4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, with Bucktown and Logan Square, Chicago

Chicago's music scene got a major upgrade in 2022, when the owners of small-but-cool clubs like the Empty Bottle converted a disused Morton Salt facility into one of the country's most exciting places to see live music. There are two distinct spaces here: the acoustically excellent Shed, an indoor venue that's big enough to attract acts like the Flaming Lips and PJ Harvey but small enough to feel special, and the Fairgrounds, an outdoor stage with music festival vibes perched beside the Chicago River. In 2024, homegrown brewer Goose Island launched an on-site brewpub with a great riverside patio, adding a pre-show pint spot into the mix.

Steppenwolf's alumni roster speaks for itself: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, and Laurie Metcalf all honed their chops with this troupe. The company's trademark cutting-edge acting style and consistently successful productions have won national acclaim. An ultramodern 2021 expansion added a 400-seat theater in the round, an education center, and two bars to the company’s already-impressive assets.

Film buffs shouldn't leave Lincoln Park without visiting this long-running nonprofit movie theater, which presents an eclectic selection of films from around the world. Facets also hosts the Academy Award-qualifying Chicago International Children's Film Festival: the massive (think upward of 250 screenings) event showcases the best in culturally diverse, value-affirming new cinema for kids and offers young viewers opportunities to chat with filmmakers.

It used to be that folks only came here because of the low ticket prices. But, after an ambitious remodel, the historic 1915 theater is now a neighborhood gem. Expect a well-curated mix of current blockbusters, indie films, and late-night cult classics as well as a full bar off the lobby.