This is my second time renting Room 85 venue and it was a great experience again! I would highly…read morerecommend the venue space 10/10. She's understanding and very consistent. The owner has great communication and she went above and beyond to ensure I had a great turnout for my event.

The venue space is large enough to be accommodating and small enough to be intimate. The layout is…read moreuser-friendly and can be reconfigured without becoming labor intensive. Management is professional and affable. Pricing is flexible and fair. Situated in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, this venue is comparable to upscale locations throughout the city.

Wonderful space! Dan Ryan Pavilion is open all year round and holds max 120 seated guess. Lot…read moreparking, NOTE: enter off 83rd st, GROVE SIGNS 1-5.

Doesn't look like a place where you'd hold event like a memorial, but once the doors opened, it was…read moreTHE PERFECT PLACE! The property is well kept, and the park host/liaison was very nice and informative. Parking was perfect as I had a guest list of roughly 60 plus people. Also, I will say that the walk up from the parking lot to the venue is a bit much for some. Suggestion: have a designated driver at the bottom and have them drive people back and forth from the lot to the venue. Otherwise, this place is beautiful, and I will definitely use it again.

We had our birthday party at this location over the weekend and I was pleased with the service and…read morethe venue space. The owners were accommodating and responsive to our needs. The inside was nice and clean, kitchen was made available to use as well as bartending service. I would rent this venue again!!!!

From the owner: Sonder Exchange is the perfect venue for special events, including birthday parties, business…read morebrunches, bridal parties, baby showers, wellness circles and more. We aim to create an atmosphere where people can gather, connect, and thrive—whether you're networking, building a business, or simply celebrating life’s important moments.

Attended a lovely wedding ceremony and reception at this venue. The staff were very professional…read moreand happy to serve the wedding family. The venue is really gorgeous inside. The high ceilings and all areas were tastefully decorated. The wedding room was very bright. The seating was comfortable. After the wedding, there was a cocktail reception outside while they prepared the rest of the event. I would say this took longer than expected but it could be that the wedding party was off taking photos. On this occasion it wasn't too hot but if more than 85 degrees than maybe an issue. Once allowed to enter dinner reception it was setup beautifully. The bar area accommodated a Photo Booth area as well. For food we had baked chicken, yams, Mac & Cheese, greens and cornbread. Dinner was delicious and I had no complaints on the food. Also like that they had hot sauce and salt/pepper easily accessible. The servers did a good job and bringing around sweet tea and lemonade. Overall a fantastic experience. Lots of detail was put into making this a special experience for the Oliver family. I would give it 4.5 stars. Only downside was small parking lot, only 2 bathrooms and timing of event felt slow. Not sure if DJ was apart of wedding venue but the music was horribly loud during the wedding and at times it was hard to hear.

This business is the worst venue . We had booked an event at this space and they would not allow…read moreguests inside and had us standing in the cold !!

Norman Bolden is also the owner of Haven Entertainment Center. This a beautiful venue. The owner…read moredoesn't know how to treat customers he has a oh well attitude. I waited two hours for food the owner was informed and he was like oh well. No offer of a free drink or meal on us. I will surely eat before I go.

Tucked away on East 43rd Street near Lake Shore Drive in the Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville…read moreneighborhood on Chicago's South Side is the best reception hall and event destination spot that most of you Yelp'ers have never heard of. Owner Norman Bolden renovated and reconstructed this building into *the* event space for South Siders and anybody seeking a lovely, centrally located and well-appointed space. Its appeal lies in its loft-style charm -- a split-level, open floor plan boasting gleaming mahogany floors and exposed brick that you can pretty much decorate any way you want for your event. After attending almost a dozen birthday parties, holiday parties, wedding receptions and fraternity and sorority events at Room 43, I knew that this was the only place where I wanted to hold my dad's 80th birthday party. It was the right decision. Rental rates are reasonable for the space that you get (there are two rooms to choose from) and a variety of chairs and tables are included for both the upstairs and downstairs. You supply your own linens, food, DJ and decorations. The onsite staff is also incredibly helpful. The facilities manager Richard is really great -- flexible and accommodating for all of the last-minute changes that come with party planning. The 80+ guests at my dad's party loved the venue. It's easily accessible from North or South from the Oakwood exit on Lake Shore Drive, and also the 43rd Street exit on the Dan Ryan. There is plenty of street parking as well. Lucky for the owner that he was on-site and actually stayed awhile for my dad's party, because several guests were so impressed they inquired about having their own events there. One thing that some have complained about: You can't bring your own liquor, and unless you pay for a tab, your guests are subject to a cash bar. I don't honestly find this unusual, and I paid a tab that allowed guests to enjoy open bar for about 3 hours. In addition to being a party space, Room 43 is also home to the Hyde Park Jazz Society, and you can catch all of their shows there on Sunday evenings. Anyone who reads me, by now, knows that I am big on supporting local businesses, and for the quality, service and location, I absolutely recommend Room 43. Room 43 is an emerging destination spot and represents the best of the "new" Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville community. I would not hesitate to give them my business again!

We had an amazing Friday evening!…read more I mean.... I had such a fun, satisfying, delicious, musical, vibing evening! If you haven't heard of or been to The Quarry on the south shore of Chicago, I'm putting you on notice. We joined Chicago history maker and philanthropist Yvette J. Moyo for her birthday celebration. Every Friday at the Quarry, there's, jazz and beautiful food and drinks for grown folks. LOL We ate "the Nuggets of Knowledge" too fast to take photos, just one of the amazing dishes created by The Bald-Head Chef and music by @allthesaxyouwant on IG. The place is a whole vibe. One for the books!

The Quarry is the spot on the South Shore of Chicago that serves as the anchor for the entire…read moreSouthside cultural and economic renaissance. Each day and evening young and seasoned chefs take advantage of the community kitchen to showcase their traditional and Afrocentric creations in two dining spaces. Each Monday many of Chicagolands Blues greats are sharing and teaching this aspect of our national cultural legacy and on Friday Chicagolands jazz greats, young and old, are at the Quarry to delight you will this original African origin American perfected artistic expression of improvisation, that many say was perfected on the Southside of Chicago. The Quarry of South Shore is the love child of Yvette Moyo, the notable philanthropist and culturalist whose lifelong mission is to celebrate the beauty, richness, and viability of her beloved Community on the South Shore. Join her on Mondays and Fridays for dining at music, doors open at 6 p.m. First show at 7 p.m. Tell her Darryl sent you!