A long-established name on the dance circuit, Smart Bar, tucked in the basement below the rock club Metro, spins the latest musical forms from underground house and punk to ethereal and gothic. The scene starts late, and the dancing denizens vary widely depending on which bands are playing upstairs (concertgoers get free admission to the Smart Bar). The no-frills club, which has stayed in business (amazingly) since 1982, attracts a diverse and edgy crowd, and that's part of the appeal. This is an established Chicago spot where clubbers can come as they are, and you'll see a range of fashion. Smart Bar stays open until 5am on weekends. No cover before 11pm during the week.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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