Chicago Events

With tight budgets and picky eaters, finding great food for a good bargain in the Windy City is a difficult task for event planners. Chicago is well-known for its fine dining restaurants, but at a eye-popping price! Here is a list of some of hidden Chicago restaurant gems found in the many ethnic neighborhoods that surround the city.

Nacional 27
Sizzling Latino Treat
Located in the River North Neighborhood

Petterino's
Traditional Delicious Italian
Located Downtown

May Street Market
Rich, Contemporary Cuisine
Located in the West Loop

Vong's Thai Kitchen
Tasty Thai
Located on the North Side of Chicago

Marche
Fabulous French Food
Located in the West Loop

These Chicago dining facilities guarantee a great dining experience. When bringing small groups to these hot spots, be sure to ask for their pre-fixed menus to cut down on costs. Also, be sure to request a drink package. Dining with alcohol on consumption can be a risky move when entertaining clients.

To learn more about Chicago restaurants for your client dinners and private events, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Rewind to the 1920s when mobsters were hiding out all over Chicago, defying the prohibition and running underground gambling operations. Allow your guests to experience how Chicago was during its most famous time period, everything from the cigar girls to risky games of black jack!
 
US Poker & Casino Parties is the nation's leading supplier for professional corporate gaming entertainment. This one-stop shop for corporate outings, fundraisers, charity events, team-building and private parties delivers customized, elegant Chicago events with a flawless delivery.

US Poker & Casino Parties can host groups from 10 to 2,000 people. Each event is tailored to the group's individual needs. The company's courteous dealers are happy to provide instructions and rules to event participants to ensure they enjoy their experience. The tables and equipment—from black jack to roulette to slot machines—have superior quality and are comparable to the tables in Las Vegas and Monte Carlo.

The staff of this Chicago event supplier guarantees on-time delivery and full on-site management. Staff members are also able to coordinate other aspects to your event including cigar and show girls, picking and contracting a venue, musical entertainment and much more! This gaming entertainment company is focused on providing the most authentic and realistic experience for their clients, so check them out the next time you want to take your Chicago entertainment up a notch!

Featuring "Latino flavors with the spice of life," Carnivale is the reflection of Chicago's Latin culture and community. This venue, located in Chicago's West Randolph Street District, has an explosive and passionate atmosphere that brings in a crowd unlike any other!

Carnivale serves an authentic and soulful cuisine that allows guests to explore dishes from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador and Mexico—all of which are prepared and served by professional staff who drives on creating a great experience for the guest. The menu includes dishes such as the seared rare ahi tuna with heirloom tomato and cucumber pico de gallo and the Nicaraguan-style, wood-grilled beef tenderloin with goat cheese puree, arugula chimichurri and spicy beet salsa.

Carnivale also serves as a Chicago private dining facility for 15 to 1,000 people, with a total of 10,000 square feet of private dining space. Its seven separate private areas—The Tango Room, Flamenco Room, Samba Room, The Salons and lastly, The Lambada Lounge—are decorated with playful, bright colors and Latin decor, which provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop for event guests. This unique Chicago venue is great for groups who have been occupied in meeting rooms all day. The atmosphere is a combination of fine dining with lots of fun and energy.

Carnivale also hosts many private Chicago events arranged by its staff. The Chicago restaurant's November calendar includes a holiday cocktail class as well as a course on how to throw a Latin dinner party.  The versatile venue is capable of hosting any type of event with style and precision!

View more information about Carnivale on the Cvent Supplier Network

Chicago is known as the city to accommodate most large meetings and events for associations and corporations. In fact, the meetings industry brings thousands of guests to Chicago for annual events and product launches every year. With McCormick Place listed as the nation's top facility for meetings and conventions, Chicago has built the resources to accommodate these groups with some of the best brands of hotels in the world.

These large hotels are now not only housing guests who attend these meetings, but also hosting them in their own top-notch Chicago meeting facilities. Check out some of the premier hotels in Chicago that have meeting space to welcome thousands of convention guests:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

In addition to being the on-site hotel brand stationed at Chicago's convention center, Hyatt Regency is no stranger to large meetings of its own. With 228,000 square feet of contemporary and flexible function space, Hyatt is equipped much like any other large convention center. The Hyatt is home to four ballrooms, 63 meeting rooms and 70,000 square feet of exhibition space.

