It is undoubtedly one of the attractive destinations for gamblers and has the most elegant casinos. However, this might change pretty soon as many states are gradually opening their doors for casinos. This is primarily because of the revenues that the industry bring in and the jobs that it create.

The history of gambling in Chicago

Gambling in Chicago dates back to the 19th century, when it was a thriving industry in the city. During those days, Chicago was a relatively new city and there were no regulations in place for gambling. Perhaps the most popular places to gamble at the time were the riverboats. Considering this fact, you’ll understand why they were the venues where gambling and casinos thrived.

By the end of the 20th century, regulations came into force in Illinois on the riverboat casinos. The official state legislation on riverboat gambling was enacted in the year 1990. It was called Riverboat Gambling Act. This led to the opening of the first casino with a license in a riverboat the following year.

Chicago’s gambling laws

The state of Illinois covers the laws related to gambling in Chicago. The residents who are above the legal age can play casino games, but on one condition. They can play only at the riverboat venues that have the license to operate casinos. Such casinos offer different types of table games, such as craps and blackjack. Players of online casinos would be in for a disappointment over here.

The state of Illinois currently don’t allow gambling in online casinos throughout the territory. The ones who break Chicago’s gambling laws or similar laws elsewhere in the state would get into trouble. It comes under a Class A misdemeanor.

So, breaking the gambling laws in this part of the world would attract a maximum jail term of one year. Based on the severity of the offense, the authorities might also impose a a penalty. The amount of penalty may go up to $2,500.

Riverboat casinos

If you want to gamble while in Chicago, you can visit one of the riverboat casinos. They offer different varieties of gambling games. Some of them remain on barges and don’t go cruising. Others are boats that stay on the docks and have a casino on a shallow pit. Upon visiting these boats, you’ll see that the pit has only a few inches of water.

Online gambling

Chicago might not be the best place for online gambling if you want to play a popular virtual casino. Online casinos are illegal in the state of Illinois and also Indiana, which is its neighboring state. Today, online sports betting has the state’s permission to operate. You can consider this as an alternative if you want to indulge in some gambling in Chicago.

You can choose one of the sports betting websites to place your bets. There are a variety of sports you’ll get to choose from. One of them is the major professional team of Illinois.

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Chicago has been nicknamed the ‘Windy City’ and is located along Lake Michigan’s shores. It enjoys great popularity across the world for its 20th-century art and architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright, Picasso, Louis Sullivan and many other artists and architects have left their mark on the city.

You’ll be able to enjoy many cultural attractions and memorable shopping experiences while exploring this city. Here we present some of the best attractions worth visiting during your time spent in Chicago:

1. Lincoln Park

Along Lake Michigan’s edge is Lincoln Park, a charming green space that stretches to about six miles. It is the biggest park in the city and houses the Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory. You’ll also come across Chicago History Museum and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in the park.

Besides all these offerings, you’ll also find bike trails, beaches, playing fields, and jogging paths. The park also has some brilliant pieces of public art. Among them is a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, which Augustus Saint-Gaudens had completed in the late 19th century.

2. Field Museum of Natural History

This museum was originally called the Columbian Museum of Chicago. It was founded in the late 19th century with the intention of showcasing the anthropological and biological collections. All of them were gathered for exhibition at the World’s Columbian Exposition.

In the early 20th century, the name of this museum was changed in the honor of Marshall Field. He was a patron of art, owner of the department store, and the museum’s major benefactor. The permanent collection in this museum features around 20 million specimens and artifacts. They cover geology, anthropology, zoology, botany, and several other disciplines.

You’ll also find permanent displays associated with Ancient Egypt. The museum also has permanent displays on Central, North, and South American cultures. Don’t miss the most complete and world’s largest skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

3. Art Institute of Chicago

You’ll get to see thousands of artworks in this world-class museum. The Art Institute of Chicago is known for its fabulous collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. They include George Seurat’s 1884 painting called A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte.

You’ll also come across other impressive paintings from famous artists such as Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The main building of this museum was constructed for the World’s Columbian Exposition. Today, the entire complex is spread across a vast area of 400,000 square feet.

4. 360 Chicago

Adventure lovers would love to explore this observation deck owing to its newest feature called ‘Tilt’. This observation area is located on the 94th floor of John Hancock Building. You can easily recognize this building due to its dark metallic exterior. From 360 Chicago, you can enjoy awe-inspiring views of the city’s skyline. Its ‘Tilt’ feature will give you the chance to be tipped outward at a certain angle.

