Top Chicago Opening Party Venues

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  Smart Museum

  5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

  • Spaces for 70-175 Guests
  • 1 Museum
  • 1 Landmark

  The Smart Museum is a unique and economical venue for your special occasion, having been named to the Knot's list of 10 best museums for a wedding. The Smart's beautiful Ratner Reception Gallery and outdoor Elden Sculpture Garden, which feature large-scale art and sculptures, provide crisp, contemporary venues appropriate for a wide range of events, including wedding receptions, smaller meetings, and corporate entertaining. You and your guests will have the option to tour the Museum's galleries privately during your event. On request, tours of our special exhibitions and permanent collection can be arranged. Under the guidance of Vinci/Hamp Architects, the Museum's interior was reorganized and restored in 1999, and now has a wide, light-filled greeting hall as well as a succession of smaller galleries. Availability After hours, on weekday and weekend evenings, the Smart Museum's reception gallery and sculpture garden are available for hire. We encourage making bookings well in advance to ensure that you can enjoy your special event at the Smart. Inquire about renting our sculpture garden for larger events. Email Sarah Polachek or call 773.702.5785 for additional information about event options, cost, and availability. The Smart has been guided by an educational mission centered on teaching and research, as well as a dedication to making the arts accessible to the University community and the general public through its collection and special exhibitions, since its inception. The Smart is still an experimental institution dedicated to great ideas now, as it was in the past. Our 40th anniversary was a stimulus for us to reflect on and redefine the Smart's basic processes in 2014–2015, with a special focus on teaching, interpretation, and interaction.

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  Loft 644

  644 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

  Loft 644 is located in the heart of River North. When planning an event, loft 644 is the place for you!

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  Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood

  Burr Ridge, IL, USA

  • Spaces for 8-175 Guests
  • 4 Restaurants

  When everything has to be perfect, there is only one place to go. Eddie Merlot's is the number one option when you want the best food, wine, and service for your special occasion. Eddie Merlot's has built a reputation for providing outstanding USDA prime beef, which is awarded to only 2% of all beef in the United States. Our private dining menus follow the same high level, with a wide range of hors d'oeuvres, entrees, desserts, and accompaniments, all accompanied by the finest wine and beverages. Eddie Merlot's outstanding culinary team is committed to giving you and your guests an unforgettable experience from the time they arrive. Our service crew is held to the same high standard. From helping you feel at ease during the planning phase to making your guests feel at ease while they're with you, we take pleasure in our hospitality. It's an experience that's sure to impress your visitors. A WARM WELCOME - Eddie Merlot's offers many private and semi-private dining places, offering you a range of options to match your needs, with accommodations for 10 to 300 guests. Furthermore, our entire restaurant can be reserved for large business or charitable events. THE FINISHING TOUCH - At Eddie Merlot's, we pay close attention to every detail. As a result, Eddie Merlot's provides one-of-a-kind customized touches that may transform any celebration into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We can also help you find the proper entertainment for your event by coordinating your floral needs, assisting with your visitors' housing needs, and coordinating your floral needs. Eddie Merlot's is more than just a venue; it wants to be a partner in helping you make your private gathering a success. AN EXCELLENT OPTION FOR ANY EVENT - Make Eddie Merlot's a part of your celebration, whatever the event or time of year. Our staff is dedicated to assisting you in making your event genuinely exceptional, whether you're hosting coworkers, clients, family, or friends.

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  DuSable Museum of African American History

  Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

  • Spaces for 500 Guests

  Located in the historic Hyde Park area of Chicago, the Dusable Museum of African American History not only unites art, history, and culture under one roof, but also offers a beautiful backdrop for weddings. Originally founded in the 1960’s, this venue boasts numerous spaces that are brimming with luxurious detail and history. Say your “I do’s” in the Illinois Black Legislator’s Auditorium, a magnificent theater-like space complete with designer lighting. Host a cocktail style reception or chic pre-function hour in one of the museum’s many galleries, each showcasing clean architecture, as well as significant artworks and artifacts of African American history. Utilize on of the museum auditoriums, featuring gallery-style lighting and expansive floorplans, for a more tradition sit-down dinner reception. As your celebration rages on, guests can explore everything that the museum has to offer, including finely curated exhibits about the march on Birmingham, Rosa Parks, segregation, Obama’s presidency, and much more.

