Celebrating Your Employees in a Social Distanced Era

It’s that time of year where we gather, celebrate and attend a good ol’ fashioned office holiday party. It’s a way to use the holidays as a reason or excuse to relieve all of the pent-up frustrations of the last 12 months. Well, it hasn’t been an easy 12 months and we need relief, cheer, and free booze the most right now. However, it isn’t exactly the smart thing to do to throw a rip-roaring, Mad Men style office party. How else can you show your appreciation to your employees while boosting morale and maintaining social distancing? We have few ideas.

Virtual Wine Pairing

Inviting your employees to take part in a virtual wine tasting is a great way to replace an in-person gathering. It gives them something experiential to do at home and steps up your typical Zoom call when you’re trying different types of delicious wine. This is perfect for small-medium sized teams who have missed their post-work happy hours with coworkers!

Cooking Class at Home

If your typical office party includes your employees sitting down to feast on a delicious meal, then you might not be able to find a restaurant that allows you to gather in large parties. However, you can let your employees in on the experience by sending them kits with ingredients and instructions for an at-home cooking class. It lets everyone have their hand at playing chef and will allow them to create lasting memories of this crazy year. 

Month-Long Celebration

If this year has been especially stressful for your staff, why not give them a whole month of celebrations to look forward to? It could be something that happens weekly, such as provided lunch on Tuesdays or beers on Fridays. Reminding them that you appreciate them will lead to higher job satisfaction and overall happiness in the workplace. 

Socially Distanced Party 

If your team is small enough, an in-person party can still be an option for you. Find the right venue that allows for social distancing and is following COVID-19 regulations. If you’re really playing it safe, we suggest finding a venue with an in-house caterer to limit outside visitors, while still treating your employees to a special evening. 

Whether you choose to celebrate your employees near or far, let them know you appreciate them. If you need an accommodating space, The Cleveland Room is set up and can host a socially distanced gathering for up to 50 people. We’d love to work with you!

Be Inspired | How Our Autumn Wine Pairing Came Together

Colorado in the Fall is something to behold. The quick change in weather turns the bright greenery to abundant fall foliage. It also changes what we wear, what we drink, and what we eat. To celebrate the welcoming of Autumn, we hosted a Wine and Dinner Pairing with Synergy Wines and wanted to share our experience, and hopefully ignite inspiration in you.

Planning a Theme

The Senses of Fall | The Chef’s Experience inspired us to create a warm and inviting space that celebrated the sense of new beginnings that come with the changing of seasons. The head Chefs of Five Tables Cafe are siblings and love to incorporate fresh and in season ingredients into the menu, truly giving a nod to The Senses of Fall. The smells, the colors, the tastes, and everything that Autumn brings to our senses became an integral part of the evening. 

Setting the Room

When the cooler air comes to Colorado and brings a light evening breeze, we know that our days spent on (one of our favorite) venues is numbered. Our Rooftop is a perfect place for an experiential and intimate event and we take full advantage of those views until the weather puts a stop to it. We set the room with satin copper linens and created place settings for each individual guest. From the smell of the Elm trees below, to the view of the sunset over the Rockies, we were truly in the midst of a perfect Colorado Fall evening. 

Creating the Menu

When designing a wine pairing, it is important to marry the ingredients of the dishes to the tasting notes of the wine. Our Chefs Ashley and Adam headed to a local farmer’s market to pick the best ingredients to make each course special. A wide variety of locally grown produce were a part of each meal.  With 6 courses and 2 items per course, there were many opportunities to create dishes that embodied the Fall season. We were also able to highlight each dish on a provided menu for each guest, which they were able to see each food and wine pairing of the night. A crowd favorite was an Apple, Brie, and Cheddar Beer Soup paired with a Spanish Arindo.

TIP from our Event Director: “When planning a pairing, a menu is so important because guests can often get caught up talking and enjoying themselves (which is the goal!) and miss what is described at the beginning of the course. A menu helps provide reference and lets guests enjoy their experience more!”  

We had such a blast bringing this event to life! From the ideation of the table setting to the plating of the final course, we truly brought all The Senses of Fall to life. 

Hosting the Perfect Dinner Party

Planning intimate, at-home occasions might be the new norm for the time being. While that might not be our favorite way to go about our special occasions, we might as well perfect the perfect hosted dinner party. Now, we’ve all been to an awkward dinner party, and if you haven’t, lucky you! They can be painful to get through as a guest, and stressful for the host. We’re here to help you learn the ins and outs of hosting the perfect dinner party. Below are a few tricks to make for a functioning, appealing, and enjoyable environment for all of your guests. 

