I'm already a fan of Vacancy Hall even though the day I went only had two businesses open…read more Leprechaun FX was open and their store is right at the back of the hall and specializes in boutique guitar pedals. I had in fact heard of them just because my husband is a massive music nerd and loves all the gear that comes along with guitars. Next to them is Saraswati Designs with a beautifully laid out space displaying so much jewellery! Such variety, I was in there for ages! And, they have a sale table with some great deals! The hall itself is found underneath the Mercer building. Enter the Rostizado entrance but head downstairs to a cool quirky communal studio space. They make a point of hosting upcoming designers and local entrepreneurs. I want to go back and enjoy all the stalls they have set up in there, especially the one who makes those 'Still In Edmonton'Shirts. This place is definitely worth checking out if you find yourself downtown, or looking for an unusual gift, or just wanna know about some cool happenings in our great city!

Vacancy hall is in the basement of the Mercer building. When you go down the stairs there is a…read morerestaurant on your left (used to be a coffee shop) and a retail store on your right (door is usually closed which prevents customers from entering IMO). Once you go past these two businesses there is a small foyer where the bathrooms can be accessed then double doors going into Vacancy Hall. Within the Hall there are walls and garage door style doors for 6-7 separate businesses. They're all on the side which creates a central space for events. Since it's a basement the ceilings feel a little low but it's actually quite practical. Exposed tubes, pipes, and ducts give it some ambiance as does the painted mural on the far back wall. The communal event space can be used to throw parties, concerts, charity events, etc. Most of your equipment will need to be brought in though. They have a few tables, lighting, and garbage cans you can use which is thoughtful. Any audio equipment, seating, and decorations would need to be brought it. The legal capacity is 195 people but the 2 bathrooms available are single use locking doors which wouldn't work for a group that size. I don't know each of the stores that have rented spaces in the Hall but each location probably deserves it's own Yelp profile so I guess that's a job for another day!

From the moment we set foot in The Oasis Center it was like walking into a movie set for some…read moreobscenely extravagant wedding . Interacting with the staff only reinforced this idea. They were always smiling, courteous and ready to assist you with anything you may need. My first thought was that I would never have dreamed that I would get married in a place like this. The Unique shape of the front exterior is both architecturally appealing and welcoming. The clean white interior makes the entire entrance area light up and the beautiful wood accents help to guide your eye. The coy pond in the front window is an amazing addition to the ambiance. Above you when you walk in is a bridge joining the 2 sections of the upstairs portion, (Amazing for "sneak peek" photos before your ceremony). The large wooden double doors open and suddenly you are in this perfect ballroom with a stage. A stage that seems like it has had an entire room built out in front of it with a gentle semi-circle curve that combined with the 3 tiers of the room allow for perfect viewing from almost any point. Finally there is the garden, an Oasis in any definition. Surrounded by an industrial area in the west of the city Oasis hides a beautiful open garden in the back with a lawn area, stage for outdoor weddings, many flower beds, a pond- complete with small waterfalls, and trails around the sides and back. All of this is lined by large trees that do a great job of removing the reality that all around is large grey buildings. We personally dealt with Marthe, our designated wedding planner, that was provided to us and an employee of The Oasis Center. She was for lack of a better word; Amazing. She responded quickly to any email we sent, kept us informed of any changes, called us to check in, scheduled appointments, worked around our schedules, and finally on the day of took care of everything in a careful and professional matter. Everything was smooth, on time and went of flawlessly. This was in no small part I imagine, due to Marthe. I would like to come up with something that would make this review more 'believable' and not just a fluff piece but I really can't. The price did stretch the limits of our pre-set budget but that was a decision we made and is no fault of theirs. Looking back now it was worth every penny and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. The Oasis, (and Marthe), provided us and our guests with the definition of a perfect day and if you are lucky enough to have your wedding here I'm sure you will feel the same.

This was a fantastic venue to host Avenue Edmonton Best Restaurants Party. The service was…read moreexemplary along with the beautiful decor. I liked that there was seating for those that wanted to sit and standing tables as well for those that were mingling around the room. The lighting was well suited to the room and I found the temperature just right. I find that for events like this, it's important to have a comfortable room where people don't feel too warm or cold. The bar was situated in the middle of the room and I found that the setup was just well thought out for traffic flow. Speaking of traffic flow, I like that there was ample parking for attendees.

