The 3-star rating is in large part due to safety concerns in this venue, as parts of the interior are stunning, and the film festival held there was entertaining and pleasantly educational. This beautiful old building is surrounded by scaffolding so you can't really see its architecture, but I didn't see any renovation happening outside or inside, where the walls are covered with gorgeous murals, other detailed artistic painting, and intricate hanging light fixtures. The old-but-comfortable theater-style balcony seats are covered with red velvety fabric. It's a visual feast. However, renovation inside is massively needed, especially for safety concerns. When the lights were turned out for the films it was almost pitch black, with no modern-day dim "safety lighting"...not even enough to navigate if you needed to. And right in front of each balcony seats there's flooring maybe 1' deep for your feet to rest on (not enough), which then drops precipitiously almost another 1' to the next level of floor that you need to reach to walk in or out of the row! While this creates a clear view of the stage for every row of seating, it's very dangerous. To get into the row you need to step down to the lower section to walk across but there's nothing to hold onto except the arm of the seat on the end, and I needed the help of the willing hand of the kind person seated there to feel safe. The stairs to the balcony could accommodate 3 to 4 people across, but you have to be on the outer edge to have a hand railing. One woman tripped at the top of the stairs to the balcony and slammed very hard into the backs of our seats, and her popcorn rained down everywhere, including on us. I don't remember how wide the space is between that last step and the seats, but it seems there wasn't enough, or much demarcation visible between the last step and the floor. We were all rattled by the impact, the noise, and the popcorn, but she was able to get up with help and get to her seat. I'm do remember thinking it would be easy to fall there, and I was glad I wasn't the one who did! The main level has no fixed seats, just very uncomfortable-looking wooden chairs set up in rows. That didn't seem like a good time during a 3-hour film festival! There were two pretty decent bathrooms available on the that floor, and I was told there was one on the balcony level, but I couldn't see it. However, I wouldn't have even tried to navigate from the dangerous seating set-up in the dark to get to any bathroom! The only open concession area was on the main level, in a small dark niche, and unlike modern theaters, there was no food, just beverages (including cocktails), candy and popcorn. The high prices on those were the most modern thing in the building! The eight or so short films in the festival were all human-interest stories of one or more persons and their interactions with and adventures in nature. All were inspiring and interesting, all had some scenic nature and landscape views, and I think all included water elements. But none were quite what I expected, as I had learned about the "Wild & Scenic Film Festival" at a viewing of the stunning panoramic "Wings Over Water" on the Extreme Screen in Union Station in KC a few nights before. Wild and scenic nature at its finest! This fundraiser for nature and environmental causes was well put-together and organized by volunteers, and I think very successful, because as far as I could see, the theater was packed, and many people had attended it for years! Water One was the main sponsor, joined by many other generous partners. Raffle tickets were sold for one lucky person to win a large kayak, and everyone received a free ticket for a prize raffle with a plethora of good items, including several wooden bird and bat houses, nature-and-on-the-water clothing items, quality t-shirts and water bottles, and many more worthy prizes winners could choose from. I was one of many lucky free ticket holders, and very happy with my surprise gift bag containing a soft "There is no lemonade without water" t-shirt, a WaterOne recycled plastic bottle that claimed it "kept 1,085 plastic bottles out of the environment," and a small zippered clip-on pouch full of First Aid essentials! read more

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Many good memories at Liberty Hall over the decades, but if I'm keeping it real, there are better places to catch a show. In college, we used to rent movies here where you could find a collection unlike anywhere else. I saw movies here, using a phone flashlight to navigate the pitch black upstairs seating. I saw shows here, and the location on Mass is second to none. Came up a few weeks back and it felt good to be back here, but also.. sweatier than I remember? The place was packed and it was almost impossible to move. The sound from the band was AWFUL, I wondered if it was all the mixing board or what. I think the reality is we were under an overhang and it causes the bass to echo and reverberate. The show ended up being pretty decent, but I wasn't loving the vibe necessarily. I think if you are catching something here, getting ticketed seats upstairs is the way to go. All in all, it's fine, but I won't be scrolling the website here to find the next show to see. read more

