Looking to take interns out for a night? These venues offer summery activities for casual business entertaining.
1. Mad Mark's Mystic Pizza opened in Schaumburg in June. Serving up picnic-ready fare such as burgers, panini, and salads, the venue has a bar-equipped patio that seats 350 and can host private events. Beside the patio, an outdoor entertainment complex offers courts for sand volleyball, bags, and basketball. Inside, three dining rooms can host semiprivate events for groups with 70 to 150 guests. Indoor games include Golden Tee Golf and Silver Strike Bowling. Free Wi-Fi is available, along more than 30 plasma TVs that can hook up to laptops and DVD players. For private parties, a glassed-in room called the Sky Box can hold 250.
2. With karaoke and stacks of board games, Blue Frog 22 opened in April. Available for buyout, the River North space can hold 150 or host semiprivate functions for 40 or more guests. Food packages include casual snacks such as quesadillas, chicken fingers, and spinach dip, and bar packages are also available.
3. Red Bar Comedy Club opened in May. The River North venue has four scheduled performances that take place on Fridays and Saturdays, and the public shows can accommodate groups of 60. Discounts are available for group ticket sales, and guests get champagne at their tables. On any other night of the week, the space can host private events for groups of 50 or more, and owners can book comedians. Hosts are welcome to bring in catering companies of their choice.
4. Originally built in 1949, The Alley completed a major renovation in January. The Highwood venue offers bowling, darts, and billiards, as well as a dance floor and a wall of video screens that can project content from laptops or DVD players. For private events, staffers can arrange for catering from area restaurants or Catering by Michael's, and The Alley's own kitchen churns out pizzas, sandwiches, and appetizers. On the lower level, a new party room can hold 50. The entire space can host events for 350.
