Copernicus Center

Love this place. Saw Onew there in May, and Kard in December. The staff are incredible. Got us in quickly, and were super nice. The one security guard, i didnt get his name but he had a Slavic accent, was great. I adored him.

As musical performance producers, we are delighted to work with Gateway Lounge and Copernicus Center for upcoming shows. The team helped gather social media content for creating shared event advertising, listing of the artists, and has quality sound for recording performances. The piano at Gateway was really nice and tuned for our show. The AV equipt. is on par with top venues and we had arranged for sound board operator to mix the concert mics and additional audio. One thought for photographer, would be inconsistent lighting around the room with central sky light and raw ceiling space with track lighting on stage, not directional... to provide spotlight or move center stage, not front center. The bar staff, all front of house, box office team helped us feel extremely welcome and part of the community space. Location, public transist access and free parking lot are super accessible and easy to navigate. We cannot wait to throw a next concert event with Copernicus and Gateway Lounge. #chicagomusic #concert

Very nice auditorium! Easy way in and out. Drinks were too bitter ,if going back won't order it no more but it was a beautiful place with great sound. We enjoyed the concert and atmosphere.

An incredibly old building with character. For the most part they do what they can to take care of it but somethings need upgrades. For example, the road out back. It's in terrible condition. Not good for people who need to load things for shows or anything else going on there. The wifi does okay but having too many people on the system can cause issues. Bathrooms are cleaned nicely. The theater area is gorgeous. Unique use of lighting. Parking is weird. It was free for our event but for other events it may not be. Check with whoever is running your event and not the building itself.

Worst experience as a disabled person. Venue is not accessible AT ALL. Narrow super super uneven hallways and very steep. There is no appropriate wheelchair space. Even tho I bought a ticket for a wheelchair space it’s literally in the middle of the hallway, right in front of a person. If I park my wheelchair the person behind me cannot see.there is no separation whatsoever

Nice venue, spacious and pretty comfortable all in all. They added some sort of casino/slot machines that threw me off a little.

Had a great time and enjoyed the Oneus concert. My only suggestion would to have two separate merchandise lines to move things fast. I was in line 45 minutes and unable to get to the merchandise table as the concert was about to start. Bummed.

A wonderful venue with very unique and diverse shows and performers. Organized crowd controlling safety measures were in place. The bar offered great beverages options for any taste. Overall very pleasant and memorable experience. Parking is available on site but limited.

The Copernicus Center's auditorium offers a fantastic experience with its captivating ambiance, adorned with a sky-themed decor that adds a unique touch to the atmosphere. The stage is well-proportioned, providing a suitable platform for various performances. The auditorium's seating capacity of over 1000 ensures that it can host sizable events, accommodating a diverse audience. The facility includes a spacious room designated for food and drinks, enhancing the overall convenience for attendees. The availability of ample parking space is a significant advantage, ensuring that guests can easily find parking without hassle. Despite these positives, it's worth noting that the location's drawback lies in the surrounding area's traffic congestion, which can pose a challenge for attendees. However, the proximity to the highway offers a redeeming factor, facilitating convenient access for those traveling by car. In summary, the Copernicus Center's auditorium impresses with its appealing ambiance, generous seating capacity, and well-designed facilities. While the traffic situation in the vicinity may be a concern, the proximity to the highway helps mitigate this issue, making it a favorable venue for various events.

This venue was really nice, the energy was high. Chicago dancers most definitely have a place in the World Of Dance. I notice the staff displaying greetings while Interacting, with the people, kudos for that. I'm looking for to attending a concert here in near future.

Not only is it a cool place to see a show but the people that work there are really nice. Had a great experience with the bartenders, and a couple of other venue employees. I wish I got their names because they were not only pretty funny but they took time to just chat with us for a few minutes. I've been going there for years now for shows and it's always a great time. Thanks.

