Planning the blowout event

Looking for a weekend getaway or a date night venue can be challenging, but finding a chic, unique location for a special event throughout Wyoming and northern Colorado is just a matter of choosing the right fit. With environments ranging from urban to rustic and dining options from bistros to upscale restaurants, attendees and hosts alike can enjoy a variety of venues close to home.

In Jackson Hole
Hotel Terra
3335 West Village Drive, Teton Village, Wyo.
www.hotelterrajacksonhole.com

Located just one mile from Grand Teton National Park, Hotel Terra not only offers nearly 5,000 square feet of banquet space and meeting rooms, it also features Il Villaggio Osteria – a 65-seat restaurant grounded in Italy’s finest tastes and experiences. Created by celebrated Chef/Owner Roger Freedman, the restaurant’s menu draws from many regions of Italy with a vast selection of antipasti, primi, secondi and wood-fired pizza.

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Terra Resort’s John Thomas said reservations at Hotel Terra, from Il Villaggio to meeting rooms to hotel suites, book quickly.

“The majority of social events books eight to 12 months out but we do have quite a few that book earlier,” Thomas said.

The centerpiece of the meeting space options is the 2,900-square-foot Murie Ballroom that accommodates up to 250 people with reception-style seating. Emily Beardsley, Hotel Terra marketing manager, said the ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of Teton Village and Rendezvous Mountain. Outside the ballroom doors is a patio that overlooks the Teton Village Commons area, which Beardsley said is an ideal, breathtaking locale for weddings or other events.

In addition to a having a second restaurant on site, Terra Café, Hotel Terra has 132 rooms and eight private off-site homes and condos. The resort also features Chill Spa, with treatments that include a luxurious selection of organic products. Beardsley said there are six treatment rooms with vaulted ceilings, including a couple’s suite overlooking Teton Village with fireside services.

Spring Creek Ranch
1800 Spirit Dance Road, Jackson, Wyo.
www.springcreekranch.com

Located on a wildlife sanctuary about 1,000 feet above the town of Jackson with spectacular views of the Teton Mountain Range, Spring Creek Ranch offers guests not just accommodations, but an experience.

“We are the only place where you can look out at the mountain, not up at them,´ said Steven Price, general manager at Spring Creek Ranch. “We have tons of open spaces and wildlife from hawks to moose to elk are very common here.”

With choices of inn rooms, condos or mountain villas, Price said it’s relaxed luxury for guests at Spring Creek Ranch.

“We like to say we’re really elegant rustic Western,” Price said.

The award-winning Granary Restaurant has floor–to-ceiling windows to view the sunrise or sunset over the Tetons while the Wilderness Adventure Spa is an added bonus for guests. Featuring ballrooms, conference rooms and outdoor venues for weddings and other gatherings, Price said Spring Creek Ranch is a perfect place to disconnect from the outside world – which is why it is a popular place for business meeting and retreats. In the midst of nature, Price said business officials are able to relax and rejuvenate.

“People tend to open their hearts and minds here. They can just really put their companies first,” Price said.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole
7680 Granite Loop Road, Teton Village, Wyo.
www.fourseasons.com

Just one mile from one entrance to Grand Teton National Park, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole offers a mix of rustic adventure and luxury accommodations. Nina Braga, Jackson’s Four Season public relations manager, said visitors appreciate Wyoming’s only AAA Five Star and Forbes Five Star Resort’s outdoor heated pool, ski-in and ski-out access and 16 spa treatment rooms.

With three restaurants and a lounge, Braga said summer is the establishment’s busiest season as tourists come to enjoy the mountain air and business officials hold retreats. The Four Seasons is a popular place for weddings as well as parties and business events.

“We have over 8,000 square feet in meeting space with a large, ballroom and many break-out rooms along with a terrace and outside lawn space with a fire pit enveloped by large aspen trees,” Braga said.

In Boulder
St. Julien Hotel
900 Walnut St., Boulder, Colo.
www.stjulien.com

With nightly entertainment and spectacular views, St. Julien Hotel is frequented by many return guests each year, according to Valerie Knorr, St. Julien director of sales.

“While we have many repeat guests, there are several who have visited the hotel over 130 times,” Knorr said.

The location of the St Julien Hotel in Boulder, Colo., offers a combined mountain and city experience. While the historic Pearl Street walking mall is just one block from the hotel, the guest rooms offer fabulous views of the Flatiron Mountain Range. With a peak season that falls between May and October, Knorr said they are currently booking events for 2014 and 2015, but can still often accommodate group requests just one to two weeks out.

“We are one of the few hotels that offers nightly entertainment either in our main lobby during the winter months or outside in the hotel gazebo in the summer months,” Knorr said.

With a 12 treatment room spa, St. Julien also has a ballroom that accommodates a group of 400 guests with theater-style seating or 300 guests for a sit-down banquet.

“The terrace areas provide a beautiful outdoor location for up to 250 guests for a private function,” Knorr said. “We also have an outdoor conference pavilion which can be tented and utilized as additional space for meetings or meals.”

Frasca Food and Wine
1738 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colo.
www.frascafoodandwine.com

Changing its menu seasonally to make the most of current harvests and the freshest produce, herbs and spices, Frasca Food and Wine features dishes that are “a tribute to the food of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.”

“Our chef and sommelier teams have both won prestigious James Beard Awards offering phenomenal culinary and wine service which have been recognized nationally,´ said Cristin Napier, director of private events for Frasca.

