Diagrams and Details: New Congress Theater Rehab Plan Includes Hotel, Residential High Rise
Chicago loves the Congress Theater. Even though life at 2136 North Milwaukee Avenue has been full of ups and downs, and mostly “downs” lately, there remains a dedicated cheering section for the building that never seems to give up hope that it can once again be returned to grandeur. It’s a fan base that extends well beyond the theater’s home neighborhood of Logan Square. The Congress Theater closed in April...
Five Chicago Buildings Up For National Landmark Status
Chicago is a city of landmarks — Local, state, and national. And some of our cherished local buildings are up for national recognition through inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Late last week, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks approved the following five buildings to be sent to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council: The Congress Theater (2117 North Milwaukee Avenue) Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church...
A Last Look at the Congress Theater Before its Rebirth
If you’re a Logan Square resident saddened by the lack of screaming, brawling crowds in front of the Congress Theater, the time to rejoice is now. The Congress is making a comeback. Saturday, 1st Ward Alderman Proco Joe Moreno hosted an open house tour of the historic venue, closed since April 2013 and in desperate need of repair, to show off plans for just that very thing: an extensive renovation. The 4,500-seat...
A Look Inside Chicago’s First Theater and More
In case you missed Geoffrey Baer’s latest piece exploring Chicagoland on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, on Tuesday he took a tour of some of the city’s most important theaters, including the first one, and one that still plays silent films with a live organist. The video below runs ten minutes, but is thoroughly...
