{"id":368,"date":"2020-05-16T19:55:21","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T19:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/?page_id=368"},"modified":"2026-01-17T03:05:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:05:42","slug":"faqs-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/?page_id=368","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay I tour The Thoreau Center?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Please come see the Thoreau Center to ensure that it will meet your needs. Tours are by appointment only, so contact us at info@thethoreaucenter.com<\/a> or 515-279-7312 for a tour. We are usually available any day of the week, including evenings and on the weekend.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow do I book my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Please contact us at info@thethoreaucenter.com<\/a> or 515-279-7312 to book your event. We will e-mail you a rental agreement for you to complete and return along with the rental fee and the damage\/security deposit.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow may I pay for my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

You may pay with cash or a check. We do not accept credits cards.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is your cancellation policy?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Your rental fee will be returned to you only if you cancel at least 30 days before your event. One-half of your damage\/security deposit will be returned to you only if you cancel more than 45 days before your event. None of your damage\/security deposit will be returned to you if you cancel 45 days or less before your event.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMust I use specific caterers, or may I bring my own food?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

You may provide your own food for your guests, or you may hire any caterer that you want. The Thoreau Center does not provide or charge for any food or drinks for your event.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow much does beer, wine, and alcohol cost?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

We do not sell or charge you for alcoholic beverages. You may bring in your own beer and wine, which will greatly reduce the cost of your event. Beer and wine, or containers to serve them in, may not be sold on the property. Alcoholic beverages other than beer and wine are not allowed on the property. You and your guests must strictly follow all state and city alcohol laws. You may not allow people at your event to become intoxicated, and you may not serve beer or wine to minors or intoxicated persons. You may not allow people at your event to consume alcoholic beverages outside of the building.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I have to hire a police officer if wine or beer is served?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No, we may be there during your event, but we do not require additional security. The police will be called if the Center\u2019s rules are not followed.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen may I get in to set up for my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Although your actual event is limited to no more than four hours, you may get into the Center up to two hours immediately prior to your event to set up for your event.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow long may my event last?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Except for daytime business meetings, your actual event may not last more than four hours, but  you may get in to set up for your event up to two hours immediately prior to your event. You may also have one hour to clean up immediately after your event is over. Your event must be over and your guests gone by 9:30 p.m. and you must be cleaned up and gone from the Center by 10:30 p.m., or one hour after your event is over, whichever is earlier.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I have to set up tables and chairs?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No. We will talk with you during the week before your event to find out how you want the table and chairs set up and they will be set up by us before you arrive. We provide table cloths for the tables in the library and solarium. You must provide the table cloths for the banquet tables in the main gallery. You are not allowed to bring in other tables, chairs or furniture.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan I decorate The Thoreau Center for my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

This historic venue is already beautifully decorated, but you may provide a few additional decorations to personalize your event, such as pictures, balloons, flowers. Nothing may be attached to the walls, woodwork, ceilings or any fixtures. Renter may not use glitter, confetti, sparkles or other small decorative items that are hard to clean up. No plants or furniture in the Thoreau Center may be moved without the Owner\u2019s prior approval.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs smoking allowed?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Thoreau Center is a smoke-free property. You must ensure that you and your guests do not smoke either inside or outside of the building, or on the church\u2019s parking lot to the south of the property.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow long do I have to clean up after my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Your clean-up work must be finished within one hour after the end of your event, or by 10:30, whichever is earlier. When the event is over, you must return the property to the condition it was in prior to the event. You must clean up the property by cleaning the kitchen counter-tops and placing all trash accumulated during the event in the trash bins located by the garage. You should not sweep or mop the floors, but you should wipe up any liquid or spilled food on the floors with paper towels. Do not use anything other than water to clean up messes on the floors. You do not need to move or put away any tables and chairs that belong to the Thoreau Center.<\/p>

You should remove from the property everything brought into the Thoreau Center by you or your guests by the end of the rental period, except for trash which must be placed into the trash containers by the garage. Anything left on the property after the end of the rental period will be thrown away.<\/p>

IF the owners are not available at the end of your event, you must turn off all lights and lock the doors.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre candles allowed?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No candles with natural flames, or other open flames, are allowed on the property. You may use electronic or battery candles. The fireplace in the Thoreau Center does not work and may not be used.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre there other rules about using The Thoreau Center?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Dancing is not allowed in the Thoreau Center. No guns or illegal drugs are allowed on the property, either inside or outside of the building, or on the church\u2019s parking lot to the south of the Thoreau Center. You and your guests shall not violate any federal, state, or local laws while on the property. You are responsible for all actions of your guests and you must not allow any illegal or disruptive activities. You must supervise the event during the entire period of use.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre there noise restrictions that apply to my event?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

You must comply with the city\u2019s noise ordinance. This means that music and other sounds within the building should not be able to be heard at the property lines of the Thoreau Center. If you are inside the building and have to shout in order to be heard, your music is too loud. The Center has excellent acoustics, so music and speakers normally do not need to be amplified. No amplified music is allowed outside of the building.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat technology is available?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Thoreau Center provides free Wi-Fi.\u00a0 It does not provide audio-visual equipment. The Center has great acoustics, so music or speakers normally do not need amplification. Background music can easily be provided throughout the building with a cell phone and a small speaker.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs the damage\/security deposit part of the rental fee?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No. The damage\/security deposit is not part of the rental fee. It is a separate fee that is used to pay for any damages that you or your guests cause to the Thoreau Center, including a failure to follow The Center\u2019s rules. It is also used to cover any extra cleaning that is needed after your event, and to cover costs incurred if your event is cancelled without appropriate notice. If you follow the rules and do not cause any damage, the deposit is returned to you within 30 days after your event. Most deposits are fully returned to our renters.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May I tour The Thoreau Center? Please come see the Thoreau Center to ensure that it will meet your needs. Tours are by appointment only, so contact us at info@thethoreaucenter.com or 515-279-7312 for a tour. We are usually available any day of the week, including evenings and on the weekend. How do I book my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-368","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=368"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":602,"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/368\/revisions\/602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thethoreaucenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}