Hard Times Holiday Office Party
Bummed that your company holiday party was canceled? Time Out Chicago came to the rescue this holiday season with its own party for the overworked and festivity-deprived masses. Our friends over at Goose Island Brewery joined us for an evening of festive games, holiday karaoke, gift giving and all-around merriment, to boost spirits!
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Holiday Style with Bombay Sapphire
We here at Time Out Chicago partnered up with Bombay Sapphire to showcase unique ways to help personalize and create the perfect holiday ambiance. Whether your taste was bohemian chic or classic sophistication, chicagoans got away from the ordinary and discovered ways to offer their guests a taste of their holiday style. And speaking of extraordinary, the event took place at the Hancock Observatory on the 94th floor. The view was enjoyed while sipping the best in holiday cocktails, eating delicious appetizers and treats, while getting the tips needed to design the perfect holiday fete.
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Back to the lake
We had a wonderful time on the Making Waves cruise in September. For only $25 per person, cruisers enjoyed refreshing Dos Equis beer, tasty food from Harry Caray's and prizes from TOC and its cultural partners. Best of all, they got to ride on a sleek boat from Shoreline Sightseeing and soak in the Chicago skyline as the sun settles in the west. If you have never witnessed a sunset against the skyline while on the waters of Lake Michigan, we have two words for you: "simply breathtaking."
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We escaped the summer swelter with Bombay Sapphire at ZED451
Chicagoans spent a warm summer evening lounging at one of Chicago's sexiest rooftop bars, ZED451. Bombay Sapphire's master mixologists revealed the secrets behind summer's hottest cocktails. Everyone enjoyed exclusively paired hors d'oeuvres and Bombay Sapphire drinks throughout the evening, as well as the opportunity to win great prizes from TOC and Bombay Sapphire.
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Rainbow Ride
Time Out Chicago was proud to be a part of this year's Gay Pride Parade. We had a blast, especially with the local go-go dance troupe, the Janes on board. They had people shaking and quaking, including those TOC staffers on the float and the folks in the street.
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They got smart on being green
Learning to be green is easy once you've taken a trip to the Smart Home exhibit, the new three-story, eco-friendly home, complete with latest technology and innovation, at the Museum of Science & Industry. Those lucky enough to snag one of the 100 spots for the special housewarming party hosted by Time Out Chicago were treated to a beautiful evening filled with hors d'oeuvres and drinks enjoyed in the Smart Home's elegant courtyard. The even luckier got there by winning a seat on the shuttle from the W Hotel with Airport Express. After spinning the prize wheel and taking a tour of the house, guests walked away with bags filled with eco-treats provided by Envirosax, Shaklee, Butterfly Social Club, Late July snacks, Park Seeds, Neuman's Own mints, Adobo Grill, W Hotel and organic chocolate from Green & Black's.
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Shore was fun
Time Out Chicago rocked the boat on June 24 along with Shoreline Sightseeing as the first Making Waves event of the season hit Lake Michigan. Dos Equis was served up cold while Harry Caray's cooked up a delicious feast that added some great flavor to this nautical fete. During this cruise, Stila cosmetic artists made guests sparkle and shimmer while cast members from Shout! The Mod Musical from Broadway in Chicago provided a soundtrack that added some groovy onboard entertainment. Everyone onboard also had a chance to spin the prize wheel and take home goody bags filled with swag as the sun went down over the skyline at the end of TOC's first after-work cruise of the summer.
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Wines to dine for
Throughout May, Time Out Chicago paired up with select Chicago restaurants to showcase a wide array of New Zealand wines by offering selections by the glass, in flight and paired with a special menu. Restaurant-goers had the opportunity to experience the intense and unique flavors of New Zealand wine. Glass after glass, New Zealand wine was the perfect complement to the diverse cuisine served up at the participating restaurants.
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Sex in Chicago
On May 27th, Sex and the City fans gathered for cocktails during a post-screening party at De La Costa, hosted by Time Out Chicago. Guests sipped on martinis, appropriately named after their favorite characters: Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte and Mr. Big. Attendees mingled at this swanky venue while enjoying free prizes and giveaways courtesy of Bliss.
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Lip-smacking good time
Sometimes looks do matter. On Saturday, May 17, TOC's Tim McCormick played host of a tour of the ultimate dining and drinking venues during the 10th Annual Great Chicago Places & Spaces (GCPS) festival. Those who took advantage of this yummy tour discovered how a restaurant's ambiance can make or break your eat-out experience while sampling delicious drinks as the tour made its rounds at May Street Market, Funky Buddha Lounge, Butterfly Social Club and Paramount Room. At Butterfly Social Club, tourgoers had the chance to learn from Mark Klemen about how his club is eco-conscious from the earthen walls to the solar and kinetic energy used to power it up. Steven Pillarella, from Green Chicago Energy, joined Klemen in discussing the benefits of saving household energy by keeping it green.
