Ahh, Chicago. Where else can you watch a baseball game while standing on a rooftop, spread out on the grass while listening to a symphony in the middle of downtown, stroll through a world-renowned art museum, and still have time to take in a comedy show—all in the same day?
The Windy City is a destination that offers groups one-of-a-kind experiences. Many of them come by way of the geography of the locale, which is situated on one of the nation’s largest Great Lakes, with plenty of water-based activities to offer. But most of what makes Chicago so fascinating and fun is its history and culture.
The city is a melting pot of ideas and a haven for artists of all types, from those who like to create on canvas to those who prefer to craft with bricks and mortar. The latter, architecture, is one of Chicago’s most unique attributes. A simple stroll down almost any street in town will reveal a wide array of architectural styles—old and new, side by side.
Venturing out of the city’s main tourist thoroughfares and into its neighborhoods will reveal pockets of culture from across the globe. Whether you crave German beer, Swedish pastries, Chinese chow mien or Italian pasta, you can find it in Chicago.
Meetings MidAmerica asked a few local DMCs for their top picks of the most memorable venues and experiences in town.
Jay Weidner
Director of Sales and Marketing
On the Scene Destination Management
www.onthescenechicago.com
- Griffin Court: This is one of the hottest new venues in Chicago. It is in the Modern Wing that just opened at The Art Institute of Chicago and overlooks Millennium Park and the Frank Gehry band shell of Pritzker Pavilion. It is a perfect place for private dinners and group dinners and is a perfect mixture of old and new. It offers the iconic-ness of The Art Institute with something new.
- Buckingham Fountain: Some groups like to tent the south spoke of the fountain and have an event that overlooks the city’s skyline. We can custom-build a tent near the fountain and make it like a private Taste of Chicago, maybe bringing in Rick Bayless or Charlie Trotter for the group. It is such a beautiful spot in the summertime. From there, you can enjoy the skyline, the lakefront and the fountain.
- Architectural River Cruise: A cruise on the river is a "can’t miss" for groups that are here. It is such a great way to take in the history of Chicago, and you really get a different perspective when you are out on the water. You can learn from the docents on board and look back on the lake and on the skyline. The cruises usually last between 60 and 90 minutes and will often go out on the lake as well. The draw of this is the proximity you have to the buildings and the beautiful architecture. You can really appreciate the beauty of Chicago’s architecture, both old and new. It is really awe-inspiring to see.
- Navy Pier: There are a myriad of attractions and things to do for groups on Navy Pier. There are restaurants and a giant Ferris wheel, for starters. Groups can also rent out the grand ballroom at the end of the Navy Pier. It is a beautiful circular space and is a nice spot for larger groups. There is also a rooftop terrace for smaller groups.
Bart Louhi
CEO
In the Loop
www.intheloop-chicago.com
- Buddy Guy’s Legends: Buddy Guy owns a club on Wabash and there is a band playing virtually every night. Buddy is a Chicago legend. He grew up with the Chicago blues scene, which is a little bit different than blues in St. Louis and New Orleans. His club is a great place to take groups, and we’ve brought up to 200 people in there at a time. You can also rent out the entire facility. One time, we brought in Second City [improv comedy group] to do a custom corporate show and there was a blues band playing in the background. From a price point, the venue is great. It is a really high-energy place, and you never know who you might see there. Eric Clapton might come up and jam with Buddy on stage one night. You just never know.
- Willis Tower: Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, is a great place for groups. Recently, they updated their Skydeck. Now they have a ledge in the form of a glass box that projects about four feet from the building. You can stand in the box, and you are about 1,300 feet above the ground. It is a nice thing to visit and offers great views. For groups that want to meet in the tower, they can go to The Metropolitan Club. It is a private club on the 66th and 67th floor, but we are able to host groups in there. They have several rooms for groups, and they all overlook the Chicago skyline. It is a very exclusive location, and corporate groups enjoy it as well as associations that are looking for a place for a small leadership dinner.
- The Tribune Tower: One of the newest private event spaces in Chicago is at The Tribune Tower. You can host events up on its 24th and 25th floor. The 24th floor is where [Robert R.] McCormick’s office is. It is such a gorgeous space with wooden ceilings and a grand fireplace. The space has beautiful details and is perfect for a reception-style event or a small seated dinner. Up on the 25th floor, you can go outside and have an event underneath the flying buttresses. They are amazingly big when you are up close to them. They soar at least 40 feet above you. We’ve done dessert up there under the buttresses. You can also start up there with cocktails and then move downstairs. It is a really cool space with awesome views of the city.
- theWit Hotel: theWit is the new Doubletree-branded hotel. It is located downtown at Lake and State streets and has really cool, funky decor. The top floor has a rooftop bar called ROOF. Half of it is open to the air and half of it is covered, and it is really popular. On the southeast corner, there is a private exterior space that is glassed in and good for a group of 15 or 16 people. The area offers views of Millennium Park and it is open to the sky, which is pretty neat.
