Established in 2008, Windy City Soul Club is one of Chicago’s longest-running northern soul dance parties. Spinning the best up-beat, Motown-y sounds in town, their deejays play all original vinyl from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Most of the music comes from local or Midwestern artists, with a majority of the albums produced right here in Chicago. This dance club’s monthly home is at The Empty Bottle, in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood, where they set up shop one Saturday night every month except for their annual New Year’s Eve party, which takes place at the Logan Square Auditorium. It’s best to arrive early—preferably before 10 p.m.—and make sure to bring cash, as the Empty Bottle doesn’t accept cards.
Late-Night Dance Party
The Hideout has been around since 1934, tucked away on a quiet street in the center of the industrial corridor along the North Branch of the Chicago River. In its early days, The Hideout was ran by bootleggers and gamblers. Today, it is home to the Malt Shop, one of my favorite dance parties in the city. The Malt Shop takes place the second Saturday of each month at midnight. They play the best of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. There is even a Soul Train competition at 1 a.m. where you can shake your groove thing to win free drinks. It is the sweatiest best time I’ve ever had on Saturday night in Chicago!
Calling All Salseros
Salsa Tuesday’s at Alhambra Palace is one of the largest Salsa dance parties in Chicago, with a weekly attendance of over 600 people. The night starts off with dance classes at 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. with instructors from the local dance studio Latin Rhythms teaching a new Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba, or Cha-Cha dance routine. At 9 p.m., you can show off your existing or newly-acquired salsa dancing skills with some of the best Latin video DJ’s in Chicago. Sip some mojitos and dance the night away!
Jumpin’ Joint
Monday nights don’t have to be boring, especially when you have a live band and swing dancing! Every Monday night Fizz Bar and Grill’s upstairs lounge offers beginner swing dancing lessons at 8 p.m., followed by a live local jazz band from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tip – Go early for the ½ price pizza and bottles of wine, it is the perfect fuel to keep you jump and jiving all night long!
Written By Amanda Cooper
Amanda Cooper is the Director of Concierge Relations at Concierge Preferred. A Hoosier born Chicagoan, she is determined to uncover every hidden gem in Chicago. She prefers her cocktails with gin, beer to be local, and pizza as a pot pie. She believes there is nothing better than Chicago in the summer where she can often be found at U.S. Cellular Field cheering on her beloved White Sox, Millennium Park taking in a movie or music on the Great Lawn, or navigating the lakefront bike path on her beach cruiser.