Setting the Spot

Local venues o er creativity, beautiful backdrops ... and of course, fun

By Ed Carroll

After a challenging year and a half, entertainment halls and event venues are largely back to business as usual this winter, although now with a few added precautions due to COVID-19 and its delta variant.

With Northeast Ohio largely back open for business, there is no shortage of choices for parents and loved ones seeking to host b’nai mitzvah parties, with options to fi t everyone’s tastes and budget. Terri Kufel, director of sales and catering, and Craig Campbell, area director of sales and marketing at the InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center of Cleveland; Bob Ulm, director of rental services at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron; and Rick Morad, owner of WhirlyBall in Bedford Heights, all explain what they think is essential for parents to consider in regard to choosing a venue.

STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS

It’s important to be comfortable with the people you’re working with at the venue, and the staff at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens has hosting events down “like a well-oiled machine,” Ulm says. The gardens off er a unique, natural advantage over other venues.

“(The gardens are) absolutely beautiful,” he says of the historic property, which sits on 70 acres of land and includes one of the largest mansions in the United States, built for Goodyear Tire co-founder F.A. Seiberling.

A potential area for b’nai mitzvahs includes the carriage house, a converted garage that comfortably fi ts 150 people with an attached tent to provide both indoor and outdoor enjoyment.

“It comes down to the comfort level of the people you’re dealing with,” Ulm says. “We pride ourselves on a lot of fi ve-star reviews for our events, and some of (our staff have) been here for 15 to 16 years. It’s a beautiful place, that’s what makes it so special, that and the history of the area. I think that’s one of our big pluses.”

Ulm says the Stan Hywet staff is wearing face masks due to COVID-19 and recommends visitors wear them as well in the indoor areas. He says for private events masks are recommended, but not required. The large outdoor areas at the gardens off er plenty of fresh air, not to mention space to socially distance as needed.

Still, he says he’s noticed events have largely returned to normal as people are more comfortable both hosting and traveling for life moments such as b’nai mitzvahs, and the staff is eager to help planners create a unique and memorable celebration.

INTERCONTINENTAL CLEVELAND

The InterContinental Cleveland off ers party planners a blank slate to work with and make their own for a unique experience, Kufel and Campbell explain.

“It allows the individuals or whoever is doing their design work a clean palette to work from,” Campbell says. “They aren’t having to work around specifi c colors or worry about things clashing. It has a simple elegance.”

The InterContinental has precautions in place due to COVID-19, including a wellness check-in station at the entrance and extra sanitation supplies. It requests guests wear masks in the hotel’s lobby, but the host of the event can decide for themselves in the event room of choice, including the ballroom, which can accommodate more than 1,000 people.

Both Campbell and Kufel say they’re seeing more party planners opt for a relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere with couches and high tops, more informal than a formal, sit-down, multi-course dinner – though the

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

InterContinental can also accommodate that if the planners desire.

“The hotel is a four-diamond luxury property,” Kufel says. “We have a large ballroom with chandeliers and our colors are very simple. You can change the look of the room very quickly.”

For events using dance fl oors, they say dance fl oor wraps are popular as they can be customized to fi t a theme or display a logo. Campbell and Kufel also say they’re noticing that b’nai mitzvahs – as well as other all-ages events – are increasingly using interactive dessert stations, such as a candy station or sundae bar. Their staff can help planners come up with a menu to fi t their needs, or can bring in outside foods if there’s a favorite treat or dietary need.

WHIRLYBALL

WhirlyBall has hosted hundreds of b’nai mitzvahs since opening in 1987, Morad says. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted on events, WhirlyBall is again able to demonstrate what makes it unique: putting the emphasis of any event on being with family and friends.

“Everyone can play,” Morad says. “Everyone from the kids to the grandparents – in fact, that’s what usually ends up happening. Even the little guys can get involved.”

In addition to whirlyball – a combination of basketball and hockey played with bumper cars – the venue and activity center also off ers six lanes of bowling and four virtual reality stations, meaning there’s fun to satisfy all kinds of tastes.

Morad says the staff sanitizes the venue more often due to COVID-19, and they’re happy to be fl exible for parents to make them as comfortable as possible. If the parents want masks, the venue will request guests wear them, but if the parents don’t care, WhirlyBall staff allows guests to decide for themselves.

The venue is closed to the general public, so when parents book the facility, they have access to the entire range of activities WhirlyBall off ers, and don’t need to choose between just a few.

It works with a few local restaurants to cater food for b’nai mitzvahs, and parents can mix and match between restaurants if they choose. Morad says WhirlyBall will also work with caterers, particularly for families concerned about food being kosher.

“(A party here) is going to be fun for everyone,” he says. “Everybody is going to enjoy their time … even if they don’t play, it’s a ball to watch. We’ve done so many (b’nai mitzvahs), we’re so seasoned. We put on great family events – sometimes I think I have as much fun as all the guests.” BM