The Vic Theatre

The Vic Theatre regularly wears two faces: a grungy rock venue and a raucous movie-and-booze theater. Located in Lakeview, the Vic Theatre started out as a vaudeville house in 1912 when it was known as The Victoria Theatre. These days, the Vic Theatre packs in up to 1,400 people for energetic, intimate performances by big-name alternative acts like Snow Patrol and Ani DiFranco. Comedians such as Jim Gaffigan occasionally perform at the Vic Theatre as well.

On nights without concerts, the Vic Theatre turns into Brew & View, a second-run movie theater with three bars. The audience watches lighthearted blockbusters, horror movies, and cult classics while seated around pitchers of beer. Depending on the movie, jeers, cheers, and helpful advice shouted out to film characters resound through the space. Beers priced at $1.50 certainly keep the crowd’s mood up.

Tickets to most performances at the Vic Theatre are general admission, and the balcony has fixed seating. Though elements of Roaring 20s glamour are visible – most notably in the marble staircases – the Vic Theatre is a typical dark and moody rock club, perfect for both high-energy concerts and screenings of dumb movies.