Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I visit the club?

Yes. If you are interested in renting our venue, please fill out our Rental Inquiry From on our website and someone will contact you to schedule a tour.

Where can we park during an event? 

  • We only have on-street parking (2-hour limit on weekdays from 8am to 4pm; no limit on week-ends) but we have space for 2 vehicles on our driveway for caterers only.

  • There are public parking garages within a few blocks (up to 3-hour of free parking on weekdays from 8am to 4 pm; no limit on week-ends; one-day permits available)

    • Day permits may be purchased on the 1st level of the Cowper/Webster garage or Bryant/Lytton garage or at City Hall (ground level, Revenue Collections). Cost is $8.00/day (September 2023) for all downtown Palo Alto City owned garages. The closest to us is Webster/Cowper garage. We do not have access to any discounts.

    • Below are some local Valet Parking companies that serve Palo Alto. Contact them to inquire about rates

Can we rent the Woman's Club for event honoring minors such as a Bar Mitzvah, Quinceañera, or Birthday?

No, we only rent for events whose honorees are 21 or older. Children and teenagers are of course welcome to attend wedding receptions, memorial services, and birthday parties of relatives or family friends.

How late can we play music?

We are located in a residential neighborhood. You may play music until 10pm, including music through acoustic. After 10pm, renter(s) are to clean up and close up. The club house needs to be closed by 11 pm.

 Do you provide audiovisual equipment?

As part of your rental package, you have access to:

  • Two handheld wireless microphones

  • Ceiling-mounted projector with HDMI connection

    • Bring an HDMI adapter if your device (laptop, iPad, tablet) does not have an HDMI port. The Club does not provide any HDMI adapters.

  • Ceiling-mounted motorized screen (128" diagonal)

  • Audio jack cord

  • Amplifier

Instructions on how to use the AV equipment will be provided at entry time.

Can I place a hold on a date?

After touring our Clubhouse, you can place a 7-day courtesy hold if you are planning to rent our venue. Holds expire after seven days if we have not received an application with payment. 

Do you supply linens and china?

No, you are responsible for getting all your table setting supplies. See our Rental Information page for details on what is included in your rental package.

Do you recommend caterers?

We do not recommend or endorse any caterers but could provide you some names upon request.

Can I bring in food and prepare it for my event?

The Club prefers and recommends that you hire the services of a professional, licensed caterer. We may allow you to have food delivered but it must be discussed and agreed to at least 30 days prior to the event. If food delivery is authorized, cooking using the stovetop is not allowed and all garbage and recycling must be removed from the premises at the end of your event (as all caterers do). Garbage cannot be left in any of the Club's bins inside or outside.

Can we use candles?

You cannot use any open flame candles but you can use electric candles, votive candles, or hurricanes that contain the flame.

When and how do we pay the rental fee?

Payment is due when submitting your completed rental application. See our rental information page for more details on payment options.

  • Payment options:

    • Full payment (rental fee plus security deposit) is due 30 days prior to the event

    • Partial payment (2 installments) carry a $200 convenience fee

      • 50% of rental fee and security deposit + $100 due at reservation

      • 50% of rental fee and security deposit + $100 due 30 days prior to the event

  • Payment can be made by check, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Credit Card. A 5%-7% charge is automatically added to the grand total for Credit Card payments.

Why do I need liability insurance and how do I get it?

For your protection and ours, the Woman's Club of Palo Alto requires all renters and catering companies to provide a general liability insurance that names the Woman's Club of Palo Alto as co-insured. The Certificate of Insurance must be received no later than 30 days prior to the event, which is also when the final payment may be due.

  1. The Woman's Club of Palo Alto must be named as co-insured on the policy

  2. The Event Date must be listed on the policy

  3. The policy must have the following coverage

    • General Liability - $1,000,000

    • Personal/Advertising Injury - $1,000,000

    • General Aggregate - $2,000,000

    • Damages to Premises -$100,000

    • Alcohol Endorsement* - $1,000,000

*An Alcohol Endorsement coverage is required if alcohol will be served at the event. Note that alcohol may not be sold (i.e. "no host" bars are not allowed). Alcohol may not be served to minors.

How to get coverage:

  1. Purchase special event policy online. Many of our renters have found this approach to be the most convenient and least expensive way to get coverage. We do not recommend or endorse any specific insurers but below are two companies that you may want to consider:

  2.  (OR) Contact your homeowner's or renter's insurance company to see if you can add event coverage (including alcohol) to your existing policy.

What are your cancellation terms and conditions?

  • Full refund (rental fee and security deposit) if cancellation occurs 91 days or more before the event

  • 50% refund of rental fee and full refund of security deposit if cancellation occurs between 31 and 90 days before the event

  • No refund of rental fee and full refund of security deposit if cancellation occurs 30 days or less before the event

  • Convenience fees for partial payment or processing fees are not refundable.

Do you offer discounts to non-profit organizations?

The rental fees pay for the maintenance of our historic property. We thus do not offer discounts to all non-profit organizations. Each year, subject to assessment / qualification, WCPA will grant 50% discount on the rental fee for up to 3 qualified non-profit organizations.

 

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