Liberty Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

We went to see Piff the Magic Dragon. The staff was nice. They mark a huge X on anyone under 21. The theater was small and intimate. We sat in the front but there was no need for it. They sell some snacks before hand. The popcorn was good. The tickets were expensive but that was our fault. We could have had a great time in the balcony. read more

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Liberty Hall is awesome! The hall itself is clean and very pretty with mural style artwork on the ceilings. The sound quality was amazing for the country concert I went to. The service was great and all staff was helpful & friendly. The seats were awesome whether you're sitting or standing! Very comfortable and easy to see your artist. Will 100% be coming back to liberty! Tickets are also normally very cheap! read more

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We attended a concert here, Morgan Wade, country singer. The setting is small which makes for a nice atmosphere, plus tickets are more than reasonably priced. There is a floor level with folding chairs for seating and a balcony with theatre type seating. Each floor had a bar with many choices. They have movies and many other events. It was a great experience and didn't break the bank, I highly recommend!!! read more

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I will always come here to watch a movie or see a band. I live 30 minutes away and come here to support this wonderful place. The staff is always helpful and friendly. read more

A lot of Indie films. Good popcorn. Weekend afternoons are best. Two theaters; one large, one small.

Came here to see the Eels. Great venue for this type of music. It sounded a bit muffled but at least I didn't go home with ringing in my ears. The staff was friendly and professional from start to finish. We even went next door for a coffee and they let us bring the coffee in considering that the coffee shop and hall are run by the same people. I look forward to coming back here. read more

Liberty Hall - Eels - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

We saw a comedy show here. It was extremely warm inside the venue, comedian even commented on it. Additionally, we had seats on the floor and with the way the seats are situated its very difficult to see the stage. read more

Going to Liberty Hall is an entire experience. It's the ultimate Lawrence thing to do and is always enjoyable. The selections are great, the value is also great and you're sure to have a good time and see other people you know. read more

Liberty Hall is one of the things I like best about LFK. There are some days that are just "Liberty Hall" days. It is almost perfect and will give you the Feel Goods any day of the week. Liberty Hall is an old building. No, a really OLD building. Nothing fancy or high tech about this place. It is definitely well worn but a total treat! There are two movie theaters- the upstairs "little" theater and the upstairs "big" theater. I like the little theater the best because it is more cozy and the acoustics are better. The big theater is more vacuous and the acoustics for movies are not that great. However, in no way does this diminish the pleasure derived from seeing a movie in the big theater. The concession stand is the best. The popcorn is unbelievably good. I have no idea what they cook it with but it is the best. There is nothing cinema chain about this concession stand. They give you a variety of toppings for your popcorn, too, such as brewers yeast, cinnamon. So yummy! I've seen countless movies, social events and concerts at Liberty Hall and each one has been a treat. The seats aren't fancy and they don't recline. The stairs to the small theater are steep and narrow. The acoustics are not the best around and the building surely is a hundred years old. But when you walk in and smell the home cooked popcorn, see the ambiance of the stage, marvel at the artwork and the unique film offerings, you know all is right with the world. There is just something about this eclectic place. Do not miss the opportunity to go see an event at Liberty Hall. It should be on everyone's Bucket List. read more

The short bearded man was very rude to my whole family and didn't want to let us in because of our skin color and I also saw him cussing out another guy in front of kids for not having his id on him even though he was clearly of age and just looking to be a jerk, when I asked rest of the staff why they said that the management there is awful and lets certain people mistreat other employees and customers without any repercussions. During the concert the staff and security were ruining everything and even made the performer leave early so that the audience didn't get their money's worth. I've been to a million concerts but good Lord that venue needs some help. read more

An authentic THEATER experience that Regal and AMC can't replace. Same cost, but there aren't an hour of previews and the concessions are cheaper. Way better popcorn too. Watching a movie in the little theater is leagues better than regal, where the lights stay up the whole time. They don't have the same selection as the big chains, but the video store attached has nearly any title you can want. The clerks are always down to chat about movies and give good recommendations. read more

Interesting, old theater. Not a terrible place to see a movie if you're into nostalgia. Seats aren't the most comfortable because they're older, and if you want To stretch your legs, they kind of dangle in mid air, but if you can get past that, it's a cool place to catch a flick. read more

