Event Space Rental

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,

Some of you may be familiar with Pets In Need, a local animal shelter. We host a silent auction each year as our major fundraiser. In the past, we have always had it at at Mad Oyster Studios in East Somerville. We're considering moving the location this year. We really need a place with parking of some sort (even if it's metered) and preferably some place that serves alcohol, although this is not a big deal.

Does anyone have any recommendations about local venues that we could possibly rent for this event? I am planning on contacting the VFW Hall in Davis. Also, we probably don't want to have it at a church because of a) parking, and b) we don't want people to think we are religiously affiliated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Comments

[firepail.livejournal.com]

maybe the Armory?

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea - thanks!

[bex77]

"b) we don't want people to think we are religiously affiliated."

A church doesn't seem right for you on the parking/liquor front, but many groups are meeting in churches these days (even Saint Meows, a local animal shelter's weekly adoption hours) and I think most people get that they aren't connected with the church. Churches are one of the few relatively reasonable rental choices for many community groups.

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

This is definitely a valid point. We are honestly more concerned with the parking issues than with the religious-affiliation. We would consider a church if it had a lot of parking (regardless of alcohol), as this has been our biggest hindrance in the past.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, if a group called Saint Somethingorother holds meetings in a church, I would assume it has some religious affiliation.

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

What's the date (range)? How does one go about donating a prize?

Donations

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

It's usually the first Friday in December.

Our volunteers generally send out letters to local businesses requesting donations but we are MORE than happy to take donations from the general community!

If you're interested in making a donation, you can email me directly at pinsilentauction@gmail.com.

Here's a list of the items that were auctioned off in 2008, fyi:
http://animal-adoptions.org/silentauction.html

[bex77]

The only places I can think of with parking lots are the hotels, like the Holiday Inn on Washington Street or the LaQuinta over by Assembly Square. They are probably expensive and have their own challenges, but might be worth checking. There are several restaurants with some parking and banquet facilities like the Mount Vernon, way down Broadway near Sullivan Square. You could also try the Elizabeth Peabody House on Broadway near Foss Park.

We definitely need a web site with a list of all the rental facilities in Somerville and their various attributes. I hear this question over and over from arts groups.

Theatre at Elizabeth Peabody House available for event leasing.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

This was posted on the SAC listserv this morning:

The Theatre at the Elizabeth Peabody House is available for short-term or event leasing.

For questions contact:

The Elizabeth Peabody House
275 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145
Phone: 617-623-5510
Email: inewton@elizabethpeabodyhouse.org