Amelia Levin

Four Corners Tavern Group stepped out of their comfort zone with Benchmark, a more stylish lounge/nightclub-type venue, set to open at the end of this month in Chicago.

Mansion nightclub opened last week. Privilege Nightclub, the new face the challenge of keeping it afloat in a location that’s housed two short-lived venues: Theatro and Embassy.

Noticing the need to promote green venues, Dave Blue, a DJ, entrepreneur and nightclub aficionado, started www.ecoDrinking.com, a directory of environmentally friendly establishments.

Just shy of the two-decade mark, Chicago nightclub institution Crobar closed in April but saw a rebirth late May as Kingsbury Hall, a live music venue, which hosts a special Saturday night event, The Vibe.

Looking to boost revenues during off-peak hours, Ontourage in Chicago now transforms into comedy club before it opens to the public at 11:30 p.m. in its usual form: a dance club.

Chicago's Lumen continues its success by restructuring the venue to highlight the green movement taking off in Chicago and becoming an eco-friendly hotspot.