Continued from 20 Magnificent Chicago Event Venues
The Old Post Office
Capacity: 300+
Location: 433 W Van Buren St
Great For: Creative Events, Company Parties
433 W. Buren was once a scene of stamps and envelopes. Today, it’s getting ready for its big debut as a prestigious address for corporate headquarters and hip events. While the details aren’t yet final, we do know this: the Old Post Office will soon play host to parties and meetings planned with creativity and style. Snag one of the first reservations, and you’ll have one the hottest tickets in town for guests: a peek at one of the most talked-about renovations of the last ten years.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Capacity: #
Location: 111 South Michigan Avenue
Great For: Weddings, Receptions
If Ferris Bueller risked his diploma on a space, it must be worth an evening of your guests’ time. The Art Institute of Chicago features two distinct wings: a classic and formal collection of spaces in the Michigan Avenue Building, and a more modern collection of rooms in the aptly named Modern Wing. Each space features attention to design and detail you’d expect from an institution devoted to creativity, plus all the advantages of an in-house team dedicated to events.
Colvin House
Capacity: 150
Location: 5940 N Sheridan Road
Great For: Receptions, Formal Dinners
A mansion on Chicago’s Northside lakefront, Colvin House is a real home with real style. Another George Maher property, the opulent building was completed in 1909 before it underwent a high-dollar renovation in the roaring twenties. Stone pillars, plaster molding, and gorgeous ceilings surround, while period glassware and china are available to rent as well. A fitting home for a formal dinner.
Ignite Glass Studios
Capacity: 220
Location: 401 North Armour Street
Great For: Meetings, Team Retreats
Throw a party at a working glass studio! Ignite Glass Studios has the infrastructure you’d expect from professional event space, but the heart and soul you’d wish for from a team of artisans. Colorful, contemporary, and celebratory Ignite features capacity for up to 220 guests and claims to possess the city’s only garden and rooftop.
The Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier
Capacity: 500
Location: 700 East Grand Ave.
Great For: Corporate Events, Weddings
A botanical garden housed in a six-story glass atrium, the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier is anything but a blank canvas. Rather than taking the minimalist approach, consider immersing your guests in green and colorful plant life. The space’s 50-foot arched ceiling leaves plenty of room for its 80 palm trees (and your 500 lucky guests).
Stan Mansion
Capacity: 450 Standing / 300 Seated
Location: 2408 North Kedzie Blvd.
Great For: Formal Dinners, Weddings
Stan Mansion was once a Masonic Temple, which shows in its grandiose stonework and iconic architecture. An affordable wedding destination, wedding rental includes a bridal suite complete with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. In summer months, the front garden greets guests with rich colors.
Chicago Illuminating Company
Capacity: 300
Location: 2110 S WABASH AVENUE
Great For: Weddings
Equal parts indoor and outdoor space, Chicago Illuminating Company features an outdoor patio comprised of warmly colored brick and covered in a clean white-and-clear tent. Primely located on Wabash Avenue, Chicago Illuminating Company provides just enough design for a foundation, and just enough flexibility to house the Pinterest-gathered ideas of the most creative of brides.
The Drake
Capacity: 600
Location: 140 EAST WALTON PLACE
Great For: Meetings
For decades, one Chicago hotel stood above all the rest. One hotel where celebrities stayed, where tourists snapped photos, and where the well-healed hosted parties. Today, the Drake has retained all of its histories while elevating it with contemporary touches required by modern events. Corporate meetings and conference breakout sessions can find rooms fit for any size, while weddings make perfect use out of the grand ballroom. The best part? The only address your guests will need is comprised of just two words: The Drake.
Chicago Sports Museum
Capacity: 1200
Location: 835 N Michigan Ave
Great For: Casual Parties
Sports fans know the 800-block of Michigan Avenue quite well. This is where Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch meets the Chicago Sports Museum–and where sports fans meet to party. The Chicago Sports Museum is ready to accommodate mingling crowds of fans up to 1200-strong, complete with access to exhibits, or seated crowds of up to 300.
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Pazzo’s at 311
Capacity: 400
Location: 311 South Wacker Drive
Great For: Rehearsal Dinners, Private Parties
Need a simple spot for a private dinner? Pazzo’s at 311 is a full-service restaurant that offers its space without rental fee for those interested in packing the house with diners for a private event. Meals can be served individually, family-style, or on a buffet. A simple, delicious, and reasonably priced destination for large private dinners.