If you are looking for a venue for your event, STOP RIGHT NOW - YOUR SEARCH IS OVER! In September…read more2017, Loft21 hosted our wedding reception and it was absolutely incredible! The newly-renovated space incorporates every detail you could imagine into your event. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you're in a million dollar party. They can change the lighting to fit your theme, the audio/video system is out of this world, and the range of options through HYPE productions (incl. photo booth, dj/mc, music etc.) completely ices the cake for a perfect evening. It's hard to start describing how Loft21 is such a perfect venue, so let's start with the people. JuneElise, Loft21's event manager, is EXTREMELY helpful in guiding you along the way to a seamless event...she will answer any question you have, and deliver professional results quickly and efficiently...we did not sense this level of customer support at any other venue we shopped. Her attitude is great and you won't be disappointed. Secondly, the HYPE staff is incredibly entertaining, and our dance floor did not stop until the lights went on...they hit every corner of the music we requested and the MC, Adam, kept the party moving like a Mac truck... it was awesome, and we still get complements to this day. Jazmine, the owner, was quite involved with our planning as well, as she owns both HYPE and Loft21...so if you use both, you enjoy a discount and she was very clear on how the combined package saved us tons of cash. I could go on...so why don't I? The atmosphere is so unique and stimulating... the bars are uber-modern with an industrial feel, the staff is incredibly well trained and friendly, the globo with your event logo shines on the wall, the preferred caterer they recommended was perfect (Marcellos!), the audio video incorporation is super cool, and we wished the night never ended!! I'd say, with all the competition we shopped for our wedding, Loft21 provided the most competitive pricing for a 350 person event that we could find - they offered everything we wanted (and more), and you will be doing yourself a favor by calling them today before their calendar fills up. If you talk to JuneElise, and you have any doubts about booking with them, you have my permission to ask her for my contact info for a referral. You simply can't go wrong! Tim G.

There's definitely a shortage of event venues if you're comparing to what's available in the city…read more And while we're lucky enough to have a city full of amazing venues nearby sometimes it's just easier to stick with something nearby. Hence why Loft 21 is such a popular option for bar mitzvahs and other big events. If you have a 12/13 year old kid going thru the mitzvah circuit chances are you'll end up here. The venue itself is owned by Jazmine at Hype Productions. I haven't rented out Loft 21, but have hired Hype twice and been thrilled with everyone I"ve worked with over there so I"m guessing this is so exception. Jazmine is very on top of everything, which is perfect for my type A personality. While I highly recommend Hype for event production you can bring in others to the space. The bar mitzvah we attended this past weekend had Tenny from Flo as their MC. The space can easily be transformed and seems to work with any theme. And for those who don't want to go crazy with decor it's a pretty venue on it's own. They have a nice area upstairs for cocktails. People tend to congregate near the bar which can make it crowded so I recommend putting a food station (or extra bar) in the area separated off so that people spread out just a bit. This area also overlooks the ballroom so at the end of the cocktail hour they do a big reveal by showing the room down below, which is cool. The acoustics in the space aren't great and my biggest complaint is that I can't hear anyway near me while I"m there. I can also barely hear any speeches when I'm in the space. However, it works great for music, montages and anything else you need.

A pleasant cafe with vaulted ceilings, comfortable seating, friendly service. This is really…read moresimilar to the house restaurant you'd find in a hotel or family entertainment spot. Prices are pretty reasonable, with specials on Wednesday for pasta and Friday for fish fry. Cooking speed is a bit slow, so be aware if you're in a hurry to get in and out quickly. Food is hit and miss, depending on what you order. The classic burger had too thick of a patty with me and was overcooked enough where it wasn't really juicy. The nachos grade was large, with chicken that was quite overcooked though it had a flavorful char. It was accompanied by lettuce and tomato that could've been a bit fresher, jalapenos, and sour cream. On the other hand, the steak sandwich was seasoned nicely and slightly juicy and fairly tender. There was a strong pepper flavor and a little bit of char. The grilled chicken and bacon flatbread had a nice variety of textures with a pretty crisp cracker crust. The combination of chicken and bacon in this dish worked well together to create a nice savory taste. The fries were crisp and fairly meaty, a solid version of a slightly thicker cut fry. Overall, not a bad place to stop by if you're golfing or visiting places nearby. Hours can be erratic, about 11-5 on most days except Monday where there is no kitchen service, winter time where they may close early, and on specials nights where they open till 8 pm. You'll be able to enjoy a hot meal at a reasonable price and very relaxed atmosphere.

