We had our wedding at Hotel Arista on September 26, 2025, and overall, it was truly an…read moreunforgettable experience. The venue is elegant, modern, and beautifully designed. Our ballroom is so beautiful, and everything looked absolutely stunning on our special day. Here I wanted to THANK YOU Katie Jones, the hotel manager, for being so professional, accommodating, and supportive throughout the entire planning process, especially when we decided to switch from the Cyprus Room to Ballroom B, just three weeks before the wedding. She made the change stress and handling everything with her good care. We're so grateful for her patience, attention to detail, and for making the entire process so smooth. Our guests were so impressed with the venue and the level of service. This is one of the best venues to celebrate weddings. We highly recommend Hotel Arista to any couple looking for a classy, beautiful, and memorable wedding venue. Also, the parking is very convenient for everybody. However, there are two areas where we think this hotel SHOULD improve: 1. Food Quality - We chose lamb and duck for our main entrées. While the lamb was excellent, the duck unfortunately, turned out VERY salty and quite different from the delicious version we had during the tasting. It was a bit disappointing since food is such an important part of the wedding experience. 2. Reservation - One of our special guests faced a BIG inconvenience due to a reservation miscommunication. We had confirmed a few times with the front desk that charges would go to the card on file and not the guest directly. Unfortunately, the guest was charged anyway, which caused him to miss his flight and pay double fees to rebook. The solution is, we called the reservation front desk, and they apologized and offered us two free nights as compensation. In conclusion, aside from these two issues, everything else about our wedding day was truly memorable. The staff was attentive, the ballroom looked stunning, and the overall service was excellent. We're still very happy we chose Hotel Arista as our wedding venue, but we hope the hotel can make improvements in those areas for future couples and guests.

I recently came for their last day of Holiday Tea service. It was my first high tea experience so…read moreI don't have much to compare to, but it was quite enjoyable. They had a wide selection of teas, and I enjoyed the finger foods. I enjoyed the live jazz music. My only complaint is that we couldn't stay longer, as they were preparing for the next seating. The servers were very accommodating. The ambiance was lovely. I would definitely return.

I had the pleasure of working with Cindy Shanholtz of Effortless Events for our company's 100th…read moreanniversary dinner and celebration, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From the moment we began planning, Cindy's attention to detail, professionalism, and creativity shone through at every step. Cindy took the time to truly understand our vision for the event and worked tirelessly to bring it to life in a way that exceeded all expectations. She seamlessly coordinated every aspect, from the venue selection and decor to the catering and entertainment. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her organizational skills ensured everything ran smoothly on the day of the event. The 100th anniversary dinner itself was nothing short of spectacular! The atmosphere Cindy created was elegant and celebratory, perfectly reflecting our company's history while looking forward to its future. Our guests were wowed by the thoughtful touches, from the custom table settings to the beautifully designed timeline of our company's milestones. What really set Cindy apart was her ability to handle every challenge with grace and poise. Despite the complexities of planning such a significant event, she kept everything stress-free for our team, managing all logistics and vendors without missing a beat. It was clear that Cindy and her team truly cared about making this milestone event unforgettable. If you're looking for an event planner who can turn your vision into a flawless reality, Cindy Shanholtz and Effortless Events are the way to go. She made our 100th anniversary celebration an extraordinary experience, and I can't wait to work with her again in the future! Holly Both VP Sales & Marketing, Plymouth Tube Co.

This is my 2nd posting for Cindy and her team at Effortless events. I recently hired them for…read moreanother wedding celebration in Chicago for my daughter who got married in DC. Again, they did not disappoint. Cindy's attention to detail is remarkable. She recommended the venue and took the reigns. From the flowers, decor and layout it was perfect. She suggested so many fun things...like a s'mores bar for dessert where guests assembled and "cooked" their own! We had mini individual cast iron skillets with fresh chocolate chip cookies and guests could top them with ice cream. Everyone raved about it and EE did it all...I just showed up and enjoyed it. Thanks Cindy + team!

