Greenhouse Loft

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Happy Fall!

Our first summer at Greenhouse Loft was a whirlwind of amazing events. 

One of the best things about the summer was learning about how versatile our space is. From fundraisers, to weddings, to corporate meetings; it was amazing to see each of our clients put their own spin on Greenhouse Loft. 

Of course, none of this would be possible without the amazing vendors who are hired to help our clients' visions come to life.  A big shout out to FIG Catering, Hearty Boys, Entertaining Company, Food For Thought, Goose Island, Toast and Jam DJs, Beep Media, Cage and Aquarium, Pollen, Fleur, and Stems. Without these vendors, events would not be nearly as fun or delicious. 

We had a blast celebrating with the couples who got married in our space this summer. We can't wait to ring in the new season with more fun events!

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Who wants you to have more fun?!

I do! If you've been emailing with Greenhouse Loft since May, we've probably been chatting.  My name is Ellen, and I'm the newest addition to the team, also known as [email protected].

After moving to Chicago in 2005, I've spent some time working in theatre and restaurants. When I heard Greenhouse Loft was hiring, I jumped on the opportunity and applied immediately. Greenhouse Loft combines so many things I love: communicating with clients, keeping track of details, and helping people have a great time... all in a beautiful and sustainable space.

Coincidentally, I'm getting married to my sweetheart of five years this November in Austin, Texas. In addition to understanding the behind the scenes nuts-and-bolts of what goes into a wedding, I also know what a big deal it is to plan one of the most important personal parties you'll probably ever host!

When I'm not at Greenhouse Loft, I enjoy listening to Outkast, eating jibaritos, running in Palmer Square, making negronis, playing gin rummy, reading (right now I'm on a Tobias Wolff kick), and doing crosswords.

I've really enjoyed my first 3 months at Greenhouse Loft and can't wait to help you have more fun!

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I posted this photo on Facebook yesterday and it's been getting quite the response.  Sometimes in all our busyness we forget to look outside of our space and the great things that the Green Exchange building offers us as tenants!

Did you know that the roof of the glasshouse is Green!?  Like green with little plants and grasses -- the picture above is a view from the roof above our roof.

The Green Exchange is a very large building, and all around the rooftop there are areas of green native plant gardens.  To learn more about green roofs and why they are so important for a healthy environment, this website is very cool.

The roof also has 2 beehives buzzing with bees making honey.  The beekeepers are friends and business neighbors Resolute Image, a small company that helps tenants with their office needs like copies, printing, shipping, etc.

Here are some other awesome features that the Green Exchange has.  We are so proud to be part of this building and community!

High efficiency heating and cooling system that will reduce building energy use by 22%

41,329 gallon rain cistern allowing storm water to be recaptured and used for irrigation and water features

Low toxin (VOC) building paint and stains used throughout to provide clean indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is monitored and controlled on all five floors with high efficiency filters and air quality sensors

Energy efficient windows that will bathe the building in natural light and help keep the temperature comfortable all year round

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Jill and Matt met via Missed Connections on Craigslist!  Riding the purple line el back and forth from downtown to Evanston everyday Matt saw this beautiful women and too shy to talk to her on the train, he wrote an infamous 'missed connection' ad.  Friends of friends spotted and told Jill.  Next thing you know they were on their first date!

They tied the knot at Greenhouse Loft on one of the hottest days of the summer - July 6, 2012.  Jill snuck up on Matt in the garden of the Westin along the riverfront for a first look.  To keep cool we shot some group shots in the atrium, but then hopped on a bus to the Kinzie Bridge!  Classic Chicago shot, and it was worth the sweat, the soft haze of the heat on the city, set for a very pretty backdrop. 

One last stop - The Chicago Purple line stop!  Where the real first look happened just a few short years before.  

The couple then had a ceremony at the space, which was really lovely - especially the sand ceremony where they mixed two colors of sand together.

We were really excited about Goose Island catering their wedding!  It was the first wedding they have done in the space.  The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly, and the night went very smooth!

A friend of the family provided the gorgeous flower arrangements and their DJ Bridget hosted an excellent dance party -- the proof is in this photo . . .

Here are a few of our favorite Ultimate Photobooth favorites!

Congratulations to Jill & Matt!  

