08.15.08

Reception sites, round 3

Posted in wedding planning at 9:57 am by Pammy

This past Tuesday my mom and I made our way back to Baltimore to check out two more possible reception sites. First up was the Port Discovery Children’s Museum, located at Power Plant. My first reaction to the location was that it was basically perfect. There were two parking garages within walking distance, a nice little courtyard area right outside, & at least 5 bars across the street. So people could easily be dropped off right at the entrance and then go park their car. The lobby to the museum was very colorful and open, with a lot of light pouring in. The best part, of course, was the three story “urban tree house” called Kidworks, in the center of the building. And it lights up at night! Here is their Catered Events Flier, it shows a great picture of the tree house. There are also other interactive exhibits that guests will be able to take advantage of like the Egyptian tomb and a mystery house. Everything seems really fun and it sounds like it would bring out some fun and imagination in our guests!

The woman that we met with was so nice and helpful, she gave us a guided tour of the museum and explained how each space has been used in the past and gave examples of other ways we could use it. The space was a bit broken up for my tastes, because different areas would be cut off from each other. For example, the ceremony would be in the MPT Studio, which has a large projection screen and a balcony, like a mini theater. Afterward, this room could be used for dancing and music. Another area that is sectioned off could be used as the sit down dinner area. I don’t really like the idea of everything being separated. But I love the urban tree house. It is large enough that adults can fit through the spaces, and there are several entrances on every level of the museum. The museum is having a Gala event this October where they are setting up a bar inside the tree house, it will be on a platform within the mazes and such. This sounded so cool to me, because it would get people having fun inside of the structure. The event coordinator there said she would send me some pictures from that night. On the third and second floors, there are some open spaces where traveling exhibits are usually set up, but there are some time frames where nothing would be there so we could use the whole space for tables or whatever.

Now the catering situation is more flexible at this venue; there are six approved caterers with varying price ranges that we can chose from. There are two that I’m excited to check out that I have heard are really hip, but also lighter on the checkbook (Innovative Gourmet, and Rouge Fine Catering).

All in all I really liked this place. I think it might be more on the casual side of things, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And the way that the reception would have to be split up into sections is a bit lame. But all in all, it would make for a really fun event. My fiance thinks it is a bit too quirky though, so we will see…

Next on the itinerary was the American Visionary Art Museum, which houses works created by untrained artists. This museum is really cool, if you haven’t been, it would make a great day trip. There is definitely some quirky stuff here, but it doesn’t lack substance. The rental fee includes access to the museum for all guests.

The AVAM is located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. There wasn’t much parking, although there is a public lot across the street near a seafood restaurant, and about 30 metered parking spaces about 5 feet from the museum. These would fill up quickly on a Saturday night though, so we would have to work something out. The rental space and the museum are completely separated from each other. The museum is on your right in one building, while the Barn and the Sculpture Garden are on your left. The Barn, a large brick building with very high ceilings and a chess board painted on the floor, is where wedding receptions take place at AVAM. The Barn is really cool, there are huge metal chess pieces that stand atop the chess board, that can be moved anywhere for your event. Hanging from the ceiling are huge paintings, and kinetic sculptures are on the loft above. There is a really cool lighting fixture permanently installed in the Barn that casts colorful rays throughout the space. On the right side of the barn are two huge doors that can remain open or closed. I think the space would look really charming in the Autumn with crunchy leaves blowing in

The Sculpture Garden, right outside of the Barn, leaves much to the imagination. It is very small and overgrown. But there are really fun metal sculptures everywhere, and a neat woven wooden structure that you can walk through, it makes for some very interesting pictures. There isn’t much space for seating, or a walkway, so their solution to this is for the procession to walk through the entrance gate and curve to the side up to the Sculpture garden. The guests would be seated on a brick area about 8 feet from where the bride and groom would stand. It seems like it would be cramped, and many people wouldn’t be able to see as the brick area runs lengthwise along the garden. Option two for the ceremony is to have it inside the museum on the second floor staircase… where I would fall to my death. So clearly that idea won’t work. But in case you think you might escape the hands of death on the staircase, your guests will suffer with standing room only. They will grant you a few chairs for Grandma and Grandpa though.

So basically I am half and half with this venue. I love the barn and everything about it. But the ceremony choices simply don’t excite me. Although the catering options are many, as they have fourteen approved caterers. In case you’re wondering.. Sascha’s and Azafran are my favorite of them all.

There is actually another unique venue right next door, the Jim Rouse Visionary Center, which I thought was part of AVAM because of the pictures I found online. They have some great sculptures outside in the courtyard. My favorite is the “bird’s nest” on the second floor. I might have to give them a call too.

I do have some updates on the whole Aquarium reception idea… but more on that later.

Tune back next week for the newest installment of “Insane Bridal Planning” after the Baltimore Bridal Expo, on Sunday, where my best friend Katie Emery has no idea what she is getting herself into!

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