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  Little Victories

  1725 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, USA

  • Spaces for 50-70 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant

  Footman Hospitality has opened the doors of Little Victories in the heart of Wicker Park, continuing a long legacy of drinking and dining places that have brought people from all over the city together for years. Little Victories, which is housed in a former warehouse conversion, welcomes you with a horseshoe bar as its focal point. Billiards and darts are two Chicago pastimes that are complemented by booths and decor that have a vintage feel to them. Everything about this place is simple and straightforward: fantastic moments, nice music, decent beverages, and pleasant service. With an emphasis on classics that are easy to remember and enjoy, the cocktail program strives to retain the integrity of the traditional drinks that everyone knows and loves. Additionally, Little Victories provides a changing assortment of canned and draft beers, which includes microbrews and craft beers from Chicago's several local brewers. The wine list is straightforward, straightforward, and enjoyable. Little Victories is a celebration of the large things that come about as a result of the accumulation of minor victories. And there is maybe no better way to do it than while enjoying a game of darts or billiards with pals while sipping on a drink. It's easy to get caught up in life's small disappointments; we believe it's time to pay attention to life's small victories.

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  La Scarola

  721 W Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654, USA

  For private event and catering requests with parties of 20+ people, please feel free to call or email anytime.

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  Monteverde

  1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

  Chef Sarah Grueneberg's restaurant, Monteverde, is located in Chicago's West Loop district and serves Italian cuisine that combines the traditions of Italian culture and cooking with inspirations from her travels around the world and her family's ancestry. Using global ingredients and cooking methods that are not typically found in the Italian kitchen, Monteverde offers a fresh perspective on Italian cuisine, highlighting some dishes that are deeply rooted in tradition while also introducing adventurous new flavors to the table through the use of traditional and innovative techniques. All of our ingredients are sourced from the greatest sources in the Midwest as well as Italy, and they all adhere to Grueneberg's passion for "following the food," which means ensuring that each component is raised to the highest possible standards. The Pastificio, located in the heart of the restaurant, is where our crew prepares fresh, hand-made pastas throughout the day in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures for our guests to enjoy. Monteverde is a place where flour is king.

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  Webster's Wine Bar

  2601 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA

  • Spaces for 20-40 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant

  Private Parties & Special Occasions Everything from casual cocktail parties to instructional, sit-down wine tastings can be arranged by us to ensure that your event is a success. Over the years, we have held hundreds of birthday parties, baby showers, family reunions, and other types of events. We are always pleased to lend a hand in hosting a tremendously successful event - just let us do the work and you can take the glory! TASTINGS OF WINE In-Depth Tastings of Wine An entertaining and educational approach to learn about wines. Our knowledgeable team will provide information about the specific wineries, types of grapes, geographical areas, and a variety of other factors that combine to make each of the wines distinct and special, as well as information about the wines themselves. Wine tastings on a more casual basis The wines will be personalized to your preferences, and we will provide tasting notes, but we will encourage your guests to taste and sample casually between themselves. Food We offer a large menu that may be readily customized to meet the needs of your special occasion. For larger groups, we collaborate with our Executive Chef For to create custom menus that include everything from a Tapas Throw-Down to a Tuscan Farmhouse Dinner, a Taste of the South of France, and a New World Feast, among other options. We relish the opportunity to express ourselves creatively and are enthusiastic about showcasing the possibilities.

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  The Moonlighter

  3204 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA

  • Spaces for 50-100 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant

  The Moonlighter is a laid back neighborhood hangout, tucked away from the intersection of Kedzie and Armitage, bordering Chicago’s Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. At Scofflaw Group we are driven by an enthusiasm for hospitality, and a desire to offer our guests affordable fare of the highest quality. When you visit The Moonlighter, we want you to feel like you walked into your family room to discover twenty craft beer taps, a world-class cocktail program, and a menu of tasty house-made burgers, salads, and late-night eats. Gather friends and family around one of our fireplaces, catch the game on one of our many tv’s, and relax with us outdoors on our dog-friendly patio.

