We hired Wellington Strings to perform as a string trio for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour…read moreat the Morton Arboretum on Jan. 22, 2011. If I could give them six stars, I would. Everything, from planning to execution was flawless. Working with Emanuel was wonderfully collaborative and really helped eliminate any stress we felt about our wedding music. We selected some unusual pieces for our processional and recessional, and Emanuel was incredibly accommodating. When we were walking through the room before the ceremony and heard them practicing (our first time hearing the songs played live), we both got teary eyed, it was so beautiful. As anyone planning a wedding knows, communication is key when it comes to vendors, and WS excelled in this area, even when we got picky and had lots of questions. Emanuel was very patient and willing to share his expertise when we were unsure about one thing or another. I went into my wedding day confident that I didn't have a single worry about the ceremony music. They were even generous enough to let us use their PA and mic for the ceremony itself. The music itself was performed beautifully. The two Joe Hisaishi songs we special-requested (from Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving castle," two of our favorite movies) had never sounded better. There was such a fullness and richness to the sound -- we received many compliments as to how lovely the music was, both during the ceremony and cocktail hour. To say the Wellington Strings are a great value would be a huge understatement -- they were a bargain beyond what we'd hoped for, and they helped bring an added element of elegance to our special day.

Wellington Strings played absolutely beautifully during my wedding ceremony. Their music added…read moresophistication and elegance and they were able to accompany the church pianist during mass songs. Overall, easy to work with, good selection of music, and talented performers. 100% recommended.

After booking the chapel, I had no idea what to do for wedding music. I wanted quality musicians…read morethat were affordable, flexible, and professional. Enter Windy City Chamber Musicians, recommended to me by Amy R. She married in the same chapel as I, and therefore had first-hand experience of WCCM in action there. I contacted Claire at WCCM to see if they were available for my date. They were, much to my relief. I listened to the samples on the website, looked at the price quotes depending on the musicians used, and debated. And debated. And debated some more. After much hemmin' and hawin' over deciding whether to do a trio or duo (the chapel is on the small side and I felt a quartet would be a bit much), I decided on the duo as it was the most affordable option, as yours truly was footing this bill on her own. I mailed my deposit to secure the date, and awaited the packet to arrive in the mail with further instructions. After a few weeks, I emailed Claire asking where the packet was. She apologized and said that she was busy and forgot to send it. A few days later, I received the packet in the mail which included the cue sheet for musicians, a planning sheet, and a ceremony sheet to fill out for our music choices. After making our choices, I sent the information back mid-October, well before my November 1st deadline. I opted for a few traditional pieces like Canon in D major and Wedding March obviously. For the sand ceremony and postlude I chose The Beatles pieces "Here, There and Everywhere" and "When I'm 64", respectively. The lack of stars is due to communication; if half stars were an option WCCM would be a 3.5. I would email Claire and she wouldn't respond until I would send another email. When I would mail her my payments, I'd ask her to email me and let me know when she received them. Sometimes she would, otherwise I'd have to email and ask if she received them (when I mailed them weeks prior). I had sent her money towards the balance three weeks earlier, and I had to email her to find out if she received it. How am I to know if she received it, or if the money was stolen or the envelope lost? I understand people are busy but this was my entire experience. My wedding was in December so for being an off-peak month for a wedding, I don't understand why the communication was poor. Very frustrating. Then I inquired as to whether a musician could come to our rehearsal, as our wedding is non-traditional and therefore will be done differently. On the cue sheet for the musicians, it states "...when a wedding is more complicated or non-traditional, a musician may need to be present at your wedding rehearsal." Claire stated that she could find out if one of them would be available but it would be an additional charge. I declined, as I didn't have the extra money. She told me that instead, we could talk over the phone after she received the cue sheet. We did end up talking over the phone and all the plans put in place were perfectly executed on our wedding day. The musicians were great, no complaints there. In fact, we received quite a few compliments on their pieces played both during the ceremony and cocktail hour. WCCM was one of two vendors we didn't meet with before signing the contract, but it worked out much better than the other vendor. I went by a good recommendation and I'm sad that my experience wasn't worthy of five stars, however, I'd certainly recommend them to anyone looking for talented musicians and nontraditional wedding music.

