Aaron for a wonderful experience, you made my wife's birthday memorable for both of us.

Had a great time with my friends. Wenr for a birthday celebration and it was a blast. Intimate and…read morehilarious. Honestly we were still trying to figure out how he did some of his tricks. It's a BYOB magic show and he does interact woth the audience. 5/5

I enjoyed the show quite a bit! Note that they have a metal detector situation at the door and a…read moretwo drink minimum. They had several comedians come on stage, and a host comedian who introduced each act. The comedians were funny and it was a great time! If you don't want to be picked on by the comedians, then don't sit in the front row!

3-4 out of the 7 comedians were decent or better. Tickets were cheap at $25/piece but the 2 drink…read moreminimum is stupid. Just include it in the price of the ticket. My wife and I don't drink but we ended up spending $50+ on mocktails which was about the same as the tickets and was an unexpected surprise. Stupid policy. The chairs are also very uncomfortable. Try to get a booth - they looked comfier.

Good times! Here Is Your Alibi is conveniently located at the Frontier Theater, a storefront…read morevenue literally steps away from the Thorndale red line stop. It's very small, or do you say intimate, with limited seating so consider getting there a bit early. The comics were seriously funny, no oxymoron intended. There's no admission, but they ask that you consider giving a donation after the show. After seeing the show you'll want to fork over that donation, as it's split among the performers who were all really talented, funny wordsmiths. The humor was witty, edgy and sometimes, I blush, a bit blue. It's also a BYOB so you can bring in your favorite bottle or can and enjoy the show. There are tons of good eateries in the area so make it a night. I haven't laughed this much in ages.

From the owner: Here Is Your Alibi is a free, monthly comedy showcase in Chicago…read more Shows are every first Friday of the month at 8PM.

I was recently in Chicago visiting my Son in law and granddaughter (his Wife). While in Chicago I…read morebought tickets to attend the Magic Lounge. It has been one of my bucket list things to do. I first heard of the Magic Lounge many years ago and thought, one day I must go there if I ever find myself in Chicago. Long story short, granddaughter married a Chicago man, work moved her to Chicago, and my opportunity presented itself. I bought four tickets and all went on a Sunday most recently. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and the walk around magicians before the show started. I highly recommend going to the Magic Lounge for a fun filled evening and an experience you will not forget. The show is top notch and very well presented. there really is no bad seating as you are close to the stage no matter where you sit. I plan to attend again on my next trip to Chicago. Happy Magic to all. Robert T

Didn't get to try the food but had a cocktail and it was delicious. Can I remember the name of it…read morenope lol but I would have it again. Service is great very attentive even if you sit in the second floor. I love the close up magic performances during cocktail hour. I would say if you are on the first floor especially in the front row you get more magicians performing. So that is definitely one thing I would change when I go next time. I will buy tickets for the first floor preferably in the front. I enjoy the performance it was great and entertaining it definitely flew by but afterwards you can go back to the main bar and see the show. Overall it it's very entertaining and a magical spot worth exploring

A Chicago classic and a definite highlight of my trip. The Green Mill's preserved interior,…read morelighting, and old-school atmosphere make you feel like you've stepped back in time. The live jazz was excellent, with incredibly talented musicians. We came mainly for the music and ambiance and enjoyed a few drinks while taking it all in. Service was okay, but the history and live music make it worth visiting. Keep in mind it's cash only, has a cover charge, and doesn't take reservations, so come early if you want a good seat. If you're lucky enough to get a booth or table, they do have wait staff for drink orders.

This place was definitely a highlight during my visit to Chicago. I loved that this place is rich…read morein history and made me feel like I was transported back to the roaring 20's. The interior retains its original 1930s woodwork, booths, and romantic, moody lighting. This was one of Al Capone's favorite place to watch live music. Place has old school acoustics and sound system. I was told that musicians who play there are world class and have to be masterful with their instruments for it to sound good in the venue. I mainly came for live music and ambience, but I did get a cocktail to have something to sip on as I watched jazz musicians play. The service can be a hit or miss depending on who is your bartender. This place attracts a unique crowd and great place for people watching. I would definitely recommend this place if you're ever in Chicago's uptown neighborhood!

