HotHouse (31 E. Balbo Drive) for jazz and Latin music. The place has a great atmosphere and great bands–I recently saw Yoko Noge and the Jazz Me Blues and Las Guitarras de Espana there.
–Evangeline Galvez, 29, physician
Green Dolphin Street (2200 N. Ashland Ave.) for its ambience and the clientele–the people seem real. Green Dolphin also has good drinks, and they mix up the music. It’s all rather metropolitan.
–Daniel Miller, 37, flight attendant
Definitely Smoke Daddy (1804 W. Division St.). It has an unpretentious atmosphere and you can talk to the band members and get to know them. You don’t need to be a local to enjoy it; the place is very inviting. They have great food, too–the Southwestern chicken soup is amazing.
–Lilianna Pyrih, 28, law clerk and law student
Aragon Ballroom (1106 W. Lawrence Ave.). The last act I saw there was the Deftones. The Aragon has great acoustics, and the upstairs standing room is good. When I learn that a band I want to see is coming to Chicago, I check to see if they’ll be at the Aragon.
–Faye Chatfield, 23, ER trauma technician
Kingston Mines (2548 N. Halsted St.) to hear blues legends. Who did I see there recently? The last time I went, I had such a good time I don’t remember who played.
–Rob Avila, 32, unemployed
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Asked during Country Night at Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed St.
