This is my second time renting Room 85 venue and it was a great experience again! I would highly…read morerecommend the venue space 10/10. She's understanding and very consistent. The owner has great communication and she went above and beyond to ensure I had a great turnout for my event.

The venue space is large enough to be accommodating and small enough to be intimate. The layout is…read moreuser-friendly and can be reconfigured without becoming labor intensive. Management is professional and affable. Pricing is flexible and fair. Situated in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, this venue is comparable to upscale locations throughout the city.

Wonderful space! Dan Ryan Pavilion is open all year round and holds max 120 seated guess. Lot…read moreparking, NOTE: enter off 83rd st, GROVE SIGNS 1-5.

Doesn't look like a place where you'd hold event like a memorial, but once the doors opened, it was…read moreTHE PERFECT PLACE! The property is well kept, and the park host/liaison was very nice and informative. Parking was perfect as I had a guest list of roughly 60 plus people. Also, I will say that the walk up from the parking lot to the venue is a bit much for some. Suggestion: have a designated driver at the bottom and have them drive people back and forth from the lot to the venue. Otherwise, this place is beautiful, and I will definitely use it again.

Norman Bolden is also the owner of Haven Entertainment Center. This a beautiful venue. The owner…read moredoesn't know how to treat customers he has a oh well attitude. I waited two hours for food the owner was informed and he was like oh well. No offer of a free drink or meal on us. I will surely eat before I go.

Tucked away on East 43rd Street near Lake Shore Drive in the Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville…read moreneighborhood on Chicago's South Side is the best reception hall and event destination spot that most of you Yelp'ers have never heard of. Owner Norman Bolden renovated and reconstructed this building into *the* event space for South Siders and anybody seeking a lovely, centrally located and well-appointed space. Its appeal lies in its loft-style charm -- a split-level, open floor plan boasting gleaming mahogany floors and exposed brick that you can pretty much decorate any way you want for your event. After attending almost a dozen birthday parties, holiday parties, wedding receptions and fraternity and sorority events at Room 43, I knew that this was the only place where I wanted to hold my dad's 80th birthday party. It was the right decision. Rental rates are reasonable for the space that you get (there are two rooms to choose from) and a variety of chairs and tables are included for both the upstairs and downstairs. You supply your own linens, food, DJ and decorations. The onsite staff is also incredibly helpful. The facilities manager Richard is really great -- flexible and accommodating for all of the last-minute changes that come with party planning. The 80+ guests at my dad's party loved the venue. It's easily accessible from North or South from the Oakwood exit on Lake Shore Drive, and also the 43rd Street exit on the Dan Ryan. There is plenty of street parking as well. Lucky for the owner that he was on-site and actually stayed awhile for my dad's party, because several guests were so impressed they inquired about having their own events there. One thing that some have complained about: You can't bring your own liquor, and unless you pay for a tab, your guests are subject to a cash bar. I don't honestly find this unusual, and I paid a tab that allowed guests to enjoy open bar for about 3 hours. In addition to being a party space, Room 43 is also home to the Hyde Park Jazz Society, and you can catch all of their shows there on Sunday evenings. Anyone who reads me, by now, knows that I am big on supporting local businesses, and for the quality, service and location, I absolutely recommend Room 43. Room 43 is an emerging destination spot and represents the best of the "new" Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville community. I would not hesitate to give them my business again!

We had our birthday party at this location over the weekend and I was pleased with the service and…read morethe venue space. The owners were accommodating and responsive to our needs. The inside was nice and clean, kitchen was made available to use as well as bartending service. I would rent this venue again!!!!

From the owner: Sonder Exchange is the perfect venue for special events, including birthday parties, business…read morebrunches, bridal parties, baby showers, wellness circles and more. We aim to create an atmosphere where people can gather, connect, and thrive—whether you're networking, building a business, or simply celebrating life’s important moments.