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Drove 4.5 hours to see a show here. The employees at the front claimed they had posted "all over their social media" that you need to be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the show to enter. I waited with others in a similar situation to get a refund or talk to the manager. The manager wouldn't come out to talk to any of us. See the attached photo for their social media post and see of there is any mention of a two week requirement. read more

Liberty Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I was at a concert and I left my cigarettes when checking in. When I asked the bouncer, respectfully, to check with the front desk, he was extremely aggressive and threatened to throw me out. He said they would have left them with him. I was polite and respectful and it was very disturbing. I will not be returning to this venue. I would expect more from Lawrence, KS and human decency vs aggression for no reason.... read more

Bought reserved expensive tix for Bryce Vine. We Showed up 15 minutes early thinking with reserved seats we'd have an opportunity to at least move past the GA line - nope line out the door for three blocks. Unacceptable read more

We have seen HUNDREDS of movies at Liberty Hall. Tonight, as the trailers began we noticed the screen was unusually dark. I told the concessions person who said it was probably the trailer but she'd tell the projectionist. Once the movie began it was still dark. We came down and the projectionist (who never came up to check) said that a bulb was out--why didn't he tell us that when he sold us the ticket?? He refunded our admission but I still had a full beer, so we stood in back of the other theater while I finished. The projectionist immediately came in and threw us out. Not a great way to retain customers of over thirty years standing. BTW, we were the only two people in the theater, so no one else complained.... read more

Absolutely love the ambiance of Liberty Hall and the talent that they book here. There is not a bad seat here as far as view of the stage, but beware; Do Not sit in the side sections of the balcony. The rows are too close for any comfort. They have wisely removed every other row for the center section which allows comfortable seating. Never again would I pay to sit there for any event. 1 star for 2/3's of the balcony seating, 5 stars for everything else. read more

Liberty Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I've seen movies at Liberty Hall. I've rented movies from Liberty Hall. I saw one of the best live shows EVER at Liberty Hall (Gogol Bordello always plays here when they come to town) and I've been to events at Liberty Hall, like Midnight Movies (such as Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Pulp Fiction and Evil Dead). Liberty Hall is the epitome of the art house theater. It's an old theater that seems like it has been there since the town was built up. Think Cinema Paradiso of the Midwest and you've got it. And...and...they serve beer and wine! And they have a variety of toppings for the fresh popped popcorn (that isn't coated with the synthetic "buttery" crap main chains are fond of, throw some nutritional yeast flakes on that popcorn and you'll be amazed) and a nice array of candy and baked goods. Did I mention that they serve beer and wine? There's nothing like catching the latest indie feature with a cup of wine in your hand. Sink down into the cushy velvet seats in one of two theaters (the large theater is giant and features balcony seating). The only thing that keeps this from being five stars is the sound. I'm spoiled and want surround (or is it Dolby?) sound. Every movie I've seen here seems to come from two speakers up front that aren't very powerful, hence the entire movie experience is not as rich as it is at one of those aforementioned chains. No matter. I'm an enthusiastic fan of Liberty Hall! read more

Liberty Hall easily makes my list for top music venues in the area! These old halls are really gems for small music events and there is no such thing as a bad seat. Liberty Hall can pack in some people, yet is very intimate. As with most older theaters, the seats can be a little snug, especially if you have a linebacker sitting next to you. Each seat in the place has a great view of the stage and you are not far away even in the back row. The sound is amazing. This is a perfect setting for someone with huge authentic vocals. These old halls were built perfectly for sound. You can get drinks and unlike most venues, they offer a bar with a huge selection and they don't charge extreme amounts for the drinks. $4 for a well drink is better than a lot of bars! I was a little disappointed at the thought of a general admission show, but if you don't wait for the last minute to arrive you will be able to get a good spot. The staff did a great job of keeping people moving who wanted to sit on stairs or stand up in the seating area. They offer a coat check which is nice when the weather is cold, especially if you want to join the crowd on the floor. Shows are very well priced and they get a huge selection of bands through the venue. The only thing that is bad about Liberty Hall for me is the long drive, but the venue is so awesome it easily makes up for that! read more