Went here last Friday with 2 friends and my daughter! Place is very cute ! Staff is friendly …read more Painting is very well instructed . Love this place very fun and great night out with the girls ! Highly recommend!! It is byob so we had wine & snacks with us to make it a complete night

I had a lot of fun this past week at one of their painting socials. The overall concept is great…read moreand I appreciated the painting that we did that day. The live music provided a great atmosphere and the BYOB was also a bonus. The location is easy to find and the owner was there the entire time with us. We had someone replenishing paint and bringing us napkins as needed and they had cupcakes from a nearby bakery for sale which where some of the best I have had. Overall it was an enjoyable experience. Just a few things that kept me from giving it five stars. The painting area was a little too cramped. I was elbow to elbow with the people on either side of me, which made it a little hard to move around and paint. The actual brushes we used seemed to be a little worn, so they didn't paint as well. Maybe omitting one or two chairs from the tables to provide extra painting room would make it a little more comfortable? Just a suggestion, otherwise I would definitely recommend attending one of their painting socials.

Idk why this place has low reviews this place was so fun to play golf with my dad but I did get a…read moreblister but it was worth it

This was my first time at a topgolf location so I wasn't really sure what to expect…read more We took a chance & didn't make a reservation, as it was 8pm on a week night. We got right into a bay, so that was nice. If you're looking to go at a busier time, I highly recommend making a reservation. I wish the person working the check-in counter would have asked if we had been there before, but they just got us checked in, told us what bay & sent us off. Our server came to our bay within 5 minutes and explained how everything works & took our drink/food order. The food was....just ok. Honestly I wouldn't recommend unless you're super hungry. The drinks were decent, but we stuck to beer. As far as pricing goes, this place is relatively expensive unless you have a group of 6. For the quality of some of the clubs, I wish this would have felt a little more... upscale. Right now, they're offering half price golfing which is honestly the only way I'd ever go. Also, there's a weird $6 'new member' fee... which is honestly the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. Imagine if a bowling place did this? While the bay is mostly outside, they did have heaters, so that's nice when it's a little colder. When it's still 40-50 out, you do feel a bit like a rotisserie chicken cooking, but it is better than freezing.

BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY…read more Mesón Sabika is a truly beloved restaurant with whom I have a complicated history. ______________________ ***REVIEW #1,300*** ______________________ As hundredth milestone reviews go, this one is deeply personal -- I was supposed to have my wedding & reception here in March 2020.  That never happened due to things far beyond my control (damn pandemic) and I've been not-so-secretly pining for that moment ever since. I wound up tying the knot with the love of my life at a nearby park but without any of the fanfare, guests, food, liquor, live band, florist, or photographer.  We had already placed a sizeable deposit on a food & bev package, so when Mesón management abruptly raised the prices on us by 20% due to "volatile market pricing", we accepted a buyout in the form of gift certificates. Between dine-in and carryout orders, over the next 18 months we ate here a LOT.....I'll admit it was fun treating family & friends to dinner with reckless abandon.  Each experience was great, from the service and ambiance to the small plates and sangria.  We did get pretty ill following one visit, although I suspect it came from another guest in the vicinity, rather than a bout of food poisoning. The picturesque mansion - built in 1847 - is elegant but cramped inside, so I recommend dining on the gorgeous patio if weather permits.  Prices for tapas are the same regardless of lunch or dinner, although they do have entree specials unique to both meals (and their delicious paella is exclusive to dinnertime). Without going into crazy detail about each cold dish (of which there are 15) or hot tapas (of which there are 23), I'll call out a few highlights: the bacon-wrapped dates ($14), the duck confit ($16), the cold garlic potato salad ($15), goat cheese w/poached pear ($15), cured salmon in dill cream cheese ($14) and grilled skirt steak ($19). Their paella is great and feeds 3-4 people; I recommend the 'campesina' ($25 with chicken & chorizo) unless you're big on seafood, in which case the 'mariscos' ($42 with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, and octopus) might be up your alley.  Desserts are splendid, especially the crème brûlée ($12) and the pear tart ($12). The servers are all male (it's a Catalan thing) and very attentive.  Order a pitcher of white or red house sangria and let all your troubles melt away until you're set adrift on memory bliss.  Or until they kick you out. * TL;DR * Just like the 'tarta de chocolate' on their dessert menu, Mesón stirs up feelings in me that are poignantly bittersweet. On one hand, I've been here 10 times and have nothing but praise for the kitchen + atmosphere.  On the other hand, whenever I see the staff prepping the adjacent event space for a wedding, I get wistful and cry a teeny bit inside.  Couldn't the COVID outbreak have waited one more month, until after my nuptials? The restaurant biz is tough with plenty of overhead, but Mesón is still chugging along and serving the same excellent tapas since 1990.  Anyone who's ever dined here can attest it's a gorgeous venue with spectacular food and professional service. I highly recommend Mesón Sabika for lunch or dinner, and if you're considering having a wedding here, do it.  Hopefully you'll have better luck than me.

