Should I book a blank canvas venue or a full-service one?
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Blank canvas
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Full service
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How you pay
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Hire fee per hour
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Per person or minimum spend
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Typical entry point
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C$85 – C$140 per hour
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C$20 – C$62 per person, or from C$1,000 minimum spend
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Catering
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You order in or bring it
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In-house kitchen, external catering often not allowed
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Alcohol
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Usually BYO, sometimes with a permit – see below
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Venue-licensed bar, no BYO
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Setup and cleanup
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Yours, inside your booked hours
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Included
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Best for
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10 – 50 guests, personalised decor, tight budgets
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50 – 120 guests, sit-down meals, hands-off planning
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Example
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Studio at Shvrk Studio Kensington – from C$85 per hour, 30 standing
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Tropical Themed Space at TacoTaco – food from C$6 per person, staffed bar, setup and cleanup included
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The spot worth knowing about: Whole Space at Bellamy Loft in North York charges a hire fee from C$1,150 plus a per-person rate from C$55 and supplies decor, setup and catering – an all-inclusive route for planners who do not want to coordinate vendors.
What size small party venue do I need for 10, 20, 30 or 50 guests?
Watch the gap between seated and standing. Diptych Studio lists 150 standing but seats only 30 for dining. Foy Dining Room holds 25 theatre-style but 8 for a meal. If you are planning a sit-down dinner, the dining figure is the one that matters.
Typical sizes and prices across Toronto party rooms:
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Size band
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Guests
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Average hire fee
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Small
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Up to 50
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C$95 / hour
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Medium
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65 – 120
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C$199 / hour
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Large
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Over 125
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C$300 / hour
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Where are the cheapest small party venues in Toronto?
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District
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Average hire fee
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Range
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What you get
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Downtown Toronto
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C$130 / hour
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C$70 – C$275 / hour
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Photo studios, lofts, restaurants and bars in Kensington Market, the Entertainment District and the Financial District. Best transit access
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North York
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C$120 / hour
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C$79 – C$204 / hour
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Larger all-inclusive event spaces and coworking function rooms. Good parking, all-in packages more common
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Scarborough
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C$100 / hour
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C$75 – C$150 / hour
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Best value. Industrial lofts, photo studios, banquet halls and karaoke rooms. Free on-site parking is standard
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Niagara
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C$80 / hour
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From C$80 / hour
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Lowest rates, smallest pool. Worth it only if you are already heading that way
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Minimum spends follow the same pattern. Scarborough venues start at C$400 to C$1,500 minimum spend per event; Downtown and North York start at C$1,000 to C$1,250 and run to C$5,000. Per-person rates start from C$48 in Scarborough against C$35 to C$100 downtown.
The single cheapest hourly rate in the city sits outside all four districts: 2nd Floor Hall at Dovercourt House in Dufferin Grove starts at C$40 per hour on weekdays for a 3,000 sqft hall holding 200 standing, a short walk from Ossington station. Note that guests under 18 are not permitted, and only approved caterers can be used.
What are the best small party venues in Scarborough?
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Venue
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Type
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Capacity
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From
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Why book it
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Party at 7Studios
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Photo / film studio
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50 seated / 60 standing
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C$90 / hour weekdays
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5 round tables of 8, 50 chairs, backdrops and props. Mezzanine with private lounge, makeup vanity, change room. Ample on-site parking. Rated 4.9/5
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Marquee Studios Event Space
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Event venue
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80 seated / 80 standing
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C$100 / hour weekdays
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1,300 sqft ground floor, surround sound, bar and kitchenette, change room and makeup station. In-house decor including light-up letters and neon signs
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Exclusive Venue Hire at VanceWorldMedia
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Event venue
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40 seated / 40 standing
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C$130 / hour, flat all week
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Studio art setting with lighting, sound and projection. Doubles as a filming space, so you can record the party. Rated 4.5/5
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Event Space at Freedom Venue
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Event venue
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100 seated / 150 standing
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C$250 / hour, flat all week
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2,200 sqft industrial smart loft in the Golden Mile, 15 minutes from downtown. 13ft wrap-around bar, full kitchen, private VIP room. Rated 5/5
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PartyRoom at Melody KTV
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Karaoke bar
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40 guests
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C$20 per person weekdays
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DJ booth, large screen, lighting effects, JBL sound. Licensed to 3am. The cheapest per-person option in the city
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Hazel Room at WhiteShield Banquet
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Ballroom in a banqueting hall
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200 seated / 400 standing
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C$49 per person weekdays
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Dance floor, stage lighting and sound. In-house catering across Italian, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Continental, Indian and Sri Lankan menus, plus halal and kosher. BYO alcohol allowed with a corkage fee. Rated 4.7/5
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Browse all small party venues in Scarborough.