I had tixs 2 see Latin Salsa singer La India 2nite. Per website the doors opened at 7pm, concert was to start at 8:30pm and end at 10:30pm. I found free street parking so that was good. Waited til the entrance line died down before getting in line. Id, proof of vaccination was reviewed by security. After entering I noticed there were typed signs everywhere that the performance will start at 9:30 vs 8:30. Hmmm, not good. Waited in line to get a coffee since I needed some caffeine to stay awake. Coffee was decent and only $3. Went to my seat and listen to a DJ for 2 hours. He left the stage @ 9:33pm and a fake, wannabe Selena came on the stage and performed 2 of her songs. Another lady came on stage and spoke in Spanish that La India had an asthma attack this afternoon and her diabetes level was low and she will not be performing. WTH?? They knew she was not performing but they took people's $$$ for parking, drinks, snacks....very deceptive of them. They could have sent a text message stating info and refunds would be granted. She stated we would have to contact where we purchased the tickets to get refunds which was through Etix.com. When people got up from their seats they started booing. I will never attend another concert at this crooked venue. Still in disbelief they knew this afternoon that La India wasn't performing yet they took people's money. Just sad.

I recently went to a Korean singer concert, and was pleasantly surprised! Nice, cute theater. I was scared to purchase my ticket because I felt that it may be too off sided, but glad I did! My mom, sister, and I got the aisle 5 or 6, row M41,42,43. We could've gotten something a bit closer to the stage and would've gotten a better view, but these were not bad at all ! The venue is smaller than you would expect, so don't feel too bad if your seats are not close up ! Also, they offered $20 parking. But there also was free parking to the south of the venue ! The nice gentleman working the parking area guided us there, and we really appreciated that. But make sure you get there early if you want the free parking space! Its a little tight, and it was pretty filled up when we went 1.5 hours prior to the concert. Sound system was average. But I enjoyed my experience overall !

Truly one of the best small/medium venues I have been to. 1800 seats. One of the oldest in the city with a great history which is told with pictures etc on nearly every wall in the joint. I used their parking lot and paid the $$$. There are a couple of bars in the lobby and the bathroom lines moved fairly well. Maybe more clean and well kept on the outside than the inside but still pretty darn clean. They let you bring cocktails to your seat and quite a few do get up during the show for refills and bathroom stops which is annoying after a couple times. I saw Robin Trower there and after seeing him and a lot of his fans I suddenly didn't feel so old...or maybe it was the double Makers I was drinking.

The place is easy to find since it's right on the avenue, there is plenty of parking for their events. I've come here for different occasions and this last time was for a show. The bar has different drinks to try as well as popcorn pretzels candy bottle water. The lines at the bar can get long but that's probably anywhere you go. There is security in place so it's safe. As for the place, the chairs are small and not very comfortable but it didn't bother me. As for the sound and lighting, they both were good and there were no problems with it. Overall it's a nice place to come see a show and it's usually inexpensive. Will come back

Great location. It was easy to locate with great/ free parking. Recently went to a Nigerian artist's concert, Flavor and the auditorium we were in was amazing. It was filled with very lovely art pieces and it was very spacious. It also appeared as if we were outside because there was an illusion of star... it was beautiful. The only downside was that they had very limited options to choose from in the bar. Mostly beers(not a beer drinker) and they couldn't mix cocktails. Also, the snacks were overpriced. I'll def recommend this spot for concerts.

One of the best places I have been to parking is easy and next to the hall and only 20 dollars inside is comfy and prices for drinks are real reasonable with snacks a box of popcorn is 3 dollars

I when to a concert of a mexican artist yuridia Place is nice and clean Security Security was little slow the ppl the fans start jumping to get a selfie whit the artist even one get in the stage........ Prices on mix drinks beer chips , candy was pretty reasonable

I really need to come to the Copernicus Center for something more than the Taste of Polonia. That said, I love the Taste of Polonia, aka Polish Fest. Fun times, lots of stages, good Polish beer and lots of food. The Copernicus Center is one of Chicago's older, really cool theaters. Nice but uncomfortable seats. They have balconies, etc. The ceiling is starry. Way cool. Lots of stalls in the ladies room. There is a bar and some side room that at the fest, they use as a poker room - for funds raising, of course.

Beautiful venue; the decor around the main stage makes you feel as if you are in Iuxurious hall. Attended as an audience member of the 2018 World of Dance Chicago event. This felt spacious enough to accommodate the over 1000 attendees, let alone performers. The line to get into the venue can be long, and trails into the outdoor parking lot, which means you should be prepared for whatever the weather may be while you wait to enter the venue. There is a lobby area, that can lead you to the bar (very limited options), entrance to the main seating area, stairs to the balcony, or additional rooms in the back. The seats are cushioned well and are comfy. The staff were very nice and prompt in scanning our tickets. There are restrooms in the lobby area as well as a water fountain. Parking is crazy expensive at a flat rate of $20, and few SpotHero options nearby. I did hear that there was a parking lot for $15 next to the venue. I would recommend public transit here if possible.