Liberty Hall - Asgeir - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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LIberty Hall is a venue of many things. The venue can host a party, something like a wedding reception, anniversary or a special celebration. It also shows indie and foreign films that might not be popular enough for the big box cinema. What it's most popular for is hosting concerts... everything from small orchestral groups to loud rock bands to wild electronic acts. If you can imagine it then it can probably work here. The venue is not only picturesque, but it's an intimate space. The lower level practically wraps itself around the stage and has a couple of stair step levels depending where you're standing and what vantage point you want. The upstairs balcony overhangs most of the venue and you almost feel like you can jump from one to the other. I don't recommend jumping, but I do recommend sitting back and enjoying the show. The sound and light systems are top notch. You won't have a problem seeing or hearing, even if the performer wants to use his strobes. If you see your band coming to Liberty Hall please get excited. It's a good place to be. read more

Endless food choices and the night life is definitely lit with a solid nightclub with beautiful ladies!

My husband & I had our wedding reception at Liberty Hall this past Summer, & it was amazing! The owner himself talked with us about the property, helped us figure out what amenities we could be interested in (the projector, the canopy lights, etc.) & kept in touch with us about our event. We felt very confident in Liberty Hall & it was a huge weight off our shoulders that they were taking such good care of us. They seemed to really like the work they do. They had personnel there in the morning to help set up the event space. They made sure we had everything we would need. Our friends & family repeatedly remind us of how beautiful the space was at our reception. There are murals covering the walls in the main theater (space we had the reception in) & the whole room had an elegant & lively feel to it. The stage was perfect for performing music on, & the tables/chairs provided by Liberty Hall were nice. This venue has a lot of space, so we were able to fit our families & friends & coworkers, & the activities we had planned, & music performance area, & food/drinks, etc. without any trouble. The bar staff was amazing, as well. They made the payment process a breeze. I would highly recommend Liberty Hall to anyone looking for a wedding/reception venue. I had gotten the idea from a friend who had her wedding/reception there a few years before I would need to plan my own. I remembered hers being so perfect at Liberty Hall & was happy to have mine there, too. (Also, look into the venue's history, it has been around for a long time & has some interesting character to it!) read more

Every chance I get I try and see a movie at Liberty Hall. Their theaters create a different experience than your regular movie theater, especially since they usually only show art house films and the sorts. I'll never forget seeing Phantom Thread in their Main Hall, the decor along the screen and balcony seats made it feel like I was right in the movie. I recommend the place to everyone! also has the BEST movie store connected to it! read more

I was ready to echo the good reviews on this place but our experience wasn't so great. On a night when it was 26 degrees (wind chill 15) out we had to stand in line OUTSIDE about 15 minutes to get inside then about another 5 minutes to finally get our tickets scanned.. They had 2 people for security and 2 people to take tickets that's it! The concert (PMJ) was almost sold out so that's about 1000 people to go in, then we had to find our seats in dim light as the concert had already started, there were no ushers and we'd never been there before so a little help would of been nice. I will say they had a nice selection of beers and the prices were reasonable, popcorn was good too. read more

Cramped seating... maybe that is too forgiving. Unuseable seats if you are taller than about 5'4. You will have to sit sideways. I know kids these days like to stand at concerts, but I'm not down with that... gotta rest my bunions. I bought tickets to the Josh Ritter concert 5 (five) months in advance and still had to sit (squeeze into) in the last row of the balcony. The bottom part is just a bunch of people gathered in a huddle... maybe a pushy person would like that ... but I like to have some space and an assigned seat. Also, I didn't dig that they sold the tickets at different price ranges, but upon arrival it was clearly a general admission kinda of setup. Seriously, that's just taking advantage of people. Dumbos like me think they are getting a good seat when they buy a higher priced ticket. The concert was five stars as it was Josh Ritter. The hall was disappointing. read more

I still love you so much, Liberty Hall! But I just wanted to mention that Matinee Mondays and 2-for-1 Tuesdays are now over, and they also slightly raised their prices. If you save your ticket and bring it back within a month, they'll give you a $2 discount. I had wondered how they survived on those prices, to be honest! Still 5 stars for excellence (great new and old movies, free showing of most KU games, awesome live shows) and I'm not gonna stop going!! read more