This Chicago hotel's impeccable service is monitored by a Meeting Concierge. This friendly aide is by your side from start to finish, ensuring that everything runs flawlessly.

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers

The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers has over 120,000 square feet of meeting space. This property can host up to 4,600 people for an event or conference. With four above-ground levels of meeting space, 34 breakout meeting rooms, and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom—standing as the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest—the Sheraton Chicago has all of the amenities to host large groups.

Situated  the heart of downtown Chicago, the Sheraton is near the city's most popular attractions, making it easy for guests to venture out and explore the city. From their 35,000 square feet of exhibition space to their convention registration area, the Sheraton Chicago is sure to cater to your every need!

To find out more about Chicago convention hotels, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry hosted this year's Columbian Ball, an elegant black-tie affair that was themed after the its new exhibit, "You! The Experience." This colorful and lively exhibit sparked a unique theme idea that was a great success.

The theme of the evening, "A Celebration of You: Mind, Body and Spirit," inspired a 1960s decor mock up with bright lights and colors. The decor which was provided by Heffernan Morgan and included red, blue, yellow and green strips of fabric draping from the ceiling, tables topped with candles, light boxes and bright flowers, as well as chandeliers and disco balls lining the dinner area. BBJ Linen's provided brightly colored linens of orange, green and blue to add even more pizazz to the venue.

Food for Thought was the Chicago caterer of choice Friday evening. To correlate with the theme, the menu was chosen to reflect good health and well being. During the cocktail reception, a selection of health conscious appetizers, including steamed duck pot stickers served with organic soy sauce and Tiger shrimp, were served to guests. The bar also had an alcohol-free shooter of beet juice infused with herbs, apples and carrots for guests to sample. Meanwhile, the evening's first course was a choice of well prepared dishes including chilled corn bisque, a haricot vert salad, and a mesclun salad topped with red peppers and blue cheese.

The evening's entertainment included a live auction hosted by television journalist Bill Kurtis, who was suited up in a red boxer's robe. The Jessie White Tumblers also made an appearance to wow the guests with risky acrobatic leaps over the stage to encourage guests to interact.

The museum's exhibit was also a great success as a backdrop to the Chicago event. The exhibit highlights the comprised qualities of a person, stressing that we are more than just bodies. You! is a breakdown of personalities and environments that help shape people into being the person they are today. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has a wide range of exhibits and event spaces that serve as a great resource for Chicago event planners.

To learn more about the Museum of Science and Industry or other Chicago event suppliers, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

During the last week of October, Chicago celebrates Halloween with spooky events all across the city. From a midnight circus to a pooch parade, Chicago knows how to give a good scare! 

Chronicles of the Cursed

This haunted house is the largest in the city of Chicago. Located on Grand Avenue, the 20,000-square-foot facility is filled with monsters, ghouls and zombies who will scare you with a bone-chilling experience you will never forget!

Fall Fireworks Dinner Cruises

Many of Chicago's event venues on the water are hosting fall fireworks dinner cruises. The Odyssey, Mystic Blue and Spirit of Chicago are all welcoming guests aboard for a Halloween party unlike any other. Along with the beautiful fall fireworks display hosted by the city, these vessels will be decorated with cobwebs, ghosts and delicious food for guests to enjoy. Like what you see? All of these ships are available for private rentals for Chicago corporate events and social functions.

Franken Plaza

This year marks the 13th annual Franken Plaza Halloween celebration! On-site events hosted by the Special Events Department of Chicago (the hosts of the live taping of Oprah on Michigan Avenue) will include a midnight circus of "high flying aerial entertainers," Pyrotechniq—a show combined with dance, theater and fire—pumpkin decorating, and a farmers' market with fresh fall goodies. Don't forget the best part—it's free!