The place is nice and look very clean. I was just there for a concert but other than better organized staff the place itself is absolutely beautiful.

My first time to the venue, came to see Loreena Mckennitt, phenominal show. The center added to the overall ambiance, it was gorgeous inside the auditorium. To find your seat was not too hard, but the ushers were challenged. They did have a ton of signage posted to help direct. My advice, check the seating chart online before you go to get a basic idea of where you will be. Multiple full bars (cash only)/reasonable prices, drinks made to order if you specify, multiple bathrooms, the line for the ladies was always long. Plenty of space to spread out, don't stay all jammed up in the main lobby. There is a huge event space at the back bar that has plenty of room to spread out, standing tables, and potties. The merch table was all cash as well. People must carry a lot of cash is the thought I had. Loreena put on a phenominal show, I would totally go see her again, she sings and plays just like on the records. The fellow musicians assisting her were very talented professionals as well. My wife and I really enjoyed this venue and would return. In fact if you are looking for something to do, there is a really cool 3D theatrical performance taking place tonight and tomorrow night only (Oct 15/16)

Paid for a $20 parking space in advance. The lot was roped off (no attendant) and I had to park elsewhere. They didn't care when I complained at the ticket window... "sorry sir" is all I got. Shady business practice!

Bad experienced. Is the only place where show Latin Comedias close to me. But in there NO RESPECT THE TIME SHOW. They start the show when they want.

Never doubt Polish ingenuity. What? You've never heard of the concept? Well, you've probably heard that we Poles do things kind of weird (some would even say backwards). And that might be true. But what you might not have heard is that to make up for making things more difficult, we come up with innovative solutions to problems we created by doing things the hard way in the first place. Two examples were found this year at Taste of Polonia. 1) I griped in last year's review about how tickets are only available in $5 increments. Well the festival planners heard my cries - sort of. This year they did something extremely unique. They made the tickets work like real money (though they could have, you know, just used real money). Each strip contained three $1 and four $.50 vouchers. Sure this made things more difficult by now having vendors allowed to price things at $1.50 or $5.50. But, when the visitor inevitably had to sell their tickets to other patrons (as happens at every festival), it made an exchange easier. It created a large black market of "independent" ticket sellers. Just like in Poland under communism. How authentic! How ingenious! 2) This year the festival adopted the popular concept of refillable mugs. For $7, you could purchase a plastic mug and have it refilled for $4 all four-day weekend (beers were normally $5). That is, if you could find someone who spoke enough English to sell you the mug. When I wandered up to get mine, I asked for the mug three times with increasing volume (and more and more exaggerated hand gestures in mug-like shapes) as the seller looked at me and my cohort blankly and responded with a thickly accented, "mug?" Finally, one of his co-workers tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear (probably in Polish). A look of recognition crossed his face. He went to the back of the stand and brought back and empty mug and handed me a cup of beer. Not exactly environmentally conscious (but Poland is an industrial country) but it turned out to reveal a secret. The savings for the mug refills was minimal because the mug did not hold as much beer as the $5 cup. How ingenious - of the organizers to pull a fast one on the crowd (it is a great mug though). Still, this festival is the craziest, most fun in the city despite its difficulties. The oddness of some of the attendees makes this a people-watching zoo! From aged hippies to polka-dancing old country folks to the creepiest duck mascot ever (PolTel's costumed representative) wandering the crowd scaring small children (and me) the festival is an eye catching treat. Plus the music is incredible. They dig deep to find cover bands the other festivals won't touch (Libido Funk Circus is a hilarious party anthem band) and bring over Polish stars. And there's plenty of polka if that floats your boat or rolls your barrel. There's even a more subdued stage inside the Copernicus Center with choral acts and dance troupes. If they bring back Okocim as a sponsor and official beer and if they keep finding ways to Polish (er polish) it up, next year it might even be better. Even if they don't, you can't help but admire the inventiveness of Poland in Chicago.

