Completed in 1918 in the town of Vernon Hills, IL, Cuneo Mansion and Gardens was built as the home of Samuel Insull, one of the original founders of General Electric Company. Furnished in an Italianate style with its gardens and landscaping designed by Jens Jensen, a world-renowned landscape architect, the mansion also features an extensive collection of fine antiques, paintings by world-famous artists, tapestries, sculptures, silver, and porcelain. In 1937, John Cuneo Sr. purchased the home and lived there with his wife and two children, John Jr. and Consuela. In 2009, John Jr. and his wife, Herta, donated the 100-acre estate to Loyola University Chicago along with the collection of art and furnishings. It has since been used as a venue for weddings, special occasions and corporate events.

Recently, TLC filmed its finale episodes of the show, Four Weddings, at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens. The show follows four separate brides as they plan their own weddings but also prepare to have their weddings attended and scored by the other brides in the categories of dress, venue, food, and experience. At the end, whichever bride has the most points out of the four wins a fabulous honeymoon vacation.

Loyola University Chicago is grateful to TLC for choosing Cuneo Mansion and Gardens as a setting for one of its shows and cannot thank the Cuneo family enough for its wonderful donation. The university plans to continually improve the space in order to accommodate a wide variety of events and looks forward to all future weddings and special occasions that will be held on the property.

To learn more about the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, visit http://www.uniquevenues.com/CuneoMansion

Information on Four Weddings can be seen at http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings.

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

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

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!

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!

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.

While there’s no shortage of fake spider webs and plastic pumpkins at stores, you may be on the hunt for something a bit more… unique.

For that, we have these three suggestions.

Bat Mobile: Create your own version of the bat mobile (not Batman’s, but Martha’s).  Create a simple bat pattern out of cardstock and trace 10 or so onto black construction paper.  String them with fishing wire from your ceiling at different heights.  

Costume on a stick: Don’t have time for Martha’s cupcake masterpieces? Print out these do-it-yourself costumes for guests.  Paste them on popsicle sticks and scatter them throughout your venue.  Having a photobooth or photographer?  Keep these handy for those who dared to come without a costume.

Up the classy creep factor: Instead of streaming Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on loop every twenty minutes, pop in classic, black and white horror flicks from the 50s or 60s.  There’s nothing like the “look out behind you!” moments that get guests yelling at the TV.  Just be sure to keep the volume down and music up; no one likes a zombie guest watching movies and not talking.

Find the perfect, creepy venue: Look into mansions, guesthouses, or even castles to host your Halloween party.  These places don’t require much to pull off a great Halloween party.

Enjoy!

With all the modern day amenities of a meeting and conference space and a place to hold a special event, you get the best of both periods.

This juxtaposition is carried throughout the museum, where your attendees can experience modern marvels like Ghosts of the Library, a state-of-the-art holographic program bringing visitors behind the scenes of a great presidential library.

Modern day meetings find their place in the Governor’s Conference Room, a light and natural toned meeting room for up to 20 people. For larger groups, the Exelon Union Theatre has a capacity of 250 people, perfect for annual meetings, private performances, lectures, and awards ceremonies.

To round out your experience, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum also offers function spaces for small to large receptions. We love this open-concept holiday reception and the idea of a using the trees and lights to fully utilize the high ceilings.

Learn more about what this unique venue has to offer.

Maison Biltmore: Washington, D.C.

Comfort is on a comeback.  Mansions, homes, bed and breakfasts, and other residential venues are key for summertime events, and they’re not just for casual parties or receptions.  Corporations looking for a unique place to meet or gather can make use of these spaces and deliver a memorable experience.

Some of these venues are even historical sites, which adds an extra layer of uniqueness to your event.  Guests can take in the history and have something to discuss and explore.  Having that element in your venue also bodes well for word of mouth marketing, as they’ll be likely to post to Facebook or Twitter that they’re there.

Here are some tips for capitalizing on using these residences:

• Take advantage of these venues’ gardens for garden parties.  Let guests explore the grounds, or set up different stations both inside and outside to maximize use of these spaces.
• Consider warm and homey food stations.  Home-style food has made a big comeback, with finger-food size grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese being big hits.

• If you’re a corporate planner, leave your branding at the door and use subtle ways of infusing your brand, like punch drinks or bouquets of your brand colors.

To check out historical and cultural venues for your next “comforting” event or meeting, explore Unique Venues.

In fact, Arizona can be a wonderfully temperate climate for summertime meetings, and Flagstaff specifically has ways for groups to balance out work and play.

The High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff, AZ can serve as the hub for your group’s

activities. With the Grand Canyon just 75 miles away, a day trip to see the sites is well within reach.

At nighttime, take advantage of the big Arizona sky and deliver a memorable excursion for your group.  Lowell Observatory can send an expert to your hotel to lead group

stargazing sessions, complete with a giant telescope.

Explore the rich history or this area and take in the local culture with a short car ride.  Indian ruins at the Walnut Canyon National Monument and cave dwellings at the Wupatki National Monument are under 15 miles away from the Conference Center.

If you’re worried about getting in your workout, you’ve come to the right place.  A nod to the temperate climate, fitness gurus will come to Flagstaff to train at the high altitudes in the summer.

With temperatures in the mid 70s, golf courses and trails are packed with those looking to take in all this area has to offer.  Bundle some fitness sessions outdoors into your retreat, and you’ll be sure to offer a well-rounded, memorable conference  or meeting in Arizona.

For more information on the High Country Conference Center, be sure to visit their profile on Unique Venues for a complete listing of their accommodations and services.