Tag: Co-Prosperity Sphere

A venue can make or break an event – a concert/ art exhibition can be tainted by something as simple as an uncomfortably laid-out room or an apathetic employee.

Chicago is known for its vibrant music and art scene – the city sets the standard for the Midwest. Chicago’s surplus of inclusive and intimate venues accentuates the art, creating high-quality spaces that work alongside high-quality art.

I have compiled a map of some of Chicago’s venues, featuring three of my personal favorites.

Empty Bottle

In a unsettling age where dive-bar vintage energy is romanticized (see Edison Bulbs), the Empty Bottle in the Ukrainian Village could seem contrived – stickers covering every surface of the wall, a general musty smell, an overwhelming presence of angry-looking trendy young men. But that assumption exists without an understanding of the venue’s history and context.

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The Empty Bottle is the real deal.

Opened in 1992, the venue is a Chicago staple in alternative music and art. There’s a deep history in the Empty Bottle. The venue has seen bands like LCD Soundsystem, Vampire Weekend and Wilco before they went on to sell out arenas.

Today, the Empty Bottle remains a quintessential part in Chicago’s arts scene. “It always serves as a very welcoming space for people to come together and hear different bands, especially local bands,” Sophie Kendrick, student, said. And the Empty Bottle isn’t exclusive to concerts. “They also host a lot of daytime events and markets showcasing and supporting young local artists which is great,” she said.

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The Hideout

“Every show that I’ve seen there isn’t afraid of pushing boundaries and expectations of what a comedy show or a concert looks like,” Jerwin Santiago, Hideout performer and frequent audience member, said, “It’s cool to see people doing such cutting-edge stuff, and not in a way that’s like ‘I’m alt, I’m random, isn’t this weird,’ but taking risks.”

The Hideout, located between Lincoln Park and Bucktown, is notable for its intimacy and show diversity, cultivating an experience that makes the Hideout ultimately unique. Its earnestness makes the audience feel like everyone attending a part of some big secret.

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Also a Chicago staple, the Hideout is located in a 100-year old balloon frame house. It’s home to shows of all sorts – poetry readings, dance parties, concerts and comedy shows. There’s something for everyone.

“It gives me big ‘we’re in some Midwestern basement to tell our secrets and do silly things’ vibes and that’s just so refreshing in a scene that ends up getting saturated with a lot of Corporate Fluff and Pander-y Stuff,” Santiago said.

The venue is currently in danger of Chicago’s Lincoln Yards development project, and the owner of the venue has also been an active opponent.

Co-Prosperity Sphere

Art is sometimes the best vehicle to use when forming community. It brings us together in ways that transcend contexts.

Co-Prosperity Sphere in an experimental cultural center located in Bridgeport. The venue functions as both a gallery and a performing arts venue, with a stage and space for art exhibitions

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Engaging hand-in-hand with the Bridgeport community, Co-Prosperity Sphere works outside traditional standards of institutional art, providing a space for a diverse array of artists and art.

Going to the Co-Prosperity sphere is a breath of fresh air – an inclusive and enjoyable experience where you, as an audience member, feel included.