Terrific venue for music. Tucked behind the Union Pizzeria, the place is small enough to provide an intimate feeling and big enough to accommodate 250 people. The acoustics are really exceptional--we could hear portions of the performance that were whisper silent. Book early to get the limited reserved seating at the tables. It gets a little cozy with a full house, but not uncomfortable. The venue also offers lower-price general admission seating along the sides of the stage and at the back. Doors opened an hour early for our show. You can bring pizza in from the attached pizzeria, but otherwise no food is allowed or served. I enjoyed my Old Fashioned and the beer selection was quite good. The venue offers service by servers, although the small staff has difficulty covering the entire place when it's crowded. My only complaint is that it's in Evanston. Nothing they can do about that, but it's quite a drag from downtown or, well, pretty much anywhere but the north side. read more

This is one of the best music venues I have ever been to. It's intimate, classy, and the sound is perfect. Go. Even if there isn't a specific artist that you want to see - everyone who plays here is oozing w talent. We saw Junior Brown and it was a wonderful evening. Can't wait to go again! read more

Space - Junior Brown rocking it! - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

An outstanding venue where you are close to the stage. The acoustics are terrific and it is beautifully designed. They do a good job of booking interested and eclectic musicians that you can't always see live. Regarding the concert I saw (Great Lake Swimmers), the only downside was the crowd. It was a snotty group that was too cool to clap or admit that they were having fun. Put down your phones and enjoy the show! read more

I came here with my gf for a concert featuring Andrew Combs, Jay Nash, and Christopher Paul Stelling. Concert lasted from 8-11pm, and Jay Nash was probably my favorite. The venue is small, but the seats are pretty close to the stage, and the acoustics are great. read more

A very intimate, cozy little music venue, tucked behind Union Pizzeria. As soon as you walk in the entrance, you'll see the dim lit hallway that leads to the doors of S.P.A.C.E. The cutest thing about that hallway was a bunch of different decorative hooks hanging on the wall, very conveniently, to hold jackets and coats. Although, it made me a little nervous, so of course, I emptied my pockets before hanging my coat. After checking in at will call, we entered the back-room, past two sets of doors. There is a little bar to the immediate left side and rows of small round tables directly in front of the stage. These tables are all reserved and require a purchased ticket that costs a bit more than the regular seating. Regular seats are lined up on the side of the stage. We stood the whole time next to the bar because the view was a little better than the view from the regular seats. There are also a couple round, high top tables in the back of the room, but with no seats. Pretty decent beer selection, but they were out of the beer I wanted. The female bartender was friendly and attentive. I'm pretty sure that if you order a beer from Union Pizzeria up front, they'll let you bring it back into S.P.A.C.E., but don't quote me on it. (Union has a better, more extensive beer selection). The bands almost didn't need microphones because the sound travels through the room with no problem; it's a tiny venue. I really like this place and appreciated the intimacy of it. I tend to go for the smaller venues because of the ability to achieve proximity to the bands and to even run into them after the show. I would gladly return to see another show. read more

Space - the hallway leading to the doors of S.P.A.C.E. - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

What a wonderful place for an intimate concert! Almost perfect in every way. Great acoustics, small but accessible stage, tables for concertgoers to sit at, and clean restrooms. I fell in love with the venue and it enhanced my experience of John Sebastian tremendously. read more

Space - A quiet sign introduces Space - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

There's a reason why SPACE is the artist's favorite venue. Time and again they say how special it is, with a sounds studio for practice and recording, a lovely green room for before the show, amazing acoustics, and a caring staff. As spectators we derive a benefit from these same things, because the artists are always at the top of their game as a result. I've seen at least a dozen shows here, and the sound has been great for every one. The cocktail table seating can get a bit crowded, but it's nice to have table service and a place to put your drink. You can also take a drink and a pizza in with you if you order one at the Union Pizza company out front, and they have a more extensive list of beers. Or have dinner first, and then go back for the show. Great venue! read more

Our favorite place to hear live music. Excellent sound quality and wonderful table service. They consistently offer a variety of live miusic and some spoken word. There are many sought after musicians who play here. Probably the best addition to Evanston ever. read more

