Host Events
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q. Is the building
available for event rentals?
A. Yes - business meetings, parties, weddings & receptions,
memorial services & celebrations, reunions, religious meetings, and
fundraisers are common events held here.
Q. What are the
rates?
A. That depends upon how much of, and how long, the building
is used. Contact the Events Manager at (925) 283-1153, or Email him at
info@lafayetteveterans.org
to discuss your event size, day and date, to obtain a rate quotation.
There are weekday and weekend rates - the rooms are rented by the hour.
The Events Manager can email, mail or fax the rates to you, along with a copy of the
Rental Agreement.
Q. Is there a minimum
rental?
A. Yes - 2 hours.
Q. How many people
can the building hold?
A. The maximum with chairs only is approximately 350 in the
Undivided Hall. With round tables, approximately 256. Adding a space for
dancing reduces the available seating space.
Q. Is there more
than one room?
A. Yes. When the sound-reducing room divider is in place,
the Freedom Room (West Hall) seats 128 people with round tables; the Independence
Room (East Hall) seats 112 with round tables. Liberty (Lounge/Bar) seats
approximately 30-40 people depending upon configuration.
Q. Do you provide
the tables and chairs?
A. Yes. We have 32 five-foot diameter round tables that normally
seat 8 people. Some renters have placed 9 at a table, particularly for
receptions. We also have 36 six-foot rectangular
tables. All rectangular tables are 30 inches wide and 29 inches from top
to the floor. Tabletop thickness varies from 1 ˝ inches to 2 inches.
We have 350 chairs.
Q. Do you have
a Kitchen?
A. Yes - a full professional kitchen with 3 regular ovens,
a grill top, two convection ovens, several sinks and counter tops, dish
sanitizer, double refrigerator, freezer, microwave oven, 400 lb. capacity
ice machine and two coffee makers. (Note that Freedom Room is connected
to the Kitchen if your event will need catering, or if you plan to rent
the kitchen and bring in your own food.)
Q. Do you provide
a list of approved caterers?
A. No, but we can assist an applicant searching for a caterer,
if they ask. Typically, they want to know if a particular caterer has
worked an event here in the past and we can answer that kind of question.
The caterer must have a current Contra Costa County Health & Safety
Certificate and provide a copy to the General Manager before the event,
either directly or through the Applicant.
Q. Do you provide
plates, silverware, stemware, linens, condiment containers, pitchers,
carafes, etc.?
A. No - that is the responsibility of the applicant. Note that
we do not allow storage of those items or any equipment overnight.
Q. Do we have to
set up the tables and chairs?
A. No, our staff sets up, takes down tables/chairs and cleans
the building after each event. The applicant or their caterer must clean
the Kitchen and leave it the way they found it. A kitchen checklist of
"do's and don'ts" is provided to the applicant and caterer.
Applicants must bus the tables and clear all horizontal surfaces at the
end of the event. The applicant must also break down cardboard boxes and
place them in the green recycle bin. Applicants are strongly urged to
use the blue recycle wastebaskets for bottles and cans, and any other
bin marked "Recycle".
Q. Do you have
a sound system?
A. Yes, with a total of 8 overhead speakers, 8 wall jacks
and 2 floor jacks.
An iPod® can be plugged into the sound jacks - an adapter cable is
normally available for the wall jack. The sound system itself is in the
office and volume is controlled from there. Corded microphones are available.
Many renters bring in their own sound systems, particularly when they
have a Deejay providing music. There are plenty of power outlets as well.
Q. Do you have
a screen?
A. Yes - there are screens in both the East and West rooms,
10 feet wide by 7 feet, 8 inches long. They raise and lower electronically
and building staff will do that with a key. There is a portable screen
available if one is needed in the Bar.
Q. Do you have
projectors?
A. No, but we do provide a projector cart with a power strip
and extension cords. Many of our customers bring a laptop computer and
DVD or slide projectors for various presentations.
Q. Do you have
easels?
A. Yes - two at present.
Q. Is there Internet
access?
A. Yes, but plug-in only at this time, no wireless.
Q. Are there phone
lines for credit card machine hookups?
A. Yes.
Q. Can we bring
in our own beverages?
A. Yes.
You can serve your own beverages in the rooms, the hallway or in
front of the bar in the Liberty Room. If you want to purchase beer,
soda and liquor from our bar, we will provide a bartender at an
hourly rate. Our drink prices are posted in the bar and are
reasonable. If you do use our bartender(s) and purchase our liquor,
then there will be no charge for the Liberty Room when other rooms
are rented. We only provide bartenders in the Liberty Room, but not
in the Independence or Freedom Rooms. If you do wish to sell
alcoholic beverages to your guests or include the cost of same in
your meal or ticket prices, your caterer must obtain a one day
catering liquor permit. Neither the County of Contra Costa, nor the
Lafayette War Veterans, Inc. will allow the sale of alcoholic
beverages otherwise. Please note that no alcoholic beverage is
permitted outside the building.
Q. What about smoking?
A. Smoking is permitted in the front area of the building only
and not on the patios. A butt receptacle is placed near the front steps
for customer convenience. There is no smoking in either of the patio areas,
per California State Law.
Q. Do we need insurance
coverage?
A. Yes. Liability Insurance is required per page 3, paragraph 1,
of the Rental Agreement. Both the Lafayette War Veterans, Inc. and the
County of Contra Costa need to be named as "Additional Insured".
This is a County Building.
Q. Is there a curfew?
A. Yes - 11pm Sun - Thur and 12 midnight Fri - Sat.
For additional details,
see the Rental Agreement.
