Cocktail party for 40 - ideas?

Engagement party for my nephew & longtime girlfriend. Interested in wine/beer/cocktails package.

Date is Friday Sept 29, ~9pm start. As late Sept weather can be glorious or crap, I'm looking for a combo of indoor/outdoor venue (if possible).

Cost is a factor, most attending are young recent grads, so London House terrace for $5,000 minimum is out (or anything in that ballpark).

All ideas welcome, thanks.

There's no info on the website re: rates, but the Revival food hall on Clark St. has a few options, including one that they say will accommodate 45 for a cocktail party.

https://16oncenterchicago.com/private-events/revival/

Sweet Willie wrote:Engagement party for my nephew & longtime girlfriend. Interested in wine/beer/cocktails package.
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Cost is a factor, most attending are young recent grads, so London House terrace for $5,000 minimum is out (or anything in that ballpark).

Having recently gone through a late 20's stretch of friends' engagements & weddings, I would appreciate if you could clarify how the cost is being addressed.

When selecting a drink package, I assume the couple (and/or their families) is paying for the space with open bar for invited guests who would bring a small gift (10-20% of a wedding gift). But that seems not to be the case based on your reference to avoiding the exorbitance/opulence (pretension, to some) of London House, based on the younger guest list. Is it commonplace for venues to offer cash bar at a percentage or flat-amount reduction on each order, in exchange for a fee when booking the space?

Based on the younger guest list, with desire for inside/outside option, perhaps The Dawson at Grand/Halsted would be convenient without the price gouging. My personal favorite is I|O at Godfrey, but they might not be very much cheaper than LH.

Good luck.

In addition to budget, any preferences for or against particular neighborhoods?

Celeste on Hubbard has a nice rooftop area, but I have no idea of the price. We looked a renting the full ground floor of Celeste for an event for a larger group, but we did briefly look at the rooftop and it seemed like a good fit for your size group.

watson wrote:There's no info on the website re: rates, but the Revival food hall on Clark St. has a few options, including one that they say will accommodate 45 for a cocktail party.

I've inquired thanks




Sorry for delay, work has been crazy.

With a $1,500 budget and 40 people, that equates to just under $38 per person not including tax/tip. Some folks will drink well more than $40 and others not so much, this is a budget I'm comfortable with.

boudreaulicious wrote:In addition to budget, any preferences for or against particular neighborhoods?

Seeing as I've burst my nephew's bubble (young aspirations meet checkbook ) I would say any neighborhood but those far from the Loop as most attending are out of town and staying downtown.

I just left Cruz Blanca. We had an NU alumni event upstairs. I have no idea what their minimums were but the room was comfortable.

http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/ ... uz-blanca/

pairs4life wrote:I just left Cruz Blanca. We had an NU alumni event upstairs. I have no idea what their minimums were but the room was comfortable.

http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/ ... uz-blanca/

Thanks, I've sent inquiry, the 3 hour package fit into my budget.
Edited to add: Fits into my budget if on a Tuesday night, prices for weekend go stratospheric.

Wanted to provide feedback, just had the engagement party this past weekend, ended up renting a room in Maggiano's banquet building (111 W Grand Ave).

Cost was approx $1800 once some misc food, room cost, misc fees, etc were added in. I did set up a cash bar so that I didn't have to foot the entire bill. Drinks ran $5.50-9

All in all I felt everyone was really pleased with the venue, the assorted cheeses & meats got big thumbs up, nice quality, cash bar with one bartender was hopping but never was the bartender overwhelmed and line never got more than 3 deep.