I love this venue. I came here recently for a Trevor hall show, and absolutely LOVED the intimate feel of the entire night. There is truly not a bad seat in the house, no matter where you are - there is a great view. The sound is excellent and just fills the whole room in loving ambient noise. The bar was very reasonably priced, and I appreciated having an actual glass for my wine :) I was intrigued by the restaurant in the front - I didn't have a chance to check out the menu, but everyone in there seemed to be having a great time! I would say the only downfall to my experience here, was the group of obnoxiously drunk cackling and giggling girls behind us. I think its very rude when people get like that at such intimate shows - and I really wish the staff would've asked them to either tone it down- or leave. It REALLY ruins the experience for everyone else around. I would lovingly ask that for future shows, the staff watch out for people like that- and possibly remove them if they are getting too distracting! Overall, I love this venue, nice clean space, clean bathrooms, and totally reasonable bar set up. Will definitely recommend to friends, and will be coming back for more shows! read more

Well, I have been waiting and waiting for a follow up to a bad experience here. With their upcoming Campfire Corral, now is the right time to put potential customers and the venue on notice. Cut to the chase...if you care about COVID protocol, even when outside, read on. If not, you are good to go here. :) The concert was outside which is a plus with the COVID situation. However, that does not give you reason to let your guard down as a business if you care about your customer base. The manager (if you can call an admittedly--by him--college kid with limited experience in dealing with customers) promised to follow up, but it has never happened. Plenty of time has passed for that. Four of us booked a table under their outside tent. COVID protocol which they take GREAT pride in advertising is NOT followed. Server could NOT keep her mask on consistently throughout the performance (the limited time it was on, her nose was always out), held drinking glasses by the rims when serving, played with her face and hair often, and when asked NICELY to please be more careful, brushed it off and developed an attitude for the remainder of the show. Greeter could NOT keep his mask on throughout the performance either. Manager who had NO mask on would not acknowledge shortcomings of staff when informed politely. Instead he made excuses like this is COVID and you are lucky to have live music. While this is very true and we agree, it is not a reason to advertise safe protocols, not adhere to them, and then justify your staff's actions with how fortunate we are. Instead, acknowledge and try to rectify for the next batch of customers coming to a performance. An aside, cocktails (which are kegged, weak, expensive, and not freshly made) should be listed as such on the menu or notified as such by the server ahead of time--our server did not. The best part was the music. Though from a safety standpoint we would have been better off standing in the public alley and listening for free. We WANT to support venues!! We WANT them to be there when we get to the other side of this! Recognize that and get it together with better training and preparation of staff so we can ALL be well. read more

A favorite venue to catch live music shocked and disappointed last night. Great show, music was fantastic, and professionalism, as always, by the sound and production team. However, the bar service was dismal. Even before experiencing awful drinks the wait staff struck me as entirely disinterested, lacking enthusiasm, and frankly, seeming like they'd rather be anywhere than there. I wanted to start with a coffee drink for which I had to go to the restaurant side, they have no coffee at Space, I was given what was remaining- about 2/3 of a cup of cold, stale coffee. As that was unacceptable, I agreed to come back when a fresh pot was made. My not very goodkahlua and coffee was nearly $10 which is kind of pricey. My husband ordered a bottle of beer which actually came in a can- yuck. My friend's gin and tonic tasted off, she complained and was given another which tasted equally off. A woman overhearing said her straight tonic tasted off so it was clearly something wrong with the tonic. My friend ordered a different drink which required OJ. The waitress brought back the drink and, with no apology, said they were out of OJ so they made it with grapefruit juice. Unacceptable. Update: I was back at Space not once, but, twice this week, and, multiple times since writing this last review. What that says is that Space has many fantastic offerings nearly 7 days a week. As people have mentioned, the acoustics are good. The seating is good. The views of the stage are good from every where in this intimate club. Even the standing room only is good, one is not packed in like sardines, but rather, one has room to move and dance. I was particularly grateful to learn, while standing at the bar,for my most recent standing room only show, that there were hooks under the bar to hang my purse. I have not had a problem with my drinks since my last review either. While my waitress last night was perfectly pleasant, my bartender last time was sour ...possibly over worked. read more

