I recently attended a private event at GM 705. The event space was nice and intimate, but it looked…read morelike they had the ability for a lot of different settings. The table arrangements of tables, booth seating, and cocktail tables were great so you could have a cocktail hour, as well as a seated dinner. The food was from the Gianmarco's menu and it was absolutely delicious. We had three appetizers in the cocktail hour. One was a mushroom bruschetta, one was a fried oyster bruschetta, and a small Caprese appetizer. The fried oyster and Caprese appetizer were the only two I tried and they were so fresh and delicious. I really liked that the fried oyster crostini and the mushroom bruschetta were served on small slate square plates. It was a really unique way to serve the hors d'oeuvres and the presentation was beautiful. Everybody's main meals looked so delicious and I was very pleased with my lamb. It was cooked absolutely perfectly and so flavorful and tender. I will say that the chicken Parmesan looked phenomenal and we had one friend order the veal Parmesan and it was an insane amount of food. He had never tried veal before and he really enjoyed it! The servers and team there were so hospitable and friendly. I would definitely keep this place in mind in the future for private events.

I have hosted two events at GM 705 - my firm's holiday party and my high school 40th reunion and I…read morecan't say enough good things about this venue. The space is beautiful and the staff is the best in the business. From the event coordinator who helped me plan all the details to the entire staff that took amazing care of us at both of my events- they were top notch. And the food is second to none (you can't go wrong with Gianmarcos cuisine!). If you are looking to book something simple or extravagant, I highly commend GM 705. You will not be disappointed!!

Absolutely amazing and beautiful home! Me and my family stayed here for my cousin's wedding…read morereception. There were about 20 of us total and everyone had plenty of space to maneuver around. The rooms are nice and spacious. The kitchen and dinning room are enormous and gorgeous. There are two living room areas and a huge reception room with attached kitchen and bar area. This place was perfect for the wedding reception. There was lots of space for setting up tables, food, music and dancing. There is also space in the backyard that features a large covered patio, courtyard with koi pond and gazebo. Overall this was the perfect place for all of my family to stay to attend the wedding and reception of my cousin and her husband. We enjoyed our stay immensely and would definitely recommend Bear Creek Manor for group events.

Very Spacious with nice area for dance floor. There is a stage for performances. The DJ has his own…read morebooth. Bar sews is separated also. There is plenty of parking space outside. There is also a beauty shop attached.

Great venue for a celebration. I recently attended a conference at this venue and was pleasantly…read moresurprised. There were TVs/monitors on the wall which could be used for monitors to enhance speaker and audience participation. This is a great place to host wedding receptions, seminars, community events and/or large parties. The right interior designer could turn this into a magical place. I would definitely utilize this space for my events

The main point of our trip to Birmingham was to see an exhibit at the art museum. However, we are…read moreearly rises (especially with the 1-hour time difference from home), so we had some time in the morning to fill. My wife determined that the local botanical garden opened by 7 a.m. (!) and was also free, so we opted to stop here before the museum opened later at 10 a.m. We made it here by around 7:30 a.m. A word of caution - the highway interchange nearby was nightmarish. We missed 2 turns (even with a navigation app running). I don't think it was just me. So be careful and add a few extra minutes to get lost. Once finally off they highway and through the final roundabout, we proceeded along a road bordering the gardens. On the other side appeared to be an expensive hotel and an upscale shopping / dining plaza. The garden was having some sort of plant sale, and crowds were apparently expected. They had traffic control cones in place, but we arrived early enough so that parking was still plentiful. When we left, it seemed like the lot had mostly filled up. The gardens are quite large. They are divided up into sub-areas and there is a large map posted about 100 yards inside the main gate. No paper maps were on offer, so I guess you can take a photo of theirs and use that. We first strolled to the Japanese Garden. We had this to ourselves until almost when we left. This area is quite large by itself. They have koi ponds, a tea house, etc. It was nice. We took an alternate path back to the map pavilion. From there, we explored other areas (mostly dedicated to specific flowers). Some of the terrain is hilly. We routed through the vegetable garden and eventually ended up back at the central formal rose garden. This was being watered periodically that morning and some of the brick paths in it were flooded. They seemed to have some satellite restrooms in remote areas, in addition to the main set near the gate. We spent almost 2 hours here and probably could have spent even more time, but we wanted to drive to our prime stop. If you have any interest in botanical gardens, this is a very worthwhile stop.

