Quasi-top secret club of altruists. Love this place!read more

Was there only once for my cousin's wedding. Can't say enough great things about the club. Talk…read moreabout a hidden gem.

A beautiful country club tucked into the Edgewater neighborhood. I've been invited several times as…read morea guest for lunch or dinner and each time has been excellent. The staff is very attentive and steps in at the exact right moment. Apart from dining there is a venue for events, a few holes for golf, tennis courts, a pool, an area for bocce ball, and an ice rink. It's quite an expensive initiation fee to join, but definitely a beautiful place to be.

I have been a member of the Village Newcomers Club (also known as the Village Club) for three years…read morenow and I just love it!! They offer so many fun activities and joining is a great way to meet people. We moved from Texas to Winnetka, IL about 3 years ago and we have made many friend through the club. I started attending their book club and then tried other things they offered. I have made some lifelong friends. They offer a lot of different social activities like book club, coffees, members meetings, adult socials, girls night out, family socials, a moms and tots group and a whole lot more. I highly recommend them!

I joined the Village Newcomers Club because I was looking for a local book club, but I quickly…read morebegan to participate in a lot of the other activities, as well. There's something for anything - adult social gatherings, girls nights out, coffee mornings, newcomers coffees, family events, wine tastings, toddler playdates, an annual holiday party, etc. There's always something going on. I've lived in the area for seven years but have met so many wonderful people through the VNC. The club covers the entire New Trier Township (Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield) and I've met people I wouldn't have otherwise met. Whether you've just moved to the area or looking for more ways to socialize, this is a great way to do it.

My husband and I had our wedding at The Woman's Club of Evanston in October 2025, and we truly…read morecannot recommend this venue enough. The space is gorgeous on its own -- not a blank slate at all -- so we didn't need nearly as many decorations or flowers as we did at other venues we considered. Our guests raved all day about how beautiful and unique the building was. One of the biggest advantages is that the entire venue is yours for the day. There are no other weddings or events happening at the same time, which makes everything feel calm, special, and centered on your celebration. We had a Sunday brunch wedding, held our ceremony downstairs (very cozy and intimate), and our reception upstairs in the ballroom. The flow between spaces was seamless, and the ballroom floor is amazing for dancing. The sound system was excellent -- speeches and music were crystal clear. Gretchen was wonderful to work with throughout the planning process. She provided vendor recommendations, kept us on track to meet deadlines, and answered all of our questions. We used J&L Catering for our food and Schaffer's for alcohol, and both were excellent and the liquor from Schaffer's was a significant cost savings. Another huge bonus: so many essentials are included with the rental, such as tables, chairs, silverware, and plates. At other venues, those items can be surprisingly expensive to source. Logistically, this location is hard to beat. There are several hotels and great restaurants within walking distance, making it incredibly easy for our out-of-town guests to enjoy an entire weekend in Evanston. Our local guests appreciated that parking is free in Evanston on Sundays and close to the venue. There are also plenty of bathrooms on the same floors where all the events take place -- a small detail that makes a big difference for guest comfort. Finally, it felt meaningful to support a historic building and philanthropic organization rather than a large hotel chain. Overall, we highly recommend The Woman's Club of Evanston as a premier wedding venue in the greater Chicagoland area. We couldn't imagine having celebrated anywhere else.

A perfect wedding venue. I fell in love with the Women's Club of Evanston the moment I walked in…read morefor a tour. It is a gorgeous old mansion with deep roots; the manager (Gretchen) is kind, reliable, and so easy to work with; the preferred caterer we used (Catering by Michaels) was raved about by our guests; and the gift of bringing your own alcohol was huge. Our guests kept commenting on the uniqueness of the space, how great it was to have a pianist playing during our cocktail hour on the first floor, and how joyful and bright the ballroom looked. It was honestly beyond anything I imagined. A few extra things of note - our guests stayed at the Graduate Evanston which is barely a block away (no shuttles needed!); there is a huge parking garage across the street so nobody was looking for parking; and have I mentioned how beautiful the space is? I wish I had a reason to throw a huge event again - I would go back to the Women's Club every time. Huge thank you to Gretchen and her team!

In theory LTS would be a great organization. However, my teammates and I recently discovered a few…read morethings. First of all, only 7% of each teams fee is donated. Then whatever team wins, $250 is donated to a charity. While all donations are great, it just seems to me it should be more. I play with a few pick up clubs that donate that on a regular basis. Another issue was the attitude of one of our refs in our soccer league. He was a bigger guy with a beard who seemed to have a rechip on his shoulder. He would pick fights with players and not just with 1 team. One day a few of our players were early and were sitting in a group talking and he walked up to us and said "can you help set the goals up?" , we said "sure" and his response was "that would be the nice thing to do". He was very passive aggressive. We were a laid back team too. We even let other teams borrow our players if they didn't have enough. Just not a "feel good" experience you would expect.

A great organization to be a part of! Our company played kickball through them and they donate a…read morepercentage of the registration fee, as well as the championship winnings, to the CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE!! So proud to be a part of this.

