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    Harris Theater

    4.0 (108 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM

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    Venue rental

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    Merch line for event we attended. Line moved quickly, well organized
    Kerry V.

    I attended an event here with my son. It was video experience so unfortunately I didn't get to see any live performances here. I thought the theatre was lovely. It's on the smaller side, so all seats seemed like good seats. The staff was friendly and helpful. The theatre is located dtown, in within walking distance from many great hotels.

    Jessica S.

    Saw Jamie Allan's magic show here and it was super entertaining. We were sitting first row on the balcony, and we had a great view. One thing that sucks about balcony seats though is that I'm short, so I constantly have to bend over the railing to really get a good view of the stage. Wish places were able to make the seats higher from the ground to accommodate for us shorties! They did provide two large screens that showed parts of the show, specifically for his card tricks to be live and on camera. When we got here, they checked purses and bags. This went smoothly and I swear I saw someone who looked just like Ice Cube talking to security. I literally had to look up on Twitter to see if he was in town. He wasn't, hahaha BUT he was recently! Just very ironic. Anyways, I'm off task. We got to the theater a little early, so we had to wait on the 2nd floor in the lobby area. The lobbies on each floor had colored lighting, which was kind of tacky looking, but I still really liked it. Because the event was in the middle of the day and I really had a taste for coffee, I bought one of the bottled cold brew coffees in the lobby. Let me tell you, WORST. MISTAKE. EVER. Definitely don't buy this because it was absolutely disgusting, watery, and overpriced (but isnt everything at places like this?) A tiny bag of beef jerky, as big as my small hand, was $6 when normally a bigger size is $6 at a store. A soda can was $3. I didn't buy any alcohol here considering it was early and they were expensive, so I'm not sure how the bartender made drinks. Overall, this was a nice theater and I'll come back for an event. It's not super fancy and you don't need to dress in fancy clothes, so if you are looking for a super romantic, fancy date place, this isn't the right theater for you.

    Date night
    Nathan D.

    Breathtaking | Clean | Fun Breathtaking: We went to the chicago philharmonic's performance with cirque du soleli. The Phil played a variety of movie titles from 1950-2000, mostly John Williams. The cirque du soleli has a variety of acts from silk dancers, to jugglers, to a human slinky. Everything was amazing! Absolutely one of the best performances I've been to in the city. I would go back in a heart beat. Clean: The theatre, parking, validation, and process was very clean and easy. The theatre physically is clean. The parking was integrated into the facility so you were right there in the hall once you parked. They have multiple validation machines, which makes validation easy. All in all a going to a performance at Harris is enjoyable and efficient! Fun: The performance was fun! My girlfriend and I had a smile on our face the whole time. There where people from all ages and socioeconomic demographics. Whether you are looking for something to do with the kids, for an anniversary (like we did) or just to explore a staple landmark of the city, this performance should be on your list. Pro Tip: validation only works for 6 hours and will cost you $20. Pro Tip: they have snacks and drinks but the mark yo is REAL... $4 dollar cookies, like 1 cookie for $4 dollars (smh). The best value is coffee for $3 because you get free refills.

    Monica D.

    The theater is easy to get to and has validated parking (6 hours for $19) which allows time to go eat dinner before the show/wonder around Millennium Park. The seats are well arranged and makes it so that you are not staring at the head in front of you. We saw the Chicago Philharmonic with Cirque de Symphony which was AMAZING. Shout out to all the performers both musician and cirque. Everything was truly mesmerizing and well put together. Well worth it, especially since our tickets were discounted from TodayTix.

    The screen before the musical performance.
    Sue L.

    The theater houses a great concert area five levels below ground. The seats are angled downward so there is a great view from the back. The acoustics are amazing so it doesnt sound too loud in front or too soft in back. I was able to see the Mozart Effect. Ithe music was enhanced with a screen showing cosmic views, the grandeur of earth, the oceans and waterfalls, nature and the animals, and people. The conductor had a sense of humor. I would come early to find your seat and go to the restroom or find refreshments. Dont bring too much with you. The seats are small with little leg room.

