CBJ Corporate Meeting & Event Planner

MEETING 

CORPORATE 

& EVENT 

PLANNER

CONTENTS 

FEATURES 

8 Planning Checklist 

Event expert shares her tips 

14 More than a Meeting 

Keep your attendees engaged 

20 Signature Spirits 

Create a memorable drink 

28 Calendar of Events 

What to do when you visit 

8 

14 

20 

28 

ADVERTISERS 

2 National Czech & Slovak 

Museum & Library 

3 Think Iowa City 

5 Coralville Parks & Recreation 

6 Linn County Conservation 

7 Cedar Ridge 

Winery & Distillery 

9 City of Cedar Rapids 

10 Cedar Rapids Tourism 

11 Indian Creek Nature Center 

12 St. Burch Tavern 

13 Bankers Advertising Company 

15 Cedar Rapids Kernels 

16 Bella Sala Event Center 

17 BizFitters 

18 Cedar Rapids Marriott 

19 Parlor City 

21 Coralville Center for the 

Performing Arts 

23 FilmScene 

25 Blue Sky Productions 

25 City of Iowa City 

27 Coralville Marriott Hotel 

& Conference Center 

29 The History Center 

30 Palmer House Stable 

31 DoubleTree by Hilton 

32 Graduate Iowa City 

WRITERS: Angela Holmes, Jeff Holmes 

DESIGNER: Becky Lyons 

MEDIA CONSULTANT: Rhonda Roskos 

corridorbusiness.com 

4 CBJ CORPORATE MEETING & EVENT PLANNER 2019

Unforgettable Events 

Brown Deer Golf Club 

1900 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, CORALVILLE 

BROWNDEERGOLF.ORG | 319-248-9300 

The Clubhouse at Brown Deer offers a unique 

setting for your corporate meeting or event. 

With stunning golf course views, this four season 

facility can accommodate groups of 12 in our 

Board Room or groups of up to 250 in our 

ballroom. Sound and projection can also be a 

part of your event. Spill out on the spacious deck 

or patio for event socials and networking. Enjoy 

a variety of casual dining options with Divots! 

Bar and Grill, our on site restaurant, or our food 

beverage partner, Marriott Hotel, can provide 

almost anything your event desires. 

To book a tour or an event, 

call 319-688-4000. 

North Ridge Pavilion 

2250 HOLIDAY ROAD , CORALVILLE 

CORALVILLE.ORG | 319-248-1750 

A 1,700 square foot, all season venue in a 

beautiful park setting. The Pavilion can seat up to 

100 and is equipped with a kitchen, large screen 

television with available HDMI and USB inputs, 

sound, and projector screen. Choose your own 

catering or meal options for the space. 

The Pavilion is open every Tuesday for general 

viewing from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

For pricing, call 319-248-1750.

Plan Your Special Event With Us 

Corporate Meetings & Retreats - Weddings & Receptions - Family Gatherings - Graduation Events 

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF SQUAW CREEK PARK 

Red Cedar 

LODGE 

1700 BIG BLUESTEM DRIVE, MARION 

Air Conditioning, Full Kitchen, Gas Operated Fireplace, Dressing Rooms, Indoor Seating for 150 

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Air Conditioning, Full Kitchen, Wood Fireplace, Indoor Seating for 250 

SPECIAL WEEKDAY RATES! 

RESERVE TODAY > LINNCOUNTYPARKS.COM > CLICK ON FACILITIES 

319-892-6450 | CONSERVATION@LINNCOUNTY.ORG

Cedar Ridge 

Rooms with a View 

Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in 

Swisher has entered its prime season 

for events and celebrations. 

“We’re averaging about 10 events a week, 

ranging from 12 to 200 guests” said Ashton 

Johnson, Cedar Ridge’s Events Manager. 

“This is always a busy time.” 

Cedar Ridge offers four different venues 

for meetings and events of all sizes. 

The newest addition is the Vineyard 

Room, which seats up to 40 guests. The 

space, featuring large floor-to ceiling windows 

overlooking the vineyards, is located 

right off the Tasting Room, giving the facility 

even more versatility. 

“Since the Tasting Room is where we 

serve our pizzas and drinks, it was only 

available when we were normally closed,” 

Johnson said. “We built the Vineyard 

Room to give us that smaller venue for 

people to use at all hours.” 

The Vineyard Room is available for 

three-hour rentals, but if an event requires 

a little more space, both the Vineyard and 

Tasting rooms can be rented together – 

outside of normal business hours – for 

four-hour blocks. 

The Tasting Room is available during 

non-business hours. It seats up to 60 

guests, and features a 25-foot tasting bar. 

In addition to the smaller rooms, Cedar 

Ridge also offers a 3,500-square foot 

Events Center with a seating capacity of 

200, and includes tables, linens, and 

chairs that can be set up in a variety of 

ways. Another unique feature is also included 

with the space. 

“There are garage doors on both sides 

of the Events Center,” Johnson, “so we 

can open it up and make it an open-air 

venue that gives you a great view of our 

vineyards and the countryside that surrounds 

the winery.” 

Tours of the winery and distillery are 

also available with your visit. The facility 

hosts about 100,000 visitors per year from 

near and far. 

Cedar Ridge offers free public Wi-Fi, as 

well as audio-visual equipment, screens, 

projectors, and microphones. 

