ShowPlace Icon Theatre: viewing movies with all of the perks
Despite the technological advances in home entertainment, people will always congregate at movie theaters. The South Loop's ShowPlace Icon understands what people want in their movie-going experience: great sound, comfortable seats, no pre-show advertisements, gourmet food and of course cocktails.
Located inside the under-construction Roosevelt Collection complex, the Icon boasts two types of admission levels. The first being the Icon Reserve admission which allows all ages access to the stadium seating and the ability to choose seats and tickets in advance from Fandango. But for a modest upgrade, why not fly first-class? The VIP Premium Reserve package gives moviegoers extra wide seats and the allowance to bring cocktails and lounge food into the theatre. There isn’t a wait staff on duty in the theatre, so it’s best to gather the food and drinks beforehand.
The upstairs lobby lounge is the hub of the theatre, but one must be 21 years and older to enter. Legal guests are greeted with a 360 degree bar stocked full of liquor and a list of specialty cocktails such as The Dude, which is basically a White Russian. The lounge’s curtains, bar stools and plush couches are adorned with red hues and the walls are peppered with framed photos of movie stills and celebrity portraits spanning a hundred years of cinema history. While nursing on a cocktail pre or post-show, take in the stunning view of the city and select from one of the lounge’s many small plate options like pizza, paninis, meat and cheese plates and the oh so tempting bacon popcorn. If gourmet isn’t what the palate seeks, regular concessions are available downstairs, but a super tub of popcorn with real butter will cost about $7.
Inside the theater, commodious red leather seats in the VIP section balcony are attached with a personal sized table and cup holder and overlook the regular seats below. The huge screen and impeccable sound system makes viewing 3-D new releases and non-3-D films the way they were intended to be.
HelloChicago Tip: Pricing for Icon Reserve admission: Early Bird shows prior to 11:55 a.m. are $7.50, matinees prior to 5:55 p.m. are $10 for adult and infants, and $7.50 for kids 3-12 years old. Evenings are $12.50 for adults. Pricing for Icon VIP Premium Reserve seats: $12.50 for Early Bird, $15.00 for matinee, and $17.50 for evenings. 3-D films add a $2.50 additional charge. There is no service charge to purchase tickets online.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