Liberty Hall is like the girl in junior high who came back from summer vacation with new friends and a huge rack. You know that you know her, you know that she's still the same ole girl. But something is different. Not in a bad way different. But different. I've seen plenty of concerts and movies here back in my days as a full time Lawrencian. Add the FSB Christmas party being thrown here one year and a whole slew of late fees I probably still owe them on movie rentals (*sorry*). That being said I'm not sure why I was hesitant to re-enter the sphere that is Liberty Hall. I'd been hearing rumbles from my hippie friends that there was a good show happening here. I'm imagining a drum circle with a strong aroma of ganja and an occasional guitar riff so I didn't go through the effort to buy tickets. Run into the KC booker on the street and he offers free tickets. (As an aside: if you offer me free anything I will likely do it. Free booze? Of course. Free tickets? Yes please. Free lobotomy? Well okay, because you said its free...see where I'm going with this?) So homie pulled through and met us out back with "working" stickers, the joy of that is free roaming and poking places you shouldn't be. The downstairs still looks like your gma's awkwardly arranged living room and view of all the jammers getting down from the sidestage was pretty amazing. Dance hippies, dance! Move onto booze. This is why I'm not sure I know this strange girl, this liberty girl has changed. I order a Stout (num num num) and gin and tonic. Total: $11.00. Those are some NY prices, especially since its all coming in plastic. The next round I order is $9.00. Get it together cashiers. Get it together. There are only so many boozey offerings, you really should all know the price. The same price. All in all it was a great evening and Liberty proved to still be an amazing venue for a show, any kind of show. The music was easy to sway to and it was better than the original imagery I had in my head. I still couldn't tell you who the hell was playing. The ganja smell was just as strong and I almost wish I still smoked, it would have been a hell of a lot cheaper. Liberty Hall, I know you're a little different than I remember but we can still be friends. Rack and all. read more

This venue was super awesome! It reminded me of a smaller-scale version of The Gillioz in Springfield, MO.: pretty and historic, but boasting really cool artists. I also LOVED the block this venue sat on. For people who may think Lawrence is not a fun place to visit, stomp on your on foot for being so foolish and get up there, stat! There was a lot I liked about this venue. First of all, the paintings of ethereal women playing instruments and the like on every perceivable wall and ceiling space around the immediate stage area were fun to look at, even if they weren't exactly Michelangelo quality; the floor pit in front of the stage made the show I attended here so, so intimate, but the steps leading down into the pit gave almost everyone an opportunity to have a good visual stance. I also got extremely thirsty while waiting for the show to start, so I left BF to stand guard in our spot while I hunted down water. A super nice bar man (Thanks, bar man!) pointed me in the direction of a - wait for it - giant cooler filled with ice water and complimentary cups. Amazingly enough, I've never heard of that being a thing, but it seemed so damn smart and practical. Other venues, hark! Set out a water cooler for your non-drinking patrons and then you won't have to deal with them at bars! The staff was nice and had an efficient system going, and they were really nice about explaining house rules for coming and going and what not (I needed to take merch to my car before the show and they gave me clear directions). One problem BF and I both noticed is that the sound was a bit off for both the opener and the headliner. It could be that the venue wasn't at fault for that, but it seemed like a house sound issue. There's no way to know for sure, though, and it definitely didn't ruin our fantastic time. What else can I compliment this place on? I go out of town for shows regularly (and I volunteer at a local theatre regularly) so at the expense of sounding hoity-toity, I'm familiar with venues being run well and venues not being run well. This venue is run well and I'll look forward to going back. Oh, which artist did I see, you ask? Even if you didn't ask, that's okay - St. Vincent. Amazing, amazing show. read more

Liberty Hall, you are one of the reasons why I just can't ever justify leaving this town for someplace other than Kansas. From your awesome video store to your fun movie selections, you can't be beat! Aesthetically, you transport me back to the days where every movie theater EVER didn't use flashy neon every three feet. You are simple and you are beautiful. You fit like a nicely worn comfy shoe and I just couldn't imagine quitting you. Can I also just say... Blue Sky Soda at the snack bar??? Yum! Your popcorn is always perfect, too! Sadly, it has been many months since I've been able to go to a movie (newborn baby) and I feel sad that you may think I've abandoned you. Fear not, I shall return again someday (be it for a movie, a video rental, or a wedding reception)! read more