Seadog Haunted Tours

Experience the lights and freights of Chicago on this specialized city tour. While cruising down the river and viewing some of the most gorgeous architecture in the country, a professional docent will enlighten guests with stories of supernatural occurrences in some of Chicago's oldest structures, including the Fort Dearborn Massacre and the Eastland Disaster. During the regular season, Seadog hosts many types of tours for visitors. From river to lake cruises, Seadog is sure to get your adrenaline running on their clean and fast fleet!

Spooky Pooch Parade

The Chicago Botanic Garden opens its doors to the Chicago canine population on Halloween. Dogs from all over the city are invited to dress up in their scariest costumes and walk in a parade to celebrate the season. In addition to the parade, activities include a costume contest and a barking awards ceremony. 

Don't forget to check the Chicago events calendar before planning your meeting and events in Chicago. The city sponsors great events that are sure to get guests out of the meeting rooms and into the spirit!

Kanan Cruise is Chicago's most luxurious cruising vessel on Lake Michigan. Docked at the landmark Navy Pier, Kanan offers the finest furnishings and most advanced equipment available. Cruise guests are guaranteed an enjoyable experience while sailing past Chicago's famous skyline and shoreline.

The vessel is available for private evening charters for your Chicago events. These typically begin with a half hour of boarding as professional, uniformed staff greet and welcome your guests, complete with a full size grand piano, leather sections, plasma televisions and a variety of cocktail tables. Guests can start that party by grabbing a drink from the lounge's fully stocked bar.

After all guests are on board, the unique Chicago venue sets sail for a two and a half hour cruise along the shores of Lake Michigan.  Kanan can accommodate a seated dinner of about 200 passengers on deck two. Depending on your catering choices, the dining deck has an available built-in buffet, or can be turned over so that the caterer of your choice has ample room to flawlessly execute a multi-course meal.

The third deck of the venue is the most versatile Chicago event space on the ship. It can comfortably seat an additional 100 guests for dinner or serve as a place to serve drinks, coffee and dessert while guests enjoy event entertainment such as a DJ or band which is stationed behind the dance floor. The third deck also offers yet another lounge area surrounded by panoramic windows and doors, which grant access to an open-air terrace on the back of the ship.

The fourth and final deck of the ship allows your guests to step away to relax and enjoy the views from outside. The outdoor furniture and additional bar make it a great place to be during firework cruises.

Kanan's professional staff is very informative. As you move forward into the planning stages of an event, they are happy to recommend decor and Chicago catering vendors. They also assist in coordinating a functional layout and itinerary of the events on board. Your guests are sure to enjoy this unique experience that allows them to see Chicago from a different angle.

The Hearty Restaurant in Chicago is a small storefront space located in the neighborhood of Lakeview, just north of bustling downtown. Partners Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh are no strangers to the food service industry. You may recognize them from their Food Network television series "The Party Line with The Hearty Boys," from the front of their cookbook Talk with Your Mouth Full, or from seeing them in person at one of their restaurants or at their catering facility in Chicago.

These food experts have mastered the design of mid-century American comfort food in their new 60-seat venue. The space is decorated with sea glass subway tiles, a hand-crafted mahogany bar, walls of exposed brick as well as modern stainless steal kitchen tables and stools. The walls are a burnt orange color with accents of a toned down lime green, which sets off a wall mounted fireplace as well as bespoke stained glass art.

Their upscale menu includes a house dish of macaroni and cheese, a rabbit corn dog, foil-wrapped fish grilled over hot coals, and Southern fried chicken. Beverages at this Chicago restaurant staple include American vintage classics such as The Brown Derby and The Aviation, as well as a few different brilliant twists on the standard Bloody Mary. Also available is a wine list comprised of selections from domestic vineyards in Georgia and Texas.

Not only have The Hearty Boys conquered television, books and restaurants, but they have also been a top Chicago catering company for the last 10 years. Their ample and delicious sample menus are just a start when planning a wedding or corporate event in Chicago.

Whether on-site at the restaurant or at a catered Chicago meeting, The Hearty Boys are sure to please your palate!

Meeting and event planners across the country are getting more requests for tours and events that can be hosted during typical conference hours as spouse events. Solutions or suggestions of shopping or a city tour have become the typical choice for such programs, but in Chicago, we have many more exciting options!