One of the first things I appreciated was free parking and free entrance, which is always an…read moreattractive feature. From there, it just kept getting better. You can easily spend hours exploring the many trails that wind through beautiful flowers and plants, the serene Japanese Gardens, and even an active beehive community--which was my favorite part! We were on a bit of a time limit and didn't get to walk the entire property, but we still managed to spend about two hours covering roughly three miles, and it never felt rushed. While it's still a little early in spring for everything to be in full bloom, there were still plenty of gorgeous floral displays to enjoy. Some of the trail directions can be a bit confusing at times, and we did end up wandering off course once or twice. That said, it was never difficult to find our way back to the main trail and continue exploring. If you're looking for a place to meander, slow down, and truly enjoy nature, this is absolutely the place to do it. A peaceful and rewarding experience overall.

My friends and a couple family members attended the farmer's market at the Amphitheater this summer…read more- and I found it to be a delightful location in Helena's Old Towne District. Local police made getting in and out of the amphitheater area easy. We got out of the car and I wandered the grounds, visited the individual farms' tables, walked through the park and children's playground areas and really enjoyed myself in the relaxing shade. The Amphitheater is an outdoor concert hall, festival grounds, movie theater and nature park. From their website (www.cityofhelena.org), it looks like they even have a "movie in the park" night throughout the summer. Although there were not any other mothers there, I met one mother who brings her children to play on the playground equipment and relax in the cool shade whenever she can as she lives nearby. The certified farmer's market meets on Saturday in the summer while school is out. I understood as a part of the farmer's market, there is a charity-of-the-week which allows local charities to meet members of their community and garner well-deserved support. The first week I visited, there was a local animal shelter offering dog baths for a donation, so there were many dogs on leashes visiting the farmer's market that day and enjoying themselves to a cool bath under the trees. The following week, we went back and were greeted by delightful young ladies from a local club, dressed in Antebellum dresses. Anyone would appreciate this location who enjoys farmer's markets, local concerts, small community events, children's playgrounds, movie in the park night, parks, trees, and shade. I'd encourage anyone to visit, bring a lunch, and have an old-fashioned picnic.

From start to finish Margie and James were the absolute best!They were so helpful and supportive…read morewith everything we needed and so incredibly gracious to this stressed out MOB! Their venue is gorgeous and their hospitality is top rated! Call them! You will thank me!

We had a wonderful time at Bella Vista Farms! The wine was amazing and the hospitality was…read moreexceptional! So many great choices and such a friendly atmosphere!

This riverside city location is right off the interstate and easy to find. A friend had a birthday…read moreparty here. The event site was spacious for both seating and dancing. It's also located next to water and had a beautiful view where we all took pictures. I am not sure if the price but I was told it was very affordable. You do have to leave your alcohol beverages with the bartender.

From the owner: Lakeview Event Center is the premier event venue in Riverside, AL, offering a stunning lakeside…read moresetting perfect for all your special occasions. Whether you're planning a wedding, birthday celebration, corporate event, or family gathering, our venue provides the ideal backdrop for unforgettable moments. With breathtaking views of the lake, spacious indoor and outdoor areas, and exceptional service, we are dedicated to making your event truly special. Located just off Highway 78 in Riverside, we offer flexible event packages, expert planning assistance, and a beautiful space that can be tailored to meet your unique needs. At Lakeview Event Center, we make memories that last a lifetime.