Which small party venue suits my occasion?
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Occasion
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What matters most
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Best-fit picks
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From
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Adult birthday, 20 – 40
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Bar, sound system, late licence
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Tropical Themed Space at TacoTaco – karaoke, LED lighting, staffed bar, licensed to 2am, setup and cleanup included
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C$40 / hour Thursdays
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Adult birthday with dancing, 50 – 80
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Dance floor, DJ-friendly, late close
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Whole Venue at Sixteen Eleven Studios – customisable LED tubes, full-service bar, open to 2am Fri and Sat, wheelchair accessible
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C$95 / hour weekdays
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Baby or bridal shower, 30 – 50
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Natural light, vanity room, flexible seating
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Party at 7Studios – mezzanine lounge, makeup vanity, change room, backdrops
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C$90 / hour weekdays
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Kids' party
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Blank canvas, easy cleanup, parking
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See children's party venues in Toronto – average C$200 / hour, dance studios from C$75 / hour for 35 to 40
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C$75 / hour
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Work social or team offsite, 20 – 40
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Transit access, projection, invoicing
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Modern Meeting & Event Space at Don Mills and Bond – pillar-free, ceiling projector, whiteboard, on-site parking, tea and coffee
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C$85 / hour, flat
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Small seated dinner, 12 – 30
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Private dining room, in-house kitchen
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Venue at 11:59 Bar:Café – Financial District, 65 seated, halal, vegetarian and gluten-free menus
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C$1,500 minimum spend
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Micro-wedding, 30 – 100
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Wedding licence, photogenic space
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Diptych Studio and The Moonlight Lounge at TacoTaco – both can issue a wedding licence
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C$65 – C$120 / hour
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Graduation, 40 – 100
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Standing room, photo backdrop
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See graduation party venues in Toronto – average C$150 / hour, small up to 45 guests from C$115 / hour. Book 3 to 6 months ahead for May and June
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C$115 / hour
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Out-of-town guests
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Hotel, parking, airport access
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Windsor at Best Western Premier – 1,225 sqft ground floor near Toronto Airport, lunch package C$29.99 per person
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C$650 per session
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Can I bring my own alcohol to a small party venue in Toronto?
What the rules actually look like across the picks on this page:
- BYO alcohol allowed, no permit mentioned: Diptych Studio, Shvrk Studio Queen W, 7Studios, Media studio, VanceWorldMedia, Marquee Studios, Sixteen Eleven Studios, Foy Dining Room, Best Western Premier.
- Special Occasion Permit required: Event Space at Freedom Venue states alcohol is permitted with a Special Occasion Permit only, that it cannot be sold, and that it must be served by a Smart Serve certified bartender. The Paum Lounge at The Collective Makom also requires a permit to serve alcohol.
- No BYO alcohol: Shvrk Studio Kensington, Nosso Loft, Don Mills and Bond – all three are dry rooms.
- Licensed bar, no BYO: TacoTaco and The Moonlight Lounge (licensed to 2am), 11:59 Bar:Café (to 2am), Mezcalero (to 2am, extension available), Melody KTV (to 3am), Dovercourt House (to 2am).
- BYO with a corkage fee: Hazel Room at WhiteShield Banquet.
Age policies matter too. Media studio sets a minimum age of 21 for events. Dovercourt House does not permit under-18s at all. Melody KTV excludes under-18s after 9pm, and TacoTaco's Friday and Saturday evenings are 19+.
Which day should I book to get the best rate?
