Welcome to Chicago.

Getting Here

We’re so excited that you’ll be joining us in the Windy City! Click on the sections below for some information for getting to Chicago and to our venue, The Empty Bottle.

  • Chicago is served by two major airports: O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW). Both airports are accessible by public transportation or taxi/rideshare (see more below). You are welcome to rent a car, if it suits your needs, but it’s not necessary due to the abundance of taxis, rideshare apps, and public transportation options.

    O'Hare is the largest and busiest airport in Chicago, located about 17 miles northwest of downtown, and servicing most major airlines.

    • Taxi/Rideshare: Approximately 20-30 minutes to Wicker Park or 30-45 minutes to Downtown.

    • Public Transit: The Blue Line of the Chicago 'L' train connects O'Hare directly to Wicker Park in about 30 minutes or directly to Downtown in about 40 minutes.

    Midway is located about 10 miles south of downtown Chicago. While it’s smaller than O'Hare, it also has great flight options, particularly for domestic airlines, like Southwest.

    • Taxi/Rideshare: A 20-30 minute ride to Wicker Park or downtown Chicago.

    • Public Transit: The Orange Line of the 'L' train connects directly from Midway to downtown in about 30 minutes. From there, you can connect to all other train lines, including the Blue line, which takes to you Wicker Park.

  • If you’re planning to drive, here are some general routes into the city. However, we recommend that you use your preferred navigation system for specific directions and traffic updates!

    From the North: Take I-94 South toward Chicago.

    From the South: Take I-65 North, then merge onto I-90 West (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) toward Chicago.

    From the East: Take I-94 West toward Chicago.

    From the West: Take I-55 North toward Chicago.

    Please note: Chicago traffic can be heavy, especially during rush hours (7:00-9:00 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM). Plan accordingly!

  • The Empty Bottle is a music venue and bar located at 1035 N Western Ave. in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago.

    • Taxi/Rideshare: Uber/Lyft are readily available and can take you directly to the venue.

    • Public Transportation: From the ‘L’, take the Blue line to either Western or Division stops. Then hop on a bus:

      • From Western, the #49 southbound bus will drop you off right outside the venue.

      • From Division, take the #70 westbound bus to Western and walk 2 blocks south.

    • Bike: There are bike lanes on both Division and Augusta. We don’t recommend biking on Western, though, so either take a side street or walk from there. There are ample bike racks outside of The Empty Bottle!

Staying Here

There are plenty of options for accommodations in the city of Chicago, especially downtown in the Loop. However, if you are interested in staying somewhere closer to the venue, we have a few recommendations below:

  • Located on the northeast corner of the bustling Wicker Park neighborhood, the Hyatt Place is a short 8-minute cab ride from our venue. It is also a 10-minute walk from the Blue Line at Division. This 3-star hotel has 99-rooms, a fitness center, and free continental breakfast. It also boasts stunning views of the city from its rooftop bar!

    Plus, we have a discount available! Please follow this link to book and the discount code should be automatically applied. If it is not, make sure to enter the corporate discount code 85917. If you prefer to book over the phone, ask for the ‘WEDA’ rate to reserve the Wedding Rate Discount or CR #85917.

    Hyatt Place Chicago Wicker Park
    1551 W. North Ashland Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60622
    1-800-233-1234

  • The Robey is a boutique, 4-star hotel, located in a beautiful historic building at the northwest corner of Wicker Park. It has a fantastic restaurant located on the ground floor. It is easily accessible to the ‘L’, situated half a block from the Blue Line at North Ave. It is also only a 5-minute drive from our venue!

    Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any discounts with a stay at The Robey. However, if you stay here and sneak us into their rooftop pool (weather permitting), you will be our Guest(s) of Honor.

    The Robey
    2018 W North Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60647
    (872) 315-3050

  • If you prefer to stay in an Airbnb or Vrbo over a hotel, we recommend staying in one of the following nearby neighborhoods:

    • Ukrainian Village

    • West Town

    • Wicker Park

    • Buck Town

    • Logan Square

Playing Here

There are literally a million things to do in Chicago! If that makes you feel overwhelmed, below we’ve shared some of our favorite things to do, sites to see, and places to eat and/or drink at!