10 Corporate Summer Entertaining Ideas in Chicago

The Pedal Pub is—you guessed it—a pedal-powered pub. With 16 seats, the quirky ride’s rental fee includes a driver who takes groups on pub-crawls through neighborhoods such as Ukrainian Village and the West Loop. Guests cannot drink while the vehicle is in motion, but hosts can supply food and beverage to be consumed while it's parked on private property. The Pedal Pub is available April through October, and fees for two-to-three hour outings typically range from $160 to $190 per hour.

Bar Toma opened in the former Bistro 110 space in November. Specializing in pizzas and house-made gelatos, fresh mozzarella, and espresso, the venue offers Pizza Parties on its awning-covered patio, which has 36 seats. Staffers can arrange for customized menus, a DJ or other forms of entertainment, and audiovisual equipment including microphones and projectors.

McKinlock Court at the Art Institute of Chicago recently became available for semi-private events for groups of 30 to 100. Surrounding a replica of a Danish sculpture called "Fountain of the Tritons," the tree-lined space can also be bought out for larger groups with as many as 300 guests. Chefs Tony Mantuano and Devon Quinn incorporate local, seasonal ingredients into menu items.

Bridgeview's Toyota Park, which hosts Chicago Fire Soccer Club matches throughout the summer, has a new Party Platform for groups of 50 to 100. With bag sets, foosball tables, and other outdoor games, the space offers two-hour food and drink packages that start at $20 per head and include appetizers, side dishes, and main courses from Sodexo catering. There are two viewing options for the soccer games: guests can watch from the platform, or from seats closer to the field.

In 2011, graphic designer Jamie Arlin transformed her passion for baking into a full-time job. Her new company, Cake Bite Girl, specializes in bite-size desserts that can be served at meetings or events, or packaged into customized gift sets. The treats come in flavors such as carrot-spice, banana, and cherry vanilla, and are coated in white or dark chocolate and topped with topping like sprinkles, coconut and caramel drizzle. For a summery option, try the "Sundae Bite," which comes topped with cherries. For catering, the average cost $1.75 per cake bite with additional fees for extra toppings, delivery, and setup.

A food truck specializing in Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches, Duck n' Roll can deliver catering to offices in the city and suburbs. Chef Amy Le’s menu draws on her own family recipes, and includes baguettes filled with fresh herbs, veggies, and meats such as five-spice duck, miso-braised short ribs, and Thai chicken curry. Depending on the menu, the average cost is $7 to $40 per person, and Le can serve groups of 25 to 400.

Cage and Aquarium Productions is an entertainment collective that specializes in private events, and the group added several DJs to its performance team last year. New acts include Martin Rodriguez, who has a live music background as a drummer, and Avi Fuhrman, who regularly deejays at such hotspots like Frontier and Epic.

Juggernaut music festival Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park August 3 to 5, with tickets available this spring through the event's Web site. Corporate groups can purchase passes to the Lolla Lounges, situated at the northern and southern ends of the park. The tented V.I.P. areas offer viewing platforms overlooking the main stages, as well as mini spa treatments, cocktails, and catering.

Billed as a "bordello meets burger bar," Los Angeles-based restaurant 25 Degrees opened a Chicago location last August. With chandeliers and French toile wallpaper, the River North venue is available for buyout and can host receptions for 120. The full bar specializes in summery cocktails such as spiked milkshakes and alcoholic root beer floats.

Lillie’s Q, a popular barbeque spot in Wicker Park, now offers gift sets. Packaged in wooden wine casks, the sets contain three to five 16-ounce bottles of sauce, and cost $30 to $45. Flavors include the sweet, Memphis-style Smoky, the vinegar-and-mustard based Carolina Gold, and the Ivory, which contains mayo, vinegar, and pepper.