I have been to the Metropolis Ballroom for events before, but I was left a little underwhelmed this…read moretime. I was excited to support the local high school's madrigal performance--they were a 5 star act--but the supporting dinner around it was not what I imagined from the Metropolis. 1st service was mulled cider and 2 people at our table were missed so my boyfriend had to flag someone down to get the last 2 mugs filled. (The cider itself was delicious!) The tomato soup and bread course was good, although the soups were served at the same table at varying temperatures. I ordered the chicken for our party of 4 and that was pretty good. I did hear a high school student at the head table ask his parents if they could stop at Culver's on the way home because his chicken was not cooked. The dessert was pretty good, although I do not remember what it is by now. The soft drinks were grab and go cans laid out on the bar over ice. I had no problem with that choice, it was just a little unclear at first if the cans were included with our ticket or not. The coat check staff was quick and efficient. As someone who is not married yet, I had always thought about the Metropolis Ballroom as a possible venue, but after my latest experience, I would probably not consider them in the future.

I cannot begin to describe how happy we were with Metropolis Ballroom for our wedding. The venue…read moreitself was absolutely beautiful and it fit our style perfectly. We had 140 guests, but the venue definitely could have fit more! We had our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the same place which was so nice that our guests did not need to travel! The bridal suite and grooms room were both at the venue as well which was so convenient! What really set this venue apart from the others was the team. Rachel Herrera was our Event Producer and she was absolutely amazing. From start to finish she was great to work with! We booked our venue a year out and she was extremely organized, responsive with her email replies, accommodating, kind, and knowledgeable. She provided great insight and suggestions to help ensure our day was as successful and wonderful as it was. On the night of our wedding, Rachel was onsite and as supportive as ever! She also had a Banquet Captain, Mauricio, who was fantastic to work with. Guests are still raving about how great the food was. We were so pleased with the presentation and the quality of the food! We could not be happier with Metropolis and the team that helped create and execute our wedding. We are forever grateful and we would highly recommend this venue and their team to anyone!

My daughter (4) and I found ourselves in the area this Saturday afternoon, and we are always…read morelooking for new play places that won't overstimulate me, but will keep her occupied for a solid two hours. I was very excited to scope out Playroom Cafe. Playroom Café is the perfect spot for a play date/mommy coffee date, with their small cafe menu that offers coffee, small bites, milkshakes and a shockingly semi-healthy kids' food menu. The area is bright, clean and inviting, with plenty of space for adults to relax while the children explore. I love that I can see my daughter from any angle of the seating area. Solid European song selection as well, I can't even tell you how peaceful it was to not have to listen to children's music for two hours. They offer semi-private and private birthday parties and have a super cute private area to help your littles celebrate! I will definitely be adding Playroom Café to our regular rotation and for possible birthday ideas in the future.

Surviving with 2 young, active boys during winter in Chicago requires a search for quality indoor…read moreplayground. Fortunately, I have found some in the city and Chicagoland. "Playroom Cafe" is officially added to my list of children's cafes, even though it is a bit farther away from where we live. "Playroom Cafe" is located on the second floor in the Randhurst Village outdoor shopping area. The admission fee for each child is $17, with 2 adults allowed. The layout is nice and adults can supervise their kids with mostly unobstructed view while sitting down. Food offerings mirror the typical cafe items you can find in most places. Shoes are required to be off inside the cafe/play area for everyone. During our visit, we saw the staff who did a great job keeping the venue clean and things were picked up from the ground in a timely manner. They were also working on setting up a private, members-only party when we were there. Therefore, there was a plenty of people working and serving the patrons on a Saturday afternoon. Our boys had an awesome time releasing their energy and enjoyed the waffles and berry smoothie. My partner and I took turns to hang with them at the play area, which was nice to share responsilities while finding time to relax and sipping a cup of joe. We probably will be back at some point because the drive to Mount Prospect is quite long. Nevertheless, we like "Playroom Cafe" and will recommend for patents who are specifically looking for kids-centric cafes in Chicagoland.