Oh hey review I started in July 2011 but never finished. lol. Liberty Hall, you know whats up! Homemade cookies and a Mike's Hard Lemonade. What other movie theater offers different yet primo concessions? But truth be told, the main reason why I liked this quaint movie venue was that I got to see artsy-fartsy and independent movies I couldn't usually find in mega theaters. I never rented movies or saw concerts here while I lived in Kansas, but maybe that'll be my motivation to return back one day... not so much renting stuff but perhaps a concert. ((Get Tristan Prettyman, cough cough)). read more

I love this theater, they play indie and small budget films, as well as film festivals. The smaller theater is really neat, small and the ceiling is covered in tiny lights. The people are very nice and super friendly! Give them a try! read more

I recently went to see a movie here. The film was playing in the "little theatre" which is up some stairs and fittingly in a mini-theater with stars in the ceiling. We went on a chilly day, so when the concession guy said we could get La Prima Tazza drinks next door and bring them into the theater, we were glad. We needed them. I've also been to shows here and have been downstairs in a basement area to meet a band backstage and to take shelter during a severe tornado warning in Lawrence. The theater was cozy, and the experience was fun, and I would rather support Liberty than a bigger chain movie theater. read more

All of my favorite movies from the past 10 years came through little Liberty Hall, the anti-corporate movie-house that sets Lawrence apart from so many other towns. Now celebrating 100 years as a structure, the option of quaffing a Free State Beer while you watch a movie or concert is a huge bonus. Yea, the sound system for the movies isn't particularly the greatest, but I'm sticking with 5 stars. Oh, and if you do get a popcorn and a coke it isn't $17 like Hollywood Theater. read more

my first time at liberty hall and i was impressed! it was cute, and intimate. liked the upstairs seating for those who want to attend, and the downstairs pit for those who want to party. though the show was sold out, i felt really comfortable and was able to get a good view..nice :) also, they have the staples...pbr, cheap drinks, and a clean bathroom... read more

Liberty Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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All of the best concerts I've seen, have been at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. I'm not sure there's a single "bad" seat in the entire house. Whether you're on the floor, or in the balcony, the view always seems "just right". I never fret when it comes to select-a-seat in this venue. Sound, lighting, ambiance, crowd, space, bar, accessibility - Liberty Hall is top notch for music shows in my book. The few movies that I've seen at Liberty Hall helped form my opinion that I LOVE seeing concerts at LH, and I'd rather see movies in my own living room first, LH second, and any other theater last. I could hear the sound system from the other theater during the movie I was watching. Not to mention, I do enjoy beer & flix, but as such, the combination creates the need to drain the clam quite frequently. I'd just assume being able to pause and not disturb others... Ya dig? So, concerts - OH YEAH! Movies - Nah. read more

All things considered, the best music venue in Lawrence period, if only because the Lied Center skews too highbrow. There's a lot of history in this place and you can feel it. It's a part of Lawrence in a way that few establishments truly are. Losing Tellers hurt, but I'll live. I honestly can't imagine Lawrence without Liberty Hall. It's just always been here and hopefully always will be. It's an old building but they've kept it in good shape. I've enjoyed every show I've ever seen there. Most recent was Fiona Apple and Blake Mills, which was mind-blowing. The sound was much better than her show in Chicago! So many good shows here- Henry Rollins, KT Tunstall... I've seen shows at the Granada where the sound was terrible, but Liberty Hall never disappoints. Cramped? I'm 6' and 250 and I'm always comfortable. Even the prices are competitive, right down to the drinks. read more

Great place for small live shows and independent movies. The popcorn butter is real AND YOU CAN HAVE A MICROBREW IN A GLASS. It's where we midwest liberals can gather and be free of Adam Sandler, Nice Cage, Keanu, and Jerry Bruckheimer films. Two theaters: one small and one big. Great independent video store is attached for rentals too. read more

We hit up Amos Lee and Vusi Mahlasela this past week...great show and what great energy. This place keeps getting better in my book! read more