Mesón Sabika has a sense of occasion built into it. Set inside a historic mansion, it brings a…read moreromantic, old-world charm that makes it feel tailor-made for date night. The setting alone is memorable. The tapas are very good, thoughtfully prepared and ideal for lingering over, while the drinks add a playful, polished touch. It's a place that balances atmosphere and food well -- and does both with style.

We stumbled upon this place while running errands, and it turned out to be such a gem. The staff…read morewere so friendly, and the space itself was clean, well-organized, and not overcrowded. It was perfect for our 15 mo. There was plenty of seating and tables for parents, plus a designated area for parties, which is a nice touch. They also have a solid menu with coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, and options for kids. I only tried the coffee which was good, and the food looked great from what I saw. They do require kids to wear grippy socks. We didn't come prepared, but they had them available for just $1.99. I did notice a few kids without them, so it doesn't seem heavily enforced. Also, parents will need to remove their shoes. One of the best parts was that there's no time limit on play, and they allow in-and-out access, which makes it really easy if you're juggling errands or a toddler's schedule. Overall, such a great find and definitely a spot we'll be coming back to.

Came here for a Sunday morning playdate with my sister and our toddlers. We pulled into the parking…read morelot with plenty of open spots. Once getting inside, we put our belongings in a few cubbies (Chicago winter bulk), and checked in. I signed a waiver for my daughter on an iPad that I returned to the cafe counter -- no separate registration area. You can pretty much see the entire space when you walk in. There are three themed play scenes (firehouse with brick-looking blocks inside, a medical area, and a farmers market corner. Additionally, there are two indoor climbing gyms, a ball pit connected to a large play vehicle via slide, and a more protected area for kids under 36 months that was more cushioned. A party room to the left when you enter. Our kiddos loved the many play vehicles that were scattered throughout the space. There's also a large inflated inner tube with handrails for kids to safely jump. We also had a lot of fun with the red vehicles that can set up at the top of two gentle ramps. My toddler requested to go down the ramp several times; "more more!". This play space was definitely had more cafe seating than I expected, with 4 couches in a row even facing the play area with coffee tables out in front. The avocado sandwich my sister and I split was delicious. Nicely toasted, packed with fresh ingredients and a tasty alioli with a hint of spice. It tasted like it was made from scratch and with love. One of the better sandwiches I've ever had at a cafe! Staff were friendly and attentive too. All in all, the set up is great for parents and toddlers. I wish there was a station for dirty toys that have been chewed on/put in ones mouth but I can see that the primary age group for this playcafe is 3+. We had a great time and I would consider coming back again, especially as our little ones can play more and more independently.

We had a beautiful Boy Baby Shower yesterday for our daughter -in-law, Abbye, at The River Room at…read moreElements at Water Street in Naperville. We had a brunch buffet followed by a sweet table of Chocolate Dipped French Macarons, Chocolate Mousse Tarts and Lemon Bars. We had plenty refreshments with waitress served OJ/Champagne Mimosas. The presentation was beautiful, and everything was delicious. The staff was excellent. I couldn't be happier with the way everything turned out. Thanks so much!

