This review is long overdue, but I had to share! I called several balloon companies and was getting…read morenervous about pulling this off in such a short time--until I connected with Megan at North Shore Balloon Decor. From our very first conversation, I felt completely at ease. Megan clearly knows her stuff! I signed the contract that same day (or maybe the next) and sent a few emails to confirm details. Every time, she stayed calm and reassured me: "I got this." And she delivered! The team arrived early, set everything up beautifully, and even made tweaks based on my suggestions. Everything turned out perfect. If you want a balloon company that truly knows what they're doing, this is the one. I recommend them hands down--actually, hands and toes down. I wanted an orange balloon arch and got exactly what I asked for.

They offer Beyond great service! I was in a bind, she came through and exceeded my expectations!…read moreThe balloon arch was gorgeous! Better than what we had expected and made a very very well! All the balloons were perfectly circular ( ours didn't have variety in size so this was important! She blew up the balloons and was using an arch that I owned to put put the arch together at my request . my arch had some tape on it from older use, the balloons kept popping ! she knew exactly how to remedy the problem, and fixed it so quick! She is very artistic fast and professional, and sweet and kind too! Do not hesitate for a second, whatever your request is she will fill it beautifully ! North Shore Balloon Decor will be my only Balloon people from now on! Great work, great price !

My kids have never signed up for a weekly class here, but they've attended several bday parties and…read moremini camps...and it's always a guaranteed good time! And educational! This past week my son and his friend took a break from their regular day camp to do a week (half days: 9am-12pm). The theme was Cool Science & Sports Physics. I didn't get a ton of details about what they did on a daily basis, but they came home with huge smiles and projects they were proud of. They finished the camp today and eagerly said they would be open to doing another week soon. I haven't done the full day yet because that seems like a lot of science for one day, but the kids I know who stay all day love it. It's very organized, educational and fun! Both my daughter and son love it and I'll likely send my little guy when he's old enough. They do tend to clog up your inbox with promotional emails once you sign up, but guess that's also good to keep on top of the many options they have to sign up for. Thanks for another fun week!

They refused to release my child to me unless I show them a photo ID everyday. It doesn't matter if…read morethe child says hi daddy or I showed them my ID yesterday. They treat parents they know as unknown persons. This policy is beyond annoying and I'm sick of seeing the scorn on their faces at pickup. I will not patronize this business in the future.

Stacey knows how to put together an amazing event . I hired her for my son's recent bar mitzvah and…read moream so glad I did. She has impeccable taste and her attention to detail is remarkable. She is creative, organized, fun and easy to work with. She helped orchestrate the whole night and helped with service set up ( even designed and created our floral arrangements!) and helped with every detail of our celebration. While I knew we would have a fun party, Stacey's ideas and execution from start to finish made our event spectacular. Highly recommend!!!!

I call Stacey Moe the Energizer Bunny - she is unstoppable on the longest of days, never flagging…read morein energy, effort or creativity. We most recently hired Stacey for our daughter's bat mitzvah. From the very first meeting, she was creative, resourceful, and on top of all aspects of the party. Nothing was halfway. Even when I, long since tired of the planning process, declared something "good enough," Stacey came up with something better, a wow-factor that didn't stretch the budget. On the evening of the event, I didn't do a thing. Stacey never stopped moving, never missed a thing, and when it did occur to me to check on things, Stacey beat me to it by showing up with an update. What sets Stacey apart from the myriad event planners on the north shore is her range, adaptability and accessibility. She can do a lovely, refined bridal shower at the country club just as meticulously as a loud, techno party in a loft space. She never makes you feel like you need to spend more or do more than you'd planned. She doesn't push ideas. Stacey's so very fun and easy to work with, such an authentic person, it feels like planning a party with your best girlfriend, the one who knows all the best places and picks out the best centerpieces and has an amazing little source for favors that no one else has used - and is just as excited as you are about making it a great event.

Hands done the BEST customer service. The guys at set up and take done were so friendly. They…read moreexplained how to ensure a fun and safe experience for everyone. Cannot wait to utilize their services again.

I paid for a weekend rental of an inflatable water slide in July of 2022. Due to inclement weather…read morewe had to cancel and while they didnt offer a refund, they emailed me a raincheck credit good for one year. First week of April 2023, I forward them the raincheck email to try and redeem and they did not honor it. They took my money and I got literally nothing in return. I just filed a complaint with the BBB.

