With the holiday season officially upon us, we’re here to encourage you to dig into December with the best holiday activities and gift ideas from our clients in the entertainment, dining, and hospitality arenas!
ENTERTAIN
Spend a night laughing at Stage 773
“Can Santa really get arrested for that?!” Six theatre companies from across the Chicagoland area change up the holiday classics to create ONE ACT FESTIVAL: YULETIDE GENOCIDE taking place December 1 through December 16. See them all at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago for a twisted and enchanted evening of entertainment. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.stage773.com or call 773-327-5252.
Enjoy a winter wedding wonderland
The holidays can be the most romantic time of year, so why not join Tony n’ Tina as they get hitched! Chicago’s smash hit TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING has returned to the stage… but this time in a real church! Be part of the couple’s special day in this interactive musical experience with tickets for the whole family through April 2017! With the wedding ceremony at Resurrection Church, 3309 North Seminary Ave, followed by the high-energy reception at Chicago Theater Works, 1113 W. Belmont Ave, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the ceremony and reception, featuring an Italian-style buffet dinner, dancing to 80’s hits and the champagne toast for only $75. Tickets for premium seating are $85. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.tonylovestina.com or call 312-391-0404.
Find comfort in a holiday classic
Chicago’s oldest choir, the iconic Apollo Chorus of Chicago will be performing the time-honored Handel’s MESSIAH on Saturday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music & Dance, 2015 E. Randolph Drive. The Apollo Chorus of Chicago has been presenting this glorious masterpiece annually since 1879, a track record unmatched in the city of Chicago. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.apollochorus.org or call 312-427-5620.
See a Christmas classic
The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, is presenting the classical tale,THE NUTCRACKER, through December 30. Captivating audiences for nearly 200 years, THE NUTCRACKER is the story of a young girl named Marie and her unusual Christmas gift. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.marriotttheatre.com or call 847-634-0200.
Tap the night away
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire through December 31st. Featuring a glorious score by Nacio Herb Brown, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is the light-hearted spoof of frantic Hollywood as the advent of sound revolutionizes the movie industry. Joined by four-time Jeff Award winning Choreographer Tammy Mader (42nd Street and My One and Only at The Marriott Theatre) and Musical Director Ryan T. Nelson, Director William Brown brings the iconic musical’s high power, toe-tapping energy to life on stage in this splashy adaptation of the beloved Oscar-winning MGM film. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.marriotttheatre.com or call 847-634-0200.
Spend an evening surrounded by elegant magic and storytelling
Classic as well as never been seen before illusions take over the Royal George Cabaret space this winter as the nationally regarded illusionist Ricardo Rosenkranz stars in The Rosenkranz Mysteries, an evening of elegant magic and storytelling. Truly astounding numbers will captivate audiences in an intimate, true cabaret style setting with tables featured in the space. A leading local mixologist will enhance the atmosphere by creating several themed drinks that will help create a fully immersive experience for theatre-goers. This one man, ninety-minute production runs through December 24 at the Royal George Theatre Cabaret space, 1641 North Halsted Street. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.theroyalgeorgetheatre.com or call 312-988-9000.
Laugh the night away with Mr. Scrooge
This holiday season it will be Scrooge’s chestnuts roasting on an open fire as Chicago Theater Works, 1113 W. Belmont, presents The Comedy Roast of Mr. Scrooge for eight performances only December 8– 23. From Tiny Tim to the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future, all of the beloved characters from A Christmas Carol finally get their chance to tell Scrooge what’s coming to him in words that Charles Dickens never even knew. Straying far from certain local productions of Dicken’s holiday classic, this irreverent and raucous show is the perfect anecdote for those who prefer a little more spice and a little less nice to their Xmases. For more information, visit www.chicagotheatreworks.com or call 312-391-0404.
CELEBRATE
The perfect holiday parties come with a view
Just because summer and fall have come and gone, does not mean that rooftops aren’t in season! RAISED offers a one-of-a-kind space for a holiday party- featuring one of 2016’s hottest new private party venues Urban Blue. Guests can enjoy the glittering of snow against the city skyline while celebrating the end of another busy year. For more information or reservations, visit www.raisedbarchicago.com.
The holiday season should be celebrated with cookies and lots of cheer!
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, located in downtown Chicago, 200 North Columbus, is kicking off the 2016 holiday season with its third annual Cookies and Cheer Luxury Cookie Exchange on Thursday, December 1st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This modern-day cookie exchange takes the stress out of holiday baking, with each guest taking home three dozen gourmet cookies of their choice, wrapped in custom, luxury packaging, perfect for gifting or simply enjoying. For more information or reservations, please visit www.fairmont.com.
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
Take a break from holiday stress and have fun with Geja’s Café Drappier Champagne Festival
The holiday season cannot possibly be kicked off without bubbly! This year, Geja’s Café, 340 W. Armitage Ave, is hosting their 37th Annual Champagne Festival featuring Champagnes and sparkling wines from France. The three-month long festival, which offers guests a chance to sample a majority of the Drappier portfolio plus two additional selections from Dopff & Irion, begins Thursday, December 1 and extends through Tuesday, February 28, 2017. A special tasting event will also be held Sunday, December 4 at 1 p.m. for $30 per person. For more information and reservations, please visit www.gejascafe.com or call 773-281-9101.