It was an interesting visit to the Chicago Club. I stayed during a summer weekend, and the club…read morewas virtually empty. Staff members were very attentive. My room was lovely and comfortable -- with wonderful snacks and water, which were nice touches. The Terrace (rooftop) restaurant and bar was nice. And the club is in a great location. During my stay, I toured the large rooms on the second level. One of the rooms was so grand and gorgeous that it literally took my breath away! Stunning!!! (see pics) I was advised in advance that there would be no meal service over the weekend, save for Saturday night. That was fine for me, but I note it because others may prefer to stay at a club where they can eat all of their meals.

Historic, exclusive, very classy. It's a members only club, with a long history. If you have the…read moresort of money, wealth, connections, and pedigree that you are a member, you're probably not reading the YELP reviews. If, on the other hand, you've been invited by a member for something going on here, don't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity, but dress appropriately.

After the email exchange I had with Allyson on Wednesday, I feel compelled to write this review…read more First, I will take you back to September of 2010; it was not my finest hour by any means. I had graduated from college that May and had been sitting around the house collecting dust ever since. Once you have been unemployed long enough to see Family Feud go through two hosts, you know that the time had come to once again give your life purpose, so I actively began to tackle items on my bucket list. Through some research on handy-dandy Yelp, I discovered Sweatshop of Love. Last September, I started with Allyson's 'Holiday Present Prep' class (which she is repeating again this year). It is basically the class you make out of it. Everyone in the class contributes to a Google Doc list of homemade gifts that they would like to make for their friends and family. All class participants can access and alter it so everyone can encourage each other and get ideas for their gifts as well. During this 10-session course, I learned not only the knitting basics, but also how to make scarves, socks, mittens, gloves, bags, the ever popular beer cozy, and 80% of a sweater (I ran out of steam on it toward the end; smaller projects provide more instant gratification!). Granted, I was knitting like it was paying the rent and the rent was due tomorrow, but I couldn't believe the quality and amount of instruction I was able to receive for $95. Allyson is so sweet and patient; she will never say anything but encouraging things to you in class. I may not have had a job, but I still had the satisfaction of knowing I could make practical items for myself, which was (and still is) so invaluable. Almost immediately after Holiday Present Prep finished, I landed a job...and started a lunchtime knitting group. The student had become the teacher? Not quite Allyson caliber, but I knew enough to teach a group of ladies at work how to make 'Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth'. I felt like such a proud parent when my coworkers would come up to me on Monday morning and show me the progress they had made over the weekend. Anyway, this Wednesday, Allyson sent out an email regarding her upcoming fall classes, which included another item on my bucket list: learn how to crochet. Nice! If you are not ready to make that 10-week commitment, she also offers a one-night introduction to knitting and individual one or two-night projects you can choose to work on. If you are completely new to this and don't know where to begin, Allyson will also buy your supplies for the first day for an additional fee. So to sum it all up, you can learn some yarn arts at a reasonable price with a friendly group of people in a cozy coffee shop in Logan Square. If you have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet, this is a great place to start! The only thing you stand to lose is that trip to Target when you need a new pair of socks.

The Sweatshop of Love totally rocks!…read more I had my first class with Allyson last year and she was super patient and understanding with me and my clumsy fingers. After she taught me how to knit, I wanted to take it up a notch and learn how to crochet. I went to her beginner's crochet class with a friend and we had a great time! We all chatted and drank coffee and had so much fun! She always takes the time out to help you and she never makes you feel stupid for not getting something the first (or second, or third) time. BONUS: She always sends detailed notes and instructions following a class so you don't forget what you have learned! I would HIGHLY recommend The Sweatshop of Love for your knitting and crocheting education!

I came out to support this local business for The Tribute to Love Jones Open Mic. An open mic for…read morepoets to show their creative talent based off the movie Love Jones. The ticket price was $20 which included a drink. I got there early to find a park. Parks around the Belmont Area is hard to find. I was lucky to find a meter parking space right in front of the Cafe. Doors were to open up at 6pm. I waited outside until 6:30pm before someone finally let us in. Ok, that knocked off a Yelp Gold Star. I walked inside there was a table where you give your name to check in and was giving a ticket for your drink. There was a menu for you to pick your drink and you could also purchase a slice of pizza. The cafe had real good vibes. There was a DJ playing some good music. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back. There were so many amazing talented poet in the place. Everyone who graced the stage that evening was phenomenal. I had been searching to find a live open mic poet jam. Even though it started off 30 minutes late. The staff was polite and was making sure everyone was comfortable. The drinks were good and well made. Even the founder of the cafe was behind the counter helping out the staff. The energy and mission of this cafe is something that is needed in every community.

What I'm awesome coffee shop. I visited during their fundraiser event and let me tell you. I was…read morenot disappointed. It's very limited parking in the area but you know it's Chicago. There is plenty of seating in the restaurant, comfy chairs, regular chairs, and even a section for live music and a DJ. The coffee drinks are named after very well-known hip-hop artist. I ordered the Kendrick Lamar and it was very refreshing made with oat milk. We were greeted pleasantly and enjoyed our visit.

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.

I have many years of wonderful memories at The Cliff Dwellers. This wonderful and historic Chicago…read moreclub has been a place where I have made new friends, learned many new things about Chicago architecture and art, and enjoyed many excellent meals. Thank you to The Cliff Dwellers for being a wonderful part of Chicago and Illinois history! God bless.

Nice venue space. Food was okay. Loved the vinegarette on the salmon. Drinks were basic. Nice wine…read morethough. It's a private club, it caters to its crowd. Nice quality amazing view. Worth my money for the event.