"It's just like Harry Potter," they told me, but I had only seen one Harry Potter movie and read…read morenone of the books. The truth of the statement revealed itself as vaunted ceilings gave this cavernous room an aura of grandeur and the feeling of tradition. There were beings engaged in erudite studies with an inflexible concentration on laptops, notebooks, and in the back were old men going back and forth on the chessboards. It was still and had the eerie silence of a church chapel and sunbeams flowed in from the windows above. What an alien universe and there I was with a large foil tin carrying thirty of the best chicken wings Chicago had to offer. After the religious pilgrimage to Wings Around the World, Reuben H and Aurore L had the good sense to take us all to Reynolds where we wouldn't be bothered and be allowed to worship our wings in peace. For the moment, Reuben went to fetch pop while Aurore went off as well. I was alone and a heretic - a trespasser sneaking in and using up space that I had no right to, but the chess players were very old and had no business being there either. Then it came to me that everyone was allowed in and Reynolds was there for all to share, no identification required! Lined on the walls are large portraits showing various trustees of the University of Chicago. Lists of past Presidents line the wall and the fashion progression from long beards and robes to finely made designer suits and shaved faces led us to mock one portrait - he definitely wanted some of our chicken wings! We cracked open our wings and uncapped our pops only to find that the Cherry Pepsi was expired! While we munched and crunched on our chicken wings, nary a soul turned their heads nor noticed what fine dining we were helping ourselves to. The unbending concentration of the other people in the hall sustained itself except for the old chess players who all got up and went out for a smoke. We ate undisturbed and worked to get rid of the evidence. On our way out a young college student declared that he was going to have to retake high school chemistry. We laughed about it and then I thought that they were right - It really was just like Harry Potter!

The home of WHPK 88.5 FM!…read more Don't be fooled by the irresistable smell of pizza when you walk in. The pizza they have here is crap. But the rest of the building is all gothic and oldskool college cool.

This event space is very nice although there is no parking. My only concern was with Dealing with…read moreMichelle the owner . She can be a bit challenging because She speaks in a very condescending accusatory tone: Her partner on the other hand is much more agreeable. Also In my opinion they nickel and dime customers for every item. They have a Horrible account receivables process. Michelle demands that the final payment be paid in cash only ! Unfortunately because of my experience with the owner I will NEVER contract with this business again.

I have driven and biked past this place thousands of times, and I didn't even know how wonderful of…read morea space existed here! This is an event space/venue that can be rented out. It's a large open, pretty space. I saw a kitchen in the back of the first floor behind the two bathrooms on that floor. The 2nd floor seems just as nice as the first floor! But that's not why I was here. I was here for a Zumba class. They also have bootcamp, martial arts, and a few other athletic classes here on a weekly basis. This seems like a brilliant combination to me! A lot of classes do well in wide open spaces, so it seems brilliant to use event space for multiple purposes! The owner was very nice and friendly! I have to keep my eye on this space! But since I plan to be here Monday and Wednesday evenings for Zumba (7:30-8:30 for $10 if anyone is interested in joining me), that should be fairly easy! Oh, and street parking is usually plentiful,and the #3 bus stops right in front.

We had an amazing Friday evening!…read more I mean.... I had such a fun, satisfying, delicious, musical, vibing evening! If you haven't heard of or been to The Quarry on the south shore of Chicago, I'm putting you on notice. We joined Chicago history maker and philanthropist Yvette J. Moyo for her birthday celebration. Every Friday at the Quarry, there's, jazz and beautiful food and drinks for grown folks. LOL We ate "the Nuggets of Knowledge" too fast to take photos, just one of the amazing dishes created by The Bald-Head Chef and music by @allthesaxyouwant on IG. The place is a whole vibe. One for the books!

The Quarry is the spot on the South Shore of Chicago that serves as the anchor for the entire…read moreSouthside cultural and economic renaissance. Each day and evening young and seasoned chefs take advantage of the community kitchen to showcase their traditional and Afrocentric creations in two dining spaces. Each Monday many of Chicagolands Blues greats are sharing and teaching this aspect of our national cultural legacy and on Friday Chicagolands jazz greats, young and old, are at the Quarry to delight you will this original African origin American perfected artistic expression of improvisation, that many say was perfected on the Southside of Chicago. The Quarry of South Shore is the love child of Yvette Moyo, the notable philanthropist and culturalist whose lifelong mission is to celebrate the beauty, richness, and viability of her beloved Community on the South Shore. Join her on Mondays and Fridays for dining at music, doors open at 6 p.m. First show at 7 p.m. Tell her Darryl sent you!

The venue looks nice at First gland. But when you look at the walls, the edges, and the uneven…read morefloor that seems like it's bulging from a flood, it is not been renovated or kept up. The bathrooms might as well be out houses. I would not recommend this place.

The assistant of the owner here is so disrespectful and unprofessional. Let alone, she cannot…read moremanage to keep up with her daily task, so she blames everyone else. I love the owner for creating this special venue, but she needs a new assistant. I've never known anyone to be as incompetent as her! Never again will I rent from here, only because the unprofessional and rude assistant! Too bad I forgot her name.