As a result, you’ll be looking straight down from the glass enclosure. The building also houses many offices, shops, and apartments. On the first floor, you’ll get to witness a multimedia exhibit. It gives you some valuable information about Chicago city and John Hancock Building’s construction.

5. Museum of Science and Industry

This museum is located at the northern end of Jackson Park. You’ll find permanent as well as changing exhibits in the museum. The Museum of Science and Industry is also home to an OMNIMAX theater. Founded in the year 1933, this museum is one of the most impressive museums of the city.

It is probably the first museum in the United States to include interactive exhibits. The museum mainly showcases the application of natural laws in the development of industry and technology.

6. Buckingham Fountain

Although the official name of this fountain is Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, it is popular as the Buckingham Fountain. The construction of this fountain dates back to 1927. You’ll clearly see the Art Deco influence in its design. This fountain is one of the world’s largest and is a central point of Grant Park. It comes alive from 8:00 in the morning and delights visitors until 11:00 in the evening.

The sculptures of four seahorses surround this fountain. They represent the four bordering states of Lake Michigan. Buckingham Fountain shoots 15,000 gallons of water through 200 nozzles every minute. This creates an impressive display of the shooting waters, which is also accompanied by lights after dusk.

7. Navy Pier

The Navy Pier comprises 50 acres of gardens, shops, concert venues, parks, and other attractions. Its opening dates back to the early 20th century. During those days, it operated as a shipping facility and amusement area. Over the years, it became one of the most popular attractions in the city. Upon visiting the Navy Pier Park, you’ll find a historic carousel and a 150-feet Ferris Wheel.

You can watch a film at the 3D Imax Theater during your visit to the Navy Pier. You can also choose to watch some wonderful performances at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Some of the other attractions you must not miss include Chicago Children’s Museum and Crystal Gardens.

8. Millennium Park

A part of the larger Grant Park, Millennium Park is home to a popular attraction called Crown Fountain. It is a modern interpretation of the ancient gargoyle. This fountain gives the appearance of water flowing from the mouths of the images of Chicago’s citizens. Millennium Park is located in the city’s downtown area.

At its center is a sculpture with the name ‘Cloud Gate’, which weighs 110 tons. It has a polished surface made with mirror-like stainless steel. The sculpture reflects the surrounding buildings, sky, and the people walking through its central arch.

9. Willis Tower SkyDeck

Until the construction of Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Willis Tower was the tallest commercial building in the world. This 110-story building took three years to build. It has an observation area known as the SkyDeck, which is located on the 103rd floor.

Jutting out from this observation area is a glass box that has a glass floor. They call this box ‘The Ledge’. You can stand in this box and look directly down at the city. A visit to SkyDeck will allow you to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city’s impressive architecture.

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This relationship of Chicago with music continues even today. With the development of several musical genres over the years, many music venues also came up in the city. Every year, Chicago witnessed the opening of some new music venues. The city had an estimated 225 venues for musical performances in 2017.

Such an astounding growth is, of course, great news for Chicago’s music scene. Now, with so many options available for music lovers, you might wonder which is the best among them. Well, here we’ve listed a few of such venues, which will make choosing the best venue easier for you.

1. Chicago Cultural Center

This multi-use building has a fantastic architecture with all the traditional elements. Among them are a splendid staircase and a dome made with stained glass. The Chicago Cultural Center is located opposite Millennium Park. It hosts many contemporary musical events every year. The traditional architecture along with some entertaining jazz, blues, and classical music will surely take you back in time.

2. Green Mill Jazz Club

This place was once a favorite hangout of gangsters, such as Al Capone. In the late 20th century, it got back its original glory with the efforts of the owner, Dave Jemilo. So, if you want a music venue with a mix of history and character, Green Mill Jazz Club would be an ideal choice. You don’t need to worry about gangsters anymore. Today, this place is all about some good-quality music.

3. Old Town School of Folk Music

People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can take music, theater, visual arts, and dance courses at this venue. Old Town School of Folk Music is a non-profit organization, founded in the mid-20th century. It offers 700 accredited classes, workshops, and private lessons. All of these are provided with an intention of exposing the people of Chicago to a variety of artistic genres.

4. Schubas Tavern

Housed in a historic building, this venue is a small, family-owned club. It sets the right mood for budding artists and indie bands to showcase their musical skills. You’ll get a taste of history while you’re in the building that houses Schubas Tavern. The building still exhibits some of its old charm with most of its interior still intact.

5. Lincoln Hall

This venue is a bigger version of Schubas Tavern. Ever since Chris and Mike Schubas created Lincoln Hall, it quickly became one of Chicago’s well-loved music venues. Lincoln Hall has been in operation since 2009. It typically hosts performances of new artists or the successful ones seeking a smaller audience for a change.

