Right across from Byram in Greenwich, CT is Portchester, NY. One of the main attractions in Port Chester is the beautiful and old school Capitol Theatre. This iconic venue has hosted some of the greatest acts in Rock ‘n’ Roll history including names like Pink Floyd, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, Black Sabbath including some Country like Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, and Brad Paisley. If you live in the Greenwich or Westchester area, you’ve likely been to the Capitol Theatre or have had it on your bucket list for a while. As a Greenwich resident, the Capitol Theatre is one of my favorite nightlife activities to do in the area. Not only do the shows start and end at reasonable hours, but the acts are big, the venue is intimate, and the tickets are very affordable.
Distance from NYC
Even if you don’t live in the Westchester or Fairfield area, the Capitol Theatre is easily accessible via Metro North Railroad from NYC. Port Chester is the first stop right before Greenwich and the theatre is across the street from the train station.
The theatre was built back in 1926 as a playhouse and movie theatre. But by the ’60s, movies were out and Rock ‘n’ Roll was in, so the Capitol Theatre became famous for being “the original rock palace.” The theatre was shut down in the early ’70s due to village ordinances prohibiting live entertainment after 1AM. The Capitol Theatre went through several hands before resurging in 2012 with a new life to it. Famous Rock ‘n’ Roll acts were reinstated, comedians, and more now take the stage. The best part is all acts end before 12AM – how humane!
Some of the most recent acts Pat and I have seen (and who have played) at the Capitol Theatre include Daughtry, The Fray, Kevin Hart (we got to see a sneak peak of his new Netflix set before it was ever recorded or aired), John Mulaney, Nate Bargatze, Mark Norman, Dane Cook, Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck (featured in video above), Keanu Reeves and Dog Star, The Stix, Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Tim Dillon, and there’s always ‘80s music reenactments, Taylor Swift nights, Queen tributes. The cool part about it being such a small theatre is that a lot of comedians test out their material on this smaller crowd before it goes public or ends up on a Netflix Special.
The best part…tickets are cheap. Small, intimate theatre, and great seats no matter where you are. The tickets are never more than $170 depending on the act and how early you buy them. It’s an incredible experience for a night in Greenwich, CT and Westchester area! The aesthetic is very nostalgic. The bar and old school chandeliers have a beautiful and elegant rock ‘n’ roll vibe.And if you’re looking to continue the party, there’s always an after party at Garcia’s next door afterwords for those interested.