Just like everything else about our wedding, I wanted our music to be a little weird. We had…read moreselected some of our favorite Beatles songs that we wanted played on string instruments for the ceremony. I had emailed a few places, most of which came back and said no, they wouldn't do this, one of which who said he'd first need to re-compose the music at $300/hour (seriously!), and Claire at WCCM who said "sure, we can do that." I read the reviews on weddingwire and they all seemed positive, so I went with them. Claire was amazing to communicate with - she absolutely never bothered me, answered all my questions quickly, made suggestions for the ceremony (e.g., our tiny chapel required only a string trio), and was courtesy and polite throughout (even when I did dumb stuff, like mail her my song list without first making a copy for myself). They were my only vendor with whom I never met before booking or ever during our engagement, which probably was quite silly, but it worked out perfectly. Their price for an hour of music was quite reasonable, and they charged me a paltry $5 a Beatles tune to get the licensing to play it. On the day of, they arrived early, were dressed professionally, and played beautifully - I kept finding myself standing on the steps of the downstairs section of the chapel so I could hear all the great songs in our prelude. I walked down the aisle to "Blackbird," which I thought would be incredibly difficult for me because I was already walking myself down the aisle alone, but it actually worked out the opposite - they played so beautifully that I found my rhythm and walked confidently and happily to my husband. I appreciate that they're a professional, talented group of musicians who also aren't afraid to do something a little quirky. I'd recommend them to anyone!

Paul Mabin and his band was recommended to us by a friend of Marcy owner of Here Comes the Party…read more(though we did not use her, but heard she is great!!). I took a chance, called Paul and immediately did not feel like interviewing other bands. We met, talked about what my visions were (and I had none--so Paul helped shed some light =). and the rest was history. Paul (and his band) performed at our May '11 wedding reception at the Peninsula hotel and they were just incredible!! Friends/families still compliments us on how great the band was which made our reception even more amazing. For our first dance, Paul did his rendition of Ray LaMontagne's You're the Best Thing, and it was just, really, the best thing ever!! The band sounded incredible and his voice is just unbelievable. (and now that I'm re-watching my wedding video--I couldn't be happier with my decision!) He was able to "read" the crowd and kept our dance floor packed--as experienced by the another reviewer. The band did everything from Sinatra classics to Journey, to Bruno Mars for my friends who love top40s! Per my request, Paul also announced and sang Happy Birthday to a handful of friends and family who had their birthday that weekend! And he also MC'd the rest of our reception and he was just charming! Stop looking, this is your band!!!

This is my first Yelp review, and frankly, I was compelled to join just so that I could spread the…read moreword about how fantastic The Paul Mabin Band is. After considering several bands in the Chicago area, I finally went with Paul because one of my best friends heard him play at another wedding and swore I wouldn't be sorry. I wasn't. The Paul Mabin Band made our wedding such a blast. From the second they started playing, the dance floor was packed. No fewer than ten people made it a point to tell me that The Paul Mabin Band was the best wedding band they had ever seen. They are awesome at oldies and motown, but are also great at contemporary music. And, Paul is just a great guy. The band graciously learned a new song when my Father/Daughter song was not on the playlist. I HIGHLY recommend them. Book them now because the word is spreading. Every single person at our wedding plans to book them when they get married!

I love the history of Arcada Theatre. It opened in 1926 on Labor Day weekend (their 100th birthday…read moreis coming up!). I remember when I was a kid we went on a tour here and the tour guide talked about a few ghost stories and myths about Al Capone using this place as one of his hiding spots. He took us backstage and in the basement. It was one of the most memorable tours I've ever been on, and probably what triggered my love for historical tours. I used to come here as a kid to see movies too. I have a fond memory of seeing the Wizard of Oz here (which I remember being projected onto a screen), and their old concession stand. Back then, Arcada Theatre was pretty simple and they hadn't yet updated it to be what it is today. Seeing the changes done to it have been a little heartbreaking for me, but I do appreciate that the owner has tried his best to turn it into something fun and still on theme with 1920s vibe. Now, there is a huge focus on live shows and entertainment. It feels like over the past 5 years, the live entertainment here has exploded and become so much more popular than it's ever been. The theater now mostly looks like a concert venue with big stage lights, speakers, and screens. There are also multiple different restaurants on site. It's a little disappointing whenever I see slot machines at a business, especially one with so much history, but oh well. I came here recently because I saw on their website they do a Silent Film series every month and I thought it would be fun to see at a theatre that started out showing silent movies! They were playing The Kid starring Charlie Chaplin. Before the movie, I purchased a box of their popcorn for $6. There was a live organ player called The Phantom that played during the entire movie, which I enjoyed. Overall, the experience was good but during the movie, it started buffering for a couple minutes and when it started up again, you could see the bar at the bottom of the screen to press play lol--it definitely took away from the experience.

