Our family purchased Groupons and scheduled an open night party. When we arrived at 6:15pm for our 6:30 start time, the receptionist told us that they 'weren't open yet'. We replied that we were happy to wait in their reception area (we had parked 2 blocks away). To which the receptionist replied, "YOU don't understand-we don't open until 6:30 pm". Stunned, I asked, "SO we need to go back to our cars for the next 15 minutes"? Where upon the receptionist rolled her eyes and said, "oh, just go on back there already". NOT welcoming at all! Unfortunately, the evening did not get any better. Once we were in the back, my brother and his 12 year old daughter arrived only to be told that they could not come in as the 'open BYOB parties' are only for adults 18 years of age and older. Now if 18 year olds are not permitted to drink anymore than a 12 year old is, it's hard to understand why an 18 year old can attend the open BYOB parties, but a 12 year old with her father cannot. At any rate, the owner continued to tensely argue with our group in front of the 12 year old as to why they would have to leave. Eventually, when our party agree to a.) sign a contract to become a 'private' party and b.) pay the difference between the Groupon and a private party rate, THEN suddenly my 12 year old neice could stay(!). While I do understand the intricacies of having a liquor license, this whole kerfuffle should NOT have taken place in the middle of the studio in front of the 12 year old who was by now close to tears and in front of the guests from another group. (BTW, my brother and his daughter had just recently lost their wife/mother to cancer and this was to be a "Fun" birthday outing for my neice's March Birthday). A private conversation out of the earshot of guests would have been more appropriate.
Lastly, while our art instructor for the evening was the most personable and welcoming employee there, at the end of the evening, we noted that the painting she had domonstrated looked as bad or WORSE than some of the ones we had done in our group. We asked her about how she got interested in working at the studio. We were rather shocked when she told us that she had taken a couple of courses in graphic design and was the sister-in-law to one of the owners. When the studio became busy with bookings, she was asked to help cover a party or two. Clearly she had no formal training in painting. Did we manage to have an "ok" time just being together? Yes. Will I ever spend the money and travel time to return to L'arte e Vita Studio in Lemont? No. I have never felt so unwelcomed at an establishment, and I have not previously left a poor review on Yelp. read more