The Plan

First thing to consider when planning is the WHY. Why are you hosting the party in the first place? Find your reason for hosting the party and determine what is the main occasion. It should remain at the center of the party, and you’re lying if you say you don’t love a good theme! Here are some questions to answer: 

• What tables and chairs do you have to work with? 

• Does your space provide the right space so guests can still feel connected without being crammed in a space?

• Do you have enough plateware? Are you going to need dessert plates, soup bowls, multiple forks, etc.? 

• Are you assigning seating? 

• Inside or outside? Will weather be a factor? 

Design 

The design of your party is more than just the decorations and determining what type of flowers you might get for the evening. When it comes to centerpieces, you’ll need to go back to considering what type of plates you have available and will be using. It’s important to have this staged first and then fill in the voids. 

If you do plan on having a theme, keep it simple. A little detail goes a long way and subtle additions can be the keys to tie everything together. For example, if you’re planning a Fall themed Harvest dinner, start with neutral pops of color, light florals, or even something you cooked with. (Pumpkins, squash, anything colorful!) 

Expert tip: Add candles, ALWAYS! It adds ambiance and is a beautiful table setting. It creates a balanced look on any table. 

Guest List 

Now that you have a design and plan in mind, it’s time to start building your guest list. You probably have one in mind already, but it’s important to re-evaluate during the planning process. Are you hosting for your close friends, family, coworkers, or even your book club? Knowing your guests allows you to remember what you are getting accomplished at your dinner party. The point of your party is to gather and conversate.  It’s to enjoy each other’s company while eating a family favorite recipe and enjoying a wine your best friend brought over. 

Always remember, less is more! You may want to impress your friends or family with an extravagant centerpiece, but keep in mind that they will be a lot more comfortable if they’re not having to dive and duck to grab the salt and pepper. 

Want to make the dinner the easy part? Find a caterer who is willing to work with you and stay within a budget. We’ll try not to be biased, but we recommend Five Tables Cafe, our preferred vendor! 

Show Me The Money

Planning Your Event on a Budget

We’ve all been there, dreaming up an important day that is filled with the utmost extravagance and a perfectly smooth running timeline. What often gets left out of that dream is the budget. Whether it’s your wedding, rehearsal dinner, annual fundraiser, or employee retreat, the details are important to you, and we understand that. If your dream event is met with a strict or tight budget, there are ways to get around that and still build your dream occasion within your not-so-dreamy budget. 

When building your budget...

Decide what is the most  important to you 

Is getting married in the Summer your top priority? Is hosting an event with 150 guests your main goal? No matter what it is, it is important to find your #1 goal when it comes to your event. This will determine where you will be able to cut costs and where to allocate funds to remain within your budget. 

Timing

If the time of year doesn’t matter to your event, or does not fall in your top priorities, try finding a venue that will offer you the best price for an off-season date. These dates usually fall between November and April, which will most likely put you in an indoor venue which can affect the size of your event and how many guests are allowed. 

Guest List

While a guest list is often the last thing people want to cut from their budget, it is where a lot of money can be saved, even if some feelings get hurt. For example, when planning a wedding, is it imperative that 200 of your closest friends are there to watch you say ‘I do’? When thinking about each of those people at around $60-$90 each, evaluate your list and decide who you both can’t imagine not sharing this special occasion with. 

After establishing your budget, you can find different ways to cut those costs without sacrificing the quality of your event. 

Catering 

Changing up your dinner plate and opting for a more affordable plate is a great option and there are so many different caterers that offer affordable and delicious options. For a cheap and delicious plate, Barbecue and Mexican food are great options that will keep most guests satisfied. Just don’t forget a veggie option! Be careful: people often think having large quantities and varieties of pastas and salads would be more affordable; however, those can be pretty pricey and rack up a larger bill at the end of the night. Typically a no-fail, affordable solution is opting for a buffet-style catering for your guests. However, with COVID-19 regulations, most locations are not allowing buffet style. 

Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol, everyone will have an opinion. If an open bar is something that is a priority to you and the quality of your guests’ experience, go for it. This can be extremely pricey, especially if some guests like to party all night long. You can still give your guests a fun experience with a beer and wine bar, or mix it up with special batched “His & Hers” cocktails! If you’re feeling really price conscious you can opt to supply your own alcohol and hire a TIPS certified server to serve, if the venue allows it. 