But you might want to call soon to reserve 

a spot as recent state legislation has 

made Cedar Ridge an even more popular 

gathering space. 

“When the laws changed to allow us to 

sell our products by the glass, we became 

even busier,” Johnson said. “It’s been a 

lot of fun!” • 

Cedar Ridge 

1441 Marak Road 

Swisher, IA 52338 

www.crwine.com 

CONTACT: 

events@crwine.com 

(319) 857-4300 

EVENT CENTER: Seats up to 

200 people at round tables 

TASTING ROOM: Holds up to 60 

people for a cocktail party or up to 

44 people for a seated event 

VINEYARD ROOM: 

Seats up to 40 guests

Your Planning Checklist 

Emily McMahon, owner of 

Soirée in North Liberty. 

8 CBJ CORPORATE MEETING & EVENT PLANNER 2019 

STORY ANGELA HOLMES 

ANGELA@CORRIDORBUSINESS.COM 

PHOTOS STEPHANIE MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY

A local event expert shares questions to ask 

Planning a corporate event can 

be overwhelming, especially 

if it is your first shindig. Emily 

McMahon, owner of Soirée in 

North Liberty, has more than 

a decade of experience in the 

event industry. She is also 

an adjunct instructor at the 

University of Iowa, teaching 

courses in the Certificate in 

Event Management program. 

Here, she shares a few 

questions you should ask – 

and answer – to ensure your 

event is a success. 

1 

2 

3 

What are you goals and objectives for the specific meeting or 

event? Not every event is the same. Goals differ, as well as the 

audience. Determine early on what you want your attendees 

to experience. Refer back to the original goals, keeping your 

budget in mind, throughout the process. 

What kind of venue best suits your needs? There are two types of 

venues: standard and non-standard. Non-standard venues, such 

as a barn, may have more costs if they don’t have amenities 

such as tables and food. Most standard hotel ballrooms will 

already have tables and food – and the staff to set them up. 

Again, determine what best suits your audience and goals. 

Who is providing the food? Guests remember the food, so make 

sure it is high quality. Nobody wants their event remembered 

for the dry chicken. Some venues, like hotels, provide their own 

food service. Others require off-site catering. Be sure to choose 

a menu that fits your needs. 

CHECKLIST PAGE 12 

YOUR EVENT AT 

UshersFerry 

CBJ CORPORATE MEETING & EVENT PLANNER 2019 9

BRING YOUR 

NEXT MEETING 

HOME TO 

CEDAR RAPIDS 

DO YOU: 

■ Serve on an association board? 

■ Attend conferences/conventions? 

■ Plan meetings across the country? 

Make an impact right here at home and host your 

next meeting or convention in Cedar Rapids. 

Contact me today! 

Julie Stow 

Director of Meetings & Conventions 

Cedar Rapids Tourism Office 

j.stow@tourismcedarrapids.com 

319.731.4558 

370 First Ave NE 

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 

tourismcedarrapids.com 

10 CBJ CORPORATE MEETING & EVENT PLANNER 2019 

CBJ_Event_Planning_Print_Ad.indd 1 

4/23/19 5:07 PM

INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER 

A Natural Fit 

From small meetings to company 

retreats, the Indian Creek Nature 

Center in Cedar Rapids can 

accommodate a variety of corporate needs. 

According to Liz Zabel, marketing manager, 

that is what makes it a perfect location. 

“We are able to offer something for 

everybody,” she said. “We like to go above 

and beyond when it comes to our facilities.” 

The Nature Center has 10 different 

meeting areas available, highlighted by 

a 150- to 200-seat auditorium for more 

standard presentations. 

Although there is a catering kitchen 

on-site, the Nature Center welcomes 

groups that bring their own food, provided 

no Styrofoam is used in any packaging, 

Zabel said. 

The Nature Center’s setting provides 

clients with the option to connect with 

nature, especially at Amazing Space, a 

new building and campus that opened in 

September 2016. 

“We offer some very unique venues and 

opportunities both inside and outside,” 

Zabel said, highlighting the Bird Room as 

a peaceful space to take a break and relax 

during a meeting or conference. 

Amazing Space is in the process of 

achieving the Living Building Challenge 

— an environmental certification that 

stands above LEED as the world’s most 

rigorous proven building performance 

standard. Achieving this certification 

means the building is regenerative to 

the environment— rather than having a 

negative or even neutral impact, a Living 

Building creates a positive impact on the 

human and natural system it interacts with. 

For the past two years, the Nature Center 

has achieved Net Zero Energy by producing 

more energy than the facility uses through 

the use of on-site solar panels, as well as 

Net Zero Water by capturing and reusing 

all water that falls on the site. 

As part of its team-building activities, the 

Nature Center gives groups the opportunity to 

participate in service projects and interactive 

programs. Service projects can range from 

simple brush clearing and cleaning to more 

complicated tasks such as construction of 

a rain shelter. Interactive programs, such 

as GPS utilization, can be conducted at the 

center or at a business’ facility. 

With its outdoor facilities the Nature 

Center offers much more than just a 

standard space to hold a business meeting. 

“It’s an amazing place,” Zabel said. 