    Natya is performing!!
    Padma A.

    Nice space my second time here and enjoyed the dance performance. The staff are very friendly and helpful.... overall a great indoor venue in the city!

    Very busy Not!!!
    Petra C.

    So. Here at 6:54 and a NOT very busy security person said I cannot use the Ladies room. Here for the VIP Champagne reception. I would love to give no stars. Tons of restrooms and to lazy to let me use it. Looks very busy looking at himself in the glass.

    Yelp event!!
    Jenny J.

    This is a spacious theater that was very clean. It is easy to commute to and has parking directly in the millennium park garage so you won't get lost. The inside of the theater is simple, so the ambiance isn't much . It is still a very nice place to visit .

    This was the delicious lamb burger that we truly enjoyed.
    Edwina A.

    For my first time inside of this location. I love the huge space and the ability to hear the dj no matter what floor you were on. Yelp always have a very interesting selection of vendors for this event. My 4 faves of last night for food items were #hakkabakka and the Lamb burgers. #shakeshack with ice cream. #monacococktail and the 2 new flavors that I tried (Tequlia & lime crush, and Citrus). And finally #deepeddysvodka keeps people coming back.

    Drinks in the Orchestra Pit!
    Anthony M.

    LIGHTS CAMERA CURTAIN Shhh....the show started! No talking out loud, just read the review quietly! Recently we attended a benefit here with some good friends. The theme was orchestrations with American-Italian themes centered around piano. The Chicago Philharmonic was also conducted by an Italian conductor. My friend was a little upset with the first piece played because there was no piano. He loves piano! I told him don't worry, as I pointed to a giant piano siting in the wings. Sure enough 3 guys in black rolled out the piano for the second piece. This was a big production to get the piano out on the stage. Then a lady from Highland Park came out in her evening gown to bang on the keys. It was a very spirited piece of music. What always cracks me up is what happens after every piece is finished and we've all seen this if you've attended a classical orchestra show. The song finishes, crowd applauds, conductor points out important players, possibly shake hands, conductor leaves stage for 3 seconds, returns to conduct next piece. I just always find this humorous. I know the conductor is suppose to be collecting his thoughts off stage but only 3 seconds. I say milk it and wait like 5 minutes until the audience breaks out the lighters. Then surprise them and do a costume change too. Use that time wisely conductor man. I am only kidding but I figured I would offer some creative fun. Hey it's all a show so live it. I also must point out that drinks are expensive here. I think it may be cheaper to drink at a baseball game. In fact, at intermission they had a person walking around selling mini wine bottles. They need to teach this person on how to sell. She should have been yelling, "Get your VINO here!" or "There's a 20 minute liquor line in the lobby!" I'm thinking I may need to re-train the sales staff on the floor. Yeah the line at the bar was really that long...so lady selling wine from a bag was a faster option. The fastest option was to purchase "intermission drinks" at the bar before the show even started. Then simply arrive at the bar during intermission and your drinks were ready and you didn't have to wait in a long line. Who knew drinking at a classical concert was this complicated! The theater is beautiful. The front of the theater and box office is located off Randolph street. If you are sitting on the main floor you will have to make your way all the way down to the bottom using an elevator or stairs. You are basically heading down to the lower Columbus street level. This layout is unique because typically the main door isn't at the top of the theater. I also once had the opportunity to explore back stage. I was very fortunate to be offering support statewide for the premiere of Kevin Smith's movie "Red State" which premiered in Chicago at the Harris Theater. It's fun to feel like a rockstar for the day with an All Access Pass. I was amazed at the ability of the theater to do digital projection in here. Now if I was comparing these two events. Kevin Smith's movie premiere was sold out but the philharmonic had plenty of seats open. Kevin would probably say, "F***ING RIGHT!" I guess the reason I point this out is because it shows the versatility of this theater to host both classical art and modern art. It shows that no matter what age you are you can always enjoy a night at the theater. So if your looking for a night of culture then checkout what is happening at the Harris Theater. You may be surprise at what you might find.

