“The Social Loft pulled our special event together like no other! Deanna and her staff were the best, and they all provided a perfect space for us the gather with friends and family. We utilized all of their resources from the bartender to the sweet table. Thank you for your topnotch hospitality!!”
“We fell in love with Firehouse upon our first visit. The building has great bones with timeless wooden elements that encourage minimal decor. The courtyard, accented with flowers and ivy-covered walls, was the perfect setting for our cocktail hour. The upstairs space is impeccably appointed and offers a salon and two suites - we found these extra rooms to be great for taking a beat. Our guests raved about the beautiful venue. We would be remiss to not shout out Sarah and Teddy, the amazing event coordinators. From the initial planning stage through to our reception, they were highly communicative, organized, and resourceful. We dropped off our decor a couple days before the event and the Firehouse team took care of the rest. During our event, staff worked efficiently in the background to ensure everything went smoothly and even packed up our car at the end of the night! Truly a seamless experience. We can't recommend Firehouse highly enough!”
“I attended an art show for the Chicago Pastel Painters Society at The Art Center. It was beautifully presented, with the art in various rooms, allowing the crowd to mingle and flow. The lighting was excellent for the paintings, and the staff was very accomodating. Overall an excellent venue for an art show!”
“The most amazing place to celebrate any occasion. This is the second time I've returned to Chateau Ritz to celebrate my other daughter's 15th birthday, and I knew without a doubt that it's the best banquet hall and that my expectations for service and quality would be met. They make your event as relaxed as possible and help you throughout the entire planning process. I was extremely happy with all the services, from the banquet staff to the food service. Jess and Mike, thank you for everything; you are amazing, and Jess, your decorations were beautiful—something magical. Thank you for everything, Chateau; I will definitely return for my next event.”
“A Perfect Wedding at Valley Lo. Thanks to Tatiana and the Team!
Our wedding at Valley Lo was absolutely flawless. The venue’s elegance, seamless coordination and warm hospitality made for an unforgettable celebration. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the ambiance and great food.
Tatiana was exceptional—her expertise and attention to detail ensured everything ran smoothly, allowing us to truly enjoy our day. Her dedication made all the difference!
For anyone seeking a stunning venue with an outstanding team, Valley Lo is the perfect choice.”
“Ravinia is the best concert venue i know of because it has enough space for people to avoid being overcrowded and offers ample space to avoid over exposure to loud music (I'm sensitive to loud volume). The crowd is always super nice. One or two times I went and the weather was sweltering but that comes with outdoor venues in Midwest summers.
I highly recommend Ravinia. The large trees, robust grass, and welcoming guests make for a fun and engaging concert experience.
If you have lawn tickets, you may want to bring a chair, and many people bring portable tables, and it's BYOB and BYOF (food), so it's a great way to minimize costs while enjoying a decadent concert experience.
Many attendees bring fancy table settings and throw themselves into the artistry of table art. Elaborate candlabras and designer table cloths and decor are fairly standard. The music talent they get is top notch.”
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
410 Kenilworth Ave, Kenilworth
Venues And Event Spaces
“We could not have found a more perfect venue for our wedding on July 12, 2025. From the moment we showed up for our tour and met with Monique, we knew Kenilworth was the place for us. The venue is beautiful, historic, and well-maintained, yet the pricing and contract requirements are completely reasonable and fair. We felt comfortable and at home from that very first visit. We also found an excellent caterer (Catered by Design) from their preferred catering list. Monique was a dream to work with--so organized and punctual yet laid-back and flexible. We received so many compliments on the venue from our guests. While we opted to have both our ceremony and reception indoors, Monique allowed us to open up the lawn and patio to guests for cocktail hour, which was absolutely stunning and a huge hit. I would recommend Kenilworth to anyone looking for a wedding venue!”
Open 24 hours
200 N Field Dr, Lake Forest
Venues And Event Spaces
“We utilized The Forester for a large (20+) corporate workshop and the experience was excellent - rooms were set up with necessary A/V needs, and they had onsite help for the hiccups. The rooms were equipped with refreshments and natural light, making the day feel fresh. Thanks to the hosting team for making our experience impactful!”
“I came here today with my husband and our experience was amazing. Full bar, great food, and awesome service. The drinks came out fast and our server was super friendly. It was our first time and as soon as I mentioned it, she explained everything to us in great detail. The service and drinks were better than those at high end restaurants!! Will be coming back soon 100%”
“Always have great family events for members and family of members. Amazing Christmas party! Santa and Mrs claus stopped by! Otherwise it's a closer knit group”
5AM - 8:30PM
620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka
Venues And Event Spaces
“It was AMAZING to see the Home Alone house. When we were there, over 50 people arrived. The big thing to remember is that that is someone's house, so be respectful. It was really cold to see the house even many many years later.”
8:30AM - 9PM
300 Dodge Avenue, Evanston
Venues And Event Spaces
“This facility is Awesome. My experience was exceptional. Everyone I spoke with and had interaction with related to the DMV and Levy Center was very professional and polite.”
“I started volunteering at Bernie's after retiring and have enjoyed the experience and sense of community. As an avid reader I know the value of book ownership to increasing literacy.”
“Tessarae is such a warm, inviting place full of the kindest people. We had my daughter's birthday party there and it was a great experience. The environment was very inviting and comfortable, our group of teens had a really fun time doing a painting lesson together. We're looking forward to returning for painting lessons and art anytime in the future!”