“Being out in nature, you can walk the 

trails, you’re connecting with people in a 

very unique way. It’s peaceful…a great way 

to open your mind.” • 

Indian Creek 

Nature Center 

5300 Otis Road SE 


www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org 

CONTACT: (319) 362-0664 

rbailey@indiancreeknaturecenter.org 

EVENT CENTER CAPACITY: Varies 

CONFERENCE ROOMS: 2 

CLASSROOMS: 2 

FEATURES /AMENITIES: 

String-lit outdoor patio 

Catering kitchen 

Auditorium 

Outdoor amphitheater 

Biophillic design 

Wi-Fi 

Conference technology

CHECKLIST FROM PAGE 9 

4 

5 

Where do you want to 

prioritize your dollars? Once 

your budget is set, determine 

how you want to spread out 

the money. Would you rather 

set up your own tables, 

freeing up more money for 

a higher-level menu? Do you 

want to pay extra for the 

venue’s staff to clean up the 

tables and take out the trash, 

or can you do it and put that 

saved money elsewhere? 

Is the space locked up when 

you leave? If your event is 

more than one day, find out 

if the space is locked up at 

night. If not, you may have 

to pack everything up and 

start over in the morning. Also 

find out if the whole floor is 

reserved for you and who has 

access to the space. 

The Den is a 

perfect spot 

for your next 

private event! 

Enjoy a customizable 

food menu, full bar 

and lounge in a oneof-a-kind 

setting at 

Downtown Iowa 

City’s premier private 

event space. 

BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT 

SAINTBURCHTAVERN.COM 


6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

What are your technical needs? Some venues have their own audio-visual system, 

but many do not. You will have to contract a separate company for musts like 

microphones, speakers, screens and all of the components. Like dry chicken, poor 

sound or videos will promptly lose your audience. 

How will you invite everybody? In these days of social media, inviting people to an 

event is seemingly easier than ever before. But make sure your emails don’t end 

up in a junk folder or unread. Track who is opening emails or responding to social 

media invites. Hanging fliers around the office may be old-school, but it will also 

draw attention to the event. 

What about the décor? The atmosphere will be set as soon – if not before – 

attendees walk into the space. How will you make everything coordinate, including 

colors and centerpieces? Keep in mind your audience and the goal of the event. 

Will you serve alcohol? If you do, find out what type of event insurance is 

needed and what the venue covers. Drinks are expensive. Are you providing a 

complementary drink or two before the cash bar begins? Do you need to set a time 

to shut the bar down before the event ends? 

What went right? After the event, have a debriefing meeting with the decisionmakers. 

Also, send out a survey to the attendees. Honesty can be brutal, but it 

helps you improve. n 


MORE THAN A 

MEETING 

Keeping at tendees engaged throughout an event 

Let’s face it: Meetings are meetings no matter the setting. It is 

up to organizers to not only get people to attend, but also to 

keep them engaged throughout the event. 

Emily Comer, event coordinator of Women Lead Change 

(WLC), is tasked with organizing five annual conferences 

across Iowa, including in the Corridor, Siouxland, Quad Cities, 

Central Iowa and Dubuque. MEETING PAGE 16 



PHOTOS CORALVILLE MARRIOTT 


Cedar Rapids Kernels: 

More than just Baseball 

The Cedar Rapids Kernels offers the 

best of all worlds at Perfect Game Field 

at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

With its intimate setting that includes both 

indoor and outdoor spaces, the ballpark is 

the premier location to entertain employees 

and clients or friends and family. 

Let the Kernels staff plan a party suitable 

for a corporate meeting or a relaxing day 

out in the sun. 

“We have a conference room which 

can be set up with tables for 25 or as a 

seminar room for 50,” Andrea Brommelkamp, 

the Kernels’ senior director of 

tickets and group sales, said. “We also 

offer our Grand Slam Suite, which offers a 

great deal of versatility.” 

The Grand Slam Suite is the equivalency 

of four regular suites and offers a variety of 

configurations for any kind of presentation 

or meeting. It can accommodate up to 85 

people in a unique setting. 

“We recently had a tool company that 

was demonstrating a new type of table 

saw,” Brommelkamp said. “So, we had 

a woodworking demonstration right there 

in the suite. 

“The great thing about the Grand Slam 

Suite is that we can set up for various 

break-outs, and since it overlooks the field, 

it offers a great view,” she added. “We also 

offer on-site catering, including alcohol, 

that isn’t always available at most venues.” 

And if you want to move your events 

outside, Perfect Game Field offers several 

different party venue areas, including right 

on the field. 

“We have a lot of businesses that will 

hold outings at the park for their clients 

and employees,” Brommelkamp said. 

“They might use one of our party areas, 

then go out on the field and play catch 

or even have a softball game. And with 

people looking for unique places for their 

wedding, we’ve become a destination for 

those as well.” 

“We also offer our consistency,” she 

added. “I’ve been here 16 years; we offer a 

great deal of experience and we love what 

we do. It’s always a lot of fun!” 

Spaces fill up quickly – call Andrea 

Brommelkamp at (319) 896-7603 or email 

andrea@kernels.com today to book your 

group outing. • 

Cedar Rapids Kernels 

950 Rockford Road SE 


www.milb.com/cedar-rapids 

CONTACT: (319) 896-7603 

andrea@kernels.com 

CAPACITY: 10-1,000+ 

AVAILABLE: 

Groups in the stands 

Miller Mezzanine 

Plumbers & Pipefitters Pavilion 

Deck #5 | Kernels Party Plaza 

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 125 

Pavilion | Kernels Diamond Suites 

CRAAR Grand Slam Suite 

Kernels Party Package 

Kernels Birthday Parties

“We take into consideration basic human needs 

for interaction,” she said. “With events that 

have breakout sessions, we try to intermix the 

programming of the day so you’re not doing 

multiples of the same thing in a row.” 