Mmmm, pierogis... The Taste of Polonia is a great festival for everyone - for the Polish and non-Polish (me) alike. Shhh... don't tell anyone, but when I was 18 I worked for LOT Polish Airlines for about a year. I didn't learn much Polish, except for the "bad" words, hehe. You'll find great Polish food here (I love Kasia's Deli), and there's plenty of live entertainment to see. Music, dancing, kielbasa, and Okocim beer. What more could you ask for?! Their 29th annual festival will be held on Labor Day weekend; from Friday, August 29 thru Monday, September 1st.

Absolutely a beautiful place to have an event or Opera a musical concert of some sort. I had the pleasure of visiting this location for my nephew's graduation and it was absolutely breathtaking I didn't even know this place existed until now. With graduates more than 200 some of the visitors had to sit in the balcony which The Experience wasn't too bad to be up there and gave you more of a bird's eye view of the magnitude in the compacity of this beautiful venue. The architecture is absolutely A Feast for one's visual senses statuettes High cathedral ceilings the ceilings remind me of like a night in Venice with the color blue that they chose to use. The Acoustics were nice too we were able to hear everything and the voices as they sing carried up to the balcony without a microphone being used. I remember the air conditioning working well so bring a sweater if it's a summer day and you might have on some shorts or short sleeve shirt cuz the air conditioning works well but beautiful venue really enjoyed

I'll be the first to admit I wasn't super psyched about going to Taste of Polonia since I'm not a big fan of Polish food. What I discovered is that the food is only one part, a small one, of the overall fest. This year is ToP's 30th Anniversary. The festival is hosted in the area surrounding the Copernicus Center. The Center, originally the Gateway Theater, was built in 1930 and was the first movie theater in Chicago built exclusively for the "talkies" and becoming home to the Polish Cultural Center in 1979. The festival runs all through Labor Day weekend (Monday too) and has five stages - two for music, one for dance music (mostly polka), one for kids, and multi-purpose stage inside the Center. Many of the bands are cover bands with Polish roots, like the reggae band Rebel Roots. There are many booths selling everything from cheesy Polish tchotchkes like t-shirts that say "stop staring at my pierogies," to sunglasses, to jewelry. Inside the Center they had a casino, various acts on the stage, and a bar; outside they also had some carnival games. I had a good time, the people watching alone is priceless. The stages had plenty of seating making it easy to eat or just take a load off. They were also pretty generous with the length of sets, each act got approximately 2 hours to perform! The beer tent offered a souvenir mug option and discounted refills too. The only reason I'm giving this fest 3.5 stars is: * No Okocim beer, it's like the Miller of Polish beers. * Tickets required for food and drinks are only sold in $5 increments, but food/drink isn't priced in $5 increments. I felt like a drug dealer helping an old lady out by trading $2 in tickets for cash. * Food choices, I was expecting more of a variety of vendors. Aside from Kasia's there was one other Polish food vendor. Maybe Pierogi Fest spoiled me. * PolTel's goose mascot creeped me out. They had multiple people dressed as them milling through the Taste. ToP is convenient to public transportation, the Blue line and Metra's Jefferson Park stop is just steps from the fest and the Milwaukee bus will drop you right there too. Check it out!

I had never even heard of this space until we popped in to see it on the neighborhood tour. Beautiful theater and they can be booked for events too.

This was a really great place to see a concert. The sound was great - the architecture was great to look at. I don't think there was a bad seat in the house. The workers/security were great too. I would definitely come here again.

This building was formerly the Gateway Theater many years ago. Now it is used as a cultural center and reception hall in this Polish neighborhood. The tower is an attractive beacon for this area. The annual Taste of Polonia festival is centered around here every Labor Day weekend.

Went to kadim al saher on Friday, theater in pretty but the acoustics were terrible and the seats were terrible. The extra star is for cleanliness and decor. Would definitely NOT go back!

Good place for concerts and plays however security in the place is terrible. People leave their seats during the concert and go to the front of the stage and nobody stops them or ask them to go back to their seats. People jump on the stage and scare the performers. Something terrible is going to happen one of this days if they do not get more security.

