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Office Parties: Naughty or Nice? |
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Crain's Chicago Business November 28, 2005 Who's partying where-and how hard? We did some digging. Turning the tables While not a party per se, there's merriment when C-level executives at Abbott Laboratories head to the cafeteria-to act as servers, slicing turkey for their underlings moving through the buffet line. Even retirees come in for the event, a tradition at the North Chicago-based pharmaceuticals company. How appropriate A local Better Homes and Gardens ad sales office is thinking inside the box this year and-surprise, surprise-is having a holiday baking party, making traditional cookies and holiday treats at the Chopping Block, a cooking school in Chicago.
Working against corporate image Investment services firm Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. might sound strait-laced, but its party isn't. The Chicago-based company holds its event at Crobar, a hipster nightclub that the suits at the firm might have a tough time getting into otherwise. ``It's (typically) a really young crowd. (Bouncers) may not let some dorky business guys in,'' says a club spokeswoman. The Mesirow party will feature ``wall monkeys,'' stunt people attached to ropes who walk around on the walls and interact with guests. Party deferred I More and more companies, including Glenview-based software consultancy EchoMountain LLC, are holding parties in January to avoid seasonal bedlam. Party deferred II SurePayroll Inc. in Skokie is swamped during the last part of December, which is typically when most people start with a payroll service. Its party, therefore, gets booted all the way to March. Cook your own dinner Places like the Chopping Block and Winnetka's Corner Cooks put attendees to work. Boston Consulting Group Inc. is doing a progressive party, starting with wine and appetizers; revelers than head into an hour-long hands-on class in which they work with a chef to make their own entrees. Insuring against mayhem Allstate Corp. in Northbrook keeps things nice and low-key: Different divisions might go to lunch on the company dime or get really reckless and hit a movie. Mass feeding Deerfield-based Walgreen Co. opens its cafeteria at noon on Christmas Eve for employees and their families. Around 1,500 guests dine on a turkey dinner with all the fixings. Invade the city Leo Burnett Worldwide Inc. in Chicago hosts parties in smaller groups in restaurants all around the city from noon to two. Afterward, legend has it, everyone heads out for copious cocktails and interdepartmental hookups; the party this year is at Crobar. Rent-a-party Eaglewood Resort & Spa opens its Itasca ballroom to multiple small businesses that want a little shindig without the hassles and expenses of doing it themselves. Potential downside: What if one of the other small businesses sharing the space on your night is a contingent from, say, Miss Cynthia's House of Pain? Our loss equals your gain Vernon Hills-based computer retailer CDW Corp. traditionally shells out $1 million for its annual holiday party, with some of that expense going to fly in out-of-town employees. This year the party isn't happening; the dough is going toward Hurricane Katrina relief. Don't pull a Kate Moss The Chicago office of New York-based Ford Models Inc. will hold court this year at Lake Street lounge Reserve. The agency's bevy of genetic lottery winners will share space with clients including wardrobe specialists from ``The Oprah Winfrey Show,'' casting directors, runway show producers, photographers, magazine publishers and maybe your random drop-in by Jeremy Piven or David Schwimmer, who crashed last year's party at Crobar. Free drinks end at 10 p.m., but the soiree, not surprisingly, goes late. Thwarting the tourists Chicago Title Insurance Co. and Fidelity Information Services Inc., local subsidiaries of Florida-based Fidelity National Financial Inc., are commandeering Millennium Park: They've reserved the entire Park Grill restaurant and McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. Nothing says Christmas like a steak burrito Chicago-based marketing agency Targetcom is getting into the spirit of Mexico for its party. The company has booked a private room at Salud Tequila Lounge in Wicker Park for salsa lessons, tequila tastings, Mexican cuisine and a DJ spinning Latin beats. Schmooze job Less a party than an opportunity to eat free at your landlord's expense: ``Tenant appreciation'' feedings-wherein property management firms set up food stations with finger sandwiches-give thousands of residents a few moments to forget their leaky faucets. Firms in on the action: Itasca-based Hamilton Partners Inc., CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. of Los Angeles and Chicago's Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. Season's beatings Non-profit Restoration Ministries in Harvey has a fight-night theme; attendees watch boxing matches with dinner served ringside. On the menu created by Schiller Park-based Food Evolution: tiramisu with almond tuile cookie, garnished with cocoa-stenciled boxing glove and mint. Grease monkey ``If you can imagine a go-cart on steroids, that's what Chicago Indoor Racing cars are like,'' says proprietor Tony Stewart. The vehicles reach speeds of 40 mph. The Buffalo Grove facility has a zero-tolerance drinking policy before driving and has been known to employ a Breathalyzer. But after the race, attendees can party in the facility's bar. Groups from Motorola Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are booked for races in December. Cut the cameras WTTW-TV/Channel 11 throws its annual party on one of its soundstages. This year's event features jambalaya-and, yes, there will be a bar. Sing-it's the law A tradition at Chicago law firm Welsh & Katz Ltd. involves passing around a mike and songbooks featuring various holiday and popular tunes. A tune is called out, employees flip to find the words and start crooning with the band that's brought in for the occasion. Greatest hits include ``Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog'' and the Hebrew song ``S'vivon.'' Ho, ho, hold me up LTD Commodities LLC of Bannockburn is bringing Santa and Mrs. Claus in for their party. Between the company's employees and distributors, the rent-a-Santas will be working presumably to the point of exhaustion entertaining about 500 people over the course of three days. Copyright © 2006. Crain's Chicago Business.
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