Dining establishments that also show films?

I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a venue where a small group could a) rent/borrow the space, b) bring a potluck meal, use kitchen facilities to cook a meal, or have the kitchen prepare a meal to specifications, and c) have the capacity to show a dvd on an at least 30-inch screen.

I'm open to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, art galleries, idiosyncratic spaces, etc. Thanks for any suggestions you can pass along.

ChristyP wrote:I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a venue where a small group could a) rent/borrow the space, b) bring a potluck meal, use kitchen facilities to cook a meal, or have the kitchen prepare a meal to specifications, and c) have the capacity to show a dvd on an at least 30-inch screen.

I'm open to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, art galleries, idiosyncratic spaces, etc. Thanks for any suggestions you can pass along.

My apartment can handle a small group (up to 15 or so). It is definitely idiosyncratic. They only requirment would be for you to bring the TV and accidentally leave it behind. The soon to be wife and I are looking at 46" LCD models with 1080p resolution.

Feel free to potluck, or, if the TV is dropped off in advance I'll cook and pay for the food to your specifications.

Regards,

Flip

ChristyP wrote:I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a venue where a small group could a) rent/borrow the space, b) bring a potluck meal, use kitchen facilities to cook a meal, or have the kitchen prepare a meal to specifications, and c) have the capacity to show a dvd on an at least 30-inch screen.

I'm open to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, art galleries, idiosyncratic spaces, etc. Thanks for any suggestions you can pass along.

Hmmm--maybe: Xni-Pec? They certainly have the big-screen projection infrastructure and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better food experience than what Antonio could provide. Don't know if they'd be willing to show a private DVD or not--might depend on the subject matter. Plus, I'd expect that they would not really open their kitchen to outside cooks or prepare just anything you might ask for...but if you're willing to negotiate with them on what you'd like them to prepare for you, I'd suggest giving 'em an exploratory call.

--Matt

Xni-Pec Restaurant
5135 W 25th ST
Cicero, IL
(708) 652-8680

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Hi,

Carlos in Highland Park has meal and movie with discussion afterwards once a month. I believe the cost is around $50 per person.

Tapis Rouge in Highland Park shows movies while dining in the evening, though with no sound.

Chicago Park District are showing movies in the park this summer. Bring a picnic.

Chicago Cultural Center has shown movies on their roof with catered boxed lunches by FOx and Obel. I don't know if that is still occurring.

Some pools have float and flick, while it may be dinner on your own. It sounds like a fine way to spend an evening.

Regards,

Josephine arranged a great event to watch Moto chef Homaro Cantu win Iron Chef in the side room at Nelly's - you might want to check that out. Here's a link:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... d0484ec087

Nelly's Saloon
3256 North Elston
(773)588-4494

Thanks for the kind words, Tom. The only problem with Nelly's was that the volume on the sound was not loud enough. We had a good time anyway.

Improv Kitchen seems to have a set up where the videos could be shown at the table, but you would have to work it out for an off night, and order off the menu, most likely. Fox & Obel does movie nights on the roof, I believe, and you could put together something from the deli and catering menu.

Actually, I am a bit surprised that this is a challenge, given how many establishments seem to be bent on ruining their restaurants with TV. It seems like almost everywhere has some kind of blaring screen these days.

If you want to do the pot luck thing, perhaps your best bet is to rent a space in a community center or church, where they may also have a kitchen to use. A friend of mine had a pot-luck wedding breakfast at the Lake Street Church in Evanston, where she rented a hall and the kitchen for a very nominal fee.

Alternatively, you might approach the owner of a small place where you are a regular. I've found that business people can be incredibly generous toward their regular customers -- it's just good business.

I'm curious: what kind of meal "cooked to spec" did you have in mind?

This sounds suspiciously like a "Big Night" night; which leads me to ask , "Has anyone participated in RoSal's Big Night? Or is anyone interested in attending one this month? I need 14 or more guests.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115678/

http://www.rosals.com/menus/big%20night%20menua.pdf

RoSal's
1154 West Taylor
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 243-2357

Some friends and I are trying to plan an evening that celebrates the 100-mile diet (a meal assembled solely of food, drink, and base ingredients grown and/or reared within 100 miles). The film touches on that subject as well.

For those interested in the local food debate, the book 'Plenty' (by Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon) is a nice chronicle of one couple's attempt to maintain the 100-mile diet for a year. I'll be excited if we can make it happen for just one evening!

The HideOut might be good for that, the people that run it are the types that would find your project interesting. An aquantance of mine has done pot-luck events there, and they host readings, screenings and music all the time.

http://www.hideoutchicago.com/

There's always Saturday-night 'Smut and Eggs' at the Twisted Spoke, natch.

http://www.twistedspoke.com/smuteggs.html