Looking for a party space in CH/PH

Don't know whether this will prove to be fruitful, but I figure it's worth a shot...

I'm trying to find a space for a joint birthday party for the last Saturday of July. I'll be turning 40 (bleeeargh) and one of my friends turns 30 the same day, so the plan at the moment is that it's going to be a costume party for our 70th birthday. We're going to be rocking it geriatric-style, yo.

For a number of reasons, my apartment isn't really a good space for having more than a handful of people over, and my friend is coming in from out of town for this, so he doesn't have a place to host. I've been trying to hit up friends who have apartments with yards, but of course hosting a party is a lot to ask someone for, even though we're all grownups and this wouldn't be a crazy, breaking-shit-and-setting-stuff-on-fire kind of party.

We've got a couple of possibilities so far (like maybe renting out Deacon Blue), but we're struggling a bit, so I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone has any ideas. Here's what I'm hoping to find:

* In, not too far from, or easily commutable from Crown Heights.
* Not too godawfully hard to get to from subways.
* Big enough for 20-50ish people. It doesn't necessarily have to be a place that would shut down completely for a private party, but it would be best if it has either a private room or a section we can stake out where people in costumes won't feel too weird/self-conscious/whatever.
* Has an outdoor space or easy access to an outdoor space where the smokers can go.
* Free (ideally) or not too crazy expensive to rent (more realistically). I'm a nonprofit worker and my friend is a struggling graphic artist, so we can't afford a really huge fee.
* A cash bar or someplace that would be amenable to setting up for BYOB, with coolers or a fridge or something like that.
* Willing to let us do this on a Saturday night.
* If it's at all possible I'd love it if I could find a place where we could plug in our iPods and do our own music (I'm thinking lots of big band, jazz, 40's-era stuff would be apropos), but that's not completely crucial.

Any and all suggestions would be huMONGOUSLY appreciated. C'mon, help an old lady out!

http://www.grandspace.com/

I walked by the other day and wondered about it. I don't know anything more than what the website says. I've never been inside.

I'm not sure if it fulfills all the requirements (like the smoking thing), but you can check it out.

Ah yes, I looked into Grand Space a while back -- I've been there a couple of times. It would be perfect, and it's right at the end of my block! Sadly, the guy I was corresponding with about it stopped emailing me. I think I'll try him again. I suspect, though, that they're going to be WAY out of our budget range.

Web site sez it's available for "holistic functions' on their rental page. While vague, it may rule out your party.

BigGuy wrote: Web site sez it's available for "holistic functions' on their rental page. While vague, it may rule out your party.

Nah, they do parties with BYOB -- just not sure if I can afford them!

Try Secrets on Nostrand between Park and Prospect. You can also look at VIP on Nostrand and President. It doesn't meet all your requirements (no private room just a big bar), but there's been a lot of conversation on here that its usually empty or close to it, so maybe the owner will be willing to let you have the whole place.

I've been to parties at Grand Space before (there's an awesome roof space too!). Good times!!

Anonymous wrote: I've been to parties at Grand Space before (there's an awesome roof space too!). Good times!!

They finally got back to me. They want $1200 for a 100-person party! WAY out of my price range.

Have you tried Tavern on Dean - they have a back space that does not seem to get to filled up on the weekends. I saw a group there once before that were ordering mixed drinks from the bar but had a bottle of wine they brought on their table. (Don't know if they paid a cork fee though).

stacey wrote: Have you tried Tavern on Dean - they have a back space that does not seem to get to filled up on the weekends. I saw a group there once before that were ordering mixed drinks from the bar but had a bottle of wine they brought on their table. (Don't know if they paid a cork fee though).

Oooh, that's a GREAT idea! I'll stop by there and ask.

apollonia666 wrote: [quote=Anonymous]I've been to parties at Grand Space before (there's an awesome roof space too!). Good times!!

They finally got back to me. They want $1200 for a 100-person party! WAY out of my price range.

wha!? I wonder if that's negotiable . . . I've been to parties there and it is great.

Wrong nabe, but the Gowanus Project Room is pretty cool. http://www.issueprojectroom.org/
http://www.issueprojectroom.org/spacerental.html
No idea what they charge.

homeowner wrote: Try Secrets on Nostrand between Park and Prospect.

Don't they have pretty good food there too?

pitu wrote: [quote=apollonia666][quote=Anonymous]I've been to parties at Grand Space before (there's an awesome roof space too!). Good times!!

They finally got back to me. They want $1200 for a 100-person party! WAY out of my price range.

wha!? I wonder if that's negotiable . . . I've been to parties there and it is great.

Might be, but I can't imagine that with a starting point of $1200 they'd be as negotiable as I'd need.

Will check out Secrets too. I'm thinking Tavern on Dean is a better possibility, though -- closer to Manhattan rather than farther would be better for a lot of my friends.

Try Denim Lounge on Bedford, good for the trains and they have a bar.

pitu wrote:
[quote=homeowner] Try Secrets on Nostrand between Park and Prospect.

Don't they have pretty good food there too?

According to the bar crawl crowd it was good, but I haven't eaten there so I can't couch for the place.

I didn't try the food at secrets (well, I stole a fry from someone - mahina?) but it both sounded and smelled delish. I was wishing I were hungry.