There’s something equal parts magical and musical around the corner, opening up a portal between the bustling sidewalks of Michigan Avenue and the majestic halls of Rivendell. The Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago’s legendary “Landmark on Michigan Avenue”, is getting ready to host something… “preciousssss”.
A Venue Born of the Gilded Age
While this 1893 landmark is famous for hosting TR and FDR, its architecture provides a majestic backdrop that feels plucked from a Tolkien sketch. Originally built to house visitors for the World’s Columbian Exposition, the hotel’s design reflects the breathtaking grandeur of the Beaux-Arts style.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings will take place within the opulent Gold Room, a space that rivals the glittering halls of Erebor. Shimmering with intricate gold-leaf details and original hand-painted murals, the room glows by the flickering light of thousands of candles as a string quartet plays. You’ll hear songs from the movies in a completely different light.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings – Waitlist
Shadows in the Halls: The Spirits of the Congress
Of course, no epic journey is complete without a few “ghost stories” by the campfire. The Congress Plaza is widely considered Chicago’s most haunted hotel, lending a supernatural edge to the evening’s atmosphere.
- The Mystery of Room 441: This room is said to be haunted by a “Shadow Man” who watches guests from the foot of the bed.
- The Sealed Door: On the twelfth floor, a room remains permanently sealed from the inside. While the hotel remains tight-lipped about the “why,” local lore suggests it was once the site of a tragedy.
- Peg-Leg Johnny: The spirit of a long-departed vagrant is said to flicker the lights or manifest as a cold breeze in the hallways.
Plan Your Quest
Before the music begins, take a wander through Peacock Alley. This marble-lined corridor was once a place for the city’s elite to “strut”; today, its echoing floors feel like a secret path. Join the waitlist to be the first to hear about tickets to Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings.
Whether you’re dodging the “Shadow Man” of the fourth floor or gazing at the 19th-century gold leaf of the ballroom, the Congress Plaza transforms from a Chicago staple into a flickering sanctuary for the music of Middle-Earth.