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  Chit Chat

  416 N Desplaines St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

  • Spaces for 15-30 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant

  Chit Chat is a basement lounge in River West

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  Apple Blossom Resort

  10780 Kruger Rd, New Buffalo, MI 49117, USA

  • Spaces for 150 Guests
  • 1 Outdoor

  Apple Blossom Resort is a one-of-a-kind luxury rental property featuring three homes and extensive outdoor space on a private 18-acre estate in SW Michigan’s idyllic Harbor Country, just 70 miles from Chicago. With sleeping accommodations for up to 48 guests and outdoor event space for up to 150 guests, Apple Blossom Resort is an inspired site for events that are fun, modern, and laid-back. The sprawling 8,000 sq ft estate was designed to accommodate private gatherings that feel intimate, relaxed, and elegant. Modern construction, thoughtful design, high-end amenities, and personalized touches ensure that our guests experience the comforts of home in a boutique setting nestled in the woods near Lake Michigan. The custom-built Main House features 7 spacious bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, and a sleek open concept chef’s kitchen/great room perfectly suited for intimate receptions, rehearsal dinners, and day-after brunches. The Guest House provides an additional 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms that are ideal for guests who benefit from additional privacy. Combining rustic charm and contemporary design, The Cabin is a tucked-away sanctuary for the wedding couple. The property’s adaptable layout makes it an ideal home base for celebrations that unfold over several unforgettable days. Our unique location lends a secluded vibe to every occasion while being moments away from all that this special region has to offer. The estate is located moments away from Lake Michigan’s pristine beaches and the region’s beach communities along Red Arrow Highway. Union Pier is moments away and it is a short drive to family-friendly New Buffalo. APPLE BLOSSOM RESORT INCLUDES: Three Individual Homes with 12 Bedrooms Total Heated Swimming Pool (open May 1-October 31) Two Hot Tubs (open all year!) Two Fire Pits Basketball/Tennis Court Chef’s Kitchen 4 Fireplaces 2 Gas Grills Multi-Room A/V System w/Control4, Cable & Apple TV Wheelchair Accessible Baby Equipment On-site Pet Friendly And much more! Our specially-designed 6,000 sq ft astroturf area with 40 ft x 80 ft pole tent creates a flawless canvas for outdoor ceremonies and receptions. We are more than happy to recommend vendors from throughout the region who can make your wedding one-of-kind. All event rentals include our EVENT PACKAGE, which includes: - PROPERTY RENTAL Exclusive rental of the entire estate including 3 homes & extensive grounds - EVENT TENT A 40 ft x 80 ft pole tent with bistro lighting installed on the 60 ft x 100 ft astroturf event space adjacent to the pool and tennis/basketball court - CEREMONY A 40 ft x 60 ft paved ceremony area 150 white resin chairs with pad - RECEPTION 19 60-inch round dining tables 150 natural oak chairs with pad 10 36-inch round high-top tables for cocktail hour (can be set up around the pool or elsewhere) - PORTABLE WASHROOMS A three-unit, fully-stocked upscale executive washroom trailer with heating, air conditioning & running water - PARKING On-site parking for 75 vehicles

  $11,000 min

  Pricing Details Available

  Avg response time 12-24 hrs

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  BrighterDaze Farm

  10978 Crimmin Rd, Newark, IL 60541, USA

  • Spaces for 280 Guests
  • 1 Barn
  • 1 Farm

  BrighterDaze Farm is a romantic 10k sq. ft. renovated horse stable on a stunning 50 acre, working horse farm just outside Yorkville Illinois. Pet friendly, vendor flexible and equipped to accommodate up to 280 guests.

  Est. $100/guest

  Avg response time 1-2 hrs

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  Hotel Verdant

  500 Main St, Racine, WI 53403, USA

  • Spaces for 135-165 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom

  Inspired by Racine’s river and lakefront setting, Hotel Verdant is an ode to our natural surroundings. Our bold embrace of environmentally minded principles starts with a sustainable design made from thoughtfully selected renewed materials. This continues in the hotel’s vibrant art collection, exemplifying further expression of community and place. Take in panoramic views from our rooftop bar and embrace the hygge vibe in your guest room. Our 80-room boutique hotel takes you on a journey that takes inspiration from the past, feels perfectly present, and always feels right at home. Host a sophisticated gathering in a premier space where weddings, meetings, and celebrations come together naturally. Invite loved ones to our iconic building at the heart of downtown Racine, and treat your guests to the kind of deliciously catered menus and warm, friendly service that will make them feel welcome and leave a lasting impression.

  Est. $65/guest

  Pricing Details Available

  Avg response time 1-2 hrs

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  Firehouse Grill

  750 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202, USA

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  Little Beans Cafe, Evanston

  430 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, IL, USA

  • Spaces for 25-40 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant
  • 3 Event Spaces

  The Little Beans Café birthday experience will be the most fun party in town for both kids AND parents. We fulfill all of the desires and wishes of our birthday boy/girl to make the party a birthday celebration they’ll never forget.