• Build your own hand bag. 1154 Lill Studio is a unique concept store in the neighborhood of Lincoln Park in Chicago. This haven for women across the country allows guests to design and create a purse. With each of the materials only ordered once, the clients are ensured that their piece is completely unique.

Guests have the option to choose from several differently shaped bags and fabrics to create their one-of-a-kind design, which includes purses as well as wallets, pillows and more! Once the design is finalized, 1154 employees will put it into production.

• Photo Safari. Photo Safari is a photography workshop that is hosted in many different areas of the city. While visiting famous architectural landmarks, the lakefront or Chicago's brand new River Walk, guests are guided by professional photographers who help them capture the best of Chicago in their photos.

The safari begins at Millennium Park, where guides give the participants an orientation on good photography technique and how to best highlight the structures that they will be visiting. At each point of the tour, staff is on-hand to help guests maximize the quality of their photo momentos. This hands-on workshop allows participants to experience a priceless photo experience that will last through all of their future travels!

• Chicago Botanic Garden. Located about 25 miles north of Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden is home to 385 acres of vibrant specialty gardens, tranquil lakes, native woodlands and prairies. This Chicago attraction is considered to have the best display of gardens in the upper Midwest and features glorious foliage year-round. Here, guests can enjoy a guided tram tour, which allows them to observe the luminous gardens while learning the story of how they began.

The Field Museum welcomed 900 guests Saturday for its annual gala hosted by the Women's Board. The perfect theme for a gala event hosted by successful women? Diamonds! From the crystal centerpieces to glittering topiaries, the event took this theme one step further to create a memorable impression on guests.

The theme correlated nicely with the venue itself, which opens its doors today for the brand new exhibition, "The Nature of Diamonds." This black-tie Chicago event allowed guests to preview the new exhibit, where, according to staff members, there was a constant crowd in front of the glass display cases that house 800 exquisite objects and some of the world's most beautiful gemstones. Amongst the stones themselves, guests were able to view some of the most intricate jewelry designed by the top designers as well as pieces owned by celebrities Elton John, Joan Crawford and more.

When guests entered the gala, they were greeted by violinists stationed in the museum's main stairwell. Heffernan Morgan, one of Chicago's top event design firms, was responsible for the stunning decor. Its custom centerpieces included tiered vessels, mirror boxes, and blush cymbidium orchids on top of gray bengaline linens supplied by BBJ Linens. Frost, another Chicago event design firm that works closely with the Field Museum, created a video of falling diamonds which had a projection that measured 50 by 660 feet.

Popular Chicago caterer Food for Thought supplied food and drinks, which included passed appetizers of ahi tuna bites, a plated dinner of pepper-crusted beef tenderloin and sherry braised short ribs, and desserts that included golden apricot tiramisu in white chocolate and topped with "golden sparkle curls." The event sponsor, Tiffany & Co., also added to the table decor with their impeccable wrapped gifts for all of the guests.

The gala raised about $1.4 million dollars and drew in over 250 more guests than previous years. The Women's Board thanked its sponsor Tiffany & Co. for their generosity and confirmed that the anticipation for this event topped the group's events in the past.

For more information on the Chicago venue and/or vendors for this event, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Hotel Palomar Chicago, a Kimpton Hotel, is set to open in 2010 in the stylish River North neighborhood of Chicago. This luxury Chicago hotel correlates well with this effervescent neighborhood by celebrating the arts with chic complexity. Complete with 261 rooms and suites, an indoor heated pool, a sundeck and 5,800 square feet of meeting space, the Hotel Palomar is sure to open its doors to many interested guests.

The chic Chicago accommodations were styled with a contemporary urban design and art infused surroundings. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows, an iHome docking station, L'Occitane bath amenities, a variety of pillow styles and plush terry cloth spa robes. Kimpton Hotels strives to meet a high level of customer satisfaction delivered with true luxury hospitality services and style. At the Hotel Palomar, the brand's attention to personalized room services and amenities combine to enhance a guests experience unlike any other brand.