While I've not experienced the many festivals that Copernicus Center seems to be famous for, I can tell you that as a concert venue, it's pretty great. Went here Friday night see one of my favorite bands play and this was a venue they'd never played in before, so I was anxious to check it out. The ingress could have flowed more smoothly as there weren't designated lines and folks kind of shoved in where they could, but I'm a seasoned concert goer so it didn't faze me. Initially it was difficult to find our seats and even the people that worked there couldn't really tell us what section we were in (apparently the "bronze" section doesn't really exist), but we did manage to find them on our own. The main area is beautiful, with dark blue ceilings and lights that resemble twinkling stars (well, Copernicus was the Father of Modern Astronomy). Chandeliers, statues, and other dramatic touches transport you to another era. Lovely. Acoustics were great, and since our seats were right near one of the exit doors, we were able to make a quick getaway after the show. Parking will run you about $10 if you're not lucky enough to find metered street parking. I will definitely be back to CC to see a show or attend a festival. Hell, maybe I'll even swing by here to see the Pope should he ever come back to Chicago (as one of my friends did here back in '79). The only negative is that ever since I bought my tickets online from the Copernicus Center, I've been inundated with emails in Polish and I can't seem to unsubscribe from them. I wish they would stop; no mowimy po polsku.

Welcome to one of Chicago's greatest streetfests. It is really worth it every year to go hit up Taste of Polonia. One of the greatest outdoor events in the City of Chicago, Taste of Polonia goes on my list of "must sees" and "must do's" before the summer is out. If you like Polish cuisine or anything about Polish culture, you are required by the laws of common sense to strike Taste of Polonia. Taste of Polonia features Polish folk dancing, Okocim, latkes, meatballs, kielbasa, sauertkraut, and all things Polish. The Polish people far outnumber the random Chicago drunks more prevalent at Lincoln Square Mayfest or Oktoberfest so they can handle their liquor much better. Last year I ran into an old man who was completely wasted carrying the largest sack of money I've seen this side of the Pacific Ocean. He also said he had a gun, and 99% of the time someone telling you they have a gun would frighten you, but I laughed hysterically. Every year at Taste of Polonia they set up huge tables so you can sit down, there are places to stand and drink/eat Mayfest-style with giant umbrellas so you don't get sunstroke and they always bring in loads of bands that play great music to go with your Okocim and Polish food. The latkes are where it's at, but I sweat all of the other food too. Calling all foodies: Taste of Polonia is badassery at its finest! One final secret: approach the food booths near the end of the night and start haggling and they will give you triple the food for the price!!!!!!!!

Absolutely fabulous cultural center and entertainment venue! This place hosts multiple festivals throughout the year, including Taste of Polonia and Ecuadorian fest. Additionally, they host concerts, movies and other entertainment in their 2000-seat historic (and gorgeous) auditorium. They even hosted President Obama a couple of years ago, when immigration issues were front and center. At one time, it was a palatial movie venue (The Gateway Theater): the most important theater in the neighborhood, and it's beautifully preserved. There are multiple, large rooms for rental here for parties and events of all kinds; all are decorated well with modern amenities, and they have several bars. They also have hosted events here to benefit the local community and surrounding areas. There's a large parking lot there, but it's located right next to the Jefferson Park Blue Line stop, the JP Metra stop, and multiple bus lines so it's extremely accessible. Many folks will reference this place as the 'linchpin' of Jefferson Park, due to its broad appeal, historic integrity, and famous facade, replicating the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

Michael Jackson is greater than Chris Brown GI Joe the cartoon is greater than GI Joe the movie (I can see into the future) The Real World first season is greater than any Real World after SF They don't make 'em like they used to. The old Gateway was re-named, refurbished and transformed into the Copernicus Center and the place is something to behold. It's a beautiful and versatile building that houses concerts, plays and anything else that might need a touch of class. Admittedly, walking in, I was tempted to run around like a little kid. Y'see, I have always had a thing for well-designed, wide-open spaces. It makes me happy. I don't know why. And there's a lot to make me happy here. The long lobby stands guard to a gorgeous theater space. With ample seating and balcony views, I don't think there's a bad seat in the place. But you might not be able to concentrate on the stage when there's frosty beers (and other drinks) to be consumed (in glasses!!), dramatic chandeliers at which to marvel and woodwork etchings to study. The entire center is a throwback to when people gave a da[rn] about their craft and buildings told stories & prompted conversation. From its giant towers gleaming with Polish pride to its inside of grand staircases, dramatic loges, grandma cabinetry, big stages, comfy carpets and a full, old-timey bar, you'll be transported back to a time when Glen Miller played, songs made the hit parade and [old white guys with bad attitudes] had it made. Hmm. I guess not everything changes.