I brought my niece to this magical place after we had been apart since covid. She lives in NC…read more The hospitality was inherent and not taught The decor was a sensory pleasure. The joy in my nieces eyes shines in every photo. Thankyou so very much.

This place is a must for a little girl party. My daughter had her party here and I received so…read moremany compliments of how unique and fun it was. It's located right in downtown Algonquin and it's "house" so it adds to the charm. There are many different parties to choose from, but each one includes dress-up and a tea party. You can add makeup and hair for additional cost and each party has varying add-ons so the cost will vary, but the cost is very reasonable. This is not a place where parents stay for the event as the place cannot accommodate that many people (I def did not mind that aspect), so be aware of that. I brought my camera and told the parents I would take lots of pics and for them to provide me their email addresses so that I could forward them once uploaded. Once the girls arrive, they go upstairs to where there are racks of clothes, shoes, and many accessories to choose from with all sizes. After the girls have made their final selections, they take a picture then head to their tea party room. There, they have princess tea (which is sprite dyed pink I believe), cookies, marshmallows, cracker/pretzel mix, and cupcakes. They sing Happy Birthday there as well. After that, they change back into their clothes and go downstairs to open presents. Rebecca is a saint and does an excellent job with the party and the girls. I would def recommend this place for your next party.

My husband and I chose The Caterist as the caterer for our wedding reception and we couldn't be…read moremore pleased. From the very beginning with our tasting, Erin from their team was incredibly responsive to our questions and concerns and so easy to work with. On the day of the wedding, the servers and bartenders were all friendly and helpful. Now the important part: the food was amazing. So many guests at our wedding came up to us raving about the food. Entrees were well seasoned and the portions were generous, and the desserts on our dessert table were also very tasty, with a lot of variety. Overall, would definitely recommend working with the Caterist for your wedding!

The Caterist provided exceptional service for our fundraising event at the Evanston History Center…read more We received positive reviews on the food tasting wonderful. As an event organizer, I also appreciated how easy it was to work with their team during planning and on the event day. Their staff was friendly and all smiles which makes such a difference for guests.

Had a great time at Funtopia with my kids. So many climbing walls, it was a good time (especially…read morethe Christmas theme for the winter). I had the chance to check out their party rooms as they were running kind of a family open house for their Christmas time. Lots of fun challenges for the kids as they put snowflakes and cookies on the climbing walls for kids to collect for a prize. They had a food buffet showcasing some of their food options pizza, pizza puffs, meatballs, chicken tenders. Salad and hot chocolate. The staff was super friendly and good with the kids. We had a great time. The party space accommodates several groups at the same time.

Great variety of activities for all ages. Plus, there are tables for parents to hang out or work…read more Free wifi!

We've driven by this restaurant SO many times and have yet to come by until now. What a fun…read moreexperience we had! When you pull up to the plaza you would think anything of the restaurant but when you go inside it's a fun colorful experience. When we were seated we were brought waters and menus. We took some time to look at the menus but ultimately took our server's suggestions on drinks. I ended up having a virgin Rose Colored Glasses drink and absolutely loved it. The drinks were large and I felt they were worth the price. My husband got an old fashioned. To start we got the cheese curds, and when I tell you these cheese curds still live rent free in my mind I kid you not. They were so good, the cheese was battered in a tempura batter with a truffle cream sauce and it made for such an incredible dish! For our entrees we got the pork chop with the brown butter sauces and bavette with a red wine reduction. The pork chop was great with the brown butter you just gotta make sure you mix it up, and the red wine was a bit too salty for me but it was okay because I ended up loving the steak by itself! For our sides we got the grilled zucchini under the snacks option instead of the sides option because I wanted all the fixings. It was a great choice! The fixings really made and I could eat a plate of that and just be happy (with the cheese curds of course). The wiped potatoes were great as well. Now I was going to pass on dessert because I was SO full already, but twist my arm when you tell me the cookie dough ice cream is a must try. It had real cookie dough chunks on top and bottle and the vanilla ice cream was not boring vanilla, I ate almost half of that bowl and couldn't stop. The chocolate chip cookie dough was house made and it was the perfect blend of sweet and salty that tied the whole ice cream bowl together. Can't recommend that enough as well. All in all, we had a great experience! It was so fun to see so many regulars and so many new folks who came in to dine at the same time as us and we all peeked to see who ordered what before we ordered and got some great recs as you can see! Can't wait to come back to enjoy my favorites and more!

