Congress Theatre safety (assessment, food, places)

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Attrill

I've lived a couple blocks from the Congress for 4 years (and have been visiting the area for a lot longer than that) and it is a generally safe area. I've never felt threatened at all, only mildly annoyed by homeless people on occasion. There was some drug dealing and a little gang activity in the past, but the area has changed a lot over the last 5-10 years. At his point the area is gentrifying pretty rapidly, with a new nightclub, a brewpub, and a new bar from the owners of the Northside Grill and Black Beetle opening over the next year. Not sure what concert is there tonight, but there was a group of 10 or so people camped out overnight in front of the Theater last night. They seemed to have made it through the entire night without any trouble.

As far as car break ins go - yeah. There are a couple of middle aged guys who target cars during shows at the Congress, I've seen them breaking into cars and called the cops on them a couple times. I've also seen them around the Riviera during shows there. Parking in the CVS or Chase School lots are your best bet - or even better, don't keep a lot of valuables in your car in the city, in any neighborhood.

I'm not doubting any of that. My car break-in story was just one example, and I fully believe it was isolated. Just passing along the message...

[garvey]

the congress isn't really too bad of an area. i recall going to shows there and at the fireside, which is sort of nearby, when i was in high school (about 4 years ago).

the only thing is, i seem to have noticed that there are a lot of car break-ins at these events because criminals figure kids from the burbs will be coming in with nice rides and maybe even leaving them unlocked. my friend got an ipod jacked from the logan square auditorium about a year ago. as a solution, i recommend stashing anything remotely valuable - actually, anything at all - out of sight from the windows. lock stuff in the trunk or put small stuff under the seat and keep your wits about you while you're walking around there.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by garvey

the congress isn't really too bad of an area. i recall going to shows there and at the fireside, which is sort of nearby, when i was in high school (about 4 years ago).

the only thing is, i seem to have noticed that there are a lot of car break-ins at these events because criminals figure kids from the burbs will be coming in with nice rides and maybe even leaving them unlocked. my friend got an ipod jacked from the logan square auditorium about a year ago. as a solution, i recommend stashing anything remotely valuable - actually, anything at all - out of sight from the windows. lock stuff in the trunk or put small stuff under the seat and keep your wits about you while you're walking around there.

I would do that anywhere in the city. It's just city-living common sense. Even leaving an empty bag in your car is just asking for a break-in.

[Lookout Kid]

I've never had problems going to shows at the Congress. But that stretch of Milwaukee Avenue can get pretty shifty. A couple of months ago I was driving from th Logan Square Monument southeast on Milwaukee and saw at least four or five arrests in progress. And we're talking about guns drawn hands on the hood kinds of arrests. I remember commenting to my wife that Logan Square still has a long way to go. It's undeniable that it is getting better and that there have been many improvements even just recently, but it's still a gang-infested urban neighborhood with higher crime than most suburbanites would be comfortable with. Lincoln Park it is not!

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I would do that anywhere in the city. It's just city-living common sense. Even leaving an empty bag in your car is just asking for a break-in.

Very true. However, like I said, even beyond that, my friends who got their stuff stolen near the congress had all of their valuables out of sight and in the locked trunk. Even if nothing had been in the trunk, they still would have had their lock drilled and their junk rifled through.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Very true. However, like I said, even beyond that, my friends who got their stuff stolen near the congress had all of their valuables out of sight and in the locked trunk. Even if nothing had been in the trunk, they still would have had their lock drilled and their junk rifled through.

When I filed a police report after my car was stolen near McClurg Ct Theaters many years ago the police said that there was an pattern of thieves hitting "non local" cars in certain areas. The vehicle was eventually recovered way out in Bellwood. It had been stripped -- probably pros, into the property crime aspect of things...

Maybe a good argument to be dropped off?

Would public transit be a good compromise? What time does the show get out?

[aragx6]

If you or another parent are willing to drop off and pick up I wouldn't hesitate in the least. The kids might complain about it, but if they realize that's the only way they're going, I'm sure they'll get on board real fast.

I sure thought I was lame getting dropped off in my mom's minivan at a venue in St. Louis to see the Deftones, but at the end of the day, I knew it was worth it!

[Drover]

I wouldn't let teenagers wander around that area at night. Daytime -- sure. Nighttime -- I don't think so. Go to the show and then get on the train and go somewhere else. Or at the very least, if they do wander around, they should wander southeast down Milwaukee rather than northwest.

There isn't a lot for teenagers to do in that immediate area at night anyway, so there's no reason for them to be wandering around there. Maybe they could wander to Arturo's and grab a burrito... other than that, what can teenagers do at night around there after the show lets out?

[SoonToBeChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Drover

other than that, what can teenagers do at night around there after the show lets out?

buy rocks.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by SoonToBeChicagoan

buy rocks.

along with weed,coke,heroin,and hire prostitutes.