Intimate space to hear great musical acts, which we witnessed last night a group called the fox's opened for the main event and blew the audience away. Talented all woman blue grass band, with 4 strong singers and talented musicians. The venue has a bar, tables, individual seats and standing room, for about 250 music lovers. We had our meal in the building housing urban pizza, and made it so convenient to make the concert. Parking garage right across the street. If you want to see talented musicians at a reasonable price and be up close, you could not find a better venue. read more

Best place in town to catch a concert, grab a bite and have a cocktail or two. The venue is very intimate and laid back. Staff is always cool and accommodating. read more

Space - Jason Narducy and Split Single. - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

What is it about live music that makes one's worries melt away? While there is a time and a place for large concert halls with all sorts of fireworks and sparkles, nothing beats a small, intimate venue where you feel like you've been invited to a private show by the artist with a few of your closest "friends." Perhaps the best part about this SPACE is the low-key, relaxed vibe from everyone - from the people working the doors, to the servers and more importantly, the patrons --- everyone just had this understanding and appreciation for what it takes to have an enjoyable show. Many thanks to the young guy (sorry we didn't catch your name) who was working at the front door who explained and helped us out with our seating since it was our first time. Talk about taking care of your guests! You can choose to reserve a table, general seating or standing room but there really isn't a bad seat in the room. If you need to grab a bite, you can come in a little early and have a wonderful meal at Union Pizzeria, which is located inside the same area or bring in a box of pizza to enjoy with the live music. All sorts of craft and imported beers can also be brought in from Union Pizzeria or ordered from the bar located inside SPACE. You know what I'm gonna do after finishing this review? I'm gonna look up my next opportunity to visit SPACE again! read more

I recommend staying away from here, NO REALLY STAY AWAY... I'd like to keep it all to myself!! Located in the back part of Union Pizzeria, (which I wouldn't mind grabbing a slice from next time) SPACE brings it's own toppings. Opening back in February of 2008 SPACE has only grown in popularity with concert-goers as well as artists. It's the perfect little venue that can hold nearly 250 people but never feels packed. The 2,000 square ft room is made up of a small stage, a small bar, seating to the left and right of the stage, special reserved seating with tables, and standing room in the back. The sound alone is amazing and there is no obstructed view. Plenty of parking, friendly staff, and a great choice of different genres of music on different nights. SPACE will quickly become a favorite venue of mine. But like I said YOU will HATE IT, so stay away... It's MINE!! Greg Laswell & Chicagoan Rachele Eve you rock, great show!! read more

Despite having to drive to Evanston, this is probably one of my favorite places to see a show. It's very small and intimate. The ambiance is dark and kind of romantic. The acoustics are good. The view seems to be decent whether you're at a table, in the cheap seats or standing in back. The staff is nice enough. Parking can be hard to come by downtown, but at $7, I feel like the valet is worth it. I can't say they have a ton of shows that are of interest to me, but once per year or so there's something that's worth the hike to the North Shore. You can order pizza from the connecting restaurant (but they'll give it to you in a pizza box, which makes you feel kinda like a douche sitting in the audience). There's a full bar to take advantage of too. There are five or six single-occupant bathrooms, which make for a long line when you gotta go. The kind of people who come here are a little obnoxious. Think people holding up their phone and obnoxiously pinching the screen to zoom in (throughout the whole performance) or a group of people who think this place is their home and have no regard for other people nearby. But I guess that's what you'll find at most concerts :) Overall, a cool spot. Definitely worth a visit. read more