So the first time we were here it was amazing but this time it was subpar at best. Don't know if…read morethey have a new chef or what but the food was not good. Started with the bread and crabcakes and the bread was amazing and definitely fresh but the crabcakes needed more crab and flavor. Basically everything needed more flavor. We also ordered a bottle of wine which our server struggled with and never came over to refill the glasses. Then the entree's; my husband's bolognese was bland and desperately needed at least salt and pepper. Then the real problem was my steak which was supposed to be medium came out well done and then classically when it was recooked came out rare or medium rare if you are being generous. Then the waitress said she would check back and she didn't so I had to get salt myself from the server station which is kinda ridiculous especially when paying $54 for a steak that already has no seasoning which is why they offer free sauces which makes a lot of sense now. When she finally did come back I said it was under but not waiting for it to be overcooked again so reheating it at home with the cold side of mushrooms I ordered WITH my steak. I did talk to the manager after and he was not really helpful or sympathetic and I was really talking to him so in my review I could say well at least management cares but that is not the case here. I gave 2 stars because their drinks are good and the ambiance is nice and the hostess was super friendly and was the star employee after our visit. Also we paid for everything even the cold mushrooms and over/under cooked steak! At minimum also remake my mushrooms or comp them. Would I eat here again hopefully not but it is locationally desirable for me and my in-laws and have lots of GF options so might have to and if I do hopefully they will have made things better.

I had the pleasure of working with Cindy Shanholtz of Effortless Events for our company's 100th…read moreanniversary dinner and celebration, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From the moment we began planning, Cindy's attention to detail, professionalism, and creativity shone through at every step. Cindy took the time to truly understand our vision for the event and worked tirelessly to bring it to life in a way that exceeded all expectations. She seamlessly coordinated every aspect, from the venue selection and decor to the catering and entertainment. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her organizational skills ensured everything ran smoothly on the day of the event. The 100th anniversary dinner itself was nothing short of spectacular! The atmosphere Cindy created was elegant and celebratory, perfectly reflecting our company's history while looking forward to its future. Our guests were wowed by the thoughtful touches, from the custom table settings to the beautifully designed timeline of our company's milestones. What really set Cindy apart was her ability to handle every challenge with grace and poise. Despite the complexities of planning such a significant event, she kept everything stress-free for our team, managing all logistics and vendors without missing a beat. It was clear that Cindy and her team truly cared about making this milestone event unforgettable. If you're looking for an event planner who can turn your vision into a flawless reality, Cindy Shanholtz and Effortless Events are the way to go. She made our 100th anniversary celebration an extraordinary experience, and I can't wait to work with her again in the future! Holly Both VP Sales & Marketing, Plymouth Tube Co.

This is my 2nd posting for Cindy and her team at Effortless events. I recently hired them for…read moreanother wedding celebration in Chicago for my daughter who got married in DC. Again, they did not disappoint. Cindy's attention to detail is remarkable. She recommended the venue and took the reigns. From the flowers, decor and layout it was perfect. She suggested so many fun things...like a s'mores bar for dessert where guests assembled and "cooked" their own! We had mini individual cast iron skillets with fresh chocolate chip cookies and guests could top them with ice cream. Everyone raved about it and EE did it all...I just showed up and enjoyed it. Thanks Cindy + team!

John did a perfect job at our recent housewarming party…read more He showed up early and eager to prepare the bar prior to the arrival of our first guests. Not only was he great at the bar, but he also helped out by walking around with a platter asking guests if he could swap and refresh their cocktails. He kept the bar stocked (and restocked from our basement) during the party so that we could enjoy time with our friends. He also did a great job cleaning up at the end of the night. John is a true professional who treats others with kindness and care. Not only will we be using his services in the future, but multiple friends mentioned that they will be hiring him as well for future celebrations!

We hired John's Bartending Service for my birthday party and it was amazing! Shannon was our…read morebartender and she was wonderful! We had to pivot quickly because of the weather and she was very flexible. The last hour we went outside and she moved outside with us. The drinks were delicious and everyone appreciated her being there!