If you’re always on the lookout for unique and non-traditional event spaces, you will definitely want to check out Morgan Manufacturing. The venue is like no other in Chicago, designed around a concept of modularity and industrial elegance — offering many creative capabilities to bring your wildest concepts to reality.

With 32,000 square feet of space, Morgan Manufacturing is Chicago’s leading production location for film, television and all sorts of private events. The venue is located in the hip Fulton Market neighborhood and gives guests an opportunity to create unique experiences in a historic factory setting. 

The event space is comprised of multiple rooms that can be rented separately or together depending on the size of your guest list — from an intimate gathering of 200 to an astounding 1,000 guests for cocktails! Guests will be impressed and intrigued by the stunning eight foot tall custom “bike chain chandeliers,” skylights, and three story performance area. Refurbished and reclaimed materials are what give this venue its unique vintage charm. 

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It’s hard to think of something we love more than wedding season.

While Gina + Quentin’s wedding didn’t have any specific theme per say, the event was elegant and romantic. The beautiful and non-traditional location is really what set this wedding apart.

The North Bay Pavilion at Independence Grove is a rustic outdoor event space situated on the scenic North Bay. The striking covered cedar pavilion features high ceilings, black iron, and cedar timbers that add to the natural ambiance. A large white tent expanded the waterfront space with beautiful white floral arrangements and plenty of candlelight to set the mood.

Photography: Evan Perigo Photography

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We’re sad to see it go, but the summer is almost over. Now, it’s time for beautiful fall which will shortly lead to what’s sure to be another cold winter in Chicago. But we’re not letting inevitability get us down! Instead, we choose to focus on the fun side of fall and winter — holiday parties. But we get a lot of customers who come to us hoping to really spice things up. The fact is, most holiday parties suck. But yours doesn’t have to. Be the office hero, and give this list to your boss or whoever’s in charge of your holiday work party.

Here are 5 holiday work party ideas that don’t suck.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

The best part about white elephant gift exchanges are that nobody knows what to expect. Instead of picking something out for a specific person (who you may not know well enough to adequately gift), everyone who wants to participate brings something fun. It’s easy for anyone to participate – the budget is set at a low monetary amount across the board (usually $10-20). Brit.co put together a massive list of white elephant ideas if you’re running low and need inspiration.

Costume or Fancy Theme Party

If you work in a casual environment, it can be nice to dress up. One of our favorite tips on the holiday work party ideas that don’t suck list is encouraging people to dress up nice. Or wear costumes! Either way, it gives everyone the chance to see their coworkers in a new light. Bonus points if you get a photobooth – those pictures will get shared all over social media and hold a special place on people’s desks.

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Did you know that Catering by Michaels handles a wide scope of events for many prestigious schools in the Chicago area? Some of these schools include Northwestern, Columbia, Roosevelt, University of Chicago, and also K-12 schools like Niles West and Glenbrook North.

Our catering services include full service and delivery for homecoming, reunions, departmental meetings, and more.

We chatted with Shannon Sherwood and Meredyth Brook, who both work with our educational partners at Catering by Michaels, to get their insights on catering for Chicago area schools.

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Whether or not you have experience working with catering companies, it can be hard to choose the best service option for your specific event. What’s the difference between full service and delivery? Let’s break it down and take a look at each different service type and what they include. 

Here’s a quick visual summary via an infographic:

And now we’ll take a more in-depth look at each…

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