About Chicago
Chicago, known as the 'Windy City,' is known for its hard-earned personality that arose from the Great Fire of 1871. The 'typically American' city was rebuilt quickly during the American Depression and has since been a hub for cultural, music, arts, dance, and liberal arts activities. The people here are humble immigrants, hard-working professionals, and families who build and nurture their roots.
Chicago has been a stranger's town throughout with the advanced rail and air travel making it a foreigner's paradise. This is also why Chicago is so welcoming of all nationalities, ethnicities, cultural communities, and religious backgrounds. Chicago soon rose to great educational, career, and economic heights with its strategic location, growth in business, technology, and large industries.
The entertainment options in Chicago are excellent, and the nightlife, clubbing, party scenes, music festivals, cultural traditions, and more attract a substantial national and international student population.
Graduation Party Options in Chicago
Graduation parties are special events and should be managed by professionals. There are several things to consider while planning the party.
- Catering
Quality catering services in Chicago will help serve seasonal produce, fresh ingredients and will make the event extremely memorable. Graduation parties also need excellent service and finger foods, the responsible serving of alcohol, and complete catering management.
- DJ Rental
Renting a DJ for the duration of the party is a great idea to keep everyone on the dance floor. Since graduation parties are meant for celebrations, hiring a DJ for the night will ensure everyone has a fabulous time.
- Photography
A photograph is worth a thousand words. Imagine having an entire album full of memories! Hiring a professional photographer to capture the essence of the evening will ensure that all small and large moments are captured forever. The Chicago graduation party venue will shine, and everyone will leave the event with a smile.
Graduation Party Companies in Chicago
Chicago is home to several businesses that would be happy to ensure the graduation party venue looks beautiful and magical.
- Jewell Events Catering
Jewell Events Catering by George Jewell has been catering for special events, weddings, corporate get-togethers, trade shows, and high-profile clients for over 50 years. More than 325 dedicated employees help create, design, and present flawless, elegant buffets, sit-downs, and virtual boxed meals for social distancing. They have a team for menu development, financial assistance, budgeting, licensed liquor service, coordination of gifts, equipment rental, and end-to-end staffing for the event. Their notable clients include Chicago Opera Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Chicago, Howard Brown, and more.
- DJ Persist
DJ Persist offers the best-in-class DJs in Chicago for large and small events, parties, school proms, graduation parties, quinceaneras, corporate parties and activities, and more. The DJs are highly trained professionals that go to great lengths to ensure the music and entertainment are appropriate for all ages (according to the event). They plan the theme, transitions, lighting, and playlists in advance of the event to ensure a stress-free night of enjoyment. DJ Persist has been awarded WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards for several years, with other accolades from The Knot, Mi Padrino, and WeddingRule.
- Joe U Photo
Joe U Photo is one of Chicago's most favored party and event photographers and has also been named 'One of the 10 Best Event Photographers in Chicago'. His work is excellent, and his energy matches the event as he seamlessly blends and mixes with different people. His photographs are high-def, with excellent quality, since he manages to successfully capture all moments in the party – emotional, sentimental, joyous, and more. His reviews from past clients are top-notch, and most of the work is via recommendations.
Pros and Cons of Graduation Parties in Chicago
Chicago is a fabulous place to host a graduation party, but like other large cities, it too has its pros and cons.
Advantages
- Sports city
Chicago is home to the five major American pro sports – hockey, soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. It also has women's football, rugby, indoor soccer, software, and more teams and has been ranked Best Sports City by Sporting News in 1993, 2006, and 2010. Tie a game in as a pre- or post-ceremony activity.
- Nightlife and food festivals
The nightlife, clubbing, music, and party scene in Chicago is one of the best in the country. On almost all nights, there are parties, events, and countless things happening across Chicago. The city also hosts unending food and dance festivals all year round.
- Fun traditions
Like the tradition of a graduation party, Chicago has some fabulous traditions. Think about St. Patrick's Day, when green dye is added to the Chicago River. This tradition started in 1962 and draws over 400,000 people. The Blues Festival in Chicago is practically a tradition, and most people eagerly wait for it to start (even planning their holidays around it!)
Disadvantages
- Traffic
Chicago is one of the most traffic-congested cities in America. Daily traffic affects nearly all residents, and most people have to leave their homes early to reach on time.
- Weather
Winters in Chicago are longer than other seasons; also more brutal. Howling winds, excess snow, blizzard-like conditions, and the drop in temperatures make the city cold during winter.
- Crime
Chicago has a history of crime, with Al Capone, Baby Face Nelson, and John Dillinger making headlines and national news. However, violent crime rates have decreased gradually and are generally specific only to some neighborhoods.
Famous Locations in Chicago
- Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is where baseball enthusiasts go to watch the Chicago Cubs. It is the second-oldest baseball park in the country after Fenway Park and is located in Northern Chicago. Built in 1914 and named after the famous Wrigley's Chewing Gum, it still has an old-time look, giving the stadium a vintage air. This park is renowned for its iconic hand-turned scoreboard and ivy-covered walls. Wrigley Field also offers excellent tours for visitors and the general public.
- Shedd Aquarium
The John G. Shedd Aquarium was opened in 1930 and holds approximately 32,000 animals (aquatic, birds, amphibians, and insects). This aquarium receives over two million visitors per annum and is one of the busiest in the country! All exhibits are themed, and some are pretty popular, like the Amazon Rising and Caribbean Reef. The Oceanarium exhibit is also famous for its beluga whales and dolphins.
- Field Museum of Natural History
Opened due to the World's Fair in 1893, The Field Museum of Natural History has an extensive collection of artifacts, exhibits, archeological figures, statues, and skeletons. The most popular features are the Taxidermy collection of African Elephants and the 12-meter Tyrannosaurus skeleton. The dinosaur is named 'Sue,' and most visitors make long queues to glimpse the T-Rex.
