Welcome summer by enjoying a fun-filled day at Independence Grove, a 1,100-acre nature preserve and recreation area located in Lake County. The pristine and secluded forest preserve is situated on a 115-acre lake and features hiking trails, an outdoor amphitheater, a sand beach, marina, and cafe.

The Cafe at Independence Grove

The Cafe at Independence Grove reopens this Friday, May 26th, and is a delicious attraction that you may not have known about. The cafe is run by Catering by Michaels, so the menu is all freshly prepared, made-to-order food. It’s unlike what most people would expect at a park or forest preserve.

Menu items include thin crust pizzas, gourmet salads, and classic Chicago Style Hot Dogs and Italian Beef Sandwiches. Snack on Asian Sesame Chicken Wings or Spicy Onion Straws, topped with parmesan-garlic buffalo sauce. Cool down with an afternoon sweet treat of soft serve ice cream or relax with a glass of wine.

A special ‘Kids Corner’ menu includes a Turkey “Korn-Dog” and PB&J “Uncrustables.” The cafe is open 7 days a week to the public: Mon-Thurs 10:30am to 4pm, Fri-Sun10:30am to 6pm, and until 9pm on concert evenings. 

Free Summer Concerts 

The lake and cafe alone makes your trip worthwhile, but you might as well stay for the whole day. The summer concert series is a guest favorite and begins on June 13th with a live performance by the New Invaders (60’s Rock & Roll). Concerts take place in the preserves outdoor amphitheater, Millenia Plaza, and continue through August 8th. See the full concert schedule.

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April 11, 2017

Chicago Venues We Love: Independence Grove

April 11, 2017

Chicago Venues We Love: Independence Grove

If we could pick a favorite event venue, it would have to be Independence Grove. Ok, we’ll admit it – we’re a bit biased!

Events at Independence Grove: Quick Facts

Events at Independence Grove is the exclusive caterer and event management partner of Independence Grove Forest Preserve, and is a Catering by Michaels company. The venue opened in March of 2001, and was specifically designed with a premium visitor experience in mind. It is open year-round to host various events and celebrations.

Independence Grove is located in Libertyville, Illinois in a 1,100-acre nature preserve and recreation area. People know it for its pristine beauty and secluded setting. It’s been described as a Midwestern one-of-a-kind treasure because of its natural calmness, beautiful grassland and stunning lake views. Because of this, hosting an event at Independence Grove will provide a truly unique and memorable backdrop for any type of wedding, social or corporate event.

Independence Grove

There are three main event categories we normally get bookings for at Independence Grove.

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January 24, 2017

Chicago Venues We Love: The Geraghty

January 24, 2017

Chicago Venues We Love: The Geraghty

We’re lucky to have so many amazing venues in our network, giving you direct access to a variety of stunning backdrops to complement any type of event. This week we sat down with Cyndi Roppolo Rosenberg, in charge of New Business Development at The Geraghty, to give you the inside scoop on this spectacular event space!

The Geraghty event venue in Chicago

What kinds of events typically take place in this venue?

The Geraghty was intentionally designed to easily accommodate a wide range of events from social to corporate, from weddings and mitzvahs to galas.
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January 17, 2017

Venue Spotlight: Morgan Manufacturing

January 17, 2017

Venue Spotlight: Morgan Manufacturing

If you’re always on the lookout for unique and non-traditional event spaces, you will definitely want to check out Morgan Manufacturing. The venue is like no other in Chicago, designed around a concept of modularity and industrial elegance — offering many creative capabilities to bring your wildest concepts to reality.

With 32,000 square feet of space, Morgan Manufacturing is Chicago’s leading production location for film, television and all sorts of private events. The venue is located in the hip Fulton Market neighborhood and gives guests an opportunity to create unique experiences in a historic factory setting. 

The event space is comprised of multiple rooms that can be rented separately or together depending on the size of your guest list — from an intimate gathering of 200 to an astounding 1,000 guests for cocktails! Guests will be impressed and intrigued by the stunning eight foot tall custom “bike chain chandeliers,” skylights, and three story performance area. Refurbished and reclaimed materials are what give this venue its unique vintage charm. 

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July 19, 2016

Chicago Venues We Love: Artifact Events

July 19, 2016

Chicago Venues We Love: Artifact Events

There are so many Chicago venues we love, and this week we sat down with Christine Lund, the general manager of Artifact Events. Christine told us all about why people would host an event at the space, things to keep in mind when booking, and other unique aspects of the venue and Ravenswood neighborhood in which it resides!

Q: What events typically take place in this venue?

A: We handle mostly weddings, then social and nonprofit events and lastly corporate.  

Weddings have a longer lead time. In the summer, we see less of a “wedding season” with more happening throughout the rest of the year. Corporate events have more of a set time each year when they usually occur (ex. Summer, holiday, etc.).

Chicago Venues we Love - Artifact Events

Q: What are your favorite events to host?

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