I'm part Polish by marriage so I've developed a love of pierogi, kapusta and sausage. We even had to have the DJ play a couple of polkas at our wedding reception. Since these types of things aren't every day occurrences, when there's a chance for Polish food/Polish music, we're there. Taste of Polonia is a great fest. It winds around outside the Copernicus center which lets them set up the four different entertainment stages. There is traditional Polish music (even not so traditional as we listened to a Polish rapper at one point), a children's entertainment stage, and cover bands. There are also vendor booths--jewelry, toys, and of course Polish-themed items. Got a little one? I love the Polish themed onesies. And the Food--delicious of course. Pierogi, potato pancakes and hunter's stew were my choices for the day and it was all delicious. There were combo plates for the ravenous or polish sausage for a snack. There are tall tables set up under tents where you can lean in and enjoy your meal. I loved the tall tables because our stroller fit nicely underneath, saving space and not causing a tripping hazard in tent aisle. There were also lots of seating near the stages so if you're not up dancing a polka, you can sit and relax, enjoy a brew. This is definitely a family friendly fest; all age ranges represented.

The Taste of Polonia is officially the Polishest of all Polish fests! It is defintely among the most authentic of the fests, everywhere I turned around people were speaking in Polish. Even the entertainment was bilingual (Polish-English)! I wished that my Great Grandma had taught me more phrases in Polish :(. The food is wonderful too, just like my Mom made for us growing up. Pierogis anyone? But that is not the reason for the five star rating. Taste of Polonia gets five stars simply for the fact that it was the event I had met My Count Gregula in person for the first time five years ago and my life has been changed for the better because of that :). I love you Greg!

I was super excited when I heard about Taste of Polonia. I had already missed out on one of the other large Polish festivals of the year, so this would have to hold me over until next year. I know you can find a plethora of Polish places in Chicagoland, but there's just something special about going to a venue where you know my people are going to be en mass and shine. We were not fans of the $7pp charge just to walk into the fair. That ended up being $14 that wasn't able to be used toward pierogi. And I'm very unhappy when I don't get my pierogi, especially delicious ones. These ones were fab! The boy and I split a Polish Plate which consisted of potato pancakes, half a Polish sausage, a mix of cheese and meat pierogi, kapusta and a stuffed cabbage. I was very sad when it was gone. The weather was quite chilly and it was threatening to rain. We only stayed maybe an hour and a half, but we were able to hang out with Ed A., his friend, and Adam F. Adam was kind enough to share his Stawski beer with me. You cannot fully enjoy all that Poland has to offer without a beer. Trust me! I didn't have a chance to look through every nook and cranny of Taste of Polonia, but what I saw showed me that they did a pretty good job. I just would have liked a little more Polonia for a little cheaper. I mean, there was a taqueria and some Italian food there. That's not Polish! Not even close. And while the band I saw was pretty good, it was just rock cover songs. Again, not so Polish. C'mon Copernicus Center! I know you can do better than that! I don't just want a taste. I want the whole enchilada, erm... kielbasa!

This is a great place to see a show. Why you ask? Here are my reasons: 1) Good size venue - You can fit a good amount of people in here to see a smaller size show with a larger concert crowd feel 2) Good acoustics - The band on stage sounds very good regardless of where you are in the venue 3) Decent sized seats - I have been to some shows where I couldn't stand up because my legs were so cramped because of sitting. The seating obviously needs to be tight but there is a bit more room than many places I have been. 4) Intagibles - It just "feels" comfortable. Outside of the somewhat better than average seating. The décor was well done in the hall itself but not overkill ornate. It was a good balance.

