Dec 17, 2018 | Parties and Special Events
Here’s the “guest book” for the sports fan!
I just worked on one of the best bar mitzvah parties I can imagine, which has prompted some thoughts on what kinds of parties are really appreciated by the guests.
As far as I can tell, the standard, Saturday evening party following a bar or bat mitzvah is dinner and a DJ for dancing. That was pretty common when I was that age, and (according to the 13-year-old I was talking with recently) that is how a lot of them still are. And that’s great, if you have both teens and adults at the party who really like to dance.
But what about when one group (or both) doesn’t really like to dance? Should you still hire a DJ? What are the other options? Actually, there are a lot.
The family I just worked with decided that they wanted a low-key party, nothing too fancy. And they followed the interests of their son, who really (really!) loves sports. They rented a community center that has both a party room and a gym, and they brought in a company that does giant, inflatable games. They filled the gym with games (and cool lighting and fun music). And everyone loved it. The kids, arriving at the party, went running into the gym with lots of sounds of “Ooooh, wow!” The adults had a great time in the other room with a selfie station, a corn hole game, some music, and adult beverages–or watching the kids play the games in the gym. There was a dinner buffet, so everyone ate when they weren’t too busy playing. And it was one of the most fun parties for all involved.
So, what can you do if you are planning a similar celebration? Not everyone is as into sports as this young man, but most kids of 13 have something that they are interested in. If your child is, say, into chess and so are all their friends, you can bring in a chess expert to teach or run a tournament. Or have a live chess game with the kids as players. Or, if your kid loves art or theatre or music, there are plenty of organizations that would love to run activities for your party. (Check with your local park district or favorite arts organization that runs summer camps to see what they have to offer for parties.)
Pretty much any interest can become both the theme and the activity at a party. And if it’s something the kids at the party love, anyhow, they will all have a great time. And maybe even the adults will enjoy it, too!
Sep 10, 2018 | Parties and Special Events
The Peckish Pig patio. Photo from the restaurant’s website.
You might think it was all weddings all the time around here, but I have also been known to plan other kinds of parties. In fact, the very first planning job I had was for a birthday party right here in Evanston. That was when I started researching restaurants with party rooms in town.
Well, the scene has changed over the years. Pretty much all the places I found then are gone now, but there are a lot more party rooms–enough to ensure that Evanston party-throwers have plenty of good choices.
In South Evanston there are several good choices for party rooms. Peckish Pig on Howard St. not only has a private party room that is large enough for 100 people (reception-style), but there is also a patio (and I’ve seen tents on the patio)–and their own brewery. It seems to be a popular combination. A lot of times when I go by the restaurant, the party room is in use.
For up to 50 people for dinner, Campagnola on Chicago Ave. has a quiet, second-floor party room. As I recall from the last time I was there, the only way to get up to the second floor is by stairs, so the party room is not accessible to everyone. If this is suitable for your party, though, it is a very nice room and the food is excellent.
An equally inaccessible but more casual option is the party room at Firehouse Grill. (What is it with the second-floor-no-elevator party rooms?) For a laid-back party with pub food and a bar, this would be a good choice.
Naturally, in downtown Evanston, there are even more options. Terra and Vine has a number of smaller party rooms for parties as small as 10 or as large as 140 (seated) if all the rooms are combined.
Farmhouse Evanston also has some smaller rooms. It looks like the largest dinner party they can accommodate is 55–or 65 for a reception. I haven’t been to this second-floor space, so I don’t know much more about it than what is on their website. It does look cozy.
Another downtown restaurant with small party rooms is Found Kitchen. They are able to seat as many as 50 people for dinner. I’ve heard raves about the food here, too. That’s not surprising for a restaurant that is a fixture in this city.
And then there are the tiny rooms at Hearth Restaurant. The largest room seats 30 people for dinner. The smallest one seats only 14. But sometimes that’s just the right size for your party.
Finally, Smylie Brothers Brewing Co. has more of a lounge feel in their second-floor mezzanine. You could have 85 guests there, as long as they don’t all want to sit down at once. There is also a private dining room that seats 30 guests.
As always, this is only a sample of what is available. There are other restaurants, breweries, and probably various other establishments where you can rent a room (often for only the cost of the food and beverage minimum) and throw a great party. Birthday parties, anniversary parties, baby showers, and even small weddings would be right at home in any of these locations. And you have a host of styles and menus to choose from.
Feb 1, 2016 | About me, Other Events, Parties and Special Events
I plan and manage weddings all year, but in my free time, I also volunteer my time with a terrific group of people who are founding a food co-op in Rogers Park. I always like to have at least one volunteer project in my life, and I have an undying passion for local food and the politics of food issues. (And, I really like food!) So, this group is a great fit for me, especially because I get to plan events to help the co-op grow.
The first major event I planned (with many other volunteers and Heartland staff) was last October: Heartland Cafe’s Harvest Dinner and Barn Dance. Heartland put on the event; I did a bunch of the planning for it; everyone had a great time; and Heartland made a sizable donation to the food co-op.
The event was a harvest dinner on the patio of the restaurant followed by a barn dance at the Red Line Tap around the corner (which is also part of the Heartland empire in central Rogers Park). Wade Chandler, a photographer who lives in Rogers Park, very kindly donated his services for the event. (Check out his Facebook page for more information.) Here are a few glimpses of this terrific evening.
The Heartland Cafe patio was all decked out for the Harvest Dinner.