Love Arlington Ale House! Great Service, different age…read moregroups ..big screen TV to watch The sweet 16! The days they are open is limited so be sure and check their calendar. Great vintage decor!! They also have outdoor patio with TVs for the summer.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience here was unacceptable…read more After waiting over an hour for service, I politely indicated to the bartender, Ally, that I believed I was next in line. She had just served the guests on either side of me and appeared to intentionally skip over me. In response to my comment, she began yelling at me and refused to serve me. When I eventually did receive a drink, she continued to shout obscenities at me while I was attempting to close my tab. In an effort to de-escalate the situation, I initially left a generous tip. She looked at it, laughed in my face, and stated, "You think I care about your tip? I'm rich from bartending here." I requested a manager multiple times. When one finally came out, no effort was made to meaningfully address the behavior. The bartender continued to leave her station to yell at me, and management allowed it to happen. As I was leaving, I asked for the owner's contact information so I could report the incident. Instead, I was given a fake business card, told to "go f*** myself," informed that I was banned, and threatened by the doorman, who said he would "beat the s*** out of me." I have been a regular customer and have brought large groups here in the past. Based on this experience, I will not be returning. The conduct displayed by both staff and management reflects a culture that tolerates hostility toward paying customers. If ownership values accountability, they should review their security footage from that evening. The treatment I received speaks for itself.

I normally don't write reviews, but I feel it's important to share my family's experience. My…read morecousin was supposed to have her wedding at Astoria banquet but her fiancé tragically passed away just a week before the ceremony. It's hard to even put into words how devastating this has been for her and our whole family. We reached out to the venue to explain the situation and request some kind of refund or partial credit, given the circumstances -- this wasn't a normal cancellation. Unfortunately, the hall chose not to show any flexibility or compassion. I understand that businesses have policies, but this was an extraordinary and heartbreaking situation. What hurts most is the lack of empathy. A little understanding or humanity in a moment like this goes a long way. I hope in the future, this hall considers showing more compassion toward their clients during truly tragic circumstances. I would not suggest !

Astoria refuses to return a bride partial refund due to the groom dying 7 days before the wedding…read moreNov1. no compassion or sympathy straight greed.

Quite a marvelous discovery in the local AH area. I ended up here for the first time last fall…read morewhilst looking for a place to catch a cubs playoff game with my girlfriend. Gatsby's was a short drive away so it seemed worth checking out. The main parking lot was full by the time we arrived, but I suppose thats a good thing. At first look, the inside definitely checked the boxes of a local establishment. Sports memorabilia, photographs, neon signs, etc. It did take a little bit to be greeted, but honestly I forgot pretty quickly since I was focused on the ball game and because our server was really friendly. I wish I could remember his name, but he defintly made night go smoothly. The food/drinks came out at seemingly reasonable pace for as busy as it was. We didn't really venture too much into the menu since we were there mostly for the game. I got a few apps to try from their big menu. They have quite few things to try from. The french fries were good. Nothing special, but they came hot and just right. I got some mozz sticks that were good also, again nothing else to write home. The marina was a great pairing for sure. The highlight though was for sure the cheese curds. They were succulent and very delicious. Classic Wisconsin curds friend to golden perfection. The cherry on top was the homemade ranch. Oh man, was that perfect! I went a second time about a month (ish) later, this time with a friend to catch a hawks game. Again, we were both pleased with the overall service and felt they had great consistency. This time, I tried a thin crust pizza, while my friend had the Texas BBQ Burger & Saganaki. I quit enjoyed the pie. It was pretty good quality for a bar pizza. Crust and flavor was excellent. My friend seemed to like his burger and appetizer, though he didn't finish it all. Truly an awesome place to hang at. I hope to back soon to try some more things.

Good pizza and cool area for casual meet ups. The pizza is thin and fulfilling. Friendly staff and…read moreworth a try.

Wedding Review. We…read morerecently used MDM Entertainment for hung bistro lights in our wedding reception space at Walden Chicago. We were extremely impressed with the company's professionalism throughout the entire planning process! From the staff who answered our emails to those that hung up the lights the day of, everyone was extremely helpful and assisted in making our special day run smoothly. We got married on a Friday and had the option to split the cost of the lighting package with the couple getting married on the following day-this was a great alternative that the company offered us! If you are looking to add some extra flare to your event space (especially those brides/grooms getting married in a loft/industrial space!), we would highly recommend looking into MDM Entertainment!

Had a consultation and the beginning of October and was told I would receive the quote via email…read more Waited a week with no quote, emailed Frellsie, Alex, and Patti for an update and was told it would be done by the end of the week, they were just busy. So I wait until October 17th and still receive no quote, so I reach out to them to express the urgency I needed this and that I was frustrated it was taking so long just to get an estimate that I was told would be sent over same day.. And they just didn't respond. Seems unprofessional considering they expect a 5k minimum just to book.

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.

