About Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, also known as the Windy City, has nearly 3 million people. It is the largest city of Illinois state and is the third-largest city in the United States. Chicago sprawls along Lake Michigan and spans westward, spanning 234 square miles of land. With over 26 miles of lakefront and countless beaches, Chicago is also known as the railroad capital of the US.
Chicago has a fabulous art scene, endless cultural attractions, striking architecture, and excellent shopping districts. Notable architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan and artists like Miro, Picasso, Chagall, and Dubuffet have left their marks on Chicago's landscape. The birthplace of jazz music, Chicago is known for the excellent live music and the emergence of house music at South Side in 1977.
It is no surprise that with everything Chicago offers, most couples choose this fantastic city to celebrate their anniversaries!
Anniversary Options in Chicago
Organizing a Chicago anniversary venue is a lot of fun. However, there's more to do than only book a great venue. Chicago has some of the best professionals in the country to help you throw a smashing party.
- Entertainment
Live bands, singers, performers, musicians, or DJs can help set the tone for the anniversary party in Chicago. These professionals know how to hold a tune and can make the anniversary a hit event that's spoken about for months later. If not, Chicago also has professional acrobats, stand-up comedians, impersonators, psychics, astrologers, and caricaturists.
- Lighting
No anniversary venue in Chicago is complete without fantastic lighting and effects. Having good lighting helps set the mood and makes people comfortable throughout the party. Experts can help with mood lighting, spotlights, stage lights, uplights, dimmers, and more.
- Equipment Rentals
For the anniversary event to be a success, several highly professional service rental companies in Chicago provide AV equipment, seating, table-chairs, flatware, cutlery, crockery, staging, and more. It is best to opt for a professionally managed rental company to help with set up before and clean up afterward.
Anniversary Companies in Chicago
Chicago has some of the best-in-class professionals to help make the anniversary party a success.
- Chicago Entertainment
Chicago Entertainment has been helping create memorable events for fifteen years and delivers the best entertainment packages according to the event or occasion. From dancers, hypnotists, live bands, DJs, musicians, and singers, to acapella artists, country bands, comedians, and on, they can get you what you want. Some of their notable clients are Wells Fargo, Hilton Group, McDonald's, and USO.
- Ivan Carlson Lighting
Ivan Carlson Lighting helps bring drama to the event by employing saturation, color, textures, and motion with the perfect mood lighting. They are experts in creating custom monograms and logos with initials, Intelli-light shows, and ceiling spotlights. They also help with adaptive stage lighting and can customize the lights with specific songs for dance numbers.
- Marquee Event Rentals
Marquee Event Rentals is a premier rental equipment company preferred for small and large special events in Chicago. They have been the party rental planner for high-profile events like movie premiers, Presidential Democratic Debate, and events for large sporting teams like White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Bears, and Cubs. They are also known for their bar service, staging equipment, seating and tables, chinaware, and tenting for smaller events, too.
Pros and Cons of Anniversaries in Chicago
While many neighborhoods are great places to book a Chicago anniversary venue, it is best to look into the details. There are ups and downs to all cities, even this beautiful one.
Advantages
- Cultural city
Chicago has more than 100 museums, 65 acting theatres, several great zoos, conservatories, and aquariums, 10 symphonies and choirs, and 8 huge music venues that play incredible music all year round. With so many options, visitors run out of time to enjoy everything.
- Delicious food
Chicago has more than 24 Michelin-starred restaurants! For visitors wanting to try the gourmet experience on a lower budget, Chicago also has 58 restaurants that have won the Michelin Bib Gourmands honors, which are meant for locales with deliciously prepared food costing below $20 per person. Apart from the Michelin-honored restaurants and eateries, Chicago also has a thriving fast-food culture and plenty of food truck options.
- Excellent public transport
Chicago has excellent connectivity with over 140 train stations, more than 125 bus routes, and over 200 miles of bike lanes. Residents of this gorgeous city are health-conscious, and many prefer to walk or cycle to work.
Disadvantages
- Terrible winter
The winter season in Chicago is horrible, with an average of 36 inches of snow, drab grey skies, and blistering winds. The temperatures throughout winter are usually below-freezing with howling winds and blizzard conditions.
- Crime
Unfortunately, Chicago is known to have a high crime rate. However, most of the violence occurs only in specific neighborhoods and is not spread city-wide.
- Traffic
With the number of cars, seven interstates, and several interchanges, the traffic in Chicago is quite a headache. I94 has also been voted #7 on the list of the deadliest roads in America.
Famous Locations in Chicago
- Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago homes thousands of artworks over its 400,000 square feet and is considered a world-class museum. The collection of Impressionist and Post-impressionist paintings like the Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando, A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, and countless works of Claude Monet have drawn visitors from all over the world. The diverse collection also has textiles, architectural drawings, photographs, paintings, prints, and more.
- Navy Pier
The Navy Pier was started in 1916 as an amusement center but is now considered one of the prime tourist attractions in Chicago. With 50 acres of gardens, concert venues, attractions, shops, restaurants, and parks, visitors can stroll around and end up at the 3D Imax Theatre, visit the Crystal Garden, or the indoor botanical garden. The Navy Pier also hosts the Chicago Festival in august and has festivities all year round.
- Willis Tower Sky Deck
The 110 story Willis Tower (previously Sears Tower) was the world's tallest office tower till 1996 (when the Petronas Towers were built in Malaysia). While taller buildings are surrounding it now, the view from the Sky Deck on the 103rd floor is incredible. The Sky Deck is a glass box with a toughened glass floor that offers a breathtaking view of the city below.