This year WLC is trying out the event 

and conference app, Whova, to connect 

participants and keep them up to date on 

conference activities. The third-party app builds 

comprehensive profiles of those registered for a 

conference so attendees can meet each other 

before the event begins. The app also hosts live 

chats and allows participants to ask speakers 

questions during sessions, among other nifty 

networking tools. 

MEETING FROM PAGE 14 

A cozy setting at the Coralville 

Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. 

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER 

Urbana-based e-commerce company Clickstop 

takes employee engagement to a whole other 

level by making a fun weekend out of an 

otherwise dry annual meeting. 

Every year since the company was founded 

in 2005, owners Tim and Nicole Guenther have 

invited full-time employees and their significant 

others to the Hotel Julien in Dubuque for a yearly 

weekend retreat, covering the cost of hotel rooms 

and meals. > 

simply unforgettable 

Full-service facility for up to 650 attendees 

bellasalaevents.com | 319.545.4255 


Clickstop employees and guests at Hotel 

Julien Dubuque. PHOTO CLICKSTOP 

“It gives employees a chance to interact with 

people they don’t know very well,” said Chief 

Talent Enrichment Officer Monica Steffeck. 

While there is time to relax and enjoy the 

time away from home, the company does get 

down to business with the annual meeting held 

from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. 

Along with poring over the businesses’ highs 

and lows from the previous year, new initiatives 

are announced. In fact, the company usually 

waits to make big announcements at the annual 

meeting, Steffeck said. 

To lighten up this year’s meeting held in 

March, some information was presented similar 

to a Saturday Night Live newscast. 

“It’s funny to laugh at coworkers rather than 

sit in a boring meeting,” Steffeck said. 

After the meeting wraps up, attendees are 

given a chance to explore the area before being 

treated to dinner and live band at the hotel on 

Saturday night. 

The retreat opens up communication 

between coworkers who may not have a lot of 

interaction with each other at the office. 

“We feel like we know each other better at 

the end of the weekend and recognize each 

other in the halls,” Steffeck said. n 

Get your SWAG on! 

Make Attendees Smile 

Send attendees home 

with swag that makes 

them feel like they got 

more than expected. 

BizFitters is a locally-owned small business. 

We’re your source for great promotional 

products that grow your brand. Ask us 

about setting up an online company store 

for your business! 

Build Brand Loyalty 

Stay connected with 

attendees remembering 

your event every time 

they use your swag. 

Create More Customers 

Build your following as 

your brand is seen by 

thousands of prospective 

customers. 

BizFitters 

Outfit Your Brand 

311 Third Street SE | Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 | info@bizfitters.com | (319) 774-1701 


MIX IT UP 

Here are a few creative ideas Shannon Arnold, director of 

event planning & operations at the Coralville Marriott Hotel 

& Conference Center, has arranged with groups to make 

events more interesting: 

Las Vegas Casino Night at 

the Coralville Marriott Hotel 

& Conference Center. 

n At a Great Gatsby-themed awards dinner, guests were encouraged to 

dress the part, and all food, drink and entertainment was themed to the 

1920s era. 

n A multi-day conference offered an optional yoga class one morning 

before the sessions began and a spin class the next morning. 

n The reception of one group’s Vegas casino night started in just a portion 

of the ballroom with food and drink and about an hour into the event, 

the temporary ballroom walls were opened to reveal an entire casino 

show floor with professional dealers on the other side of the room. 

n Attendees want more “experiences” when they attend meetings. If they 

have an opportunity to make an impact, that also goes over very well. 

One conference partnered with the United Way to assemble thousands 

of hygiene kits as one of their team building activities. > 

Cedar Rapids Marriott 

Making Your Next Event Brilliant 

n Total of 25,923 square feet of meeting space. 

n Beautiful ballroom & additional meeting space 

can accommodate events large and small. 

n Collaborate with your Sales Team using Meetings 

Imagined to “re-invent” the meeting experience. 

n Our premier catering services and expert team 

offer everything you need to plan, book and 

execute at the highest level. 

n Gain easy access to our banquet team, right at 

your fingertips, with our Red Coat Direct service. 

Business travelers will enjoy the convenience of the workstations 

and high-speed Wi-Fi access in our rooms; and our hotel amenities, 

including pool, fitness center and Cedar Grille Restaurant and 

Lounge will serve as needed respite from a long day’s travel. 

1200 Collins Road NE 


800.396.2153 

marriott.com/cidmc 


Parlor City 

the Ideal Solution 

BOOK YOUR EVENT: 

Anniversary 

Award Banquet 

Baby / Bridal Shower 

Birthday 

Celebration of Life 

Class Reunion 

Corporate Event 

Family Reunion 

Fundraiser 

Gift Brunch 

Graduation 

Rehearsal Dinner 

Retirement 

Wedding 

Long known for great food and fun in 

the NewBo District, Parlor City Pub & 

Eatery offers a host of options for businesses 

to hold offsite meetings, and one of 

them might just be ideal. 

