Novelty Golf has been in Lincolnwood for more than 50 years and (thankfully) it seems to be the exact course it was back then. Basically, it’s exactly what the miniature golf experience should be. And at $8 a round, it’s quite a deal.

In addition to miniature golf, Novelty Golf and Games also has batting cages, video games, and a restaurant. And it only took us about 30 minutes to get there by car from downtown Chicago.

Hours: Mon. - Sun., 10am to Midnight

Novelty Golf and Games
3650 West Devon Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
(847) 679-9434

Buddy Guy’s plays hosts to artists with various styles of blues music, from local artists to international stars (Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name a few). I was there with friends a few weeks ago and heard Sharon Lewis, who was spectacular. I went with another group this weekend and saw Nick Moss and the Fliptops, another great band, but with a completely different style. You can’t go wrong!

So, if you haven’t been to Buddy Guy’s Legends - get there! And get there soon, because the popular Chicago blues club will be closing at its present location in the next couple of months. Although it will be reopening at a yet-to-be determined location and date, everyone should really experience the legend of Buddy Guy’s in it’s current historic location.

TIP: Buddy Guy’s does not take reservations, so I recommend going early and enjoying a yummy cajun dinner before the concert (that way you’re sure to have a table when the music starts). Check out the menu on the club’s website (below). Also, take some time to look around - the walls are a colorful museum of blues history.

Buddy Guy’s Legends
754 S. Wabash
Chicago IL, 60605
312-427-0333

Looking for an “it” gathering place downtown, with great live music, delicious drinks, and a LOT of people-watching? Then I have just the place for you! The Redhead Piano Bar is upscale and well-known, but at the same time unpretentious. First-timers should not be afraid!

The atmosphere at The Redhead Piano Bar is old-Chicago style and class. But, in my opinion, what makes this piano bar unique is that there is a place for everyone. You can gather around the piano to sing-a-long, pull a seat up at the bar for a drink, or find a table further in the back where you can enjoy the music and conversation.

Speaking of the music, The Redhead features several regular piano entertainers that set the fun, yet relaxed, tone of this bar.

When I go somewhere like this for the first time, I first like to try the bar’s signature drink (usually named for the bar). The Redhead is known for its fabulous martini selection, so my first order was The Redhead Martini (Belvedere Orange Vodka, Licor 43, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice) and it did not disappoint. Hard core martini drinkers can opt for the James Bond (vodka - shaken, not stirred). Feeling crazy? Try the “Art Takes Flight” or “Roger’s Clockwork Orange” martinis. There is truly something for everyone.

TIPS: First, sometimes there’s a wait to get in. It’s worth the wait, so BE PATIENT!! Second, you have to check your coat when you walk in the bar, but there’s no cover charge to get in. And third, dress appropriately or they will not let you in (”appropriate” according to the website is “business casual”). Oh, and it’s the perfect place to go after a yummy dinner at Quartino.

The Redhead Piano Bar
16 West Ontario
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 640-1000

Hours: Sat 7PM-5AM
Sun-Fri 7PM-4AM

Hairbanger’s Ball is a band paying tribute to the “Decade of Decadence” in a new and crazy way. They tout themselves as being not just a band, but the wildest party in town. And they are right!

I didn’t know what to expect when I agreed to go with a group of friends to see Hairbanger’s Ball. What I got was a flashback to my pre-teen years, hairbrush in hand, singing along to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” in front of the bathroom mirror.

Perfectly over-the-top, Hairbanger’s Ball plays all of the 80s hair band classics, and I can guarantee that if you grew up in the 80s, experiencing Hairbanger’s Ball will fill you with nostalgia, which quickly turns to full-out singing and dancing and reliving those younger years. I have to admit I was pretty tired, achy, and hoarse the next day from all of the jumping around and singing, but I can’t wait until the Ball comes back to Chicago so I can see them again.

Hairbanger’s Ball plays all over Illinois and Indiana, as well as in some surrounding areas. In Chicago, they frequent Joe’s Bar, and can be found at many of the neighborhood festivals during the beautiful Chicago summer months.

Hairbanger’s Ball
Various Locations

Here is a little-known secret to seeing Chicago’s current “hot” show from the first row at a price that won’t give you a nosebleed.

The hottest show in Chicago right now is Wicked, the Musical. Wicked follows the Wizard of Oz’s infamous Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch as they grow up in the Land of Oz and become unlikely friends. If you loved the classic movie Wizard of Oz growing up, Wicked is an exciting and entertaining look at what happened “before Dorothy dropped in.” My husband surprised me with tickets for my birthday, and we both loved the show. It is a must-see for anyone who loved (or loves) the classic story of the Wizard of Oz.

If you haven’t seen it, don’t worry! Wicked has just been extended in Chicago indefinitely, and with a little luck you can sit in the front row on the cheap! You can register to win Wicked tickets in the first two rows for $25 each!! Here are the details:

Sign up for discounted tickets on the day of the performance Tuesday through Thursday at the Ford Oriental Theatre Box Office, and Friday through Sunday at the Borders at 150 N. State St. Two hours prior to each performance, random names will be drawn. If your name is drawn, you can purchase one or two tickets at $25 each. You must be present at the time of the drawing to win.

TIP: If you have read Gregory Maguire’s novel, “Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” don’t go see the musical expecting it to mirror the book. They are VERY different stories, although they are both very good!

Wicked Chicago
Ford Center for the Performing Arts
Oriental Theater
24 West Randolph
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 902-1400 (Broadway in Chicago)