The Arcada Theatre is a really cool place to go. It is old and historic in a good way. We were at…read morethe St. Charles History Museum when the docent told my husband and I that you can go in the theatre and ask for a tour. So that's what we did. It was a Tuesday afternoon when we went, so there were no shows going on. We were able to see the performance area, the balcony, and backstage areas. We also got to see the restaurants and bars on the upper levels of the theatre. Around every corner is another historic artifact or interesting thing to see. I can't wait to go back to see a show or eat at one of their restaurants. I highly recommend the Arcada Theatre!

The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, IL, is a vibrant hub for…read morethe performing and visual arts, offering an array of professional theater, music, dance, comedy, and family-friendly performances. While the MAC hosts a wide range of cultural programming year-round, what has drawn us back time and again, now three times, are their exceptional, large-scale art exhibitions, presented every two years. The most recent of these is the 2025 exhibition Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World (on view from May 31 to September 21). This immersive experience transports visitors to the lively and refined world of 17th-century Edo-period Japan. The exhibit vividly captures a time when Edo (present-day Tokyo) thrived as the cultural and economic heart of the nation, defined by its devotion to the arts, nature, and the pleasures of daily life. A highlight of the exhibition is the U.S. debut of the Museum Galleries - Chiossone Collection, featuring a remarkable 70-piece selection of ukiyo-e masterpieces. Among these are 53 original paintings and woodblock prints by renowned artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, alongside 17 beautifully crafted objects. Together, they offer a captivating window into Japan's "floating world." The MAC consistently excels in delivering these world-class exhibitions. The experience is not only visually stunning but also engaging and educational. The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always ready to enhance your visit. Last, but not the least, there is a very nice gift shop there. We bought some cute Japanese noodles and rice bowls with the "floating world" art theme from the gift shop. Attending an art exhibition there is truly a joy, and we look forward to each new one.

We came for the Hokusai exhibit on a Friday. It was a little hard to find, the address on the flyer…read moredidn't direct us to the right area. Saw some signs near campus but not enough. Was finally able to find it by searching McAninch Arts Center (MAC). The exhibit is cool, loved the eki (train station) stamps for the passport you're given. I wasn't expecting much and it lived up to expectations. After experiencing it do I think it was worth the $27/per person admission? Not for me. But it's still cool and definitely worth a visit if you're an art enthusiast.

I love this place! The prices are reasonable so that you can see all season…read more The theater is not very big. Even if you are in the last row you can see well. The plays are family friendly. They usually do 1 "children's" play such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang each season. The theater is non profit. The cast is all volunteer. Do not let that affect what you think. The plays are wonderful. I just saw Tuesdays with Morrie last night. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. If you have not been to one of the plays before...well, you are missing a good show.

This venue is a hidden gem . Local theatre company with exceptional talent, costumes, set design…read more Family affordable and clean and friendly and just a joy ! Don't pass up if you have a chance to see a show here ! No regrets ever !

What an incredible night at the Arcada Speakeasy! From the moment we walked in, we were blown away…read moreby how absolutely beautiful the venue is. Every room had its own unique charm, but the Charlie Chaplin Room was definitely a favorite--such a fun and perfect spot for photos! The food and drinks were delicious, the atmosphere was amazing, and the service was flawless. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely seemed to care about making sure everyone had a great experience. To top it all off, the band was outstanding! They kept the energy high and had us dancing the night away. If you're looking for a unique night out with great food, drinks, entertainment, and ambiance, the Arcada Speakeasy is a must-visit. We can't wait to come back!

Conceptually this could be a fun and unique experience but it needs service, food and ambiance…read moreimprovements. We went for the music which was great but the venue is sad and tired. Menu is limited unless you like meatball salad, meatball appetizer or meatball sandwich. Wait staff seemed to lack training. Don't recommend.

I had been here a few years ago to see The Producers with my husband, since I knew he'd love it…read more(and he did). This theatre consistently provides excellent experiences with top-tier quality shows, often drawing from local and Broadway talent alike. However crowded theatres get in downtown Chicago, and however surly their employees can be at times, the Paramount is the opposite on both counts. What a breath of fresh air! Better yet, the sightlines are terrific. Even in the very back, you have a great view of the stage, and the seats' heights are staggered enough where short people's views aren't easily blocked. Although the Paramount is quite far from where I live, so it's not a super frequent visit for me, that is not due to any lack of quality in terms of the experience or shows!

I had an amazing experience at the Paramount Theater! I went to see The Full Monty, and it exceeded…read moreall my expectations. The venue itself is beautiful, with great acoustics and a classic atmosphere that really adds to the overall experience. The performance was fantastic, funny, energetic, and surprisingly heartfelt. The cast did an incredible job, and the production quality was top-notch. You could tell a lot of effort went into every detail. Staff were friendly and helpful, and everything from entry to seating was smooth and well-organized. I can't wait to come back for another show!