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Kristi & Matt's Wedding

Kristi and Matt's wedding was the first June wedding in our new space. We love having the chance to shoot our clients' weddings, which we got to do with Kristi and Matt! 

Kristi and Matt chose to use long communal tables for dinner seating, which worked really well in our space.

Pollen made beautiful floral arrangements for the event.

Kristi and Matt had there ceremony on the "Loft Side" of our space, it looked great!

FIG catered, and everybody enjoyed the delicious food.

Chris, from Mary Monica Music, got everybody moving on the dance floor.

Everybody loved the Ultimate Photobooth!

It's been so fun to use the outdoor garden this summer.

We loved being a part of their celebration. Congratulations to Kristi and Matt! 

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Florencia and Andrew's Wedding

Florencia and Andrew planned their wedding from far-away Tucson.

Steve Ewert and Jamie Davis, the owners of Greenhouse Loft, photographed the whole event.

Paper flowers added color to the aisle.

Pollen made beautiful arrangements.  The ranunculi, hydrangeas, and peonies are ridiculously beautiful, don't you think?

Florencia had her mother and father walk her down the aisle.

The flower girls wore matching aubergine dresses.

FIG served a family style menu.

Toast & Jam dj'ed

Everyone danced the night away!

American Gothic in the Ultimate Photobooth.

Congrats to Florencia and Andrew!

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Opening Party!

After months of anticipation, we're happy to report that our opening party was a success!

Photo taken of Greenhouse Loft (before the party started) by co-owner & photographer Steve Ewert.

As we mentioned before, the opening party also served as a gallery show for photographs taken by Steve during the build-out of the space. 

Of course, we were so overwhelmed with joy and grateful for the 250 guests that we forgot to take pictures of the event while it was happening! Some friends, particularly Eric Davis & Kathy Kelter, shared some snapshots with us from the evening.

The Chris Winters Band provided live music in the garden.

The Hearty Boys, FIG Catering, Food For Thought, Katherine Anne Confections, Pure Kitchen, Entertaining Company, and City Provisions provided delicious eats for all.

Party goers, partying. This photo was taken by Ben Meyerson.

Pollen provided beautiful flowers.

We love our new home in the Green Exchange Building!

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Nate & Sarah's Wedding

When Nate and Sarah booked Greenhouse Loft, we hadn't even started build-out in our new space!

We're so happy they decided to have their wedding at Greenhouse Loft. It was extra fun, because we got to shoot the photos of their special day.

Larkspur provided beautiful flowers.

Nate and Sarah made adorable embroideries for their displays.

Toasts! Nate & Sarah's wedding was catered by FIG Catering.

Party-goers enjoyed our Ultimate Photo-Booth.

Toast & Jam provided grooves for dancing.

Cupcakes by Bleeding Heart Bakery.

Tea as a party favor!

More dancing!

Congrats to Sarah & Nate!

*All photos taken by Jamie Davis and Steve Ewart

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Opening Party & Photo Show!

The photo above is of Greenhouse Loft about a year ago. We've been hosting events in our new (finished) space since November 2011, but this weekend we get to host a party for ourselves! Join us on Friday, May 18th, from 6pm-9pm at 2545 W. Diversey for our opening party!

The photo above is of our beautiful finished space, what a difference a year makes!  We'll have snacks from City Provisions, Entertaining Company, FIG Catering, Food for Thought, The Hearty Boys, Katherine Anne Confections, and Pure Kitchen Catering.  We'll have drinks from Vinejoy and Goose Island.  Lynn Fosbender from Pollen is providing flowers.  It's sure to be a great start to your Friday night. 

In addition to eating and imbibing, we are showing photos taken by owner Steve Ewart. During construction and build-out Steve shot portraits of many construction workers who helped make the space what it is today. 

Hope to see you on Friday!

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Limelight Event

photo taken by our friend Alan Froberg in Greenhouse Loft's garden.

Last Thursday, the United States Green Building Council's Illinois Chapter celebrated its 10th anniversary and hosted its new annual fundraiser,Limelight, at Greenhouse Loft in the Green Exchange Building.

