| EVENT REPORT 04.10.08 11:17 AM |
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| Legal Matters |
| Local law firm Schwartz Cooper Chartered hosted a client cocktail party that, thanks to newly acquired courtroom renderings, focused on the Chicago Seven trial. |
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The Chicago History Museum's recent acquisition of the original courtroom sketches from the Chicago Seven conspiracy case (in which seven antiwar protesters stood trial for inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention) gave local law firm Schwartz Cooper Chartered an idea for a client cocktail party. Schwartz Cooper attorney Dick Schultz co-prosecuted the trial in 1969 and 1970 while he was an assistant U.S. attorney. So with renewed interest in the trial (a documentary, Chicago 10, aired at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and a Steven Spielberg project is in the works), the timing for a tie-in seemed perfect.
Last October, Schwartz Cooper director of marketing Julie O'Connor and her team got to work on the cocktail party, which took place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday night in the Robinson Gallery and the Chicago Room at the museum. The visual focus of the evening was the collection of 40 sketches by courtroom artist Franklin McMahon, including images of such moments as when defendant Abbie Hoffman testified on the witness stand and singer Arlo Guthrie told the story of "Alice's Restaurant" to judge Julius Hoffman. Folk songs of the day, including "Chicago" by Graham Nash and "War" by Edwin Starr, played softly in the background while the 300 guests, including Schwartz Cooper attorneys and clients, mingled. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Courtroom sketches drawn by artist Franklin McMahon during the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial served as the event's focal point.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | The evening's party favor was a CD with songs of the era, such as "Chicago" by Graham Nash and "War" by Edwin Starr, which played during the party.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Finger-food desserts included chocolate-dipped cheesecake lollipops presented in dishes of M&Ms.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Schwartz Cooper lawyer Dick Schultz recounted his experiences as a U.S. attorney during the trial.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Passed hors d'oeuvres included Grant Park grilled-cheese sandwiches, named for one of the public spaces the rioters tried to take over during the 1968 convention.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Food stations could be found throughout the event space.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Guests sampled dishes named for the defendants in the trial, including Abbie Hoffman hot dogs and Jerry Rubin reubens.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | Simple floral arrangements topped cocktail tables.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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 | The evening's signature cocktail, the Conspiratini, contained cucumber lemonade and vodka.
Photo: Sarah K. Bierman for BizBash |
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"We realized that even after 40 years, people still had very strong feelings about the events at the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the ensuing conspiracy trial," O'Connor said. "We wanted our event to be an entertainment experience for our guests, not perceived as a political statement. So we looked for ways to convey fun and humor and lighten the mood."
One such device was coming up with topical titles for the dishes served by Berghoff Catering and Restaurant Group. Guests dined on Jerry Rubin reubens (named for one of the defendants), Mayor Daley mushrooms, Abbie Hoffman hot dogs, and Yippie chippies (a reference to the Youth International Party). The evening's signature drink was the Conspiratini, a cucumber-lemonade-vodka concoction.
The simple decor included black linens on high-top cocktail tables fastened by emerald sashes from BBJ Linen (and thus incorporating the firm's green logo). Botanic arrangements of ferns, branches, and white flowers created by Amy Berlinsky of Whole Foods also topped each table. Large screens on either side of the long room projected a slide show of the sketches, as well as a CBS documentary of the trial. Schultz presented an account of the trial, which held the crowd's attention despite too few chairs.
Of the invitees to the event, there were two notable no-shows: artist McMahon, who was recovering from a recent surgery, and Steven Spielberg, who was invited but didn't attend.
—Wendy Wollenberg
RELATED TOPICS
Schwartz Cooper Chartered
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