Party Favors

Supplying a party favor for guests to take home is a tradition that is no longer the norm at many events. While you want guests to remember the occasion, that probably wouldn’t come from an individual coaster or personalized mug. Options for interesting and worthwhile party favors could include a take-home dessert or something they could enjoy after leaving the venue. A fun idea could be a photo booth where guests could enjoy the fun of picture taking during the event and take the pictures as a fun memory that they’ll enjoy holding onto!

Extras

Sometimes it’s the littlest details that add up and completely blow your budget. Stunning your guests with simple decor can still create a perfect ambiance and can highlight parts of the venue that are naturally stunning. This can also be applied to your invitations. There are hundreds of companies online that can create standout stationary.

Creating your dream event on a budget should not be hard as long as you’re working with the right people. Learn about our team and we can start planning your budget-friendly occasion.

What to expect when planning an event at The Cleveland Room during COVID-19

Our response to the rules set forth in Larimer County and the state of Colorado.

The effects of COVID-19 have been felt all around our community. However, we are starting to reschedule and host events in our space, following the Colorado Governor’s guidelines. When it comes to hosting your event at The Cleveland Room, here is what it could look like: 

Entry Rules

When entering the building, we will ask guests to sign in to keep track of every individual in our space. We also ask that guests wear face masks when entering and leaving the event. It is up to the discretion of the host or individual to wear the face covering for the duration of the event. 

Seating

With limited capacities and spacing rules, we have created seating arrangements that allow for 50 people within The Cleveland Room. This will allow guests to feel comfortable and safe with enough space to lessen the spread of germs. The Rooftop will be able to reach a capacity of 40%, and would be perfect for a rescheduled occasion. 

During the Event

Throughout the venue, we will have sanitation stations that are convenient for all guests and will be refilled when needed. Our staff will be wearing masks when serving alcohol and catering. We will be maintaining a 6-foot distance between guests and staff when possible and create an environment that permits social distancing and is encouraged.

We are so excited to start working with you to plan your next event. The Cleveland Room’s #1 goal is to keep everyone in our space safe and comfortable, while also providing a one-of-a-kind experience. Call us today to start planning your event!

Planning Your Event at The Cleveland Room

Downtown Loveland. A quaint town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Loveland is rooted in history, built from small business owners who are equally passionate about their business and the town that it thrives in. The Cleveland Room is one of many establishments that work to create a community in Loveland. Located in the historic building of desk chair Workspace, The Cleveland Room is a premier event venue with some of the most exquisite features, plus a hard-working staff that works to provide the best event experience. 

Event Director, Jessie Rule, has built her career and reputation in the Northern Colorado Event Planning industry for nearly 6 years. Her main goal is to work hard to individualize each event and to create special experiences for all of her clients. 

When starting to plan an event, Jessie has answered some questions that can make any event planning newbie feel a little more at ease when booking with The Cleveland Room. 

What separates an in-house event planner from bringing in an outside planner? 

An in-house planner will typically handle everything directly related to the venue and help with assisting outside vendors to move their equipment, food, decor, etc. An outside event planner will be more responsible for the small details and the nitty-gritty event timeline. 

The benefit of hosting your event at The Cleveland Room is that we can be a one-stop-shop! Our staff has experience not only in venue management but also experience with working on event planning execution teams. Guests have the option of bringing in their own vendors or letting us create the vision of the event and also hire professionals to execute the event. 

What are the services I could have access to by booking with The Cleveland Room? 

When booking with The Cleveland Room, you will have access to everything and everyone you will need to complete your vision. We can organize your event from start to finish, including, but not limited to; assisting in rentals, introductions to outside vendors, in-house catering, bar service, tables + chairs for up to 100, linen rentals, all serving ware, and event staff to execute your perfect experience.

What types of events can be held at The Cleveland Room? 

We can host anything from a small private celebration, a corporate training, a wedding reception, or even a private concert.  Our space is unique because of the excellent AV equipment, connection abilities for surround sound for a band or DJ. The space is versatile in a way that can morph into whatever event you are wanting to create, a beautiful blank canvas waiting for you! We are here to support your vision!

Our goal at The Cleveland Room is to create a special experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Call today to start planning your vision!