During the fundraiser, the USGBC-Illinois Chapter introduced the Emerald Awards. The Emerald Awards recognize individual and organizational leaders in sustainability across Illinois. This year, the awards recognized The Northern Illinois Food Bank, Manuel Flores, Wight & Company, Inspiration Corporation, Adlai E Stevenson High School, BP Brightlights Chicago, and Testa Produce.

Guests enjoyed wine from The Naked Grape, beer from Goose Island, and spirits from Koval.  Entertaining Company provided catering.

It was a great green evening!

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Bring your canvas bags y'all!

Did you know the United States goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually? And sadly, it takes approximately 1000 years for a polyethylene shopping bag to break down in a landfill while leaving traces of toxic remnants in our soil and water ways.  (Thanks to Love Your Earth for these unfortunate facts.) We wanted to learn more so...

Greenhouse Loft is excited to host a screening of the up and coming documentary Bag It, sponsored by Green Exchange's very own Green Choice Bank! On Monday May 14, 2012 from 7:00-9:00 pm we will have a free event for the film!  Check out Green Choice Bank's partnership with The Plastic Bag Solution for the Bag It event and come join this educational experience.  If you are interested-we found this article informative and hopeful for the future of Chicago and the state of Illinois.  Check out the movie trailer here!

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Steve has been collecting mid-century modern furniture for many years now.  We brought our enormous collection over from West Loop Studio last November.  Back about 3 years ago there were times where every day a huge box would arrive from somewhere in the country with a new gem that Steve had hunted down from Craigslist or Ebay.  In the photos above you can see how nice they are for meetings in the space.  Depending on the floor plan, usually we have small little vignettes of furniture around the space for weddings too.  Recently we took 2 great pieces that needed new cushions into a local shop and had them reupholstered....here they are!

As you can see they have a classic shape.  If you come to visit us, ask Steve - he will tell you all about his collection!  We are all very proud of it!  So much character and also so comfortable.  All our furniture comes with our space cost - so we can customize your look as you would like.

Below are a few more snapshots of furniture (usually snapped with my iPhone in these cases)....

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Composting Machine!

Did you know that the average wedding produces between 400-600 pounds of waste?! 

Not here at Greenhouse Loft though! - We are doing everything possible to lower the amount of landfill waste produced at each event.  For starters being in the Green Exchange building lowers the carbon footprint immensely (the website is full of great information)!  Secondly, Greenhouse Loft recycles cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum and glass.  Thirdly and most recently Greenhouse Loft has begun composting with the help of our friends Collective Resource!  They are amazing and have greatly decreased the amount of waste from every event.  Literally one small bag of landfill garbage from an evening event because everything else was able to be recycled or composted!  We are super excited about this cause and are looking to do more research into how if affects the planet and green businesses.  Imagine how greatly diminished the amount of waste from an entire wedding is because your caterer (like one of our favorites FIG,) your florist (like one of our favorites Pollen,) and your venue (us!) all used the highest green standards (and all happen to work with Collective Resources at their studio and kitchen). 

Pretty amazing!  Check out the photos from one of our first composed events Committed Green Wedding Alliance Fair below and stay tuned for more composting updates!

If using disposables at your event, we have great resources for some awesome and nice looking biodegradable items.

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The 3rd Annual Green Metropolis Fair held at the Green Exchange was quite a success!  Check out these photos by Jamie Davis of the days festivities.  Happy Earth Day to all!

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Check out this great spread in CS Interiors from the "Love Makes the DIFFArence" event back in February at Greenhouse Loft. 

Jamie is on the Auxiliary Board of DIFFA, and they had a great fundraising event here with some of our favorite vendors like Hearty Boys, Entertaining Company, Goose Island Green Line Beer, and Toast and Jam DJ Sarah Kohtala.

Photos by Jamie Davis

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Greenhouse Loft Opening Party!

If you read this blog...You are invited!

Cheers

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Green Metropolis Fair

Looking for something fun to do this weekend - and Free!?  Well, stop by the Green Exchange for the Green Metropolis Fair.  It's going to be the first all building event.  There will be free yoga classes, Eco-friendly vendors selling their goods, healthy food, education workshops from urban farming to composing, and farm animals! 

Stop by Greenhouse Loft between 1-4 pm and visit with Steve and I in the portrait studio (aka - The Ultimate Photobooth) and Steve will take your photo - so bring the family and we'll see you tomorrow!