I went here for the performance of Black Violet, which was chamber music with a slideshow-version of a comic. I liked the show. I can't wait for the next installments. The only negative about that were the hipsters in the audience that kept laughing at parts that weren't even supposed to be funny. Kind of a pet peeve. However, I thought the venue needed some improvement. First, they need a real box office. You're customers shouldn't feel like they have to pay $6 inconvenience fees in order to make sure they get a seat, even if they show up hours early. I mean, It's in the back of a restaurant, pay them half what you pay Ticketbastard and you'll be all set. They also need to either invest in a credit card machine, an ATM, or a cardboard sign that says "CASH ONLY." I asked before I got to the front of the line, and they guy told me to "go across the street to the laundromat and use the ATM." He and I have vastly different definitions of "across the street" or "laundromat." I had been walking around the area, and never saw a laundromat earlier, and I didn't at this point either. A block away I found a bank, and ran back, and had lost my spot in line, but got in. The guy admitted that by "across the street" he meant "around the corner and down the street." Inside it was nice. They had a few small tables for people who had paid a little more, a bar, and a merchandise table. Chairs were on the uncomfortable side, but okay. Next time I'll be prepared and I think everything will go a lot smoother. read more

What a gorgeous place to see a show. The sound in here is incredible. It was too loud for our event because it sorta prevented socializing, but was completely crisp and clear and there was not a toe untapped. Really beautiful backdrop and lighting. If there's someone playing that you want to see, do what you have to do to get there. My pictures don't do it justice, but the website photos show how cool this S.P.A.C.E. is: http://www.evanstonspace.com/ read more

Space - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

SPACE is actually an acronym for Society for the Preservation of Art & Culture in Evanston. I welcome this lounge with open arms because there are not many places where you can catch live entertainment in the area. I liked that it was right behind a trendy and bustling restaurant. SPACE room was not too flashy, comfortable, and the the tables were not too close together. They didn't press a 2 drink minimum like Davenport's. I had a bottle of Point Pale Ale for $4, which was a reasonable price. It beats paying $5 for a can of bud light at a Chicago street festival. It's an intimate environment so you can truly appreciate the skill involved with the artists. I don't have the ear to visualize all the sounds off a CD, so it was nice for me to clearly see every note played. Jonah Smith was the headliner, which he had amazing and distinctive vocals. I went more so to see Kyle Mann Combo because that is more of my flavor. They were a mix of jazz, rock, pop, and classical. The only thing I thought was unprofessional was the mic went off on the back up vocals for Jonah Smith. Also, I heard crackling sounds during the Kyle Mann Combo performance. I also felt the drums overpowered the vocals and bass a bit. Overall, I had a great time and will be looking forward to the artists that come by. read more

Space - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place is ridiculously beautiful. If you are into the intimate, small stage venues, this is your place. hi j read more

I've been to three concerts at SPACE and am officially in love. I will definitely be going back, I'd like to go back every day if i could. This is why: 1.) The acoustics are amazing, the artists sound seriously crazy amazing 2.) The artists are all about staying after for pictures/autographs, and i am all about that. 3.) It's the perfect sized venue, very intimate, honestly amazing 4.) The pizza... it's some of the best pizza i've ever had... fresh mozarella, omg. 5.) Service-the waiters/bartenders are so friendly and clearly love what they do 6.) location-evanston is great, we take the purple line and get off at dempster, its a block and a half away. We went to a bar after one of the concerts too, Tommy Nevin's... and for a monday night, it was pretty busy. they had great drink deals, it was really fun! Honestly check it out, it's the best place to see a concert for sure!!! read more

Took in Colin Hay with a group of friends last night at SPACE. I'm not sure that I can add anything more than an additional thumbs up vote for the venue. OK... I thought of one. If you're there to see the artist/musician perform, please don't talk through the show and ruin it for others. If you have to talk over the musician.... go outside! This is not a unique issue or anything dealing with SPACE, just a small venue issue and I can only hope if you gack a lot at shows.... just go to a bar and drink and talk! read more

Love Space. But why do you not post your events outside??? Every time I find out about someone I'd like to see, it is way too late. read more

Really lovely intimate venue with ample room, beautiful lighting and ambience, and no bad seat (or standing room) in the house. Long before actually hitting a concert there, I've been impressed by the consistent high quality, interesting performers they attract. Recently saw a soul show here. The band was incredible and had a great groove. The singer was totally wasted, which really affected the show. I thought that was a bummer and could've been managed much better by the venue considering the $30 ticket price. I left feeling like it wasn't a good value--which is too bad considering how much I liked everything else. As mentioned, the shared space with Union Pizzeria is a huge bonus. I will definitely come back. read more

