Soirée FAQs

When and where is the Soirée?

Date: Saturday March 25, 2023

Time: 7:00pm-12am CST

Place: Colvin House, 5940 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660

Built in 1909, Colvin House sits on 1/3 of an acre of land and the house itself has over 6,000 sq. ft. of space. It was designated as a Chicago landmark in 1994, which protects its exterior from any alterations and prohibits its demolition.

The house was built in the Prairie Style, by architect George Maher. A contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, Maher designed many other grand homes in the area, as the lead architect during the original development of the Edgewater neighborhood at the turn of the 19th century.

https://colvinhouseevents.com

How do I get to Colvin House?

Colvin House is located on the corner of Sheridan and W Thorndale Avenue in Chicago. It is a 45 minute drive from O’Hare Airport and 40 minutes from Midway Airport. If you’re arriving via public transportation, Colvin is just a few blocks east of the Red Line Thorndale station (about a 5 minute walk).

 

Is there parking at the event?

Yes, there is paid parking available. When you purchase your ticket, you will have the option to reserve a parking space for an additional $20. Event parking is located at either the Emanuel Congregation or Malibu Condos across the street from the venue.

I’m coming from out of town. Where should I stay?

All of the below hotels are within walking distance to the Red Line Train, which gives convenient access to Colvin House, as well as downtown Chicago. There are also plenty of AirBnBs around Chicago near major public transit and the event venues.

Is there a waitlist for tickets?

If tickets sell out, the CHCS will maintain a waitlist (please send us your name and email address) and individuals on the list will be notified as spaces become available in the order in which they were added to the list.

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and are non-refundable. In the event you or a member of your party are no longer able to attend, tickets may be transferred to another individual. The easiest way to do this is to purchase your ticket using the “Mobile Ticket” option on BrownPaperTickets.com and then use the “Transfer-to-a-Friend™ service” once you have found someone to buy it from you. If you need someone to sell your ticket to, contact us and we will connect you with the first person on the waitlist. If you sell your ticket to someone who is not on the waitlist, please send us the full name and email address of the recipient for our records.

What is the dress code?

This event is Belle Époque themed, which is the time period from 1890-1910. All attendees are encouraged to dress in ball-appropriate formal attire. However, this is NOT a historically accurate event, so feel free to make whatever creative choices you desire!
Check out the event’s Pinterest board for inspiration on what to wear!

Custom Made Ball Gowns

Mona Bocca Fashions specializes in plus-sized Belle Époque gowns

Suggested Resources for creating your own era-appropriate attire

Black Snail Patterns

Truly Victorian Patterns

Laughing Moon Mercantile

Nehelenia Patterns

Ageless Patterns Evening Gowns

Belle Époque Men’s Evening Attire Information

Victorian Menswear Look with Modern Clothes

Ebay and Thrifting

With some creativity, you can assemble a period appropriate ensemble with thrift store and eBay finds. Wedding gowns of the 1980s and early 1990s are a great place to start, as are certain styles of prom dresses.

What if I have a food allergy?

When you purchase your ticket, be sure to note any dietary restrictions you have. We will make sure to have excellent allergen-free options prepared, as well as fancy non-alcoholic beverages. Pyrite Sun is our caterer.

What are your COVID-19 protocols?

We will be adhering to the guidelines issued by the City of Chicago and will be following any health orders that may be in place at the time of the event.

Are minors allowed?

No, this event is 18+ only.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

The Colvin House has a wheelchair lift available through the courtyard and has a wheelchair accessible bathroom. Please let us know if you will need wheelchair accessibility at the time of registration.

The Colvin House is an older home and does not have an elevator lift to the 2nd floor. Certain VIP features require the use of stairs (denoted by an asterisk above). If you are interested in purchasing a VIP ticket and have a concern, please let us know and we will work with you to make an accommodation.

Are there gender-neutral bathrooms?

The Colvin House has 2 restrooms on the first floor that are gender neutral, one of which is handicap accessible. Additionally, there are 2 large event restrooms with 8 stalls in the basement.

Will there be a quiet place to step away from the noise/crowd if needed?

Yes, in addition to the VIP spaces, there are two additional upstairs rooms, as well as a large, accessible courtyard if a moment of quiet is needed.

I have a question that was not answered here.

Please contact us at chicagohistoricalcostume@gmail.com or @chihistoricalcostuming on Instagram.