party like it's 1984

Last Thursday there were two parties in town. One got written up in the Tribune; the other thankfully did not.

You may have heard that Toyota hosted a party for its employees in Millennium Park. They were setting up for three days, and although the party didn't begin until the evening, most all of the attractions in the park were closed off to the public the entire day. Toyota reportedly paid the City of Chicago $800,000 for this opportunity.

Meanwhile the people at GM get an idea. They send out about 30 courtesy cars to Millennium Park along with staff dressed in bright yellow shirts. When they spy a disappointed tourist being told they can't enter the park (despite the red carpets everywhere), the GM employees approach.

First, they explain who they are and then offer the person a View Master with pictures of the closed attractions at the park (i.e., the bean). At this point the tourist can at least return home and say they saw Millennium Park, but they don't stop there. Oh no. The GM employees then offer to take the tourists to another attraction in Chicago that is open (The Field Museum, Navy Pier, The Water Tower, etc.). Reportedly over 1500 people took them up on it. You can read more here. {Note, you may need to create a free account to do so.}

I was able to watch most of the set up from my window, and was actually sorry that I wasn't home to see it in full swing. They had bright red blow up couches on the field. They had tables and chairs around the bean. They clearly were going to put on quite the light show (which when they briefly tested lit up our living room). Alas the party was over by 11pm when I got home. Best I can tell it lasted less than 4 hours.

The party I was at lasted longer. We had about 50 people show up (if you count the kids) and everyone seemed to have a good time. Everyone behaved, and nothing broke. Always good, and not always easy when a group of almost all women get together.

B showed up as our student representative, but amazingly was not the only adult male in the room. We did have a male partner show up. He isn't a member (yet), but who knows.

The view from the 50-something floor was intense yet stunning. You could see the Hancock Tower and the northwest corner of downtown.

I met many new people and tried to catch up with the ones I did know. I am terrible with names, but try.

By the end of the night my feet were sore. I stayed to help clean up. Thankfully it wasn't too bad. I also learned that our host's student had had a medical emergency the day before and wasn't able to attend the trip to Wisconsin (LOE). Thankfully he is fine, and the school is working with him. It amazes me that this party still went on and was quite the success despite everything that went on behind the scenes. Wow!

It was a perfect way to start off the school year and welcome the incoming partners. I'd say we are off to a great start.

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