6. Park West

Park West has hosted some fantastic shows featuring well-established singers. This concert hall is a nationally-treasured venue. It is considered one of the finest places in the city to witness an event or a show. The venue has a reputation of hosting some of the most popular artists from the 1970s and 1980s.

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You certainly can’t ignore the coming together of people and all those bright lights. All such elements combine to make a concert venue feel much more intimate and warm. Here we’ll walk you through some of the essentials that define a good concert.

1. Pre-planned theatrics

We’re letting out an industry secret here. Many of the successful live concerts are not planned out to the last detail. You might be under the impression that the best live shows are where the artist does his or her own thing. Some might also be of the opinion that planning destroys the spontaneity of a concert.

The truth is that certain sets of theatrics are planned before the concert. This is to provide something for the artist to fall back on while making the most of the opportunities.

2. Making the audience feel connected

You’d want to feel a connection to the artist who’s performing at the concert. Music and a few other forms of entertainment have a way of making the audience feel connected. A good concert breaks past the numbers of fans and makes every one of them feel this connection.

They must feel connected to the performer, to the music, and to each other. Generally, it’s not the size of the venue or the audience that matters. It is how connected it makes the audience feel during the concert. This is done with the venue’s setup, a top-quality sound system, and the passion of the artist.

3. The right atmosphere

Another thing that a concert must focus on is creating the right atmosphere for the audience. The sound system in use plays a major role in this process. You must be able to hear an instrument clearly while also feeling the beats. The ambiance of the venue must make you feel as if you’re entering a world of excitement and fun.

Fans will always be able to see the efforts that have been taken to make the concert successful. Such efforts reflect in the form of the look and feel of the entrance, ceiling, walls, and stage.

4. The artist’s moves

A passionate artist is the heart and soul of a good concert. It doesn’t matter how good the music is or how elegant the venue’s embellishments are. It is the artist who draws in the crowd. There are times when the artists go out of their way to entertain the audience. They smash guitars, set things on fire, and do everything possible to make the show feel lively.

The audiences see an artist’s passion for performance with such random acts. Even if the song is a slow-paced one, the artist still needs to make some movements. It’ll surely bore you if you’re watching a performer standing in the same spot throughout the song.

5. An element of surprise

What really makes a concert enjoyable is when the artist performs in an unexpected way. Performers often have the freedom to be spontaneous and add their own element of surprise. He or she may extend the guitar solos or intros, stop to interact with a fan, or break into a dance. Concerts playing to technical perfection often don’t arouse the kind of excitement one wants during such events.

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Some live performances thrill the audience to such an extent that they feel a rush of euphoria in them. There have been such musical concerts in the past before the smartphone screens made their presence felt everywhere. So, here we present some of the greatest live concert performances ever:

1. The Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965

This was during the days when The Beatles had gained international fame. In the mid-1960s, they decided to tour North America. They chose New York City for their performance and more than 55,000 tickets were sold. About 2,000 police officers were put in place for security when the band entered the scene.

They had arrived in an armored truck. It’s said that The Beatles couldn’t hear what they were playing owing to the noise. It was probably the first time that a concert was held in an outdoor stadium. Although such performances are common in recent times, the Shea Stadium was where it all began.

2. James Brown at Boston Garden in 1968

With the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, there were riots and violence in the United States. Amid this chaotic situation, the concert organizers were about to cancel James Brown’s event. Finally, they decided to go ahead with the event. Some among them were of the opinion that canceling the concert would result in more violence.

At the concert, it was as if Brown alone was controlling the entire crowd. During the performance, he told the crowd that they were not being fair to themselves, him, or their race. He asked them whether they were together or not. Following the act was the song I Can’t Stand Myself.

3. Queen at Live Aid in 1985

The rock band Queen had lost much of their charm after their initial performances in the 1970s. At Live Aid, there were bigger contemporary artists besides them. They were David Bowie and the band, U2. Despite this, Queen arose from the ashes like a phoenix and the audience was loving it.

The band regained their lost charm and delivered a mesmerizing performance. They played some excellent numbers, such as Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You. During their performance, Freddie Mercury appeared to be at the peak of his energy.

4. Radiohead at Glastonbury in 1997

During this concert, everything seemed to be going wrong. The two stages prepared for the event went into the mud owing to heavy downpours. It just got worse when the English rock band, Radiohead, got on to the stage to perform. Thom Yorke could see the lighting rig shine directly in his face. The band couldn’t hear themselves playing under these circumstances.

