Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide - 2019
Millennial Venues
2018-12-14 10:08:36
Spark your younger attendees’ interest at these trendy venues.
FUN & GAMES
Games and shareable food are just the right ingredients for breaking the ice in a casual social setting. Rent virtual reality lounges, bowling lanes and karaoke rooms at Punch Bowl Social, or book the entire 30,000-square-foot space for up to 1,000 guests.
Play ping-pong at SPiN CHICAGO, an 18,000-square-foot social club with 20 ping-pong tables, two private lounges and center court seating with a DJ booth.
Groups of up to 500 can get competitive during a darts tournament at Flight Club while enjoying mini poke tacos or a cotton candy bar.
Book a cabana party at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club for groups of 10 or more, where the tropical drinks, DJs, roof deck and 11 regulation-sized shuffleboard courts create a lively gaming scene.
For a fast-paced team-building activity, small groups of up to 10 people can try to save the White House or escape a spy lair at EscapeHouse Chicago. Celebrate your release and mission accomplished with drinks at SafeHouse next door.
DRINK & DINE
Pilsen’s Thalia Hall hosts regular concerts and performances, plus the historic landmark (originally a Czech meeting hall) can accommodate 800 reception-style. Guests can enjoy dinner at the adjacent Michelin-starred gastropub, Dusek’s Board & Beer, or spiked punch bowls at Punch House downstairs.
The Logan Square outpost of popular Revolution Brewing features the Brewer’s Lounge that can provide craft beer tastings and seated buffets for up to 100 guests. Or plan a gathering at its larger Kedzie Tap Room in the Avondale neighborhood (accommodating up to 250 for a reception), which offers tours of its production brewery.
Wine aficionados will relish the private barrel room and concert venue at City Winery (both seat 200 for dinner), where guests can try their hand at wine blending followed by thoughtful food and wine pairings during a multi-course meal.
If stronger spirits are more your group’s style, arrange an intimate private tasting or interactive mixology class at KOVAL Distillery, featuring their own smallbatch whiskeys and liqueurs made from local grains.
For a posh night of whimsical craft cocktails, The Aviary (created by the team behind award-winning Alinea restaurant) is sure to dazzle and delight.
HELPING HANDS
Doing good can feel great and create meaningful memories that bring colleagues closer.
Groups of up to 30 can volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository warehouse to repack, sort and label food for distribution. chicagosfoodbank.org
Building homes with Habitat for Humanity Chicago can help break down corporate hierarchies, and no construction experience is necessary. You can also volunteer in a Habitat ReStore resale shop. habitatchicago.org
Get your hands dirty digging through the soil with City Farm Chicago, where volunteer opportunities are customized for each group and season. facebook.com/CityFarmChicago
After an orientation and background check, volunteer as a social host with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, or simply socialize at a weekly coffee club or create seasonal gifts. littlebrothers.org
Chicago Cares can organize volunteer opportunities with a wide variety of community and nonprofit partners, based on your group’s interests and size. chicagocares.org
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