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They had game
On May 2, Time Out Chicago parked itself at W-Chicago City Center for "Game Night," an evening full of ...well, um...games. Dice were rolled while friends and soon-to-be adversaries faced off for fun prizes. Those who wanted a little more action had their chance at Ping-Pong with Killerspin tutorials helping take the novice edge off paddling newbies. Xbox 360 stations provided entertainment for the more tech-savvy gamers with players vying for the title of Guitar Hero. Scrumptious candy provided by candyfavorites.com helped to keep the adrenaline rush going while those who needed to relax took advantage of goody bags courtesy of Bliss.
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Our stomachs have spoken
On March 31, Time Out Chicago hosted its second annual Eat Out Awards at the Chicago Cultural Center. The award ceremony pleased even the most discerning palates. Chefs, restaurants and bars throughout the city were nominated in numerous categories with winners chosen by both TOC editors and TOC readers. It was a delicious evening.
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Moving on up
On March 27, Time Out Chicago teamed up with Belgravia Group at an after-work cocktail party to get a real sense of what it would be like to entertain guests at the new digs of 565 Quincy. Guests and homeowners enjoyed music, hors d'oeuvres, Chopin vodka and the company of those whom they might wind up calling neighbor. Guests were also able to see a virtual preview of the Q Room: a lounge with a bowling alley, movie-screening room, putting green and much more. With an impressive combination of housing options and building amentities, 565 Quincy called you home.
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Oscar night
On February 24 TOC and the Gene Siskel Film Center hosted the only Oscar night party in Chicago sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All the proceeds from the event went to the Gene Siskel Film Center's educational and programming initiatives throughout the year. Attendees were greeted with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood right here in Chicago. And the Oscar went to...
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Mingling at the MCA
On February 1, TOC and the Museum of Contemporary Art got a little risqué at the Burlesque Star-themed First Fridays event. DJs Megan Taylor and Emily Hard kept the beat going while many locals showed up to mix and mingle while text messaging their crush at the digital love post office and chatting with Time Out Chicago's Debby Herbenick at the "Ask a Sexpert" booth. This was one sexy evening.
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And the nominees
On January 22 following the announcements of the Oscar nominations, Time Out Chicago Film editor Hank Sartin shared his picks and responded to the Academy's choices at the Gene Siskel Film Center's nominations breakfast. Berghoff Catering and Restaurant Group generously provided a light breakfast and coffee for this early-to-rise cinema soiree.
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A pucking good time
One hundred lucky TOC-reading hockey fans won passes to the Blackhawks Pre-Game Party sponsored by TOC in the Bud Select Brew Pub at the United Center on January 11. It was a smashing good time as participants ate, drank, enjoyed live music, and won prizes such as autographed caps and jerseys. All attendees even got to rub elbows with Blackhawk players Kevyn Adams and James Wisniewski, and an appearance from mascot Tommy Hawk made this a Stanley Cup-worthy evening.
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Appetite for destruction
There were plenty of reasons why Chicagoans came to Martyrs' for TOC's third annual Chili Cook-Off contest on November 3. Besides sampling the varieties of delicious chili, participants mixed and mingled while enjoying drinks and the groovy gyrations of the Janes; the always-entertaining Chicago-based go-go dance troupe. And after the votes came in, the Valdes brothers were the ones to capture the crown and be hailed the Kings of Chili.
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Laugh factory
Six Windy City comics faced off October 28 in a competition to determine who is the funniest person in Chicago, a contest hosted by TOC at Lakeshore Theatre. After many laughs, Hannibal Buress was named the winner. He walked away with a sweet prize package and the Mark Sinclair Funniest Person in Chicago Trophy. Ken Barnard was dubbed as first runner-up and Dan Telfer was the second runner-up. It was a riot.
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Meet market
On October 24, TOC and Motel Bar teamed up to host a singles event. Many locals showed up to mix and mingle while having fun playing board games. Motel Bar made for a great venue and an exciting night as Chicagoans rolled dice, spun wheels, drew pictures and battled over fake money.
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Food for thought
A food lover's night in paradise, Crave the Elements took place at the top of Macy's on State on October 12. The 2007 Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chef Ball began with an exquisite four-course meal prepared by the nation's top chefs, and included an exciting party and luxury silent auction. TOC unveiled the Time Out Chicago Eating and Drinking Guide, and each lucky attendee walked away with his own copy. The TOC Eating and Drinking Guide is available in a bookstore near you or online at timeoutchicago.com/eatguide2008.
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We Sailed Away
Once again we head out to Lake Michigan for Making Waves. A two-hour, after-work boat cruise, Making Waves was brought to you by Time Out Chicago and Shoreline Sightseeing, and featured food, drinks and a chance to win cool stuff on the Time Out Chicago prize wheel. Of course, the real pleasure of this cruise was enjoying a beautiful summer evening in the company of friends as the sun slowly set behind the best skyline in America.
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