Not willing to give up, the band delivered the most epic of all their performances. Yorke was adding some twists to each and every song that they were playing. This made the crowd go wild and Yorke enjoyed the overwhelming response that the band was getting.

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Hard rock developed into a popular form of music in the 1970s. In the following decade, some of the hard rock bands moved on to pop rock. Here are some of the best bands that revolutionized this genre of rock music:

1. Led Zeppelin

This English rock band were originally ‘The New Yardbirds’. Their emergence in the late 1960s in London gave the city another exciting hard rock band. Often described as one of hard rock and heavy metal’s progenitors, their music mainly consisted of guitar-driven, heavy sound. The members of this band were Robert Plant, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. Led Zeppelin’s music also had a considerable influence of blues and folk.

The band had a significant impact in the development of stadium rock and album-oriented rock. Guitarist Jimmy Page wrote most of their music in their early days. Vocalist Robert Plant had written most of the lyrics. The compositions of bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones became a major part of Led Zeppelin’s music.

2. Queen

Yet another rock band formed in London, Queen had an impressive line-up of talented musicians. They were Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May, and John Deacon. This British rock band came into existence during the year 1970. Much of their earlier works had an influence of hard rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal. Later they ventured into works that were more radio-friendly and conventional.

May and Taylor were a part of the rock band ‘Smile’ before the forming of Queen. The year 1971 saw bassist John Deacon joining this band of talented rock musicians. With their second album, they became chart-toppers in the United Kingdom. The tracks We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You have now become anthems. Both these tracks are from their 1977 album News of the World.

3. Aerosmith

With the formation of this American rock band in 1970, the country got its ‘Bad Boys from Boston’. They toured extensively throughout the 1970s and came up with top hits such as Walk This Way and Sweet Emotion. The original members of this band were Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry, Ray Tabano, and Joey Kramer.

Although their music style has its roots in blues-based hard rock, they incorporate other elements. Most of these are heavy metal, pop rock, glam metal, and rhythm and blues. In the year 1971, Brad Whitford replaced Ray Tabano. By the end of the 1970s, Aerosmith was one of the world’s most popular hard rock bands.

Whitford and Perry departed from the band in 1979 owing to internal conflict and drug addiction. They were back in the band during 1984 and gave several hits later on. Among the most popular ones was I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. It was a part of the soundtrack of the film Armageddon.

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The common structure that’s currently in use became standard only during the first decades of the 20th century. Early songs of blues often described racial discrimination and other challenges that the African-American community experienced. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the legends from the world of blues music.

1. Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix is regarded as one of the greatest instrumentalists in rock music history. Inspired by electric blues and American rock and roll music, he started playing guitar when he was 15. Later, he earned a place in the backing band of The Isley Brothers owing to his gigs. He later worked with the popular musician, Little Richard.

After his performance in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival, he achieved tremendous popularity in the United States. With his third and final studio album titled Electric Ladyland, he reached the number one position in the country.

Soon, he became the highest-paid performer in the world. He had also performed at the controversial Woodstock Festival in 1969. However, he didn’t live long. He died from asphyxia caused by barbiturate on the 18th of September, 1970.

2. Eric Clapton

An English rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer, Eric Clapton was born on the 30th of March, 1945. It won’t be wrong to say that he was among the finest guitarists of all time. In the early days of his career, Clapton played for many of the local bands. In 1963, he replaced the founding guitarist of The Yardbirds and became a part of the band.

He left The Yardbirds two years later owing to his dissatisfaction with them. The band had changed their sound from blues rock to pop rock, which he didn’t like. After playing with several other bands, he embarked on his solo career in 1970. He has received 18 Grammy Awards during his career.

He has also received several other awards, such as the Brit Award, CBE, and four Ivor Novello awards. Clapton sold over 280 million records worldwide during his solo career. This places him among the best-selling musicians of all time.

3. B.B. King

He is famous worldwide for introducing a style of guitar solo of a certain degree of sophistication. It is based on shimmering vibrato, fluid string bending, and staccato picking. This style later influenced many players of electric blues guitar. The year 1987 saw his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

King has also earned the nickname ‘The King of the Blues’. Born Riley B. King in a cotton plantation of Mississippi, he had great fascination for music right from childhood. He began his music career playing in juke joints and local radio. On an average, he performed at more than 200 concerts a year.

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Here, we’ll talk about some of these great artists who contributed immensely towards making jazz music extremely popular.