One of my favorite small venues in the area. SPACE gets an awesome mix of musicians -- it seems to lean towards a more folk-y line-up, but they've also got a lot of representation from classical, jazz, rock, experimental, etc. I think they just had a reggae show, too, so they've got a bit of everything. A lot of the concerts have different tiers of seating -- reserved tables right up front, general admission chairs, and then standing room. Tickets are affordable, and lately they've been having days where you can show up and buy tickets in person, cash only, and avoid paying the online service fees. The place has a real classy vibe. Interior is just beautiful, and the stage is low enough to make you feel close to the artists, but high enough that you usually can still see over the people in front of you. (Unless you're short and happen to wind up behind someone incredibly tall, which is what always happens to me.) Acoustics are great, and everyone at the venue that I've interacted with has been very nice to talk to. They're very responsive to concerns, from what I've seen -- I happened to make a couple of tweets commenting on minor annoyances after a show, and whoever runs SPACE's Twitter account replied to me almost right away. Awesome customer service. But most importantly, you can tell that all of the people there are really passionate about the music. Complaints are minor - like someone else said, the chairs are a little uncomfortable, and the setup for the particular show I was at was a little cramped. But I can't see deducting a star for that. :) read more

I may be biased, having seen one of my favorite bands here recently, but I LOVE this venue. Beautifully appointed, well designed, and the best acoustics I've heard this side of...well...anywhere. The extra bucks spent on a table are well worth it and the drinks were (surprisingly) inexpensive considering the amount of money I've shelled out for cheap (in quality) beer at too many concerts to mention. Which reminds me, while they do indeed serve cheap beer (3 dollar PBR what?) everything else on their drinks list seemed to be at least comprable in cost to overpriced concert beers. If not cheaper. The staff were pleasant and attentive (one minor mistake but I can't imagine trying to take drink orders at a concert is easy). The pizza our table-neighbor got from Union (the restaurant that fronts SPACE) smelled divine. The opening bands were amazing and this was by far the best money I have ever spent. I only wish I'd discovered it sooner. read more

Stopped in to SPACE for a great show the other night. The 2 performers were just amazing, and the acoustics are fantastic. They seem to bring in some really nice acts into an intimate space with tables and cozy wood beam rafters. Past that, things get a little rocky. I noticed right away that the seats were uncomfortable. And how the room is setup, you may have to crane your neck to the side for the entire show. After the second act was finished my tush was numb, my back was stiff and my neck had a crick. I probably should have just stood in the back of the room instead. The worst part, however, were drink prices. 2 drinks cost $21. yep... $21, how embarrasing. And it was one cocktail off the menu and a simple pour of Jameson on ice... My wife didn't even really enjoy the cocktail, and they didn't have the whiskey that I asked for in the first place. I figure if you are going to charge outrageous prices, at least have an incredible selection. Top it off with one overworked server for a whole room of people, and you knock all sorts of stars off of a yelp review. Should have been a 4, but my empty wallet gets a vote too. Most of my pals didn't even order drinks because it wasn't worth it. read more

Great venue for music events that are intimate, standing room and seating, valet parking if you want. Great neighborhood

I've been here three times and each time the floor layout was different. I prefer the GA floor the best, but I don't mind the GA towards the back when the tables are there either. The sound here is definitely amazing. This venue feels like a younger "hipper" City Winery. More of an IPA crowd rather than Shiraz. The bathrooms are right outside the venue and I love the "occupied" status on the doors. Free street parking has been easy to find, and metered parking is also available. read more

Who doesn't love an intimate venue in which to listen to world class music. This place is great. It's worth splurging a little for a reserved seat, but don't think you've got specific seats. Get there early to claim the best two of the 4 seats at each table. And if you don't reserve. You'll probably end up standing. Space is attached to the Union Pizzeria which has fantastic artisan pizza and top shelf drinks, so go to Union before the show and make a night out if it, you won't be disappointed. read more