Sip on the ultimate holiday tea and visit with Santa at Vanille
Vanille, Chicago’s favorite French-inspired patisserie, is celebrating the holiday season with a new holiday tea menu for their decadent Afternoon Tea experience at their Lincoln Park location. Santa himself will also be visiting the patisserie on Saturday, December 17 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. (at the Lincoln Park store) and Sunday, December 18 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (at the Lakeview store). The new holiday-inspired menu includes lemon pepper quiche, pumpkin curd, gingerbread macaron, and pecan tart. The Holiday Tea is topped off with Vanille’s signature hot chocolate, a house made marshmallow, and peppermint macaron. For more information on Vanille Patisserie and its three locations, visit www.vanillepatisserie.com.
See gigantic candy canes, cakes, and live reindeer!
He’s back! Three-time Guinness World Record holder Chef Alain Roby is celebrating the anniversary of Record-Breading 51 ft. Long Candy Cane, by presenting a 10-foot long smaller replica at his store in Geneva December 3rd at 6 p.m. The 10-foot long candy cane will be broken into tiny pieces with a “magical” golden hammer by Chef Roby and Ella Joy, for all guests to enjoy. Ella Joy is seven years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma T-Cell cancer in 2013. After two and a half years of battling the cancer with chemotherapy, Ella has been in remission since January 2016. Ella and her family have attended the One Step Chicago Day Camp and One Step Family Camp for the past two years. These programs are just two of the eleven programs provided by Children’s Oncology Services, Inc., to which the proceeds from Roby’s sold out Ohh-La-La Chocolate 5K on November 6th benefited. Live Reindeer will be on hand with their elves for guests to greet and pet, Balloon Artists will create balloon candy canes for children, and dancers from the Alma Dance School will perform. For more information, please visit www.AllChocolateKitchen.com or call 630.232.2395.
Dinner parties with your favorites!
One of the most popular new rooftops of 2016 has taken the party inside this winter where guests still enjoy themselves nightly, and their December dinner series will be no exception. Raised, An Urban Rooftop Bar’s spectacular views will provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy a five course menu, each paired with a beer from Lagunitas Brewing. Some of the pairings include their Pils with Pretzel Grouges, beer cheese sauce, and four year cheddar. Additionally, you can find their Brown Sugga being paired with roasted kabocha squash angoloti-duck confit, sage-curry butter, and spiced walnuts. The event runs on December 1st from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $65 a person.
Downstairs, Staytion Market & Bar kicks off the holidays in an equally energetic environment in their Club Lounge. Entry to this party is $125 which includes food, wine and live music. The event itself will take place on December 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Staytion’s cuisine will be perfectly paired with wine from Heritage Wines. Some of the pairings include smoked venison loin crostini with a Lageder 2012 Lagrein Riserva ‘Conus,’ ancient grain and beet salad with a Garofoli 2013 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico ‘Podium,’ and goats milk cheese cake with a Gorka Izagirre 2014 Bizkaiko Txakolina ‘Arima.’ Tickets may be purchased at www.eventbrite.com.
STAY & RELAX
Go to the center of it all
Located in the heart of the Chicago Loop, Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago offers a location that allows you to be right in the middle of all the holiday action downtown. Minutes from the theater district, Millennium Park, Magnificent Mile shopping, and many other Chicago attractions, this hip and modern hotel is perfect for those visiting the Windy City for the holidays or for those who want to experience a true Chicago staycation in style. For more information, visit www.theloopchicago.centric.hyatt.com or call 312.236.1234.
Let the stress of the holidays melt away
The holiday season can be extremely stressful and Massage Envy’s 45 Chicagoland locations are the perfect place to rejuvenate after too much time holiday shopping with the in-laws. Massage Envy has revolutionized the industry by providing a convenient and affordable membership model. Introductory 1-hour massage sessions start at $59.99 and 1-hour facial sessions start at $69.99. For those looking to give the gift of relaxation this year, a Massage Envy gift card is a great stocking stuffer. For more information or to purchase a gift card, visit www.massgeenevy.com. To find the location nearest you call 1.866.922.ENVY.
A historic Chicago landmark for impossible-to-forget holiday events
Hampton Inn Chicago, located inside the historic Chicago Motor Club building, has developed the perfect solution to handle the mountain of gifts to wrap before returning home after walking up and down Michigan Avenue and State Street with “Wrap Up and Wine Down”. With each bottle of wine purchased, guests will receive complimentary gift wrapping supplies including wrapping paper, scissors, tape, and bows making it easy to get all of your holiday wrapping done. The hotel also offers a special overnight package to spend a day or two in the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue in order to get everything crossed off your list. Guests booking the “Park & Stay Package”, with rates beginning at $159, will start their vacation on a relaxing note by pulling up right in front of the hotel for a complimentary valet service. For more information, visit www.hamptoninnchicagodowntownhotel.com or call 312-419-9014.
NON-TRADITIONAL GIFTS
For the person on your list who always has their nose in a book:
Make a donation in their name to the American Writers Museum, the first museum of its kind in the United States, opening in downtown Chicago in early 2017. Located at 180 North Michigan Avenue, this museum will engage the public in celebrating American writers, and exploring their influence on our history, identify, culture, and daily lives. The interactive high-tech museum will showcase the personal stories and literary works of diverse American writers, from Mark Twain to Dr. Seuss. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.americanwritersmuseum.org.
