By Patty Enrado, Editor
CHICAGO — With a city Chicago’s size, there is no shortage of nightlife venues. If you’re staying an extra night or two or even three, be sure to check out the places that HIMSS staff frequent.
If comedy is your thing, The Second City is an obvious choice. Many HIMSS staffers chose it, including Holly Gaebel, coordinator for HIMSS’ Healthcare Information Systems. A Chicago landmark since 1959, The Second City’s (1616 N. Wells St., 312.337.3992, www.secondcity.com) has launched the careers of great comedians such as John Belushi, Mike Myers and Bill Murray. Two stages – The Second City Mainstage, which seats 290, and The Second City e.t.c., which seats 180 – offer night comedy shows, and a variety of other programs and services. Each theatre has a resident troupe that writes and performs an original comedy show.
Both Holly Gaebel, coordinator for HIMSS’ Healthcare Information Systems, and Racquel Orenick, corporate counsel, recommend the Chicago iO Theatre (3541 N. Clark St., 773.880.0199, http://chicago.ioimprov.com/) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. Founded in 1981 as a comedy training center and performance venue, the iO Theater specializes in the long form improvisational theater. “‘The Harold’ show is inexpensive and a don’t miss!” said Orenick.
Like to take the stage with microphone in hand? Christine Chung, associate of Market Research for HIMSS Analytics, recommends the Live Band Karaoke at Piece Brewery and Pizzeria on Saturday nights at 11 p.m. 1927 W. North Avenue, 773.772.4422, http://www.livebandkaraoke.com/, http://www.piecechicago.com/flash/index.html). Sing with a great band, choose from hundreds of songs across genres, including rock, pop, heavy metal, hip hop, retro, Top 40, Motown, R&B, country, soul, disco, blues, punk, all the decades starting with the 1960s, and more.
If theater is your cup of tea, Phil Shaffer, Provider Services account executive, recommends the Goodman Theater (170 North Dearborn St., 312.443.3800, http://www.goodmantheatre.org/), located in the heart of Chicago’s downtown Theater District since 1925. Featuring works by local, national and international groups, the Goodman Theater offers two world premieres during your HIMSS stay. Tony-Award winner Anna Shapiro directs Magnoia, written by Regina Taylor, a play about the civil rights movement in 1963 in Atlanta. Lisa Portes directs Ghostwritten, by Naomi Iizuka, a play about an acclaimed American chef’s reckoning with a stranger she met in Southeast Asia 20 years over debt repayment.