Above: The main stage at the Chicago Magic Lounge in Chicago

The first trick of the Chicago Magic Lounge was its most impressive: transforming a commercial laundry building into a stylish cocktail bar and theater. This year-old venue is reason alone to visit the Andersonville neighborhood, a formerly Swedish enclave that’s now home to a cluster of appealing independent restaurants, brewpubs, home décor stores and the compact Swedish American Museum.

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