photo: courtesy of Bridget Montgomery

Like many of Chicago's greatest bars, Schubas' brick facade and neon sign hardly indicate the standout quality of the establishment inside. However, its jam-packed music calendar, plastered on the glass doors, alludes to one of the defining components of the neighborhood bar: The place attracts everyone from local punk bands and hip-hop acts to nationally touring folk and country acts to singer-songwriters, who perform just about nightly in the intimate back room. Groups like the Dave Matthews Band and Fastball performed here in their early days, and Schubas still continues to attract talented musicians like Chuck Prophet and Archer Prewitt to its chapel-like music stage (where Schlitz used to brew).

A casual vibe meanders through the main bar where dim lighting offsets a dark wood interior, yellow paned windows, green-painted walls and vintage finishing touches like a Schlitz-saluting statue and a deer head lingering above a dark corner. Despite the two TVs on either end of the bar and the occasional busloads of youngsters clamoring at the back by the video games and photo booth, waiting to enter the occasional all-ages show, the bar offers a cozy retreat from the cold. When the weather heats up, step outside to the flowerbox-surrounded sidewalk patio.

Drinks average around $4.25 for domestics on tap and by the bottle, $4.75 for mixed drinks and bargain-price $2 Schlitz, with various nightly specials and a selection of wines by the glass. The above-par selection of eats comes straight from the Harmony Grill, the American restaurant rubbing shoulders with Schubas. There's nothing like a meal of mini mac and cheese and sweet potato fries after standing in a sweaty crowd watching a stellar show.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jessica Herman