My Party Princess is a dream to work with! They do a wonderful job at making the day magical for…read morethe littles (and i'm sure the preteens too) my 4 year olds princess party was so much fun, the staff was so helpful and sweet, we invited Rupunzel to the party and i highly recommend adding a princess to your party, it was so cute. The pizza package worked out wonderful for my crew, all in all an amazingl stress free party, Thanks Melissa!

I just had my daughter's 6th birthday party and was extremely satisfied with all that My Party…read morePrincess did! We had the royal treatment and my birthday girl felt so special getting her hair done! They took care of the entertainment, the snacks, decorations, cake...literally everything! All that I had to do was take pictures (and pay) All of the girls who came to the party had so much fun! I highly recommend!

As with most Wedding Planners and Event Managers - we are very focused on finding the ideal venue,…read morewhich will help us to deliver a beautiful and memorable event for our clients. Our first impression upon arriving at The Cotillion Banquets in Palatine, IL - for an upcoming wedding venue selection visit, was the grand and opulent exterior and ample parking lot. Our team from Luxe Décors and Events, LLC, was greeted by George, the director and information specialist on everything you hoped for, wanted and envisioned to happen, at The Cotillion Banquets in Palatine, IL. George is beyond warm, pleasant, professional, knowledgeable, charming, gracious, efficient, and oh so very skilled at listening to what you would like to accomplish for the event, that you have been hired to do. We hit it off with George IMMEDIATELY upon meeting him. He took us on a guided tour of The Cotillion Banquets, explaining to us in measured detail, what was at our disposal, to ensure that we would be able to do everything that we had planned, and be able to provide our clients - the wedding of their dreams, with regards to their décor and wedding theme. The staff at The Cotillion, under George's dedicated, experienced and genuine love and pride for what he has been doing for so many, many years - also reflects the outstanding service provided by everyone at The Cotillion Banquets. The kitchen staff, is beyond kind, truly professional and obviously loves what they do. The table settings were impeccable. The food - all freshly prepared by The Cotillion staff - is simply AMAZING !!! When we first arrived to meet with George and get to see what The Cotillion had to offer - we had already been informed about the superb level of service and the first class menu selections. The Cotillion DID NOT DISAPPOINT. We were also introduced to the owners of The Cotillion, who were also so genuinely kind and considerate, obviously wanting to also ensure, that we knew they were available, should we have any additional concerns. The Cotillion Banquets in Palatine will forever be Number One on our recommendation list for any and all events, which we are privileged to manage. We cannot say enough about ALL that George did to make this wedding event so beautiful, memorable, classy and successful. No matter how skilled, talented, or experienced an Event Planner is - without directors such as George at the venue site - who can offer their kindness, experience and support - an event will not be as successful and seamless as you may have envisioned. We at Luxe Décors and Events, LLC, are eternally grateful to you George, your staff and the owners - at The Cotillion Banquets in Palatine - for your genuine friendship, guidance and assistance, in helping to make the wedding event on November 22, 2024, the elegant success that it was. THANK YOU GEORGE, FOR MAKING OUR JOB SEAMLESSLY SUCCESSFUL!! Bravo to you George and a special toast as well to you and Everyone at The Cotillion Banquets.

Beautiful Banquet hall in Palatine ideally located just off the highway with plenty of parking and…read morean inviting entryway. The chandelier and lighting make the hall ideal for a wedding venue. Adding on the hall decorator with the smoky mist and abundance of flowers made the evening fairytale like.

Booked a class on a Sunday for Valentines Day and loved it!…read more We had Urszula as our instructor and she did not disappoint. She has a great sense of pacing and gives participants autonomy to express their own touches to pieces. She gave me really helpful pointers as it was my first time doing a class and I loved how she demonstrated on her own plate to show me how to blend colors if I wanted to and did not simply do it for me. If you are 21+, they are very accommodating with BYOB providing ice, glasses, and OJ for mimosas! Whether it's a group of friends, galentines, or date night, I highly recommend giving this place a try!

My friend and I had so much fun painting at their Fluorescent Friday/Blacklight: Midnight Glow…read moreevent! Our instructor was really sweet and gave us helpful suggestions to improve our paintings. The owner was super friendly too! I loved how he shared some history about the building. He said Al Capone produced bootlegged alcohol there, and that a burn mark on one of the wooden beams is actually from that time! I thought that was so interesting. He also did a mini trivia game, and the winner got one of the instructor's paintings. I won! I got a really cool painting that's now displayed on my bookshelf. I loved the overall atmosphere and how friendly everyone was at this location. My friend and I are already planning to come back to try another painting style!