On April 19th, from 4p – 7p, the fun folks at Hale’s Ales Brewery will hold a party for everyone – with free food, drink, dessert and an opportunity to explore the facilities. This open house is specifically geared toward those looking for a place to hold a party, show, wedding, reception, or any type of gathering. Alyson Enger, Special Events Coordinator for Hale’s, hopes to welcome everyone in to see the variety of venues Hale’s has available – for groups as small as six or as large as 200!
“There is a great need for community space,” acknowledge Mike Hale, founder of Hale’s Ales, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, “if we can improve the vitality of this neighborhood, it’s good for everyone.”
In January 2010, Fremocentrist.com reported on a clearly identified need for celebration venues in Fremont. By mid-2010, Fremocentrist.com readers heard from Marta McDermott (Engers refers to herself as the ‘new Marta’ at Hale’s,) about the expanding venue options at Hale’s.
Now Engers has three options for organizers. When asked why, Hale said, “We want to utilize the space,” and after 20+ years here, Hale knows this community can find creative ways to put space to use.
As Moisture Festival wraps up its annual, month-long run in the Hale’s Palladium – a large warehouse space in the back of Hale’s – the connection between viable theater space and community vitality remains apparent. Moisture Festival draws in hundreds of audience members to its shows, along with the 100+ performers that use the stage, all of whom add to the energy.
The open house takes in a brief lull between Moisture Festival and Frank Olivier’s Twisted Cabaret, scheduled for the Palladium May 2nd – May 26th. The Palladium also hosts the Fremont Players and the Fremont Philharmonic every December as they perform a British Panto. On New Year’s Eve, the Moisture Festival producers stage a bash there. The Palladium also hosts straight music shows, including a recent concert by The Onlies, fundraisers like The Salvation Army ‘Gimme Shelter’, plus weddings, parties, and a few funerals/celebrations of life.
“It’s a great space,” Enger proclaims. As an experienced event planner, “I can give advice,” she offered, to those who want help configuring the space to their vision. This former keg warehouse offers plenty of versatility, with a concrete floor easily covered by area rugs and tables set up banquet or cabaret style to create warmth. For shows, risers augment the rows of seating and the full stage (with a small back stage but a large green room/dressing room area,) comes equipped with professional sound and lighting equipment – and an area for musicians.
The variations of what can be done in the Palladium are so vast that Engers has no set pricing. It has, “different pricing for different shows,” she admitted, “on a case-by-case basis.” The space does not, however, come with a food minimum – and Hale’s can operate a no-host concession bar – on the understanding that Hale’s Ales (and their delicious spent grain pretzels) will be sold among the products offered.
The Gallery
On the other end of the size spectrum, Enger has begun to promote use of ‘The Gallery,’ the small space just outside the Hale’s pub & restaurant. The lobby area runs along the brewery with tables and chairs (plus couches,) set up for parties too large for the restaurant.
Those who want to use this space are encouraged to contact the pub in advance. Engers will work with groups of more than 20 people (the space maximum is 40,) but even with large parties there is no venue fee. Instead, attendees each pay for their own food – and gratuities – as they order off the pub menu.
The Gallery does sit within arm’s reach of the beer vats, and the smell of the barley fills the air. “Most people love the smell,” Enger reported, “I love that smell… So warm!” The Gallery offers a new option for informal, semi-private setting for all ages, and ADA accessible.
The Banquet Room
Upstairs, above the Pub, Hale’s also still offers two rooms available for gatherings of 40 – 90 people – for weddings, meetings, presentations, acoustic music, birthday parties, receptions, theme parties, and, of course, banquets.
“We’ve dressed it up quite a bit,” Enger stated proudly. With clouding and risers, she’s able to lay a striking, sophisticated buffet with high-boy tables scattered around for maximum mixing and mingling. The rooms can also be laid out with rows of seats for a show, or lined with tables for sit down dinners. The room can be outfitted with linens, servers, flowers, audio/visual equipment, and everything to accommodate a high-society fete or the much more casual, weekly Rotary Club of Fremont meetings featuring beer and pizza.
At the most basic level, the Banquet Rooms rent for $175 – although Enger can offer the smaller of the two rooms for $100. A $350 minimum must be charged for catering – and codes do not allow outside food. The bar has expanded in the Banquet Room, however, with alcoholic drinks now available, and beers beyond those made at Hale’s.
The space can also accommodate regular, recurring events – like the weekly Fremont Rotary meetings, and the monthly Kindlings Muse. Enger welcomes those seeking an established, dependable location for their regular gatherings – weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
“I get to be part of people’s special day,” Enger said of what attracted her to event planning, and Hale’s, “people come in to be happy!” The public open house on April 19th will give the community a chance to come in and be happy, as they taste and see all Hale’s Ales Brewery has to offer.
For those who already have a date in mind, Enger advised, “we are getting busier.” Contact her about renting a venue at 206/706-1544 x 243, or e-mail specialevents@halesbrewery.com Or simply ask on April 19th, while sampling dessert, and the smell of barley!
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.