Meetings and events at the Palomar can range from intimate Chicago meetings of 160 people to larger affairs of 300 guests. The hotel's distinctive catering services are provided by the adjacent restaurant, which features a wide variety of contemporary American cuisine.

Groups are invited to take advantage of Hotel Palomar's Grand Opening Special. This Chicago meeting promotion includes group room block rates of $99, weekends and weekdays through 2010, amenities from their "pick your perks" menu, and 10 percent off a master account.

View more information about Hotel Palomar Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network

This River West event venue in Chicago was named after its founder Joe Marchetti, the former name behind the renowned Como Inn. For the past 15 years, Galleria Marchetti has been known as the leading venue for hosting private events in Chicago. A unique and bright setting, it has welcomed every type of event, from corporate outings to lavish weddings. Whether you're holding your event in one of its beautiful courtyards or in its spacious pavilion, its hidden escapes make it easy for attendees to forget they are in one of the largest cities in the nation.

Galleria Marchetti has five multi-functional rooms and gardens, available to host groups of almost any size. Its tented pavilion is known as one of the featured attractions of the venue. The style and grace of this Chicago meeting space gives it a dynamic edge that you cannot find anywhere else in the city. Although most pavilions are seasonal, Galleria Marchetti allows guests to request an open-air style, for which the staff removes the sides of the tent to join it with the Marchetti gardens. This creates a unique decor that lends character and elegance to any event.

The East and West courtyards are some of the most beautiful gardens in the city. When guests enter through their iron gates and pass the brick walls lush of colorful ivy, they are greeted by a spacious area filled with flowering trees, seasonal blooms and ample vegetation that create the feel of a Tuscan garden. The courtyards' tasteful outdoor furniture is centered on their large food displays that are sure to ignite your guests' taste buds.

The special event packages at Galleria Marchetti make it easy for Chicago event planners to coordinate a top-notch event. Each package is complete and paired together nicely to create an underlying theme that correlates with the ambiance of the venue. A creative and unusual venue, natural decor, wide arrangement of choices for event space, traditional menus with a twist of Italian flair, an experienced bar and wait staff—Galleria Marchetti is well on its way to earning the timeless reputation of its sister facility Como Inn.

For information on more unique venues in Chicago, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants combine authentic Italian food, fine steak and seafood dining, casual beer gardens, lak shore cafes and great service to create a true Chicago dining experience. Located in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, Phil Stefani's ventures include 10 restaurant facilities, numerous Chicago banquet rooms, five seasonal venues, a complete catering department, food and beverage services at a premier golf facility, and lastly, a pasta shop.

Phil Stefani Restaurant Group has been in the hospitality and restaurant business since 1980. The atmosphere of its venues mimic a comfortable, traditional place for their guests to feel at home while being treated by impeccable customer service.

The famous Riva Restaurant in Chicago's Navy Pier is part of the Phil Stefani family. Specializing in steak and seafood and offering an extensive wine collection, its private dining rooms overlook the luminous Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. The 40-foot exhibition kitchen allows guests to watch the preparation of their meals while sampling some unusual treats from their in-house raw bar. Private dining space is available for groups of 40 to 100 guests, all of whom are guaranteed a fabulous experience with stunning views of the city.

For both private dining and catering requests, Phil Stefani's experienced staff goes a little bit further to make your experience one to remember. After customizing menu selections and printing personalized menus for your group with the culinary team, your assigned catering director will handle all rentals, linens, staffing, music, floral arrangements and room arrangements. This full-service company is sure to bring a little style and flair to your Chicago events.

For more information on more Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Event Planners have options when selecting a company to design their decor. Whether it is a large project, such as providing decor for a popular but plain event space in the business district, or a simple task of flower arrangements for a conference break session, Chicago event decor pros have shown their talent in events all over the city! The three companies below are some of the most prestigious decor companies, sure to create a unique design that will grab your guests attention.

• Ivan Carlson & Associates is a full service event and design company that has worked with everything from small entrepreneurial groups to fortune 500 companies. They specialize in targeting their clients' business insights and combining creative thinking to communicate these insights to the guests of the event. Ivan Carlson is housed in a 40,000-square-foot design warehouse with lots of inventory from their past 30 years experience. This company has a solid reputation for delivering flawless design and event production services in Chicago.