Ritchie Mill is off the beaten track and it's a nice change from the hustle and bustle of Whyte…read moreAve. It's a bit of a well kept secret too. This pub/restaurant usually has pretty good specials so you will usually get a pretty good value no matter what. It's also a very comfortable place to eat or have a drink. The atmosphere is really nice and relaxed. The staff are great. I've never had an unfriendly server or bad service at Ritchie Mill. The food here is decent. It's nothing to write home about, but it's not too shabby. Ritchie Mill is unique so it's a cool place. If you're looking for a chilled out place to hang with friends - check it out. If you're looking for a nice dinner, I'd go elsewhere.

This is a superb mix of commercial enterprises, under one (warm & dry) roof! Fabulous coffee…read more(Transcend), delicious meat cuts (Meat) and excellent food with drinks (Biera)......in an upscale building just conveniently away from the hustle and bustle!!

Really great space - open and large enough for pretty much any occasion, formal or casual. I…read moreattended an event here and really enjoyed it. I can't speak to what it is like actually organizing an event here, but if I was with the group seeking this kind of space, it would be at the top of my list.

I can't speak to organizing an event with the Foundry Room, however we were vendors for a pop up…read morefunction through my work. The space is simple and beautiful! So much natural light in the day and a total blank canvas to make the space your own. I spent half the day imagining all the parties I could throw if I had endless funds. Checked out their website and it looks like the do rent the space for events and weddings for smaller groups. Cool space to check out.

Some of the best memories when I lived in Edmonton were spent playing squash with Brian Wolfman.read more

I came here last week for the first time to attend my husband's 25th high school reunion…read more There was ample parking - always good for a large group! Especially when many people will struggle with just walking upright by the end ;-) The space we had the reunion in was open with vaulted ceilings with a large balcony. The washrooms were also clean the entire night - bonus! The staff (food/liquor) were friendly and easy to find. We had both chef stations (sautéed giant shrimp on bruschetta were my fave) and hor d'oeuvres throughout the evening. We ordered a bottle of champagne to share with our table and the bartender came over to serve it to us and offered to keep it on ice at his station. Without even asking, he would reappear silently to refill our glasses. I wish I had asked his name because he was phenomenal! My only complaint was the lack of seating and volume of the dj/band but I'm guessing those were both choices by the reunion committee. I'm definitely looking forward to the next time I have an event here or any reason to come back and check 'em out.

What an incredible idea. An interactive are gallery, each room designed by different local artists…read morewith two secret rooms to find and treat (yeah actual candy hidden in this place too). So many talking points, great photo ops and cool backgrounds. This was a great way to spend an hour or so looking at the detail in each space. Finding those secret rooms was exciting and so fun to open up the doors, drawers and control the music, sit in, climb on and hang out. I think it's only here till the end of October so check it out before it goes. Can't wait to see what these creative masterminds come up with next year!

I work as a designer and it's hard to believe that this was my first year attending Vignettes. I…read morewas absolutely blown away by the creativity and the amount of work that went into each room. My friends and I ended up spending a couple hours going through all the rooms. I was surprised that it took us this long but there was just so much to see and take in. We each had our own favorite rooms and we had a hard time leaving. Some rooms we went into more than once and each time we experienced more. This is a great way to spend an afternoon and see so much amazing talent that our city has to offer!

these guys were awesome! I live way out of town, and they drove out (an hour), set everything up,…read moreand then clean everything up also. we loved the axe throwing and the giant yard games!

From the owner: At Moose & Maple Games, we're all about bringing the fun to your events! Our mission? To totally…read morechange the game when it comes to getting people together. We've got this awesome collection of giant games, outdoor activities, and team-building experiences that are guaranteed to make your event unforgettable. We're your go-to source for awesome entertainment at special events, parties, weddings, corporate shindigs, and community gatherings. Trust us, once you've experienced what we've got to offer, you won't settle for anything less. So, get ready to join the party and be a part of something amazing. Let's make some memories together!