Crete

A suburb in the Chicago area

About 30 miles south of the Loop in Will County, Crete is a small village that has held onto its small-town character. Its Main Street draws residents to local spots for live music on weekends, and two venues on or near that corridor carry most of the music programming. Smokey Jo's Scratch Kitchen & Ale House, a Main Street institution, has deep family roots in Crete, tracing its lineage to a bar and kitchen opened by brothers Jim and Sam Schrementi. It's a casual spot for barbecue and sports, with live music running throughout the week. Weekend visits are best enjoyed near the patio or stage area. Vintage Oak is an upscale wine and whiskey lounge with a full-service bar and charcuterie at the other end of the Main Street strip. It programs live music alongside its drinks and food offerings. Music there runs at a level that still allows conversation, making it a different kind of night out than the ale house down the road.