    Nick M.

    Some people think that the new Harris Theater is an eye sore, a waste of money, I say to these people... Pfft!!! What you talking about Willis!! Name me one theater building in this whole city that looks anything like it (And if you can, please keep it to yourself so I don't look like an ass which I can do just fine with that on my own), so if no other theater looks like it, then it is unique right?? RIGHT! I love that you can walk right by it and not even realize that inside is this ginormous theater. I will agree that the lobby and stairs are a little too metal modern in design and having each floor a different color is a little clubby for me but inside more then makes up for it. It is truly architecturally gorgeous! The seats are soooo comfortable too. I may have found a new favorite theater. But just to be sure, I think that YOU should take me to other performances here like the ballet or a concert. I went for the classic performance of Owen Wingrave and though I'm not used to Operas in English (I'm used to other languages, so it was a bit weird) it was a moving performance. The actors gave so much emotion to their parts, plus sitting in the 7th row helped to get that enveloped feeling. I would recommend this classic British tale to others. It's about a young man training to be a soldier and whose family has served the Queen generation after generation, so much so that they believe that each generation next has to follow suit. When Owen starts to have other ideas regarding his future, the family intervenes and comes down on him so harshly it gives you chills. It really makes you appreciate the freedom of choices we have during this day and age.

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    Very nice and spacious inside. First time coming, but definitely will not be my last. Absolutely beautiful location!

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    Chicago Winery - Enjoy a wine & cheese plate in our restaurant, LIVA

    Chicago Winery

    (65 reviews)

    Near North Side

    I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

    Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

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    My friend and I wanted to play pickleball but didn't want to wait in line, so we decided to book a…read morecourt in advance at Big City Pickle. The process was super easy, on their website, you can check how many courts are available and choose your preferred time slot. We booked and paid online, and when we arrived, we were assigned our court right away. They provide pickleballs if you need them and also offer paddle rentals. Each slot is one hour long, which is perfect for a good game. There were around 7-10 courts available, and the open setup makes it great for a summer game. I'd definitely recommend it if you don't want to wait in a queue, the whole process was smooth!

    McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

    McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

    (38 reviews)

    The Loop

    OMG! The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum has given me a second career to think about…read moreonce I retire. The first was during our stay at the Sable Hotel in Nay Pier. Will sitting in the window, drinking bubbles, I watched the boats going in and out of the locks, I declared in a loud voice to The Doctor that I wanted to become the lock operator. Well if that job doesn't come through, operating the gears to raise the bridge is my new one. I have lived in Chicago all my life, born and bred, and I am a lover of all of the bridges in our town. I had no idea about this museum. It is down on the riverwalk on the Chicago River. The first time The Doctor and I went, it was by accident that we discovered it during one of our staycations. The museum is a five story building. There is no specific fee to enter, but they do take donations. Each floor is filled with historical goodies about the bridges, gears, mechanisms, etc. At river level, The Doctor and I geeked out as we are gears heads. We were able to see the gears that are responsible for raising the bridge. Imagine our surprise to discover that the engine, named Earle, that operates the bridge is kind of like a 1950's Volkswagen Bug. Hearing that made me think of the first time I went to the Museum of Science and Industry to discover that Man went to the moon in something that looked like a washing machine and was operated by computer was didn't even come close to the power of my Samsung phone! But being a gear head, I know that the counter weights literally do the heavy lifting. It was cool to see the lower street levels through the gaps in the structure. Once we got our fill of viewing the gears, we made our way up each level to see the various artifacts and historical musings about Chicago and the different types of bridges in the city. Be prepared to get in some steps (wear your Fitbit or favorite tracker). It was a very interesting visit and I learned a lot about our history with the bridges. Upon leaving, we discovered that the museum does tours of the bridge raising, so we made an reservation to attend. Tickets were $15 each and we were told to arrive at 9:15 am. First thing I discovered during the tour was that there are people in various positions in the gear area as well as the lower sections of bridges. Once the bells went off, Earle started roaring and the gears started turning. It was so cool to see the gears turning and watching the lower section of the bridge for Lower Wacker go up! Once the bridge went up and the gears stopped, The Doctor and I made our way upstairs to see the bridges in the air. It is an interesting process as one bridge at a time goes up and the next one doesn't go up until the other one is in place. So it was cool to see the State Street bridge go up next and watch the Michigan Ave bridge come down. This is not an experience that I would have normally planned for an early Saturday morning, but it was so much fun and we really enjoyed it. The tour season is over as October 25 was the last viewing, but I would highly recommend that once the museum starts the tours again, make a reservation to go and see the bridges go up and down. It was truly magically for us.

