Mad River Bar & Grille, Chicago

Part college sports bar, part trendy club and restaurant, Mad River Bar & Grille spawned from its original New York location and set up shop in the spacious, wood-paneled area where Blue Iguana used to be. Designed to resemble an East Coast ski lodge, Mad River features quirks such as old wooden snowshoes, sports paraphernalia and mounted TVs near its wall-length bar. It offers DJs on weekend nights and open mic night every Wednesday at 8pm. Meals are traditional bar fare, ranging from burgers and wraps to salads and crab pretzels. Entrance is free, but arrive early on weekend nights to avoid the lines. -Lindsey Klingele

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