One walk through the University of Cincinnati’s campus and you see why it made both Travel & Leisure Magazine’s and Delta Sky Magazine’s list of most beautiful and inspiring college campuses for 2011: UC is undoubtedly a stunning achievement of modern architecture.

UC began its Master Plan redesign in 1989, with the goal of transforming the property into a cohesive, modern campus complete with architectural masterpieces, vibrant green space, and a stunning central MainStreet pedestrian corridor. Today, the campus abounds with incredible modern architecture, including works from such renowned architects as Peter Eisenman, Frank Gehry and alumnus Michael Graves. The design retained nostalgic elements of the original campus, including the clock tower, which was moved to the glass roof of the Tangeman University Center’s 90-foot tall atrium.

The campus serves as an inspiration for the university’s architecture students, who, according to Delta Sky Magazine, “can literally study among the best.” Forbes Magazine – which in 2010 also named UC one of the world’s most beautiful campuses – noted: “architecture students need only step outside the classroom to observe some of the more cunning modern architecture of their day.”

If you’re seeking a unique, competitively-priced and architecturally interesting venue to host your next event, consider the University of Cincinnati.

Learn more about the University of Cincinnati on uniquevenues.com

Tags: Event Facilities, meeting facilities, Ohio

The historic Graylyn International Conference Center, which has played host to presidents, world leaders and entertainers, is regarded as one of North Carolina’s most unique executive meeting venues. Now, this 55 acre landmark destination is undergoing an extensive renovation to its Mews area guestrooms and conference space, in a design that will perfectly blend the site’s French historical details with the modern technologies and comforts that today’s executive guests require.

The renovation will transform the existing 45 guestrooms into 35 new, luxurious rooms complete with suite options – including two-story suites! The gracious design will be replete with lush bedding, rich tones, and sepia-toned framed photographs of Winston Salem’s most cherished landmarks to emphasize the estate’s historic charm. Each guest room will include state-of-the-art convenience in the form of flat screen LED televisions and WiFi connectivity. Not to be outdone, the Mews Conference Room and breakout spaces are also included in this renovation, and promise to be incredible.

“In redesigning the Mews, it was extremely important to understand the delicate balance between historic elements and modern comforts. We’ll be injecting new life into this area with everything from a new design to an overhaul in technology” said John Wise, Assistant Vice President of Hospitality Services at Wake Forest University. “We are extremely proud of the look and feel that this renovation will bring to the estate. The enhancements to the Mews reinforce Wake Forest University’s ongoing commitment and investment to keep this historical estate’s premier status as a distraction free meeting destination and the social address of Winston-Salem.”

Once the renovation is complete, the Graylyn Estate will offer “The Mews Enclave Package” option, which provides exclusive use of the Mews guestrooms, conference, breakout and dining space.

The Graylyn Estate will remain open during the renovation, hosting meetings and events within the Manor House, Management House and Bernard Cottage. The renovation is expected to be completed by April 2012, and you can follow the progress on Graylyn’s “Mews News” blog.

To learn more about the Graylyn International Conference Center, visit them on Uniquevenues.com

Tags: Conference Centers, meeting facilities, North Carolina

Much like Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and other mythical legends, the idea of a fun corporate retreat

can be hard to imagine.  After all, work can be stressful sometimes, so the concept of a “fun at work” may not be so easy for some to grasp.

But that’s just all the more reason to opt for a fun corporate retreat.

Dave and Buster’s, the popular restaurant chain, is an ideal location for a fun corporate retreat, even touting themselves as putting “the FUN in FUNction!”  Their venues are complete with a restaurant, bar, and arcade, perfect for corporate events and teambuilding.

Most of their spaces are really versatile, accommodating anywhere from 20-2,000 guests depending on the location.  They even include all the essentials for a meeting, like a projector, PA system, work spaces, and theatre seating.  For the fun part, your employees can unwind with their buffet, bar service, and arcade.

Dave and Buster’s even has corporate event experts on staff to help you with your event (now that’s a perk).

So if you’re in charge of your company’s corporate retreat, give them the best of both worlds: a professional environment with meeting essentials and a fun place to kick back and get to know each other better.

Find a Dave and Buster’s location now.

The holidays are in full-swing, and often that means that lots of excited brides will soon emerge onto the market.  Whether they come to you with magazine clippings in hand or have no idea what they want, we’ve scoured the Internet to find some of the latest wedding trends for 2012.

Handcrafted, handwritten, personalized wedding favors: Today’s brides are all about personalization.  These chalkboard tealight holders are an inexpensive, unique way to let the bride and groom leave their mark. The best part? Guests don’t get stuck with a favor they’ll never use.  Just wipe the chalkboard clean, and they’ll be able to customize it for their own use.

