Belmont Theater District

Chicago is one of the best theater cities on Earth, and a fantastic way to experience what makes Chicago theater is so unique is by visiting the Belmont Theater District. Located within a mile of the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple line station, you will find Chicago’s “Off-Broadway” neighborhood consisting of about 20 theaters and 100+bars and restaurants. This is a neighborhood not to be missed and the productions you’ll find here tend to be a bit edgier and less expensive than the big downtown productions in the Loop.

While there are zillions of places to write about, I’ll do what I usually do and talk about my favorite spots which are in my opinion, your best bets for a good time while visiting. 

"Mr Burns" is a prime example of the new and edgy works being done in the Belmont Theater District

Be sure to check out Belmont Theater District’s awesome website for coupons for places to eat and a fantastic map pointing out all the spots you’d ever want to stop in the neighborhood. The main drag of “BTD” is along Belmont between Southport and Broadway.

Places To Eat

Everyone knows one of the best nights out on the town you can have include dinner and a show. So let’s start with filling your belly. 

Yum! Love this place!

Cooper’s is an excellent choice for your dinner hour, especially if you’re going to see a show right across the street at Theater Wit or Stage 773. I’d recommend trying their pizzas (the spinach pizza is my favorite) or the ever-popular disco fries. I’m also a fan of “Doctor Bob’s Beet Salad”. They’ve got an extensive beer selection that will make you want to hang out there all night. When it's nice out, be sure to enjoy their fantastic outdoor patio where you can people watch or catch a game on one of their huge TVs. Friendly staff and a plethora of theater people hanging out before and after showtime create a one-of-a-kind ambiance. A word to the wise — there’s a tiny parking lot to the East side of Cooper’s and if you’re going to a show at 773 or Theater Wit afterwards, you’re welcome to park there for the duration of the show, too. Good to know since parking along Belmont can be a bear. That’s one of the many reasons why I usually take advantage of public transit!

Shubas is a historic restaurant/bar nearby, dating back to 1903. It was originally built as a Schlitz saloon to ensure exclusive sales of their brand and is now one of the few remaining structures of it'd kind (though now it pours many other delicious beers). Chris and Mike Shuba later purchased the bar and grill room (women and children used to chill in the grill room while men drank in the bar). Now women (not children) are welcome to drink, thank goodness - - and many local and nationally known bands come to play shows here at their music venue called Lincoln Hall. Acts have included Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Marketa Irglova and more. It's a good starting (or ending) place for your evening with sidewalk seating for people to enjoy people watching on Southport.

The Theaters

Theater Wit is not to be missed!

Since 2010, Theater Wit has been offering it’s 3 theater venue building to bring “smart art” to the Belmont Theater District. It houses some of the best shows the city has to offer, producing it’s own season as well as providing rental spaces for other storefront theater groups. Theater Wit acts as a welcoming community center for theater companies and patrons, and it’s an exciting and vital place to know about. At the time I am writing this, my boyfriend is finishing up a 5 month run of “Mr Burns, a Post Electric Play”, produced by Theater Wit, and I can say it is a riveting, funny and important play to see with an amazing cast and crew. By becoming a member of Theater Wit, you are able to get a great slice of what the Chicago theater community has to offer.  The space boasts an awesome bar with specialty drinks worth sampling, and some yummy local snacks to purchase before the show or at intermission. Do yourself a favor and check out a play or musical here as soon as possible.

Stage 773 is right next door to Theater Wit, another multi-stage space (4 stages total) specializing in plays, improv, comedy shows and readings. Stage 773 houses it’s own ongoing musical comedy show, "Cupid Has a Heart On", as well as The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival and Chicago Women’s Funny Festival. 773 also has an excellent bar, interesting steampunk-esque decor and is one of those places you could hang out at all night. It is another exciting place to see and be seen in the Belmont Theater District.

Beer and movies.... what more could you want?

The Vic opened in 1912 (originally the Victoria Theatre) as a vaudeville house. Today it hosts live music events (I saw Ani Difranco and Guster play here and they were both excellent) and when live music isn’t happening, the Brew & View is. They ofter Groupons for Brew & View pretty often, which is exactly what it sounds like -- beers and movies for about $5 admission (drinks not included).  

Originally built to be stables in 1901 and having housed Marshall Field’s horses before it housed Blue Men, The Briar Street Theatre is another historic stage in the area. It's here you will find The Blue Man Group which has been running consistently for 18 years this September, making it one of Chicago’s longest running shows (the longest being “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" at Neo Futurists). Blue Man Group is a hard thing to describe if you’ve never seen it, but it is definitely a good time. Everything is brighter, bolder and more fun in this space and it’s pretty impossible not to have a blast. A good place to take out-of-towners who are looking for a slightly more mainstream theater experience. 

Video from the Official Blue Man Group Youtube Channel

The Athenaeum Theatre was built in 1911 and is the oldest continuously operating off-Loop theater in Chicago. As a multi-stage venue attached to the historic St Alphonsus Church, the Anthenaeum rents out spaces to cabaret performances, improv, lectures, music and plays.

Nightlife

So the show’s over and you’re still not ready to go home? In addition to Cooper's and Schubas, here are some of my favorite places to end the evening.

Big City Tap is a good low-key bar to meet up and start your evening. Closer to the train, this spot has great drink specials like $3 draft beers on Tuesdays and $1 Jell-O shots. They’ve got a kitchen too, with decent pub food.

Me with a comically sized martini glass at Trader Todd's (don't worry, I had help).

Trader Todd's is a fun place to go to drink gigantic drinks and sing karaoke any night of the week. They've got a sweet fire pit in the back and a boat you can sit on. You need to know what karaoke songs you want to sing (they don't have a book) and they also didn't happen to have my jam (Madonna's "Vogue"). But I am willing to overlook this because they did have "Total Eclipse Of The Heart".

If you happen to be out late, be sure to swing by Berlin for a great night of dancing. They’re usually open until 4am (Saturdays til 5am!) so dance till you drop. I really like going on their Robyn night. 

So what are you waiting for? Grab your honey or a friend and head to Chicago’s “Off-Broadway”, accessible by CTA train at the Belmont stop or via the 22 Clark Bus or 77 Belmont bus. Tell them Amy from Chicago Day Tripping sent you and get bonus awesome points!