Danielle Kambic
Account Executive
Kuoni Destination Management
www.kuoni-dmusa.com
- House of Blues: This venue is really unique. Blues have such a big influence on Chicago, and this venue is in a great location, just off the river. It is really easy to get to, and when you have a private group there, it makes you feel like a VIP. People can have an up close and personal experience with the band, and the food is great. It is a perfect location for a smaller group.
- Wrigley Rooftop: Sometimes groups can’t get tickets to a Cubs game, and if they can, they would prefer not to sit in the bleachers. One option is to book a rooftop next to the stadium. All of the apartment complexes around the stadium have bleachers on their rooftops. You can have a private event, with food and beverage, and watch the game from the rooftop. It is completely private, and you can brand it for your group. You can also bring entertainment up there. It is also a lot of fun to be in Wrigleyville, which is the neighborhood surrounding the stadium. You get off the train, and boom, you are right there.
- The Field Museum: The Field Museum is a beautiful venue. The preserved T. Rex named Sue lives there, and you can set up your event down on the main floor with a view of Sue. People love it. The venue can accommodate up to 15,000 people for an event and has more than 30 exhibitions that attendees can walk around and enjoy. There are several galleries, balconies and halls for groups to rent and plenty of space for everyone.
- Adler Planetarium & Museum: The planetarium is out on Chicago Museum Campus and offers incredible scenery. The view of the city is breathtakingly phenomenal from there. It has a boardroom for smaller meetings, or you can have a large cocktail reception in a dome as you look up at the stars and track constellations. They also have an outdoor patio, which is really nice in the summertime.
Katie Nelson
Account Manager
Chicago Is
www.chicagois.com
- Second City: It is so much fun to see a comedy show at Second City, which started in Chicago. This year is their 50th anniversary, and it really is a Chicago institution. Chicago has an incredible comedy scene, and this is where it all began. Groups can buy out the theater or go just for an outing. It is a lot of fun.
- Chicago Cultural Center: For a taste of Old World Chicago, groups should head over to the cultural center. It is a glamorous, beautiful and ornate building and has the largest Tiffany stained-glass dome in the world. Groups can rent Preston Bradley Hall, the hall with the dome. It is a perfect place for a gala. The center also has rotating exhibits by local artists and live jazz during the day.
- Museum of Science and Industry: There is so much to do at the Museum of Science and Industry. You could spend an entire day there just looking at the exhibits. My favorite exhibit is the U-505 exhibit, which showcases a German submarine—one of the U boats that was captured during World War II. For years, the boat was outside the museum, but the Chicago weather was not being kind to it, so it was relocated inside the museum, and now there is an entire exhibit dedicated to it. For groups, it is fun to set up tables next to the sub for events. Then, during the event, they can go onboard and tour the vessel. Groups are amazed. It is a one-of-a-kind experience.
- Lake Michigan Cruise: Groups can rent private charters and go out on the lake. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Chicago sets off fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday night, which is a fun bonus. You can book all sorts of different charter packages. Groups can have dinner, dancing and live music, and they can even bring in decor and have it catered themselves. There are not many cities that have a lake that looks like an ocean and is bordered by skyscrapers. Being out on the water is truly a Chicago experience.
Hanson Ansary
President and CEO
PRA Destination Management Chicago
www.chicago.pra.com
- Lincoln Park Zoo: You can have a themed event at Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a program in the Lion’s Pavilion. It was a gala dinner and it was incredible. They have several venues, both indoor and outdoor, for events. It adds something extra to have the animals close by. Attendees love it.
- Chicago Public Library: The top floor of the Chicago Public Library can be used as a venue for events, and it is really spectacular. The architecture there is really magnificent, and it is very historic and different. The venue has windows, and you get a 360-degree view of the city. Groups can also use meeting rooms, the grand lobby and the auditorium for events.
- Chicago History Museum: The history museum overlooks Lincoln Park and is a very popular place for weddings and events. They have indoor and outdoor space, including a patio, which is a great place for cocktails. Groups can use the North & Clark Cafe for events as well as the Rubloff Auditorium, Wrigley Gallery, Chicago Room and Robinson Gallery. The venue is great for daytime meetings and is in a nice location.
- Museum of Contemporary Art: Groups that come to Chicago love to meet at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Most of the venues inside the museum have a lot of windows, and if you want to go outside, there is also a sculpture garden. For more serious events, groups can book the MCA Theater, a space that seats 300 people, and the Kanter Meeting Center is located adjacent to the theater.
—Katie Morell is a Chicago-based freelance writer and former Meetings Media editor.
