In the heart of Uptown, the Green Mill is "Old Chicago" to the rafters. A popular watering hole during the 1920s and 1930s, when Al Capone was a regular and the headliners included Sophie Tucker -- the Last of the Red Hot Mamas -- and Al Jolson, it still retains its speakeasy flavor. On Sunday night, the Green Mill hosts the Uptown Poetry Slam, when poets vie for the open mike to roast and ridicule each other's work. Most nights, however, jazz is on the menu, beginning around 9pm and winding down just before closing at 4am (5am Sat). Regular performers include vocalist Kurt Elling, who performs standards and some of his own songs with a quartet, and chanteuse Patricia Barber (they're both worth seeing if they're playing while you're in town). The Green Mill is a Chicago treasure and not to be missed. Get there early to claim one of the plush velvet booths.