You know facebook use to be called "the" facebook at first right? Well Space should go reverse and change it's name to "the" Space 'cause that's what it is. What a cool venue in beautiful Evanston. As for parking I just went valet for $7 bucks. Why waste life looking for parking? Had a drink at the bar, even got a great artichoke pizza. Then went in for the show. The venue is nice and intimate. Sound is great in here. In the bar side I couldn't even hear the opening acts until I wanted in to the venue. The show I went to, Houndmouth, was sold out but it wasn't even packed with sweaty smelly people like the usual venues I'm seeing shows at. Plenty of room, comfortable, and great experience here. I will most def come back here for shows. read more

I never review venues but this place deserves it. Probably the most intimate venues in Chicago and it was designed for the music lover. SEATING Most of the seating are around large tables which is great if you have a small group of friends. If you go solo or as a couple you'll be seated european style which is cool too because you're all there for the same music. We were in the perimeter areas designated standing room only. But this is not your typical SRO section. The venue did a great job ensuring they only sold enough SRO tickets so the area isn't crowded. There was enough room too for you to move to the bar for cocktails and for servers to go around with orders. SOUND The sound in this space is amazing. I have tennitus (constant hearing in the ears) and usually the echo effect you get at a live concert is difficult to deal with. No echoes at S.P.A.C.E. due to great sound acoustics design! Moreover, while the sound was loud it was also crisp so you could still talk to the person next to you with ease. CUSTOMER SERVICE I can't say enough good things about the staff. We walked in and they welcomed us before asking for our tickets. Then I asked about where to put our coats since we had SRO tickets. They literally have the entire hallway lined with coat hooks which were about 3/4 full. They said the coats would be totally safe and they were. And it was free. The bartending staff was friendly and attentive to patrons looking for their next round. We didn't use the wait staff since we were SRO but later on it appeared they were taking orders from folks like us, not just those who had actual seats. OVERALL I love this place. Intimate, friendly, great sound, cool "space". Next time we'll do maybe appetizers or dinner beforehand because they even have a small restaurant in the front of the venue. Great job to whomever is behind this place! Cheers... read more

We saw a fantastic performance last night (2/13/2016) from Ronnie Baker Brooks and his band. What a night! Everyone had so much fun, including the band. It was our first time there, so I was a little worried about parking, our seats (GA Seated), and the acoustics, but it turned out to be a perfect night. PARKING and CTA - There is metered street parking on Chicago and Dempster, which (hallelujah!) doesn't need to be paid after 6:00 PM. Evanston rocks! We lucked out and got a spot right around the corner. If you decide to take the train, the Purple Line stop is nearby. WAITING IN LINE and BATHROOMS - You enter the same door for Union Pizzeria and SPACE. The restaurant is to the left and the line for SPACE is straight ahead. When the doors open you stop at the hostess stand to show your ID and get your hand stamped. Down the hallway to the left are six unisex bathrooms. We got there twenty minutes before the doors opened at 7:00 PM for the 8:00 PM show, and there were already about twenty people in line ahead of us, but we snagged two great seats at the front to the right of the first row of tables. By showtime, every seat was filled and people were packed into the space along the back. VENUE - The sound was amazing. As you can see from the pictures the space is intimate, which we prefer over larger clubs because you get up close and personal with the band. Size-wise we estimated the room held about a hundred and fifty people sitting and standing last night, and no matter where you are located the sight-lines are fantastic. Even standing at the very back of the room, you'll only be about twenty-five feet from the stage. FOOD and DRINK - We didn't eat, but you can order pizza from Union and bring it into the show. Note that if you are standing, though, there is no room to set down the tray or box, so you'll be juggling it in your hands as you eat. Drinks were reasonably priced and the waitresses were very attentive to everyone's needs all night. The show went on for over three hours with a short break between sets, and for the encore, the great guitarist Dave Specter, one of the co-owners of SPACE, got up on stage to play with the band. Yes, the drive from Wicker Park in the bitter February cold was definitely worth it, and we'll be returning to see The Subdudes on March 25th. read more

First off RESERVE a table, standing room is great but to fully enjoy I would say sitting would be far better than holding your coat. The sound system is really good, so you will have no problem FEELING the music during a set. The pizza in the restaurant is also not half bad. My one actual disappointment is that at the later set, the bar in the stage area was out of a lot of things to make the drinks they had listed on the board. One would think that those are the drinks people are going to ask for the most, so having the basics there on hand always would be priority. Other than that, totally enjoyed the show! The lighting went every well with the piece playing, so whoever is in charge of the light direction TWO THUMBS UP from the former theater light designer/board op! read more