With tables in the kitchen, a private dining room and a grappa cart, Napier said Frasca is the perfect destination for impromptu gatherings, casual dinners and special occasions.

“We accept reservations two months to the calendar date, but you can pretty much walk in anytime and get a seat at the bar or a table in the dining room,” Napier said. “Friday and Saturday nights are our busiest nights.”

Flagstaff House Restaurant
1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colo. 80302
www.flagstaffhouse.com

Built into a mountainside, the Flagstaff House in Boulder is housed in a historic building built in 1929 and has been family-owned for more than 40 years. Flagstaff House overlooks the city at an elevation of 6,000 feet, and Kuvy Ax, Flagstaff House’s public relation manager, said its breathtaking views are one of the draws for both returning and new patrons. With the personal touches of a family-owned restaurant, co-owners Don Monette and his sons Mark and Scott Monette, combine a multi-award-winning wine list from their 12,000 bottle wine cellar with exquisite, French-American cuisine.

Featuring a mahogany bar and a rare crystal collection with pieces from around the world, floor-to-ceiling picture windows and several outside terraces allow diners to enjoy the changing seasons and Colorado’s wildlife.

Colterra Food and Wine
210 Franklin St., Niwot, Colo. 80544
www.colterra.com

SALT the Bistro
1047 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colo.
www.saltboulderbistro.com

Owned by Chef Bradford Heap, sister restaurants Colterra Food and Wine and SALT the Bistro showcase the goods of local farmers, using the freshest produce from Colorado. Rachel Gorton, sales and marketing manager for Colterra and SALT, said Colterra’s menu, inspired by the classic cuisine from southern France and northern Italy, and SALT’s menu, featuring vibrant vegetables, lively herbs and natural meats bring in both new faces and returning guests.

“(The) busiest time at Colterra and SALT are the summer months for regular business. Our patios and summer tourism play a big part,” Gorton said. “But the holidays are our busiest time of year for parties – there can be 4-5 per week.”

SALT has a salt cellar which is ideal for parties, and Gorton said Colterra’s Gables house is used for weddings, holiday parties and bridal showers. Colterra’s patio and garden room are also popular for parties.

“Our buildings are unique and historic,” Gorton said. “Colterra’s Gables house provides a very romantic setting for weddings, bridal showers – but is also versatile in that corporate groups feel comfortable and well-accommodated.”

In Northern Colorado
Bisetti’s Ristorante
120 S. College, Fort Collins, Colo.
www.bisettis.com

For more than 34 years, the Bisetti family has operated Bisetti’s Ristorante in historic downtown Fort Collins. Featuring southern and northern Italian dishes, Bisetti’s offers a quiet and unique atmosphere surrounded by the hustle of a busy college community.

“We are 34 years old (and) continue the quest to make our food and service better in order to enhance the guest experience,´ said Robert Bisetti, current owner of Bisetti’s, which he took over from his parents who started the business.

In its infancy, Bisetti’s sat 50 guests. When Robert and his wife, Heather, purchased the restaurant from his parents in 1988, they expanded the original restaurant to 175 seats. From the more than 2,000 plates of homemade pasta to the 200 servings of original tiramisu served every month, Bisetti features entrées such as shrimp and crab Alfredo and sea bass postitano.

“We have people who dine in Bisetti’s weekly,” Bisetti said. “Bisetti’s is one of the gems in downtown Fort Collins.”

Praha Restaurant & Bar
7521 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colo. 80503-9231
www.praharestaurant.com

From a young age, Monica Smetana has been involved in the restaurant business. Her parents started what is now Praha Restaurant & Bar in 1977 and now Smetana, her sister Judy and her mother Jitka run the business together.

“It’s a family-run restaurant,´ said Smetana, who is the executive chef at Praha.

Smetana, who trained and interned internationally at five-star hotels, focuses on creating global cuisine that offers a lighter side to a variety of dishes while paying homage to some old-world favorites. To do that, Smetana said she uses produce from the region to create unique dishes.

While some companies rent out the entire restaurant for holiday or business meetings, Smetana said Praha can seat parties of up to 40.

“For bigger parties, they can rent out the whole restaurant,” she said.

Armstrong Hotel
259 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colo. 80524
(970) 484-3883 (866)384-3883
www.thearmstronghotel.com

Remodeled in 2003, the Armstrong Hotel in historic downtown Fort Collins offers 45 unique rooms and suites ranging from modern to vintage. The Armstrong Hotel, a private, family-run boutique hotel, blends historic preservation with comfortable luxury.

“Most people pick out a room when they make a reservation instead of us assigning one,´ said Nick Gliszinski, Armstrong Hotel general manager. “We have a lot of leisure travelers and a high return rate.”

As the last operating historic hotel in downtown Fort Collins, the Armstrong Hotel has a spa on site offering services such as massages, hydration therapy, aromatherapy and a private steam-shower area. With event facilities for weddings, banquets and business meetings, Gliszinski said some book the facility because of the convenience of hosting their event at a place that also provides unique lodging.

Several dining options, including Ace Gillett’s, are also on site. An underground hotel lounge, Ace Gillett’s, features live jazz music and seasonal specialties featuring farm-to-table products. Ace Gillett’s opens at 4 p.m. daily and features live jazz each Wednesday through Sunday evening.

“It’s usually pretty packed once the music starts up,” Gliszinski said.