For the past couple years, Parlor City has 

operated the Ideal Social Club. The former 

Ideal Theater, built in 1914 as a Czech-language 

silent movie theater, was purchased 

from Borgenson Automotive Paint by Parlor 

City and the Jelinek family in 2014. After 

three years of painstaking restoration, it reopened 

as an event venue in 2017. 

“We had a really good relationship with 

the paint shop,” said Steph Jelinek of Parlor 

City. “When they were ready to sell the 

Ideal building, we were ready to buy it.” 

The Ideal Social Hall — which is on the 

National Register of Historic Places — can 

comfortably accommodate 175 guests 

seated in the resorted interior, along with 

space on the grounds for over 200 more. 

“It’s a great place for just about any 

event,” Jelinek said. “There’s a lot of free 

space to configure it many different ways.” 

In addition, while Jelinek said that businesses 

are welcome to bring in any food 

and refreshments of their own, they can 

also have the event catered by Parlor City 

Pub & Eatery. 

Parlor City’s home base offers three different 

mostly private areas that are available 

for events and meetings of any kind. 

n The Five Seasons Room is available 

year round. It seats 77 people, or 

can be split in half to seat 40. 

n The Green Room is set up for 26, perfect 

for smaller gatherings and events 

n The Pavilion seats 48. It is set up 

to be an open-air facility in warm 

weather, but also is heated and has a 

gas fireplace for in colder weather. 

“We have a lot of options,” Jelinek said. 

“Depending on the event, we offer hourly 

rental rates along with a full menu of food 

and drink choices for all of our facilities. We 

just need a basic outline of what customers 

need and we can go from there.” • 

PARLOR CITY 

PUB & EATERY 

1125 Third St. SE 


www.parlorcitypub.com 

CONTACT: party@parlorcitypub.com 

(319) 247-0000 

FIVE SEASONS ROOM: 

Seating capacity – 77; 

drinks and apps capacity – 100 

PAVILION: Seating capacity – 48; 


GREEN ROOM: Seating capacity – 26; 


IDEAL SOCIAL HALL 

213 16th Ave. SE 


http://idealsocialhall.com 

CONTACT: party@parlorcitypub.com 

(319) 573-6310 

SEATING CAPACITY: 175+ 

Additional outdoor capacity: 200+

Signature Spirits 

Groups, venues work together 

to create memorable drinks 

A surefire way to make an event 

memorable is to offer a signature drink 

concocted specifically for the host. > 



Clarified Mojito mixed by Jared 

Rodenwald at the Maikka bar at The 

Hotel at Kirkwood. 

PHOTOS BRIAN DREAGER 


vA 

Inspire. Create. Share. 

Whether you’re planning a business meeting or 

a full-scale musical, the Coralville Center for 

the Performing Arts is here for you! 

guest speakers, theatrical productions, solo 

recitals, social events, receptions, and more. 

• Beautiful 472-seat auditorium 

• Full-service concessions 

• Six spacious dressing rooms 

• Easy-access loading 

• Plentiful free parking 

• Complete event support 


Jared Rodenwald, lead bartender at the Maikka 

bar at The Hotel at Kirkwood mixes drinks. 

Ashley Levitt, events & 

social media marketing 

manager at the Corridor Business 

Journal, works with various 

venues to create cocktails for 

popular CBJ events such as 

Women of Influence, Forty Under 

40, Coolest Places to Work and 

Fastest Growing Companies. 

“A signature drink is a fun, 

easy way to extend recognition 

to your honorees or an event 

sponsor,” she said. “You can 

request a drink that is on theme 

with the event color, includes 

alcohol made by event sponsors, 

or even rename the drink after 

honorees or a sponsor.” 

Among Levitt’s favorite 

signature drinks is the “Ginger 

Whiskey,” also known as “The 

Nyemaster,” created by Jared 

Rodenwald, lead bartender at 

the Maikka bar at The Hotel 

at Kirkwood. The cocktail was 

named after Nyemaster Goode, 

the sponsor for the CBJ’s Fastest 

Growing Companies reception 

held in May 2015. 

Another favorite was “The 

Impact” named for Forty Under 

40 honorees who have made 

a “significant impact in their 

business and community early in 

their careers.” The combination 

of pear vodka, cranberry juice 

and a cinnamon stick was a hit 

and has remained in the CBJ’s 

event repertoire. 

Rodenwald often receives 

requests to create a signature 

drink, whether it be for a wedding, 

reunion or corporate event. 

He takes several things into 

consideration when creating a 

customized cocktail, including 

the type of business it is, the 

audience demographics and the 

theme of event. 

When a client requests a 

certain color, he keeps in mind 

what will mix well together. For 

instance, dark rum or bourbon 

wouldn’t be the top choice for an 

island blue hue. 

SPIRITS PAGE 24 


Best Yet 

to Come for 

FilmScene 

Already a prime location for business 

groups to gather, FilmScene 

is looking ahead to an even brighter 

spotlight. On Aug. 1, the nonprofit will 

move into the bottom two floors of the new 

Chauncey building in downtown Iowa City. 

“We are very excited about the future,” 

FilmScene’s Director of Operations Emily 

Salmonson said. 