This is one of my favorite music venues in the Chicagoland area. The venue is small, intimate and has great sound. The crowd that attends shows here truly enjoys music and are respectful to the musicians. In other words, not on cellphones or talking during the performance. The beer list is decent with several local craft beers. We have been here several times and have always had a great experience. Ticket prices vary depending on if you purchase GA or reserved table seating. Street or a parking garage is nearby. One of my top 3 music venues in the Chicagoland area. read more

Best acoustics in Chicago! Great bands, great crowds, great times. GO SEE LIVE MUSIC!!! read more

While the separate bar area and concert area are nice, going to see a show here is very disappointing. The center of the concert floor is taken up by 20 tables, which are not conducive to any time of dancing/being engaged in the show. I have been to two shows (blues show and rock show) and both times the tables killed the vibe/flow of the show and made things more awkward than anything. The crowd in the seats acts very pretentious, almost as if they are observing a caged animal. My thoughts: It's a concert, get into the show! If you enjoy an uptight group of people sitting quietly in front of you when you are at a concert, Space is the place for you. read more

Whoopsie. I made the mistake of leading my date to believe that we would be eating at the show. Except that's a lot more complicated than I expected. Suffice it to say, you should plan to eat ahead of time. First of all, you need to divide and compartmentalize Union Pizzeria and SPACE (music venue). There are two listening rooms in Space, one is referred to just as "SPACE" and the other is "The Studios @ Space" (though there's just one, as far as I can tell). To visit the music venues, you'll proceed through the front door, down a corridor that opens into a large, beautiful room with tables, chairs and a dedicated bar - everything about this room is gorgeous, including the acoustics. The only food allowed in this room is pizza. If you're here for a "studio" show, you keep walking through a door on the other side of this room, into another small corridor, and through a series of three VERY HEAVY doors to the left. This room (well, two conjoined rooms, one with the console, one with the mics) looks like the exact opposite of every dark, musty, hole-in-the-wall recording studio I've ever been in. It's super posh and extra-carpety -- in hindsight, I totally get why it's a no-food-allowed scene back there. Aside from the extra roars produced by a pair of empty stomachs, this is a great place to catch a show. The Studio shows are very intimate while the larger room is cavernous with a wide stage. Sound in both rooms is great - my main complaint at most venues (I'm looking at you Beat Kitchen, Metro...) is when the crank the speakers up beyond the point of clarity, and that wasn't a problem here. We stopped at the dedicated bar and got a pair of G&Ts. That was when we discovered that the house gin is the locally distilled Letherbee Gin, which we agreed is out of this world. And just $7. You know you've lived in Chicago for over a decade when you start saying things like, "...and my cocktail was only $8!" - this city has screwed my sense of bargain drinking. The Union kitchen starts to shut down at 10pm, leaving the pizza menu available until 11pm so you can grab a quick bite in the lounge/bar area of the restaurant afterwards. When we looked a little forlorn about our options, a nice guy recommended Prairie Moon which is just three blocks away and has a full, delicious menu until midnight, and a killer beer list. read more

I've been looking for a place like SPACE -- it has better intimacy and sound than the Jazz Showcase and the new HotHouse above Fizz. (Too bad the one on Balbo went bye bye). The price is reasonable, and they will be opening a box office so as to avoid the kickback, er, convenience charge. Also I was amazed at the amount of local parking on a Sat. night! I'm looking forward to enjoying many shows at SPACE. read more

This has got to be one of the best venues in the Chicagoland area. The acoustics in SPACE are incredible. I recently went to see JJ Grey (of Mofro) for a solo acoustic show. During pauses in the songs, you could seriously hear a pin drop in this place. With a 250-person capacity, I would recommend getting there early (doors open 45 mins prior to show start time), especially if you did not purchase a reserved seat. Great experience overall - they could have some more comfortable chairs though - that's my only tiny complaint. read more