We went to a comedy show here and it was a lot of fun! It lasted an hour, and consisted mainly of…read moreskits , some crowd work. The tickets were pretty cheap too. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something to do in the Chicago area last minute

I have been going to shows at The Annoyance for over ten years, and I have yet to see a bad one…read more The bar staff is always awesome, and hanging out before or after a show in the bar area is always a great time. I regularly bring visitors to The Annoyance, as it's a great way to spend a small amount of money to showcase great Chicago comedy. Their ticket prices are not a hit on the wallet at all, even if one is hosting many people. I love it for a random date night as well.

Came this past Friday for the Eric Roberson concert and I had a great time. Nice and spacious;…read morestanding room only, but they have an upstairs area with seating. The bar staff is great and fast. Had a couple of Effen Vodka and cranberry drinks, which crept up on me (made for a nice walk home). I see myself coming here for more shows I will return to the Double Door in May for the Tortured Soul show. Looking forward to it!

This place has a certain energy because of its size: smaller than the Metro, bigger than the Empty…read moreBottle. I've seen so many shows here at a reasonable price: Billy Bragg, Sparklehorse, Lemonheads. And so many local bands I couldn't name them all. Beers are a bit expensive, but cover charge is reasonable for what you get. If you're going to see a local band, go to their website and they'll most certainly have discount tix available. Sound is good almost anywhere in the House. Go upstairs and try to get on the couch that's facing the stage for a more private viewing experience (with small speakers too!). Or head to the newly remodeled downstairs for pool, low lighting, a private booth, extra bathrooms, and a chill vibe!

I love visiting this place with friends that come from out of town and because our friend Barbie…read moreworks there and is always so good to us when we visit. So we went this past Friday night with our group of friends visiting from Texas. Lizzie and her parents enjoyed the 9:30pm performance, and our friend David and Lisa joined us too. As always, the performance and experience performers were very intertwining. This is definitely a great place to celebrate birthdays, bachelor's, and Bachelorette parties. I was happy to say hello to the owner and our friend Barbie. Please come one night for the food and drinks and most of all for the show you won't be disappointed at all. Parking is a little hard, so plan ahead because there are other theaters nearby. We Uber here so that we can drink and be responsible and safe.

This place is so unique. It's an elegant theatre style lounge with great entertainment. I attended…read morefor the drag brunch & bottomless mimosas. They had a plethora of breakfast and lunch style items buffet style and a chef making pancakes, omelette and French toast upon request. Everything was very tasty there was everything from wings, charcuterie items, fish, classic breakfast items, rice, fajitas you name it! The server was fast with the mimosas refills and miss Danika was an amazing host/performer. You will get your moneys worth and more from this experience. The queens were beautiful and had great style.

Coming back from a doctor's appointment up the street, I stopped for coffee, and this coffee shop…read morecaught my attention. The space is cool; I love the green-and-black combo. When I go to a local coffee shop, I always order an iced Americano. The reason is I want to taste the espresso beans with no cream and sugar. Christopher, I'm guessing the owner/barista was friendly. Asking what I wanted, and I took a seat. Old-school hip-hop music was playing from a CD player. The coffee drinks are named after hip hop/r&b artists, like The SZA, and Queen Latifah. Of course, he has food (donuts, muffins, coffee cake). I see some merchandise (T-shirts, doggy scarves). Christopher made a great space for black people who have mental health issues and need a safe space and not to be judged. The inside space is warm and cozy. Chairs and a couch are comfortable. Plenty of tables that can seat 2-4, and a stage for open mic night. I'm glad that I can come in and support Black-owned business. I will come back again for sure. If you are in the neighborhood please stop by listen to some old-school hip hop, grab a drink and something to eat, and relax.

I came out to support this local business for The Tribute to Love Jones Open Mic. An open mic for…read morepoets to show their creative talent based off the movie Love Jones. The ticket price was $20 which included a drink. I got there early to find a park. Parks around the Belmont Area is hard to find. I was lucky to find a meter parking space right in front of the Cafe. Doors were to open up at 6pm. I waited outside until 6:30pm before someone finally let us in. Ok, that knocked off a Yelp Gold Star. I walked inside there was a table where you give your name to check in and was giving a ticket for your drink. There was a menu for you to pick your drink and you could also purchase a slice of pizza. The cafe had real good vibes. There was a DJ playing some good music. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back. There were so many amazing talented poet in the place. Everyone who graced the stage that evening was phenomenal. I had been searching to find a live open mic poet jam. Even though it started off 30 minutes late. The staff was polite and was making sure everyone was comfortable. The drinks were good and well made. Even the founder of the cafe was behind the counter helping out the staff. The energy and mission of this cafe is something that is needed in every community.