FilmScene’s futuristic new home will be 

the “front and center” of the new high-rise 

building with a glass facade and will offer 

features that make it a destination for both 

entertainment and business activities. 

Make no mistake, FilmScene’s current 

facility is still a great place to meet. 

“Of course, we function primarily as a 

theater,” Salmonson said, “but we also can 

offer our space to companies as a unique 

and fun place to hold their meetings. 

“Our current main screen can seat 65,” 

she added. “We have our traditional concessions 

area and we also have a rooftop 

patio above the main theater. That is a 

great location for breakouts, maybe even 

an after-meeting happy hour.” 

The opportunities offered by the current 

facility’s location on the Ped Mall are almost 

limitless, she continued. 

“It’s a great location with things to do 

during lunch, or breaks between meetings,” 

she said. “It’s like an extension of our facility.” 

But while the old building has served 

FilmScene well, there is a lot of excitement 

surrounding the opening of the 

Chauncey building. 

“It’s been a little surreal,” Salmonson 

said. “For a long time, it’s been something 

we looked at through artist’s drawings and 

building plans, but now that it’s actually 

this real place we can see coming together, 

it’s really exciting.” 

The space uses materials and design 

elements intended to marry old and new, 

down to the lighting, which incorporates 

classic bulbs to illuminate a modern concessions 

area, and is used elsewhere to 

pay homage to the neon theater signs of 

the past. 

The two main theaters will be woodwrapped 

pods. The interiors of each theater 

will sport the company’s blue and 

black color scheme, and instead of the 

traditional lighting sconces and curtains, 

there will be uniquely-shaped acoustic tiles 

lined with LED lights. • 

FilmScene 

on the Ped Mall 

118 E. College St. 

Iowa City, IA 52240 

CAPACITY: SCENE 1: 65 

ROOFTOP: 45 LOBBY: 70 

at The Chauncey 

404 E. College St. 

Iowa City, IA 52240 

CAPACITY: THEATER 1: 120 

THEATER 2: 70 THEATER 3: 50 

www.icfilmscene.org 

CONTACT: (319) 358-2555 

emily@icfilmscene.org 

TYPES OF EVENTS: 

Private rooftop parties 

Private film screenings 

Lobby rentals for parties 

Rooftop happy hour 

Daytime theater rentals 

for meetings and presentations

SPIRITS FROM PAGE 22 

Hanky Panky at 

the Maikka bar 

at The Hotel at 

Kirkwood, and 

fresh limes for the 

Clarified Mojito. 

“You need to find a balance 

of what looks good and what they 

want,” he said. 

Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery 

in Swisher also gets its share of 

signature drink requests from 

clients. The venue is required by 

law to only use spirits it distills in 

the cocktails served on-site. 

“So, with that in mind, our 

cocktails are designed to highlight 

our products,” said Ashton 

Johnson, Cedar Ridge’s events 

manager. “Rather than making 

drinks to hide the spirit’s flavors, 

we aim to showcase them in each 

unique drink.” 

Maikka also tries to keep it 

local, using products from Cedar 

Ridge, wines made at The Winery 

at Kirkwood and herbs grown 

in the Kirkwood greenhouse, 

Rodenwald said. 

While signature drinks aren’t 

a requirement for a corporate 

event, they do create a lot of buzz 

– so to speak. 

“Attendees definitely take 

notice when they see a lot of 

blue drinks ‘walking around’ and 

are curious to try it,” Levitt said. 

“Guests appreciate these little 

details, but we’ve seen a more 

positive response from sponsors. 

One company was so excited that 

they requested the recipe and 

decided to feature it at their own 

office gathering.” n 


Clarified Mojito 

1.5 ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco 

1 ounce clarified lime juice 

2 white sugar cubes 

6-8 fresh mint leaves 

Soda water 

Add the rum, lime juice, sugar cubes and mint to the bottom of a 

highball glass. Use a muddler to mix liquid ingredients and press the 

mint. After sugar has dissolved, fill glass with ice and top with soda 

water. Garnish with a mint sprig. 

From Maikka at The Hotel at Kirkwood 

Bluebeard 

2 ounces Cedar Ridge Malted Rye Whiskey 

1.5 ounces blueberry cinnamon puree 

3/4 ounce Muscadine Shrub 

House-made Blueberry Ginger Beer 

Blueberries 

Mint leaves 

In a rocks glass, muddle 3-5 blueberries 

and 2-3 mint leaves. Fill cocktail shaker 

with ice. Add whiskey, blueberry puree 

and shrub. Shake well. Pour cocktail into 

glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with 

blueberries and a mint leaf. 

From Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery 

TELL YOUR STORY 

Live Event 

Production 

Video and Media 

Production 

Recording Studio 

Equipment Rental 

Your Audio 

and Video 

Professionals 

blueskypd.com 

blue.sky@blueskypd.com 

319.210.0266 

Ned Ashton House 

Riverside Festival Stage 

The Lodge at Terry Trueblood 

Recreation Area 

www.icgov.org/eventfacilities 


GingerWhiskey 

or The Nyemaster 

2 ounces Jim Beam bourbon 

1 ounce lemon juice 

½ ounce simple syrup 

Ginger ale 

Ginger 

Orange 

In a Collins glass, muddle ginger. Shake bourbon, lemon and 

simple syrup. Proceed to strain into the glass. Fill with ginger ale 

and then garnish with orange wedge. 


