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River North, Chicago, IL

River North, Chicago, IL

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Includes: Near North Side.

With its proximity to the moneyed mecca of the Gold Coast and the downtown Loop, River North boasts some of the most coveted loft space, longest stretches of art galleries, and highest concentration of retailers in the city, while its nightlife scene is easily one of the most glamorous around.

The four-million-square-foot Merchandise Mart – so large it had its own zip code until 2008 – is one of the largest commercial buildings in the world, drawing nearly twenty thousand shopaholics a day looking for everything from deluxe home décor to cooking classes and art fairs. Meanwhile, the Gallery District on the northern end of Franklin Street entices moneyed couples and art hounds with its nearly eighty independent dealers packed into a few short blocks.

During the day, diverse ethnic restaurants bring in a young crowd of professionals and post-grads for laid-back lunches on Saturday afternoons, or to unwind over after-work mojitos at a mellow rooftop bar.

Although River North is home to affluent finance types and powerful business people who frequent the posh restaurants along Kinzie and Clark Streets, its upscale demeanor doesn’t preclude a vibrant nightlife – and when the sun goes down, Chicago’s party-seeking youth move in.

East Ontario and North Dearborn are lined with posh nightclubs, sleek lounges, and the see-and-be-seen crowd that comes with them, while Hubbard Street is somewhat more budget friendly, attracting gaggles of tourists looking to pass the hours singing at a piano bar or catching a show at a jazz club.

There’s definitely money in River North, but its nightlife does not discriminate.

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What to Do in River North

The Purple Pig

Mediterranean Restaurant

Reviewed by Daniel W.

"One thing I truly love about Chicago is not only the abundance of great little spots open past midnight, but that often they are busy on the most unli ..." more

500 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

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Dick's Last Resort

American Restaurant

Reviewed by Nikki S.

"Dick's Last Resort is a well-known tourist spot- it's claim to fame being that you're going to get razzed by the waitstaff. Behind that facade it has ..." more

315 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610

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Howl at the Moon

Bar / Piano Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review For those who rock out in the shower but are too embarrassed to try karaoke, the pianists at Howl at the Moon offer an introvert’s alternative, playing crowd-pleasers late into the ... more

26 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Enclave

Club

Party Earth Review Situated at the far end of an unremarkable parking lot, Enclave is a cavernous dance club where the only indication that something exists behind the unmarked door is the line of sexy ... more

220 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60686

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LaSalle Power Co.

Bar / Club / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Situated in the historic LaSalle Powerhouse building – built in the 1800s to run Chicago’s cable car system – LaSalle Power Co. is a 20,000-square-foot depository of widescreen sports ... more

500 North LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60654

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Citizen Bar

Restaurant / Rooftop Bar

Party Earth Review A swanky exposed brick hideout in the winter, the upscale Citizen Bar gets into full swing in the warmer months when it opens a massive five-thousand-square-foot rooftop deck, making ... more

364 West Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Studio Paris

Club / Lounge

Party Earth Review There’s always a line of stiletto-wearing ladies and sharply dressed dudes outside Paris Club restaurant, and though the swanky French eatery is itself ridiculously popular, most of ... more

59 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Moe's Cantina

Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Despite a preponderance of creative galleries and contemporary boutiques in River North, Moe’s Cantina manages to stand apart from the hipster contingent with a cavernous, upscale space ... more

155 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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The Underground

Club / Lounge

Party Earth Review With its military theme and unmarked basement level entrance, The Underground nightclub takes its aura of exclusivity seriously, which suits the see-and-be-seen clientele just fine ... more

56 West Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Sound-Bar

Club / Lounge

Party Earth Review Upscale and ultramodern, Sound-Bar is one of the biggest nightclubs in Chicago, an enormous 20,000-square-foot space spanning two levels and featuring separate DJs, nine full bars ... more

226 West Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Mercadito Chicago

Bar / Lounge

Party Earth Review Located in upscale River North, the Chicago outpost of the Mercadito chain is a top spot with affluent locals and trendy couples in the mood for intricate Mexican fare and more than ... more

108 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Public House

Gastropub / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Beer lovers in search of a new hangout will make a new home at Public House, a ten-thousand-square-foot gastropub that pours more than 120 labels, including its own seasonal brew produced ... more

400 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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Top Upcoming Events in River North

May 2013

May 23 Thu		Paco Osuna DJ Event / Club Music / Techno 10:00pm SpyBar Paco Osuna	Add to Calendar
May 24 Fri		Bilal Concert / Funk / Jazz / Pop / R&B / Soul 8:00pm House of Blues Chicago Bilal, PJ Morton, Avery Sunshine	Add to Calendar

June 2013

Jun 7 Fri		Aly & Fila DJ Event / DJ / Progressive / Trance Castle Aly & Fila	Add to Calendar
Jun 8 Sat		Darren Criss Concert / Pop / Rock 7:30pm House of Blues Chicago Darren Criss	Add to Calendar