    Have lived in Chicagoland for years and had no idea of the existence of this museum. Located on the…read moreRiverwalk, we just happened to stumble upon it. It was free for us when we went - I think there is an entrance fee on certain days? Don't quote me on that! It's pretty easy to miss. Has tons of information on the Chicago river and the bridge systems with the mechanical and hydraulic systems used to operate the bridge. Apparently there is also a guided tour also that has a cost - we did the self guided tour. To be honest my husband engineer probably found it more interesting than I did! Has 5 stories with lots of stairs which are pretty narrow, can look out the windows into the river. Takes maybe 20 or so minutes give or take - but would definitely recommend checking out particularly on a free day!

    Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection - Hotel EMC2 outside

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    (212 reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side, River East

    As soon as I saw the photos of Hotel EMC2, I knew I had to book it for my quick weekend stay in…read moreChicago--and I'm so glad I did. Shout-out to Nia at the front desk, who was the first person I encountered when I walked in. Her energy was exactly what you want as a guest--warm, welcoming, and professional. I've spent most of my career in hospitality, so I naturally pay attention to the level of service being provided, and she absolutely set the tone for a great stay. Kudos to her and to the team that hired her. My room was beautiful. Nia also let me know I had been upgraded due to my Marriott loyalty, which was very much appreciated. I stayed in a king room, and the moment I walked in, I honestly considered extending my stay another night. The space had a sleek, modern look, everything was clean, and the lighting gave it a stylish city vibe. I ordered room service shortly after arriving and got a burger with fries (which I believe were Parmesan fries ). Everything was very good, and the room service attendant Lorena was just as kind and pleasant. Even though I was only there for one night, the experience was great from start to finish. The bed was comfortable, the linens were fresh, and the location is incredibly convenient--close to everything, which I always appreciate when traveling. I will definitely look to stay here again the next time I'm in Chicago and hope to have the same wonderful experience.

    I stayed at the EMC2 Autograph Collection in Chicago and it's the kind of place that makes you…read morebriefly reconsider your own apartment choices. The room? Smart without trying too hard. Clean lines, moody lighting, and that subtle blend of science-meets-art that somehow feels both curated and effortless. The art isn't decorative filler; it's intentional. The whole property has that boutique confidence: not loud, not trendy-for-the-sake-of-trendy...just precise. The aesthetic walks a tightrope between laboratory chic and soulful design, and it doesn't fall. The restaurant deserves its own paragraph. The olive cake alone should have a publicist. The food is thoughtful, layered, and memorable without being pretentious. It feels like someone actually tasted everything before approving the menu; which, these days, is not a given. Location? Ideal. Walkable, central, easy. The gym? Surprisingly solid. Not the sad afterthought treadmill situation. An actual usable space. But here's the thing. Beautiful rooms fade. Art becomes background. Even olive cake, tragically, gets finished. What stays is service. And Nia. Nia is the reason my long stay didn't feel like a stay. It felt like being known. Her smile isn't transactional. Her care isn't performative. The attention to detail is quiet and precise. She remembered my name everyday and I was there for a while. Makes you think, "Oh, someone is actually paying attention." There's a difference between service and hospitality. Nia understands the difference. That's what brings you back.

    Harris Theater - theater - Updated May 2026

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