If your date is fixed to a Saturday, look at the flat-rate venues instead. Exclusive Venue Hire at VanceWorldMedia holds at C$130 per hour, Don Mills and Bond and The Paum Lounge at C$85, and Windsor at Best Western Premier at C$650 per session, every day of the week.
What styles and aesthetics can I get in a small Toronto venue?
- Bright minimalist studio – Studio at Shvrk Studio Kensington, Kensington Market. 750 sqft, brightly lit, curated decor, pet friendly. From C$85 per hour.
- Industrial loft – Event Space at Freedom Venue, Scarborough. Exposed matte black ductwork, charcoal walls, piano black accent wall, gold accents, 13ft wrap-around bar. From C$250 per hour.
- Vintage industrial with rooftop – Main studio / Event room at Diptych Studio, Entertainment District. 6,000 sqft with big vintage windows, tropical plant collection, dimmable colour lighting. From C$120 per hour.
- Cyclorama studio – Downtown 1800 sqft Open Space at Shvrk Studio Queen W. Large cyclorama wall, 12ft ceilings, natural light, four-speaker Sonos setup. From C$140 per hour.
- Tropical and colourful – Tropical Themed Space at TacoTaco, Kensington Market. Lush greenery, fireplace, colourful LED lighting, karaoke. From C$40 per hour.
- Chandeliers and greenery – The Moonlight Lounge at TacoTaco. A hidden room behind the restaurant, chandeliers, customisable seating. From C$65 per hour.
- Contemporary LED-lit – Media Production Studio at Media studio, Bay Street Corridor. 1,100 sqft, 10ft ceilings, iPad-controlled multi-colour LED lighting, living wall, hair and makeup station. From C$110 per hour.
- Funky LED tube studio with hardwood – Whole Venue at Sixteen Eleven Studios, Dundas West. 800 sqft, original hardwood floors, colour-customisable LED tubes, full-service bar, wheelchair accessible. From C$95 per hour.
- Design-led with in-house props – Marquee Studios Event Space, Scarborough. In-house decor including light-up letters and numbers, acrylic table numbers and neon signs. From C$100 per hour.
- Heritage house – Foy Dining Room at Foy House, The Village. A function room in a house, flexible seating, kitchen access. From C$50 per hour.
- West-facing concrete loft – Bright & Airy Downtown Loft at Nosso Loft. Over 1,000 sqft, 15ft ceilings, exposed concrete, natural light sunrise to sunset, full working kitchen. From C$70 per hour.
Can I use a condo party room or a community centre room instead?
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A condo party room is usually not available unless you live in the building – you book through the property manager, not a public listing, and buildings typically require a signed agreement, a non-refundable booking fee, a refundable damage deposit and sometimes paid security. Community centre rooms are bookable but basic, with fixed hours and no bar. If what you wanted was a private, self-catered room at a low hourly rate, these are the closest equivalents you can book publicly:
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The trade-off runs both ways. You pay an hourly rate, but there is no deposit hold, no security requirement and no building bylaw dictating your end time. Toronto's noise by-laws still apply in residential areas, where amplified music generally has to wind down by 11pm.
Discover unique small event spaces
Are you looking for a setting in Toronto that is unusual and dazzles your guests with its theme or decor? You can choose from a variety of venues in Toronto.
- Does your event call for renting a sophisticated location that exudes timeless beauty and elegance? The Coral White at Espace Studio is a gorgeous small-sized venue with distinctive furniture. The venue allows you to arrange the décor, food, and activities exactly how you want them. The elegant decor is also stunning all by itself.
- The Siruplum Chinese Event Space can be the ideal choice if you want to take your closest loved ones on a trip to China through décor, attire, and food. Check out this intimate Scarborough venue that has room for 40 guests.
- With your closest friends, family, or coworkers, set sail in Toronto's waters and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience on board a Small Yacht from Toronto Yachts. This fantastic venue is perfect for small business outings, wedding celebrations and birthday parties.
- Check out Wavy Events! Situated in downtown Toronto, this cosy space is perfect for creative projects or events like birthday celebrations, engagements, or wedding parties. The venue offers natural light, 12' high ceilings, high-speed WiFi, Bluetooth speakers, climate control, and thoughtfully chosen props.
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