• Heffernan Morgan is another leading design company in the city. They are known for their fresh design concepts that are diligently delivered for their clients. They have mastered both traditional and contemporary designs with a steady and fine-tuned service quality. From floral designs to lighting schemes, Heffernan Morgan is sure to bring distinguished ideas to the table. 

• Frost is an event design company that grew out of a lighting company about 30 years ago. Since then it has grown into a national event design company in Chicago, Florida, New York and Washington, DC. Providing a balance between function and style, Frost's production solutions are delivered by their experienced event staff with an uncompromising level of service and attention.

To find more event decor companies in Chicago, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Cuvée is a swanky special event space that just opened in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. Brought to you by the owners of another Chicago hot spot, Enclave, which is just a few blocks away, this distinctive 5,000-square-foot lounge opened its exclusive back alley entrance at the end of September.

Cuvée's decor truly sets it apart from any other lounge in the area, as its design is inspired by the inside of a champagne bottle. The interior includes a curving illuminated wall at the entrance, mirrored disks hanging from the ceiling, and light boxes filled with golden brown marbles. 

This stunning setting is a great backdrop for Chicago events of up to 400 guests. The lounge's semi-private areas, including an elevated room above the main area, can accommodate smaller groups of eight to 20 people. Throughout the Chicago special event facility, planners find  smaller semi-private areas that include banquette-lined seating areas with dim lighting.

For receptions and banquets, the Chicago restaurant's bar menu is focused around champagne and champagne cocktails.  Bellini's, the "Chandon Bubble-Tini" and the "Passion Rouge" are just a few of the many different options for cocktails. Meeting and event planners can arrange for catering in Cuvée through the preferred vendor, Jordan's Food of Distinction, but are also welcome to use their own event suppliers.

Fnd more unique Chicago event venues at the Cvent Supplier Network.

Starwood Hotels is announcing yet another hotel opening in downtown Chicago: Aloft Chicago Millennium Park is set to open on September 6, 2012. The new Chicago development will include 13 floors of hotel space, five floors of offices, and 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Located on the corner of Balbo and Wabash in Chicago's south loop, Aloft Millennium Park is just three blocks from Chicago's central business district and one block from Chicago attractions Grant Park, Millennium Park and Museum Campus.

The bold-loft inspired design is one of the few newly stylized Chicago hotels. The Aloft rooms feature the brand's signature style bed, an over-sized spa shower, amenities by Bliss Spa and some electronic enhancements to mix work and play on the 42-inch LCD televisions.  This brand of hotel is modeled after sister brand W Hotels. Aloft combines the ambiance of the W, at a more affordable price point for business or short weekend travelers.

Aloft Chicago's meeting space is outfitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment including 50-inch flat-screen televisions. This 165-guest room facility will house one Chicago meeting space of 700 square feet.

Starwood seems to be taking a step in the right direction. They are slowing turning over their branded hotels and giving them their own identity and style. Aloft Millennium Park will be a great fit in the downtown Chicago accommodations scene!

To view more Starwood hotel properties in Chicago, make sure to visit Cvent's Chicago venue directory.

Ravenswood Billboard Factory houses three distinct Chicago meeting spaces with capacities ranging from as few as 50 guests up to over 600 guests. This industrial loft-like setting is a great backdrop for events of all styles.

With over 10,000 square feet of Chicago event space, Ravenswood Billboard Factory has the flexibility to be an intimate venue for a cocktail reception or a large gala. The tremendous amount of brilliant natural lighting gives the area an ambiance unlike most event spaces. 

The main level of this space houses one of America's premier collections of vintage European and American sports cars and a collection of historical American prestige vehicles. This display can be used as decor to your event or even as the centerpiece. Other amenities include outside decks with beautiful neighborhood and city views, lots of modern lighting, as well as an ample amount of washroom facilities.