IowaMule 

2 ounces Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbon whiskey 

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice 

Cedar Ridge House-Made Ginger Beer 

Lime Slices 

In a copper mug, fill with ice, then add whiskey. Add in lime 

juice, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime slices. 

From Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery 

Hanky Panky 

1.5 ounces Old Tom Ransom Gin 

1.5 ounces Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth 

2 dashes Fernet Branca Amaro 

Orange twist 

Add all liquids into mixing glass with ice and stir until 

chilled. Strain into chilled martini or coupe glass, garnish 

with an orange twist. 



Great Getting Greater 

CORALVILLE MARRIOTT 

Already a destination location for 

travelers, visitors and business 

meetings, the Coralville Marriott at 

the Iowa River Landing is getting even better. 

“We are the premier meeting place in 

Coralville,” said Molly Horton, the hotel’s 

Director of Sales. “It’s an exciting location 

and place to be.” 

The Marriott has 60,000 square feet of 

meeting space available with a 15,000- 

square-foot ballroom, a 7,200-squarefoot 

ballroom and a 30,000-square-foot 

conference center, as well as 10 breakout 

rooms. And the entire facility has recently 

undergone a facelift. 

“We’ve been working on a $4 million 

remodel of all our function space,” Horton 

said. “They’ve all been redone with 

new lighting, wall vinyls, furniture, and 

carpeting. We’ve used cool, neutral tones 

with a nod in design to the texture and 

patterns found in hawk feathers, water, and 

coral, in honor of our location in Coralville.” 

A large part of what makes the Marriott 

such a prime gathering spot is its location. 

“We’re right off Interstate 80 and the hub 

of the great, booming Iowa River Landing,” 

Horton said. “Right behind the hotel is the 

Iowa River and the Iowa Wetlands Park 

that has walking trails and places to just 

relax. There are all kinds of shops and 

restaurants to visit and, of course, we are 

right next door to the new Xtream Arena.” 

Xtream Arena, Coralville’s shiny new 6,000 

capacity sports and entertainment facility 

will be opening in the fall of 2020, bringing 

concerts, trade shows, and the possibility of 

minor league hockey and other sports to the 

south end of the Corridor. 

“We’re excited to have the arena right 

here,” Horton said. “It’s going to bring so 

many people to the IRL. It’s exciting to see 

it take shape.” 

Another unique feature at the Marriott is 

a working library. 

“We are honored to host the Iowa 

Writers’ Workshop library, the only working 

library housed by a hotel in the United 

States. This library exclusively holds works 

by participants in the Workshop,” Horton 

said. “It’s a very popular attraction and 

such a great thing to have right here.” • 

Coralville Marriott Hotel 

& Conference Center 

300 E. Ninth St. 

Coralville, IA 52241 

www.marriott.com 

CONTACT: (319) 688-4000 

TOTAL EVENT SPACE: 

57,588 square feet 

CAPACITY OF LARGEST SPACE: 4,050 

MAXIMUM BREAKOUT ROOMS: 20 

BALLROOMS: 2 

FEATURES/AMENITIES: Catering 

High-speed internet access 

AV equipment/technician 

Security guard

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU VISIT 

Work hard, play hard, right? If you’re planning an event in the Corridor, it’s 

always nice to treat your valued guests to a fun event outside the walls of your venue. 

These are just a few of the marquee events the Corridor has to offer. 

IOWA CITY JAZZ FEST 

JUNE 

5 IOWA CITY FARMERS MARKET, Chauncey Swan Ramp, 

415 E. Washington St., Iowa City. 5-7 p.m., icgov.org/ 

farmersmarket. Features local handcrafted, homemade 

and homegrown goods and produce as well as live 

local music. Every Wednesday through October. 

8 IOWA CITY FARMERS MARKET, Chauncey Swan Ramp, 

415 E. Washington St., Iowa City. 7: 30 a.m.-noon, 

icgov.org/farmersmarket. Features local handcrafted, 

homemade and homegrown goods and produce as well 

as live local music. Every Saturday through October. 

15 CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET, 

7:30 a.m.-noon, downtown Cedar Rapids, 

cedarrapids.org. Features more than 200 local 

vendors offering a variety of products. 

22 DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY, Iowa City Downtown 

District, thinkiowacity.com. All-ages event includes 

music, ping-pong tables, video game tournament, 

sand volleyball and more. 

25 BALLOON GLOW, 6-10 p.m., Sinclair Levy, 1430 

Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, freedomfestival. 

com. Listen to live music as colorful lighted hot-air 

balloons are raised just before dusk. 

CEDAR RAPIDS BALLOON GLOW 

JULY 

3-4 CORALVILLE 4TH FEST, S.T. Morrison Park, 1513 

Seventh St., Coralville, coralville.org/310/4thFest. 

Includes a 5K run/walk, entertainment, food, a 

free concert, parade, free family-friendly activities 

and fireworks. 

5-7 IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL, downtown Iowa City, 

summerofthearts.org. Weekend filled with four 

stages of live jazz music, food, art vendors, 

children’s activities and fireworks. 




vendors offering a variety of products. Also July 20. 

13 NORTH LIBERTY BLUES & BBQ, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m., 

Centennial Park, North Liberty, northlibertyblues. 

org. Features live music, local barbeque vendors 

and beverage garden. 

