CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET EXPLORE CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP WHAT’S NEW CONVENTION FACILITIES FESTIVALS & EVENTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS FEATURED PARTNERS ACCESSIBLE CHICAGO RESOURCES TAP INTO CHICAGO’S DIVERSE BUSINESSES FUN TEAM BUILDING IDEAS DINING IN CHICAGO’S NEIGHBORHOODS ICONIC CHICAGO EVENT VENUES MEET SUSTAINABLY SEE CHICAGO IN 24 HOURS The respected Lula Cafe earned another accolade. The Logan Square restaurant, a beloved staple since 1999, won the 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality. The eatery also received Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. Lula attracts diners in droves for its funky, market-driven dishes and welcoming atmosphere. Catering packages can be customized to meet planners’ needs, whether it’s boxed meals, platters, or full-service dinners. Bring your group to sample locally made craft beer at Turner Häus Brewery in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Turner Häus co-founders Steven Turner and Blair Turner-Aikens collaborated on the brews, including a kettle sour and Scotch ale, with other Black-owned breweries and distilleries in Chicago and Tennessee. VENUES Former President Barack Obama chose his adopted hometown of Chicago as the site of the Obama Presidential Center (slated to debut in spring 2026) and its Home Court athletic and event center, opening in late 2025. The 45,000-square-foot, multipurpose Home Court can host everything from conferences and private events to team building basketball games in its NBA regulation-size gymnasium. Besides a museum and library, the 19.3-acre Jackson Park campus will also feature John Lewis Plaza, The Forum Building, Elie Wiesel Auditorium, Ann Dunham Water Garden (named in honor of Obama’s mother), and the Hadiya Pendleton Winter Garden. Navy Pier is home to two exciting new attractions — Flyover and Illuminarium . Flyover features a simulated flying journey and stunning aerial photography, taking visitors 13,000 feet above Chicago’s iconic skyline and landmarks. Illuminarium highlights OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER Obama Presidential Center one-of-a-kind experiences during two 360-degree shows that whisk viewers away on a Kenyan safari and through outer space. Group experiences can be customized. Arrange for attendees to explore mind-boggling sights, sounds, and perceptions in immersive rooms at the Museum of Illusions Chicago . Renovations expanded the museum’s space by 30% and added 20 exhibits, bringing the total to 80. Chicago-themed experiences, in addition to favorites such as the Vortex Tunnel, are perfect for group selfies. Established in the late 1920s as a movie theatre, the revamped Ramova Theatre made a splash upon its reopening in Bridgeport as a music venue. The theatre is available for full buyouts for private events, and can accommodate 1,800 guests standing or 680 seated. Groups of up to 200 standing and 100 seated can reserve The Ramova Loft , and groups with up to 100 people can meet in the Ramova Taproom & Grill . The theatre was backed by celebrity co-owners Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, and the late Quincy Jones. Bassline , a music complex situated on historic Record Row in the South Loop neighborhood, offers its stunning bar and lounge for private events. The 2,200-square-foot loft space, 22Thirty9 , located above a recording studio, features AV specialists to ensure that presentations go off without a hitch. Host an event at Wildman BT , housed in a 1914 former boiler and tank building. Events of all kinds can be customized in the 12,000-square-foot venue that accommodates 500 for a standing reception or 400 for a seated dinner. Amenities include a catering prep kitchen, floor-to-ceiling drapery system, AV equipment, 4K projections onto a 23-foot media wall, and a street-level loading bay.
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2025: Page 12