Ravenswood is a full service event facility. Its experienced catering and hospitality team has the unique ability to build a Chicago event both you and your attendees are sure to remember. The team's planning process beings with a complimentary idea and budget planning session. They will combine your ideas with theirs, and assist you in coordinating Chicago party rentals, staffing, food and beverage services, security, etc. There is no limit to the amount of creative events that can be held in this venue!

Make sure to check out more unique Chicago special event facilities on Cvent's Chicago venue directory.

After receiving the disappointing news that Chicago would not be hosting the 2016 Olympics, long-time sponsor of the games Coca-Cola threw an unforgettable bash on Chicago's Harris Theater Rooftop.

Over 1,000 guests attended this "Celebrate the Spirit" cocktail party, a Chicago event designed to celebrate the Olympic Games and the city's attempt to win the bid. This event was splashed with Coca-Cola's signature red, white and black color scheme. From the modern furniture that filled cozy lounges to the bottle-shaped archways, Coca-Cola really knows how to brand its events!

Food For Thought provided the catering services for the party, serving up french fries wrapped in checkered wax paper and steamed dumplings in mini Chinese containers. The bar served specialty drinks that came with Olympic themes such as "Finish Line" and "Triple Axe." This creative edge is a trademark of the Chicago caterer, which has hosted events across the city.

Throughout the evening, Coca-Cola's "six pack" of Olympic celebrities, including recent medalist Shawn Johnson, took the stage to show their support of the games and their sponsor. Absolute Production Services assisted Shawn Johnson with her dance performance. From the lighting fixtures in the shape of the Olympic ring logo to the red lighting scheme around the tent, Event Creative really decorated this event with some original flare.

A representative from Coca-Cola's marketing team informed the press that it didn't view hosting the event as a risk. Guests were there to celebrate the Olympic movement with the city of Chicago despite its loss. The goal was to show strong support to the upcoming  2010 Vancouver Olympics as well as their new ambassadors, the "six pack."

Are you looking for information on transportation in Atlanta? Or maybe San Antonio transportation options?

Maybe you need to find some Chicago meeting stats, such as its hotel inventory or average taxi fare from O'Hare International to downtown hotels. Or, you may just need some information on Toronto entertainment options for your big group.

To find all this and more, check out the Cvent Destination Guide. This comprehensive resource is a one-stop shop for meeting and event planners who need to know more about a a city's hotels, meeting venues, attractions, transportation options, promotions and more. With over 100 cities profiled worldwide, you no longer need to hop from website to website trying to find the information you need, whether it's in order to select a final meeting site or get started on planning the logistics of your event.

Visit the Cvent Destination Guide today!

When you think of modern architecture, you think of Chicago. After all, the Windy City is the birthplace of the famed skyscraper, 20th century American design, and famous architectural icons such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Architecture has been Chicago's  number one attraction for decades. Check out some of the great group tour options to give your Chicago event guests a taste of this tradition:

Architectural River Cruise

This 90-minute river cruise places you at the feet of over 100 skyscrapers, each designed or inspired by the Modernists of nearly a century ago. As you travel through the birthplace of modern architecture, a specially trained docent describes the work of those who revolutionized the building arts, and how they are linked structurally and architecturally. This tour spotlights more than 50 architecturally significant sites where you will discover a new perspective on the city.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio

This tour begins in the historic neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois. Guests enjoy a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Home & Studio, which was his personal residence in Oak Park. This extraordinary Home & Studio complex served as Wright's architectural laboratory from 1889 to 1909, the years that launched his career.  Here, he conceived the Prairie style of architecture, testing ideas that found their fullest expression in many of the surrounding homes he designed for clients.

Architectural Photo Safari

Experience a photography workshop while visiting famous architectural sites and destinations throughout the city of Chicago. This one-of-a-kind photo safari begins at Millennium Park's bean structure, where a professional photographer gives an orientation on good photography technique and how to highlight the best of the structures you are photographing. Guides will provide instruction on how to truly make your Chicago pictures come alive!

Allow your guests to view Chicago at every angle! Each of these tours have special group pricing and are available for customization. This is a nice way to bring your clients out of their meeting rooms and let them enjoy the city!