I went last year, had a blast, met some nice people and loved the BEER the tribute bands were awesome! I can hear Jimmy Hendrix tunes now from my house ( 1.5 blocks away ) and I can see the fest from my back porch.. I'm putting my shoes on NOW :)

We were going to book our wedding there. Our dates were open and we explained that to Anna, the person doing the booking. She gave us a few dates in October and we told her we were looking at one in particular and so the process began of booking both the foyer and the annex for that day. From the January 22nd to February 3rd (a week and a half) we saw the place twice, brought our caterer to see the place, and sent 20 emails back and forth working out the details for the date we chose. On February 3rd she sent the final invoice for us to look over. She had sent us variations of this invoice several times prior, a new one each time a detail would change. This one was different than all the others though, apart from the price, this one had in big bold letters, ONLY A PAID RENTAL DEPOSIT WILL GUARANTEE YOUR DATE. This was not on any other invoice she sent prior. We replied the next day and asked when we could come sign the contract and give the deposit. She responded saying that she had bad news. They booked the theater for the day we were booking our wedding. Never once did she say someone else was looking at that date, never once did she tell us we needed to put the deposit down ASAP cause we may loose it, not until the final details were ironed out and we were ready to sign were we told we would no longer have that date. From the beginning we said our dates were flexible. We were open to covering stained banquet chairs, we were willing to do our ceremony on a Friday, we were open to our caterer having to split his time between two kitchens. We could have moved our date to a time in November and we have, but at a different venue.

If you are looking at the space as a potential wedding venue, run. I worked with Erick B. and he was terrible. I thought we were going to be able to use the venue--the Annex. It is a really wonderful space. Erick seemed to be helpful in e-mails. Really, when it came down to it, Erick has no event experience and no experience executing contracts for weddings. Our biggest problem was that we weren't given straight answers about their bar packages. We were told switching out alcohol that's on their standard package wouldn't be a problem as long as we use their distributors. What they don't tell you is how much they'll mark up prices. Price mark-ups are totally understandable, however, we were never told what we would be paying ahead of time and a 300% mark up seems unreasonable. Had we known this up front, we would have not signed a contract with Copernicus. Erick assured us ordering different beers/alcohol than what they have wouldn't be a problem. The best part was that he ended our conversation by telling us we were his first wedding and he really didn't know all the answers. That is one area I will not argue with him. If you're prepared to have to chase him down and hold his hand through everything, then go with Copernicus. The space is reasonably priced. Just be prepared to follow-up with him.

Oh my gosh, this place is gorgeous. I attended a Multi-Chamber Meeting at the space, not really sure what to expect. Once inside, I was awed by the winding staircase and the gorgeous bar. I took a moment away to step into the theatre...I think it may be the most beautiful theatre space I've ever seen. Simply breathtaking. Would love to see a show there!

This review if specifically for the Taste of Polonia. Tonight was my first time getting my T.O.P. cherry popped and it was pretty good. The fest was crowded but family friendly. They charged $7 for admission into the fest. Food, bouncy house, prize games are not included in the fee and run from $5 - $12 each. There were several other games hosted by sponsoring companies that offered opportunities to win little prizes for free (ex. Stickers, pencils, glow sticks, etc). The music was pretty good. There were 3 stages...one had an American band performing top 40 hits, another stage with a Polish rock band, the last stage had a dj. There were several food stands. Make sure you buy your tickets because the vendors do not accept cash. Each ticket is $1, a sheet is $20 (20 tickets). I got the polish platter and for $12, which consists of 3 pierogis, potato pancake,polish sausage, sauerkrate, stuffed cabbage, sour cream, and apple sauce. I enjoyed the char-grilled sausage it was just perfect. The piergoi was pretty good. I felt everything else lacked flavor. My family loved it though, I guess it depends on the person The crowd was majority Polish (duh). There were a handful of different ethnicities, but everyone was there for the same reason, to have fun. I felt comfortable overall. My only complaint was that there were plenty of smokers, which sucks because I'm allergic to cigarette smoke. I guess the ordinance doesn't apply to outdoor fest. Parking is near to impossible. They offered free parking at Hoyne Bank, which was at capacity. The best bet is to find street parking along Jefferson Park. There was additional parking at the lot next to the train station for $12. The center itself had a classical concert. It was filled so I didn't stay, not that I intended to. By the way, this is where the air conditioned bathrooms are located and there was a bar in the lot aka the good liquor. Overall, a great time was had by all and I would recommend visiting this fest at least once. It's a little pricey, but worth it.