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  Terra & Vine

  1701 Maple Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

  • Spaces for 12-180 Guests
  • 6 Restaurants

  Terra & Vine features various spaces that can perfectly accommodate your guest for any event. Offering casual and rustic Mediterranean fare, with an Italian emphasis, Terra & Vine is perfect for hosting a rehearsal dinner, birthday, corporate outing, or any other social event for up to 180 people. Private events are available for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and cocktail receptions for groups of all sizes. Your meetings and special events will be truly momentous occasions when you reserve one of our beautifully appointed private and semiprivate rooms. Our dedicated Special Events team will gladly assist you with any additional special needs including floral arrangements, entertainment, specialty cakes and more to ensure your event is truly inspired and memorable.

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  Charles Dawes Gates House

  225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

  • Spaces for 200 Guests

  Built in 1894, The Dawes House is a stunning historical mansion perfect for hosting guests for any event. Events held here becomes a truly memorable and unique experience. The house makes a wonderful venue for holiday parties, intimate gatherings, weddings, non-profit events, and more. The three-and-a- half story mansion has twenty-five rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and eleven fireplaces. With so many different spaces with their own unique style, there is no limit to the type of atmosphere you're looking to create for your special event.

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  Found Kitchen & Social House

  1631 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL, USA

  • Spaces for 150-200 Guests
  • 1 Restaurant

  Thanks for "finding" us! Found is a kitchen, a social house and a restaurant with a mission. Its rustic new American dishes change with the market and season and are served in a relaxed, creative atmosphere inspired by 1920’s Bohemian Paris and icons of the Beat Generation. Here at found we offer a variety of event spaces perfect for your next gathering! Our “Salon Prive” is a private space inspired by the great salons of yester-year; featuring vintage doors for complete privacy and a state of the art audio visual system. “The Library” is a warm, intimate space filled with vintage “finds” and books, custom sliding doors and dark wood features. Our “Lounge” is at the heart of Found and perfectly embodies the vibe of “Gertrude Stein’s salon of 1920 Paris meets Jack Kerouac in owner Amy Morton’s living room’. Our lounge is smart, relaxed and enhanced with a flood of candlelight during evening events. If you are interested in more space we do offer the option of a full venue buy out as well so please just ask. Since its inception in November 2012, Found has flourished as a gathering place for the community to eat, drink, and think in a welcoming and genuine environment. At the Evanston eatery, Amy's vision of a kitchen and social house comes to life in a relaxed, creative atmosphere inspired by 1920's Bohemian Paris and icons of the Beat Generation. Just as wonderful as the vibe is the food, created by Chef Nicole Pederson. Her "flexitarian menu" highlights simple, striking dishes with fresh, local ingredients and changes often to reflect what is in season. Made up mostly of shared plates, Found's menu offers a taste for everyone, including the ever-popular lamb meatballs, seasonal flatbreads, knife-and-fork sandwiches, and much more. Even in the cocktails, Found takes the phrase "locally-found" quite literally, with recipes featuring neighboring labels such as North Shore Distillery and F.E.W. Spirits, whose distillery is less than a mile down the road!

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  The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge in Evanston

  529 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

  • Spaces for 30-350 Guests
  • 1 Hotel
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 3 Event Spaces

  The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge boasts over 6,000 sq. ft. in event space in the elegant setting of the North Shore's newest and most luxurious building. Completely restored in 2014 to its original glory from the roaring 1920's, the venue offers an opulent two-story ballroom, an adjoining lounge, and ample pre-function cocktail space. The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge is the perfect place for those seeking that extravagant city feel for their event without the extravagant cost. We are located in the heart of vibrant downtown Evanston and have our own luxury mini coach with a private driver for those who would like to tour the area or choose a special lakefront spot for their event photo’s. You can also take comfort in knowing that your special day is in the hands of the most professional, creative, and experienced catering and event coordination staff available. We pride ourselves on our extraordinary cuisine, personalized service, and our exceptional attention to detail.

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  The Woman’s Club of Evanston

  1702 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

  • Spaces for 150-350 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 2 Landmarks
  • 2 Total Spaces

  Host your special event at The Woman’s Club of Evanston! The stately, historic Clubhouse, built in 1912, exudes warmth and timeless elegance. With two levels, there are lovely spaces for each part of your event. Easy parking and hotels are a few minutes walk away. Select a caterer from our list, and customize your event. You may purchase your own alcoholic beverages with no corkage fees. All beverages must be served by licensed bartenders. The Clubhouse provides: dinnerware, tables & chairs, audiovisual equipment, and pianos.

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