Black Ensemble Theater is proud to be located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago – an  entertainment hub and home to nearly 60,000 residents. Nestled along Lake Michigan about six miles north of downtown, Uptown was once dubbed “the Loop’s little brother.” Ever welcoming, and ever evolving, the neighborhood is a vibrant, living tapestry—as rich in history as it is in culture. Settled in the 1830s, Uptown has a colorful history as a hotspot for arts and entertainment making Black Ensemble feel right at home. The neighborhood’s iconic Prohibition-era venues and ornate architecture are as beloved today as they were in the early decades of the 20th century.

Uptown has long been home to social activists and advocates, immigrants and refugees, and artists and entrepreneurs of every stripe, all of whom have helped shape the area as it is today—a microcosm of Chicago itself—a neighborhood of big shoulders and rich contrasts. Drawn to its ample green space, vast lakefront, historic nightlife, global culinary offerings, and agencies that care for those in need, a new generation of visitors and residents are discovering what long-time fixtures have always known—that Uptown is a community where all belong.

Bounded by Irving Park Road on the south to Foster Avenue on the north, Lake Michigan on the east and Ravenswood Avenue on the west, Uptown is one of the most ethnically and economically diverse communities in Chicago and its mix of locally owned businesses and nonprofit organizations reflects its storied history. From the tastes of Argyle Street to the lights of Uptown Square to leafy Buena Park, we invite you to explore Uptown.