We had our wedding at The Arboretum Club in January - and everything was stellar. Most of my yelp…read morefriends know how picky I am.... and I know how weddings can be... so this says a lot. Even with the few small hiccups we had, nothing major, I wouldn't change much. Chris & co. were fabulous to work with. Quick to reply to inquiries, happy to try to help come up with alternate solutions when what we had envisioned wasn't do-able (due to state law.) Everyone at our wedding has commented on how FANTASTIC the food was. From the appetizers through to cake (provided by an off-site contracted vendor whom I will review separately) everything was delicious. It's hard to say that about wedding food sometimes! The Arboretum did the room set-up for us, because there was a brunch wedding the same day as our 6pm start wedding. It wouldn't have been better if I did it myself. Everything was laid out as I had requested and I had no reason to worry about things not being correct (we provided centerpieces, escort cards, decor, cake topper, lighting, you name it.) Having the private brides room was a life-saver. Even just to have a place to sit and have a quiet moment by myself. My only hiccups were that we had discussed having our cocktail hour in the main foyer dining area. This was sold to us at the very first meeting, that we had the entire venue, and this is where cocktails would be - they would take the tables away and put in some high-boys. This did not happen. When I asked about it, I was told it wasn't in our contract. So, lesson learned to me, get everything in writing. The only other thing was that scheduling the tasting was a little strange. I asked many times from the time we signed our contract (late winter 2016) through spring, summer, and fall, when our tasting would be. I was told 2 months ahead of time. We were scheduled for October 2016, which was fine, until at the tasting when we told them how quickly our event was coming up, a few of the employees looked at each other as if we should've had our tasting far sooner (oh, your wedding is in January? this is late October...) Small hiccups to say the least, and really due to my own lack of contract knowledge. Arboretum Club comes VERY highly recommended.

We used Independence Grove and Relish catering for our daughter's wedding in October. They were…read morefantastic. Everything went perfectly. The food and drinks were exactly what we asked for, and it was all on time and well presented. The food was hot and tasty. I need to give Colleen (who works for Independence Grove, but liaisons with Relish) a HUGE 10 star review. We hired her to be our site coordinator and she made sure everything was perfect. I can not compliment her highly enough.

The area's premiere wedding venue! You'll find the views and cuisine are outstanding. What I love…read moremost are the different ceremony options couples have at their disposal. You can exchange vows in the Native Garden, on North Patio or fireside in Audobon Hall. -Rev. Michael Vargas

I attended a work event here and it was a beautiful venue . The venue has historic charm and has…read moreretained many of its original features. It is the perfect place for community events, meetings or weddings. The meeting room was accessible via stairs or elevator. There is ample parking, A beautiful setting.

Our engagement party at Barrington's White House was everything I dreamed of and more! From the…read moremoment we began planning, the staff made the entire experience seamless and special. The space was stunning and created the perfect atmosphere for cocktail hour with our loved ones. A very special thank you to Sharon, the hospitality manager, who has truly been my favorite person to work with since entering my bridal era. Her warmth, professionalism, and genuine care made all the difference. I can't thank her enough for helping bring my vision to life. The catering by Veridian was incredible. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted just as amazing as it looked. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the food and the attentive staff. It was a perfect night from start to finish.. we're so grateful!

very beautiful, live music sound stage, beautiful spacious bathrooms. customize your event anyway…read moreyou want it! also has a small bar inside, i loved the party they hosted for a friend!

We hosted our Quinceañera at the Highland Park Community House, and the Art Deco ballroom couldn't…read morehave been more perfect. The light-and-airy space comfortably fit 150 guests across 19 60" tables without feeling crowded at all. The layout worked seamlessly: the DJ took the stage, the center became our dance floor, and a separate room accommodated our bar and photo booth. The caterer was a food truck and they used the adjacent kitchen for staging. An antique entry table was ideal for gifts and cake. We received so many compliments on how elegant and sophisticated everything looked!

We had the absolute best experience having our wedding reception at Highland Park Community House…read more Truly, it was perfect. We attribute that to the fact that Wendy, HPCH's Executive Director, is such a gem of a person, so easy to work with, very communicative, doesn't nickel and dime you, allows for flexibility, is accountable, and makes you feel at ease every step of the way. It's very clear that the operation at HPCH is smooth and positive because you feel it as a client. Wendy and HPCH made our vision and dream to have a 70s disco themed wedding reception a reality, and we wouldn't have been able to pull it off without Wendy and the HPCH team. Thank you for everything you did for us to make our event life changing and memorable. Please run, don't walk, to schedule your next event at Highland Park Community House. You will not be disappointed!!!

While the city has many options, I find event spaces can be difficult to come by in the North…read moreShore. Fortunately, Yanni Design Studio opened up this venue a few years ago that has a beautiful outdoor area for cocktails (helpful for the few months you can be outside in Chicago) and a spacious room that can fit 275+ guests. I would have considered this space for a recent party for my daughter, but it wasn't open when i was looking. I"m now planning a big one for my son, but I do think the chandeliers and space itself is a little too feminine for what my son is looking for. I've been to one beautiful event here and seen pictures of many others and think Yanni does an absolutely gorgeous job with the decor. You do need to bring in a caterer, but the party I went to recently used Entertaining Company, which was good. Some of these venues can feel a little tight, but there's plenty of space here. That also means there's a lot of space to decorate which can get pricey, but I'm sure they can also drape off part of the room for a smaller affair.

I had a party for my daughter here on 6/27... I could not have asked for a better venue. Reasonably…read morepriced. They accommodated us the night before and allowed us to decorate since there wasn't an event that night. The day of, they were some of the nicest people. It's a cute space and all my guests loved it. HIGHLY recommended!!

Came here for the fish fry, beer, and a good time. I forgot to take a picture of the fish fry…read morebecause it was really good. It's a buffet style. You get salad, mostaccioli, Cole slaw, homemade bread, fried or baked cod and tater tots. The service is very friendly and helpful. The mini pitchers are only $7. It's definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a good Fish Fry. They also have a 50/50 raffle that they do. The only downside is that they don't have a parking lot and parking is limited on the street.