It’s festival season in Chicago and our favorite music festival, Lollapalooza, is right around the corner! We’ve been privileged to take part in catering Lollapalooza for the VIP & Platinum Lounges for the past 6 years. In the spirit of this upcoming event, we’d love to share the positive impact we’ve had in our previous involvements with the festival.

For those of you not familiar with this popular festival, here are some impressive Lollapalooza facts by the numbers:

• Over 160,000 fans in attendance over 3 days (this year it will be 4 days!)
• 130+ performing musical artists (both emerging and world famous)
• 115 acres within Grant Park and multiple stages spread out to take advantage of the space
• 25+ years of continued excellence

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There are so many Chicago venues we love, and this week we sat down with Christine Lund, the general manager of Artifact Events. Christine told us all about why people would host an event at the space, things to keep in mind when booking, and other unique aspects of the venue and Ravenswood neighborhood in which it resides!

Q: What events typically take place in this venue?

A: We handle mostly weddings, then social and nonprofit events and lastly corporate.  

Weddings have a longer lead time. In the summer, we see less of a “wedding season” with more happening throughout the rest of the year. Corporate events have more of a set time each year when they usually occur (ex. Summer, holiday, etc.).

Q: What are your favorite events to host?

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Are you looking for a little something extra from your catering company?

We love full service events, because they give us the chance to bring new life to our catering offerings, and customize dishes based on each guest’s unique preferences

We’re talking of course about our various action stations – staffed by friendly and knowledgeable chefs trained to put a smile on your face while your dish is being prepared.

Our most requested action stations include:

• Ramen Station
• Raclette Station
• Champagne & Seafood Cart

Let’s take a look at what makes each one special.

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Sustainability is a crucial responsibility for everyone in modern times, but companies that operate within the food industry are in the position to have a huge effect on the matter – negative or positive.

At Catering by Michaels, we recognize the great potential there is for both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste contributions for every event we cater. As such, we believe we have a larger than average responsibility to support sustainable development.

Catering by Michaels cares about sustainability. The proof is in the fact that we’re Green Seal Certified and Green Restaurant Certified – the only caterer in the world that can make the claim for both certifications. Sustainability factors into everything we do, and our company’s efforts range from:

• Waste minimization
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency
• Purchasing

We are also direct influences on employee commuting and education. By encouraging sustainable best practices beyond expectations on the job, our efforts can have a much bigger impact.

Now that you understand the high-level view of our commitment to sustainability, let’s take a look at easy ways to make your event more sustainable.

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Now that Mother’s Day is a happy memory for 2016, it’s time to focus on the other most important person in your life – dad. After all he’s done to help shape you into the amazing person you’ve become, it’s time to celebrate him – and spoil him a little!

As everyone knows, the way to dad’s heart is through his stomach. Show him you care with a menu that reflects his manly palette.

Here’s the special menu Catering by Michaels will be serving up this Father’s Day!

Sour Cherry Old Fashioned
Whiskey, cherry liqueur, cherry syrup, sour cherry garnish.

Chipotle BBQ Shrimp Skewers wrapped in Bacon

Tenderloin Sliders
Seared tenderloin, truffle aïoli, caramelized onions, brioche bun.

Beer & Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese
Cavatappi noodles, beer & cheddar cheese sauce, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese.

Candy Bar Parfaits
Chocolate cremeux, salted peanut caramel, fresh whipped cream, chocolate shavings.

Prepare to be refreshed. Our sour cherry old fashioned is a fresh, summery twist on an old favorite. Dad will love it, and we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy it, too. If only all cocktails had this much attention to detail.

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