1. Frank Sinatra

You may not know much about jazz, but you might’ve certainly heard about Frank Sinatra. He was born into a family of immigrants in the year 1915 in New Jersey. Sinatra was a big fan of the great jazz singer, Bing Crosby, who inspired him to pursue jazz music. He loved to perform right from the days of his childhood.

As a result, he participated in the glee club and began singing at local nightclubs. Gradually, his popularity soared and he gained wider exposure through radio. This led him to a successful career as a solo jazz artist. Sinatra gave many jazz hits and his massive popularity brought him opportunities in acting as well.

2. Ella Fitzgerald

Her greatness earned her the title ‘The First Lady of Song’. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most popular female jazz artists of the United States. She won 13 Grammy awards during her lifetime and her success resulted in the sales of 40 million records. Owing to her incredible success as a solo jazz artist, she worked with some of the best in the business.

They included Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Duke Ellington. Despite her humble beginnings in Virginia, she had already recorded over 200 albums by the time she was 21. She came up with many chart-toppers in the years that followed.

3. Louis Armstrong

Life was quite difficult initially for Louis Armstrong. When he was in his fifth grade, he had to drop out of school. However, this enabled him to work and buy his first cornet. One day, he was arrested for firing into the air using his stepfather’s gun. Following this incident, he had to spend some time at the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. There, he developed his skills in playing cornet.

He received great encouragement from his wife to make it on his own. This led to the founding of the band ‘Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five’. In 1927, he assembled his ‘Hot Seven’ band, which had most of the members of his earlier band. He performed some impressive feats with great vocals during his fabulous career.

4. Billie Holiday

Also known as Lady Day, she was a renowned jazz and swing music artist of the United States. Many of the jazz enthusiasts believe that she was the greatest vocalist in the genre. Although she died at the age of 44, she enjoyed an extensive career. The reason for her short life was mainly due to the problems with her heart and liver. Her use of alcohol and drugs was the culprit. She had a rather rough childhood.

At one point, she was sent to a facility for troubled African-American girls. When she was a young teenager, Holiday began singing in Harlem’s nightclubs under the pseudonym ‘Billie Dove’. It was during this time that a producer discovered her. This led to a recording contract. She had a successful career in the following years with many collaborations and concert performances.

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Over the years since it was first developed, this music genre grew quickly. It also incorporated some new innovations and also had offshoots of it emerging in the later years. So, you’ll find several styles and sub-genres in jazz today.

The origins

In the early 1900s, large numbers of Africans arrived in North America. What really brought them to this part of the world was the Atlantic slave trade. The city of New Orleans had a considerably diverse population. Even today, the city is often called the ‘melting pot’ of culture.

With the arrival of the Africans came their influences of folk songs, ragtime, blues and marching band tradition of West Africa. All of this came together to form what eventually came to be known as ‘jazz’.

Development

In the 1910s and 1920s, jazz was mostly characterized by polyphonic collective improvisation. This was made possible by a frontline section that featured a trumpet or cornet. It was accompanied by a trombone and clarinet. A rhythm section of piano or banjo, drums, and tuba or double bass provided the right backing. The first key improvising soloist of jazz was Louis Armstrong.

What made him a major icon of jazz was his bold and operatic trumpet sound. The recordings with his ‘Hot Five’ and ‘Hot Seven’ became jazz music’s pinnacle in the 1920s. The first artist to write and make a formal arrangement of music for his band was Jelly Roll Morton.

Thus, he became one of the first among the major composers of jazz music. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band came up with their first jazz recordings in 1917. The recordings became extremely popular and played a key role in bringing the music to a nationwide audience. From the early 1930s to the late 1940s, the swing and big band era thrived.

During this period, band leaders such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie became huge stars. Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday were also band leaders at the beginning. Later, they ended up making their own solo careers.

The mid-20th century

During the 1950s and 1960s, the softer alternatives to the more fiery bebop sounds emerged. Artists such as Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon, and Chet Baker brought jazz from the West Coast. This form of jazz had a more sunny and laid-back aesthetic.

Additions of the influences of blues and gospel went into the creation of a bluesy sound. It developed later into ‘soul jazz’, which had a sound that seemed church-influenced. Ornette Coleman was instrumental in pioneering free jazz in 1959.

The 1970s and today’s jazz

The late 1960s saw Miles Davis’s band using electric instruments. As a result, jazz rock came into existence and grew into fusion. Herbie Hancock and a few other artists combined jazz improvisations with funk and disco. This led to the creation of danceable and complex sounds.

In recent times, the genre has embraced European jazz. It had its own sound that was distinct from others. The recent trends in jazz also included the complex rhythmic music of the 1980s.

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