Tom Rosenfeld, one of the Heartland’s owners, welcomes the guests–and tells them how important food co-ops are.
The Heartland’s kitchen served up a luscious buffet of seasonal dishes.
The guests enjoyed the food and the company.
The Co-op had its brand new t-shirts ready!
Volunteers at the pumpkin carving station improved on the decor.
After dinner, the dance started at the Red Line Tap.
Caller Jo Mortland and the band kept the dancers moving.
Aug 10, 2015 | Parties and Special Events
This is still one of my favorite stories from my years of event planning. It was also the first of many last-minute events. I do like to have adequate planning time, but in a pinch, I can do things at the last minute. Here’s the story:
There were roses everywhere.
On a Monday afternoon, I got a call from a business man from the East Coast. He was coming to Chicago to take a lady out on a date, and he wanted to do something amazing, something unheard-of. He suggested a yacht, private dinner in a gorgeous location, a helicopter tour, private entertainment. It all had to be first class, exceptional, and, as he put it, “over the top.” Money was no object, he said. Oh, and this date was to be a week from that Wednesday. I had another event to work on for a few days, so in less than a week, and with the invaluable assistance of the events staff there, I was able to put together for him a private, candlelit dinner for two in the Sky Theatre at the Adler Planetarium, with skyline views of the city projected on the dome and a private sky show after dinner. A black stretch limousine brought the guests to dinner where a string quartet played while they ate. There were flowers everywhere, and the dining table looked like a Victorian valentine. When I spoke to him the next day, he said that everything was “spectacular.”
Mar 2, 2015 | Parties and Special Events, wedding planning
How much is too much? Photo by hannahelaine photography (hannahelaine.com).
When you are doing the decor yourself for your event or wedding, how much stuff do you need? Of course, it all depends on your venue, but for your typical wedding-type venue, here are some thoughts.
Table Decor
A centerpiece on your banquet tables is always nice. There is nothing wrong with adding a few votive candles or tea lights, but three or four per table is usually enough. Naturally, you want linens on the tables, although there is usually no need for three layers of them; one or two will suffice. Maybe you are also having favors put out at every place. They are also part of the decor. Once you have this many things on the table, you just have room for a table number, bread basket, butter, salt & pepper, and eight or nine full place settings. If you’re serving family style, remember to leave room on the table for the serving platters.
Room Decor
If your venue is already well-appointed, you may need nothing at all to decorate the room. It can be a good idea to have a well-made flower arrangement near the entrance, on the bar, and/or on the escort card table. It depends on how much sprucing up you think the area needs. Candles on the bar can be tricky as you don’t want them to interfere with bar service. If you have highboy tables anywhere in your ground plan, a very nice touch is to have your florist create small, simple arrangements for them. Or put candles on the highboys. They shouldn’t need any more than that.
Ceremony Decor
It’s easy to go overboard with ceremony decor: Flowers on the ends of the rows of seats, an aisle runner, candles in the aisle, a flower arch or flowers on the chuppah, and large floral arrangements are all possibilities (and that doesn’t begin to exhaust the list). I recommend against candles in the aisle as they can be a safety hazard. I’m also not a big fan of aisle runners as they generally become trash the moment the ceremony is over. I think a little restraint is a good idea in this area, as well.
Candy Buffets
If you are set on having a candy buffet, be sure to think small. For one thing, if you’ve fed your guests well and given them dessert, only the children will return to the candy buffet more than once. You will almost definitely have a lot of leftovers. Also, be sure to measure both the table and the dishes and other decor that you plan to put on the buffet to make sure it will all fit. A few well-chosen items displayed beautifully will be more effective than an enormous spread that is visually overwhelming.
Summary
My recommendation for DIY decor is to remember the mantra, “Less is More.” You don’t need to overwhelm your guests with your decor ideas. Keep it in the background because the party is really about you, not about the decoration.
Feb 23, 2015 | Parties and Special Events, wedding planning
Servers make all the difference to your guests. Photo by Happy Buddy PhotoArt.
This is not the first thing you think about when you are planning a wedding or other large event where you are hiring a caterer, but it is surprisingly important in how well your event runs: How much staff has your caterer hired?
Caterers tend to fall into two categories with regard to staffing issues. On one side, you have caterers who reduce the number of staff in order to give you a bid with a lower price. On the other side, you have those who won’t compromise their level of customer service and charge accordingly.
Why does this matter to you and how can you tell the difference?
The service staff at your party or event are the people who have the most direct contact with your guests. Really, the quality of the service staff determines the quality of the experience for your guests. The unfortunate things that guests remember are that no one offered them wine or they got the wrong entree or they could never find a server to refill their glass or bring a fork when they needed one. Inadequate numbers of servers can contribute to all of these types of incidents that leave a bad taste in the mouth.
For restaurant service, it’s pretty standard to have one server for every 40 guests. For exceptional service, such as at a wedding, a higher number of servers is needed. The best wedding caterers hire about one server for every 10 guests. This ensures the best service. When you get a quote from a catering company, divide the total number of guests by the number of servers and see what you get. If it’s around 10, the price will certainly be higher than if it’s 40. The service is also likely to be much better.
It’s a trade-off: If you pay less for service, you are paying for a less-than-exceptional experience for your guests. I think it’s worthwhile to pay more to ensure that your guests are enjoying themselves. There are places to cut corners at a wedding or a party, but this isn’t one of them.
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