Chicago is supposedly the largest Polish city other than Warsaw, so it's no surprise that the city has a big Polish celebration. I'm not Polish, so I couldn't entirely appreciate the vendors selling silly t-shirts with kielbasa-related innuendos, but there were a couple nice (amber, ceramic, etc.) jewelry stands. There were a few tribute bands (Beatles, Pink Floyd...) as well as traditional Polish bands performing on the different stages while I was there. They were so loud I could hear them all at once from anywhere in the fest - til I started going deaf. I had to put in my earplugs. Yikes. Unfortunately there weren't really vegan food options. I had some veggie tempura, which was the only thing I could find. (My half-Polish boyfriend explained that Polish people are known for their randomness, like wearing a parka with flip flops or serving Asian food at the Polish fest.) Unfortunately, the tempura was sooo greasy my tummy decided to return it later. :( If you're a sometimes-honey-eating vegan, there was a mead vendor with free samples. Check it out; it's pretty potent though.

This is THE place to see a top Polish Pop, Rock or HipHop band. Minus a star since I'm not a big fan of Polish Pop, Rock or HipHop bands. The rest of the stars are for the big Taste of Polonia fest held here every labor day weekend. Yummy Polish sausages, kraut, pierogi, Beer and really great people watching too! I feel completely comfortable here in my dark blue shorts, dark blue dress socks and brown sandals! Yeah Polish neighbors!

On labor day weekend there is nothing better than to grab some pierogis, potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage and a polish beer, watch some cover bands, or polka bands or my fave this year a polish metal band. This is an amazing festival for people watching, all kinds of people flock to this...

I had the pleasure of doing business with these thieving crooks. There's a reason their reputation is less than stellar within the Polish Community and it's entirely based on the fact that this "foundation" is mismanaged, unorganized, money-grubbing and completely unaware of legalities since legal ethics are of no concern for them. Pretty theatre that's poorly designed for actual performers, the bar is watered down and expensive and the parking is spotty at best. By all means, if Portage Park, Pickwick or Lincoln Hall are all booked then you should give these guys your business but remember to read the fine print because they'll try to stiff you on something in order to help their bottom line.

I saw my friend have his first MMA fight here and I have no complaints. I don't know if it was the right venue for MMA fighting, but it got the job done. It would make for a great concert venue. It is in much better shape than most Chicago venues. I don't know if they have any shows here that I'd be interested in seeing, but if they did I'd be here in a heartbeat.

very small venue seats are good no matter where you are. nice decor looks like a small church onky problem i had was the seats were SUPER small. I'm a fat person so i was basically touching the person next to me. chairs were the size of metal folding chairs and were right next to each other. went for a concert and sound was good. i even got good pictures and i sat in the balcony

They use Ticketfly as the only option to buy tickets (online, over the phone and at the door). Ticketfly charge ridiculous amount of service fee $17 for $50 ticket. This is twice more as your typical Ticketmaster fee.What a way to support your local venues!

Beautiful space, worthy of yor next event. I wasn't awareof this place and maybe you aren't either so check it out. oh and apparently they have concerts sometimes.

WOW oh man.........this fest was awesome! I didnt know what to expect from the Polski fest when we were heading up there, I just knew I wanted to go because the Polska people are awesome! Of course my liver was on life support from the previous 2 days of punding booze....BUT I had to hit that OKOCIM!!! Nothing like GAmBLING..............Yes I was gambling Out in the open with other polskis! an we were all drinking Okocim! and of course I have no clue how they do it but they got booze going till 10:45 pm!!! NO OTHER fest in the city does this! hell by 9pm there was a alot of drunk polskis running around! good times ohhh yesssss And the GAMBLING! unreal!!!! Polska people you are all awesome! Polski fest will be an annual thing for me! Jin kulla Kojam PIVO!!!

My favorite fest of the year by far. I may be jaded since I am polish but I think this fest is by far one of my favorites. The music is usually pretty good and there are usually lots of options. The food is the real reason to go and the polish combination plates are something that I can't live without. Today I ordered one combo plate devoured it then got a second one to take home for a later meal. The sausage, pierogi, potato pancake, and slaw make the perfect combination. I also enjoy going into the Copernicus center and either watching a cooking demonstration or a polish play. Usually we are going into the center to get cool but this year it was to get out of the wind. They don't have rides but do have carnival games and some stands selling polish items. I will never miss this fest.

Beautiful, beautiful theatre. Spectacular even...