Had my daughter's wedding there and they failed on so many levels. Food was awful, It was…read moreovercooked, under seasoned and soggy. Wait staff was running in and out like their life depended on it but unavailable to address the needs of the table, could not even get water refills which should be the bare minimum much less obtain a soda or cream for the coffee. Wine service was non-existent - a single pour and the bar staff disappeared yet I paid a pretty penny to have consistent wine service for dinner. The staff decided to take down table arrangements and all other decorations a solid hour and a half before the end of the event. They literally reached over guests conversing at tables to remove the center pieces. I could keep adding things which occurred but I think you get the overall incompetence and unprofessionalism of the evening When I spoke to management about my disappointment I was informed me that nothing they had done impacted my guests enjoyment and they did not understand why I felt they had not delivered what had been promise/presented at the tasting. They even tried to gaslight me that certain events had not occurred despite the fact that I had been there and witnessed them happening.

Highly Recommend CamMi Photo Booth! This was such a source of entertainment for our guests. And we…read moreupgraded to include a 3D flower wall that matched perfectly with our reception theme. Cynthia and the team made sure to help us style our photos as newlyweds, and we had so much fun using this photobooth. The staff was easy and fun to work with, and we got to walk away with both a physical guest sign-in book next to their silly pictures, as well as an online link to all of the pictures that we could share with our friends and family (and of course the guests get their prints, too!). All around a great addition to our reception!

CamMi Photo Booth is the best! Our 3D flower towers were the perfect touch for CASA Kane County's…read more35th Anniversary and Garden Party. The beautiful colors and variety were spectacular! Cynthia is an outstanding professional with ideas, set-up and clean-up to make the event go without a hitch while adding a very special element! Recommend highly!

This place is awesome!!! They have excellent customer service and they worked with me and my group…read moreto make sure we had a great experience! Bob was our game manager and he was so accommodating and fun! They usually run multiple deals throughout the month, so keep an eye out for those!

This review is very late but this night was unforgettable. Myself, My boyfriend and a couple of his…read morefriends all went last month and had a very fun night! The robot build was super cool too :)

I hired Amy as a partial wedding planner and day of coordinator, best decision I made! I had my…read morewedding my Gallery 1028 in Chicago, Amy had worked with them before, which was a huge plus. She was able to bring my vision to life and everything turned out simply beautiful!! Amy is extremely organized, efficient, and detail oriented, but also keeps it real which I appreciate. Hire Amy, you won't regret it!!!

This review is LONG overdue! Have you ever had such an amazing experience working with someone that…read morefinding the right words to express how grateful/ thankful you are seem impossible? Thats how my husband and I have felt since our 5.18.2019 wedding! From the moment I met Amy I knew she was our wedding planner. After talking to almost every wedding planner in the greater chicagoland area I thought Amy is just too good to be true. So in true OCD crazy bride fashion I asked for references and previous brides to talk to about their experience. Amy did not even blink or make me feel totally insane which is a quality every bride should look for in a wedding planner. We thankfully chose the full planning package, because we were planning our Chicago wedding from across the country. Amy responded to every midnight email, every pacific coast phone call and never made us feel like we were alone. She kept us on budget and when we were going over budget she wasn't afraid to bring us back to reality. Amy negotiated all of our vendors and got us the best deals, I cannot stress this enough! Before Amy we were getting quoted 2-3x the costs, and for brides who hate to negotiate she was a God send. Amys wedding day timeline is better than any book or planning binder you can find, she really knows what she's talking about with a month to month breakdown that becomes like your checklist and makes sure to keep your wedding day timeline on track. Leading up to the wedding she was there to lead our rehearsal, take all of our "extra" last minute buys to incorporate into the decor, and she happily took the role of "bad guy" to nix any unwanted suggestions from our adoring family. She brought our dream wedding to life, flawlessly. She is the definition of a fairy wedding planner! If you are even considering her wedding planning service book now, I have no doubt in my mind that she will be the most highly sought after wedding planner. To this day we have family and friends that our wedding was the funnest wedding they have ever attended. We honestly owe those compliments to Amy and her meticulous planning and attention to detail. From one OCD bride to another book now you will be forever grateful that you did. Thank you Amy & team from the bottom of our hearts we will never be able to express how amazing you are! (sorry its taken us over a year to write this we love you tons!)