10 New Venues in Chicago for Spring Meetings and Events

High Noon Saloon opened in Wicker Park in mid-March. The bar and restaurant was decorated by Keren Herold of 555 International—the firm behind such hot spots as Girl & the Goat—and is decked with damask wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, and custom-made sconces with fringe. There's also a saloon-style piano that's been transformed into a DJ booth and 11 flat-panel TV screens ranging in size from 43 to 60 inches. The venue serves Tex-Mex fare, craft cocktails, and 40 draft beers. The front room can be rented for semiprivate events; it seats 26 or holds 40 for receptions. Hosts can also opt to buy out the entire venue, which can holds 90 seated or 140 for receptions.

Howells & Hood, a globally inspired restaurant with a vast beer selection, opened in the Tribune Tower in mid-March. The East banquet room was designed for large private events and can hold 250 for receptions or seat 160. With retractable, floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking a patio, the space has a built-in DJ booth, room for a dance floor, 11 TVs, and a private bar with 114 beers on tap. The adjoining patio can host alfresco seated functions for 125 or cocktail parties for 200 and can be rented in conjunction with the East banquet room. Overlooking Michigan Avenue and iconic structures such as the Wrigley building, the West patio offers room for 48 seated or holds 50 for receptions. Inside, the private dining room seats 16 or holds 20 for receptions. The room is surrounded by glass-paneled doors that can be covered in fog for privacy. In the private dining room, there's a copper-topped boardroom table and two 50-inch TVs. Finally, the Crown is on the Tribune tower's 25th floor and offers 360-degree views of the city below. The space has an indoor lounge and a veranda tucked into the building's flying buttresses. It holds 75 for receptions, and it has a copper-topped bar and a 60-inch TV.

Rockit Ranch Productions' newest venue, Ay Chiwowa, opened on Chicago Avenue in February. The venue can be bought out to hold receptions for 145 guests; its main bar area holds 65. In the middle of the space, a DJ room with a bar holds 50 guests, while the rear lounge holds 30. If combined, the DJ room and lounge can host functions for 80. This spring, a garden patio will open and offer room for 30. The venue serves classic Mexican snacks such as quesadillas and tacos, and has a jukebox/photo booth that lets guests post photos and song choices to their Facebook pages.

Castle nightclub took over the former Excalibur and Vision space in River North in March. The multi-venue complex houses five spaces. The Palladium is a club-style space with its own sound, video, and lighting system. The adjacent Sanctuary has three levels; the Cabaret, next to the Craft Pub on the first floor, is suitable for after-work gatherings. Finally, the Lair Lounge has the look of an upscale lounge. The venue holds as many as 3,000 and offers LED video walls and 3-D projection systems.

American Junkie—a bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue with outposts in Scottsdale, Arizona, Hermosa Beach in California, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico—opened a River North location in March. The 17,000-square-foot venue has tables, brick walls, and staff shirts emblazoned with the American flag, plus retractable glass doors that open out onto Illinois Street. The custom roof is made of glass and retracts to offer views of the city skyline. The first floor has 170 seats and a bar that serves craft cocktails and private-label wines; it holds 250 for receptions. On the second floor, there are 37 TVs, a custom speaker system, and a stage; the upper-level space seats 150 or holds 250 for cocktails. DJ booths populate both levels. Chef Kendall Duque, formerly of Sepia, oversees the American menu.

Little Market Brasserie opened in the Gold Coast's Talbott Hotel in January. From the Mercadito Hospitality Group, the venue has a classic brasserie look replete with black-and-white-tiled floors, antique mirrors, and bright paintings from Pop Art artist Erni Vales. Available for buyout, the spot seats 90 guests or holds 125 for cocktails. For large parties, staffers prepare sharing menus with items such as deviled eggs, steak frites, and apple-almond tarts. The fun "Charged Soda" drink list lets guests mix spirits with house-made sodas in flavors such as smoked-salted-cream or Meyer lemon.

Earth & Ocean Food and Drink, a new project from chef Rodelio Aglibot and partners, opened in Mount Prospect in February. With a raw bar and a sushi bar, the venue has an open kitchen, earthy touches of natural wood and live moss, and ambient lighting that illuminates the dining room in oceanic hues. Menu selections include sushi, sashimi, and Latin-style ceviches; entrées include Argentinean rib eye and Moroccan roasted chicken. The entire venue holds 300 for receptions or seats 150. Smaller groups can reserve the lounge area's communal dining table, which seats 20. Decked with a hand-painted mural, the private dining room holds 40 for receptions, buffets, or seated dinners.

Ignite Glass Studios opened in the West Loop in October and is now available for private events. The venue's 18-seat conference room has an LCD projector and presentation equipment, Wi-Fi, and a direct line. A 5,788-square-foot space adjacent to the glass-blowing studio seats 220 or holds 400 guests standing. This spring, the Urban Garden will host alfresco functions; there's also a 1,200-square-foot rooftop space that offers views of the city skyline. Staffers can arrange for teambuilding activities on site.

Taco Joint Urban Taqueria and Cantina opened in River North in January. The casual, colorful space can host semiprivate functions for as many as 50 guests. Hosts can also opt to buy out the entire space, which holds 125 for receptions. Event menus include packages with Mexican appetizers, cocktails, and taquizas (braised and grilled meats with salsas and homemade tortillas.)

Workspring opened a location in the Inland Steel Building in January. The hosted-business facility, owned by Steelcase, is designed for meetings and events; it also has individual work spaces. The sleek, light-filled venue has seven studios that can hold meetings for as many as 49. The venue is stocked with healthy snacks and beverages. For social events, staffers can arrange for a full bar and catering.