Green wedding venues: Green will still be on the mind’s of some brides in 2012. Look for unique wedding venues that are green like the High Country Conference Center that incorporate– among other things– those little green touches, like opting for water fountains instead of water bottles for guests.  We also love this beautiful table setting from one wedding held there. Can’t you just see those chalkboard tealights fitting in nicely?

Vintage wedding elements: That old-fashioned look came on strong in the past few seasons, and it will still be popular in 2012. Why? Because it incorporates both green and handcrafted elements into a one-of-a-kind look.  We love these bouquets that are made of vintage jewelry, especially the one made of the bride’s grandmother’s jewelry… a perfect way to include “something old.”

As always, be sure to check through our unique wedding venues located over at uniquevenues.com.  If wedding planning gets too crazy, let us do the searching for you! Our venue-matching expert, Shannon, can help you find that perfect wedding venue. Tell her what you’re looking for here or call her at 877.244.6110.

If you’re hosting a holiday party or event and need a few last minute touches to really make it memorable, we’ve been scouring the Internet for just the thing.

This year, make those little unique touches stand out by getting creative.  From your food to your centerpieces, your venue to your gift, we’ve got you covered with some of the most unique holiday party items around.

Start by greeting your guests at the door or entrance way with a unique decoration: a peacock feather wreath. Pops of blue and purple add a flair, while still incorporating holiday green.

Next, liven up your catering table or centerpieces with some of these ornament bouquets.  You may even be able to get a package of ornaments already discounted at a store. We like this metallic motif; mixing red and green into the mix would get too busy.  For step by step instructions, see here.

Then, put a little twist on a holiday classic: eggnog.  Love it or hate it, this holiday staple is a must-have for your party. Even Starbucks opts to bring their eggnog latte back each year, due to demand.  Bring this drink up to speed, though, by layering it with raspberry chambord (for non-alcoholic, try mixing it with a raspberry smoothie).  Serve in a tall, clear glass to really show off the layers.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, make sure your venue has some unique quality to it to make your holiday party memorable.  There’s something to be said for booking a museum, old manor, zoo, cruise ship, or other eccentric venue to host your big night.  For any help finding a venue, check out Unique Venues’ site or let us find one for you through our Assisted Search program.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Unique Venues!

Charged with planning the menu for your holiday party?  Stay on top of the latest trend, and create some unforgettable food-drink pairings.

Ditch the traditional buffet table and create food-drink pairing stations throughout the room.  Several mini-meals not only appeals to each guest’s tastes, it also distributes food throughout the room, meaning guests are more likely to circulate and mingle.

Choosing pairings may seem overwhelming, but just start with a food or drink you like to serve, and go from there.  Margaritas? Make them mini by serving them in high ball glasses like these mini-mojitos. Then pair them with something Mexican, like mini-tacos or quesadillas.

Want something seasonal? Pair pumpkin beer with cinnamon rimmed glasses with stuffing or turkey spring rolls.

We love some of the ideas from this recent article, like creme brûlée with espresso martinis.

To kick it up a notch, get creative with how you serve the food and drink. Because this isn’t a sit down dinner, be sure that the items are bite-sized or portable (there’s a reason food on a stick is in).  With the mini-drinks, think outside of the box. We love these mini-drink’s tiny glasses.

Planning a holiday party can be a daunting task, but hopefully you’ve gained a bit of inspiration to turn tradition on its head with these food-drink pairings.

If you’re still in need of a venue, be sure to search our collection of unique venues across North America, perfect for your holiday party.

Cheers!

College dorms used to be synonymous with bland architecture, hallway water fountains, and those long, twin mattresses that sheets never fit on.  UCLA is changing that perception, though, with a new fleet of suites that are making meeting and event planners stop in their tracks.  Are these really today’s dorm rooms?

According to Jason Walley, Director of Conference Services, the answer is yes.  “We’ll have 100 of these rooms available beginning in June 2012,” he says.  “And there’s more to come.”

The Courtside Collection, designed by Walley and his colleagues, feel much more like a hotel room than your traditional dorm room.  “We had  recently  renovated one of our buildings, and after we crunched the numbers, it really was within our reach to offer something unique .”

The suites come complete with modern-day amenities, like a 24-hour front desk, flat screen televisions, free WiFi, usage of recreation areas, and daily house cleaning.  The cost? “It’s just $150 per room, per night, and that includes a hot breakfast,” says Walley.

Even more of a reason, because groups are staying at a university as opposed to a hotel, they save by not having to pay an occupancy tax or a service charge. Additionally, the revenue generated offsets student housing costs during the academic year.  It’s really a no brainer.

Also included in UCLA’s renovation was a new ballroom (see design on right) with three breakout rooms, which pairs perfectly with the new suites for groups, associations, or even special events.

To learn more about UCLA Conference Services, visit them on uniquevenues.com.