Not to be confused with Light on Racine, the Light Club situated in the O’Hare Hilton is the last of the original 20s-era speakeasies that inspired the old Playboy Clubs.
160 Piano & Cabaret opened in 2006 after a major face lift. It served previously as Annex 3, once a famous stomping ground for gay athletes. Long-time owner Jim Flint felt the bar needed to be revamped, renamed and, although it remains a gay bar, 3160 openly welcomes people of all ages and sexual preferences. It offers a different atmosphere then most Boystown bars even though it’s located a little off the “Boystown strip” on Clark Street, just south of Belmont.
3160 features some of the top cabaret and piano entertainment in Chicago and occasionally welcomes talent from all over the United States. Live music is featured five nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday, with certain nights reserved for 3160 regular performers. There’s never a cover charge, a perk that is hard to find, especially at bars in Boystown and throughout the city for that matter.
3160 Chicago BarOn Tuesday nights, the bar hosts an open mic night for comedians with the show starting at 9pm. Wednesdays are reserved for The Paul Marinaro Jazz Trio. While I’m no jazz expert, this trio is truly talented and I promise you will definitely be back for more if you go see them. The group belts out classic jazz tunes and some original pieces too. Fridays feature Pop Goes the Gio performs just about any song you can imagine on the piano. Pop, R&B and techno are specialties but he also incorporates comedy into his performances. He is very talented and, if you’ve missed him playing at other Chicago clubs, 3160 is the perfect place to check him out. Other 3160 performers vary from comedic talents on Mondays to cover bands on other nights.