20 ASIANFEST, McGrath Ampitheatre, 475 First St. 

SW, Cedar Rapids, noon-10 p.m., asianfest.org. 

Celebrate and recognize culture and heritage 

from all over Asia with local food vendors, live 

performances, a fashion show and more. 


FRY FEST 

AUGUST 

2-3 SOUL & BLUES FESTIVAL, 7:30-10 p.m., 

Pentacrest, summerofthearts.org. Celebrates the 

music, dance, food and art of African and African- 

American communities. 

24 MARKET AFTER DARK, 6:30-11 p.m. Aug. 24, 

downtown Cedar Rapids, cedarrapids.org. The 

nighttime farmers market brings more than 

40,000 people downtown for food, beer, wine, art, 

entertainment and more. 

30 FRY FEST, Iowa River Landing, Coralville, fryfest. 

com. Kick off the University of Iowa football season 

with a Hawkeye tradeshow in the Coralville Marriott, 

concert, food vendors and beverage garden. 

CEDAR RAPIDS FARMERS MARKET 

SEPTEMBER 

15 FESTIVAL LATINO, McGrath Ampitheatre, 475 

First St. SW, Cedar Rapids, https://bit.ly/2GLji7L. 

Celebrates Latin American culture with live music 

performances, different types of food from various 

countries and family-friendly activities. 




vendors offering variety of products. 

There’s no time like the present 

to plan your special event at 

The History Center. 

RENTALS 

Meetings | Parties | Banquets | Receptions | Weddings 

Great space 

for your events! 

Contact US! 

The History Center 

800 2nd Ave SE 


319.362.1501 

jenny@historycenter.org 

www.HistoryCenter.org 

Unforgettable 

experiences happen here! 


NOVEMBER 

NORTHSIDE OCTOBERFEST 

OCTOBER 

1-6 IOWA CITY BOOK FESTIVAL, downtown Iowa City, 

iowacitybookfestival.org. Organized by the Iowa 

City UNESCO City of Literature, the festival 

celebrates books and writing with readings, film 

screenings, panel discussions and a book fair. 

5 NORTHSIDE OKTOBERFEST, Market Street, Iowa 

City, downtowniowacity.com. Anyone can enjoy the 

atmosphere, food vendors and activities, though 

only those with tickets will be allowed the tasting 

glass to sample beers, ciders and wines from more 

than 70 booths. 

30 TANNENBAUM FOREST, Amana Colonies Convention 

& Visitors Bureau, 622 46th Ave., Amana, 

recurring weekly on Sunday and Saturday, 

amanacolonies.com. See a forest of decorated 

trees, nativity, 15-foot German pyramid and 

Santa. Continues weekends through Dec. 22. 

DECEMBER 

7-8 HOLIDAY THIEVES’ MARKET, Iowa Memorial Union, UI 

campus, Iowa City, fineartscouncil.uiowa.edu. Art 

exhibition and sale featuring more than 125 artists 

in painting, ceramics, photography, woodworking, 

drawing, metal, glass, jewelry, fiber and more. 

business & all life’s events 

PALMERHOUSESTABLE 

business & all life’s events 

Get outta town for your next event! 

where 

200 E Main Street 

Solon, IA 52333 

spaces 

Indoor & Outdoor 

Overnight Accomodations 

capacity 

10 - 300 people 

our specialty 

Concierge Customer Services 

Flexible Event Arrangements 

One Place at One Price 

Need help with an event? 

Over the past 15 years, 

the CBJ has held some 

of the region’s most 

popular corporate and 

awards-based events. 

Al Wells | 319.400.2908|al@palmerhousestable.com 

www.palmerhousestable.com 

CBJ’s Event 

Services Group 

can help you 

customize an 

event on time 

and on budget. 

Contact Ashley Levitt at 

(319) 665-6397 x 311 or 

ashley@corridorbusiness.com 


What A 

Sweet Welcome 

It starts with a warm chocolate chip cookie 

and doesn’t stop there. Sophisticated, 

iconic, contemporary, are all words to 

describe the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar 

Rapids Convention Complex. As the only 

hotel in the heart of a vibrant downtown, 

you will enjoy over 30 eateries as well 

as many area attractions within walking 

distance. Our 14 passenger bike has seats 

available to tour the hot spots! 

With 82,000 square feet of flexible 

meeting space including the U.S. Cellular 

Center Arena, we can easily accommodate 

5 to 5,000 guests. Many options include 

a Grand Ballroom, Convention Center, and 

performance arena. Our established and 

caring sales and catering team are happy 

to assist with the details. 

Let us be your home base in the Midwest! 

Encompassing a hotel, convention center 

and arena, all you can envision is here 

under one roof. 

350 First Avenue NE 


T (319) 731 4444 | F (319) 731 4455 

CedarRapidsConventionComplex.DoubleTree.com 


More Than Just 

Meeting Space 

• Convenient downtown 

location 

• Locally inspired design 

• Complimentary wi-fi 

• Unique meeting & event 

spaces 

• Gene’s bar & restaurant 

• On-site café, Poindexter 

Coffee 

210 S Dubuque St • 319 337 4058 • graduatehotels.com/iowa-city • @graduateiowacity

CBJ Corporate Meeting & Event Planner

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