“A must see! Give yourself plenty of time to see this museum. Great displays telling the Holocaust stories. They do have guides to walk you through the displays. We haven't used them, but I'd recommend using them your first time through. I've been here 2 times and haven't taken enough time to see all in detail. Make sure you plan to see the 3D Holocaust survivor exhibit. It's a hologram of a survivor sitting on a chair telling their story. You can ask questions, and they answer. Very cool. They have a VR experience. I'd recommend you go to that. However, the technology needs upgrading. It's worth going to. Overall, highly recommend you visit and great for young adults to understand what really happened. Learn from history, so this never happens again.”
“A park and a beach is along the lake. Gillson Park is the best thing about Wilmette, and beats any of those overcrowded ones farther south. If you want to actually be able to walk on a beach and not feel crowded, then head up a ways. Be careful about where you park because you can find places for free. There's also plenty of green space for athletic fields. Gillson is a big park, and that makes it feel not as crowded. It has several different parts. There's the actual park with the grass and trees. It's often very quiet here. Where's all the people? At the beach. This beach is still less crowded than any of the Chicago beaches full of both locals and tourists. It has a nice little play area. The sand is pretty clear of debris for the most part. Also at this park is a big a** marina. There's lots of boats, and there's also a club you can join if you can pay up. However you spend time here, just be careful about parking or it may be costly. It has pay lots close to the beach but you can find free parking on the residential streets. They have certain places where you can't park though, so pay attention to signs and whatever.”
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
6676 W Howard St, Niles
Venues And Event Spaces
“Kenny and Jeanette at The Fairway in Niles (Howard Street Inn) were unbelievably helpful while planning and hosting my mom’s funeral luncheon. From start to finish, they went above and beyond to make everything perfect. The space was beautiful and just the right size — comfortable, welcoming, and thoughtfully set up.
The staff was kind, attentive, and professional, and the food and service were excellent. It truly felt like a celebration of my mom’s life surrounded by family and friends. I can’t thank Kenny, Jeanette, and the entire team enough for their compassion and care during such an emotional time. Highly recommend!”
“Very nice banquet hall. It's not the largest, but it fit our party of 180 with some room to spare. The food was delicious and service was really good. The atmosphere was beautiful. Recommended.”
“Such a tremendous wedding venue in the Chicagoland area. The Armour House has a European Old World grandeur that is unmatched. We might as well have been in Italy all day long! I was so impressed and had so much fun playing on the grounds. It's elegant and romantic with plenty of outdoor and indoor spaces for photos. Can't say enough positive things about this stunning wedding venue!
images by teri b photography”
“I am such a fan of the Cook County Forest Preserves . And one reason I love them is that there's always something new to find and explore! Every time I visit I fall in love again.Today I visited the Volunteer Resource Center (VRC) near Edgebrook Woods. They held a program for Black History Month; I really want to support this type of cultural programming within the FPCC system, and it's an added bonus that it sounded interesting.The VRC is right near the Edgebrook Golf Course--the same entrance is for both. But unless you've been to an event here or go to the golf course, you're unlikely to known this was here. It's a really great event space which the FPCC rents out for various events. There's a different rate for county residents versus non-residents, and the cost differs for Monday-Thursday and Friday-Sunday dates. However, the rates seem really reasonable to me. There's a main room which is especially lovely; there's a large fireplace, high ceilings, and a lot of space--this room can hold 100 people. The classroom is much smaller and can accommodate up to 40. Both those spaces can be rented independently of one another, and I think you can rent portions of the golf course as well? All the information is on the webpage. The main room has a kitchen space as well so you can work with a caterer for your event. I wish I had an event for which I could use this space; I'll bet it's especially beautiful in the spring and summer. There are picnic tables just outside the indoor facility, and parking is plentiful as well.”
“Great location on the north shore for concerts and other events. Venue hosts the occasional big name performer ( singers and musicians) as well emerging artists. A lot of fun! The space can also be rented for private events and functions, too.”
“Clean spacious rooms, decent breakfast with made to order omlettes. Quite pricy for a 3 star hotel, but if you want to be close to Northwestern University there are not a lot of options.”
“My 11 yo daughter has gone here for five years, starting with rec classes and moved into the XCEL teams, and absolutely love it. She looks forward to practice, and the open gyms, and loves her coaches. She says they are really nice, and she enjoys being there so much.”
7AM - 5:30PM
3100 Trail Way, Highland Park
Venues And Event Spaces
“One of the standout features a drop off area and a good amount of parking, which made it incredibly convenient to access. The rink itself is not only well-maintained but also spotlessly clean, providing a pristine environment for ice skating enthusiasts. What truly sets this place apart is the picturesque drive to the rink; the scenic route leading to it adds a touch of beauty and serenity to the overall experience. Whether you're a seasoned skater or a novice looking for a fun outing, this ice rink with its parking convenience, cleanliness, and scenic drive is an absolute gem that I highly recommend.”
“Service oriented always there to help the citizens and answer all questions. The clients are aware ofWhat is going on. The City can handle it. A resident of 42 years. I look forward to my next 42”
“Well the place is good. The gentlemen who are in charge of maintenance look a bit bad as if they were doing you a favor apart from the fact that the service is paid for!!”
“Amazing boutique! The cutest clothes, accessories and gifts. Great place to have a kids party and the personal, friendly service from the owner Sarah, is incredible!! I have bought so many gifts from there and everyone loves them. The custom cakes and cookies are the best!”