This year, #itslit was the word dujour and whenever anyone described a party as such, you knew said event was really popping off. The term “Its LIT,” according to Urban dictionary, means: when something fun is happening or something exciting is happening and you and your friends are turnt up. From January ’til December this year, Chicago saw its fair share of events, from ones costing over $500 per ticket to complimentary/invite-only. We were privileged enough to attend a whole lot of awesome events this year but the events below really made the lit-ometer pop and as such, are our choices for best events of 2015. Whether it was a marquee name behind the music like DJ Kiss or Questlove, a field sized tent space that Revel created for the 606 gala, or an event that went beyond the usual free drinks and gift recipe with candid entrepreneurial advice; these events had that and more. To all those planning a bash in 2016, remember the recipe for a great party is equal parts good/stiff drinks + great music + well curated guest list and of course SociaLifeChicago because if it’s not on SLC, did it really happen?
Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity Gala
The event kicked off the 2015 gala season with over 500 guests at the Museum of Science and Industry to celebrate young achievers. The pic above perfectly summed up the evening, guests danced the night away for sure, revisit it here
ZooOlogie
The Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual fundraising event had the typical aux board event recipe of VIP area, different food vendors, lots of alcohol and even better was the band The Personnel.
Before the trail connecting Logan Square and Bucktown opened for public use, the Trust For Public Land hosted an opening gala that was the hot ticket of the summer. Revel Group had a whole field tented, brass bands, Rick Bayless were all part of the evening that concluded with an after party and duo DJ set.
“Making Place: The Architecture of David Adjaye” exhibit Opening Reception
The celebrated architect’s first comprehensive exhibit touched down at the Art Institute of Chicago and to celebrate the Leadership Council of The Art Institute of Chicago hosted a reception with some of the art world’s elite including Thelma Golden, Theater Gates, Chris Ofili, Okwui Enwezor to name a few as well as a handful of Chicago’s corporate and philanthropic set. World renowned DJ Kiss flew in from New York for the event and she even played one of 2015 hits “trap Queen” by Fetty Wap, wut?! The night continued at a Theater Gates hosted afterparty; revisit the fun times here.
MSI Columbian Ball 2015
This was not your typical big ticket Chicago gala. For one, MSI CEO David Mosena’s speech — or shall we say video — showed a sense of humor lacking at some of these events. But what really made this party spectacular was the anticipated DJ set by the Roots’ Questlove; the dance floor was packed with guests as they flitted between dancing and the bar, after dinner bites and end of night tea/coffee service.
MCA Art Benefit Auction
It isn’t everyday you attend an event featuring world class contemporary art work all up for auction to benefit a Chicago institution, mix into that some of the moneyed power players of the city, new and old money included and a suave auctioneer and what a night! The evening set a record for the MCA raising $3.7 million but the big winner of the evening was Kerry James Marshall, whose piece went for the highest amount, ahead of his retrospective at the MCA next year. More on that night here
Tanqueray Trunkshow Chicago
Most liquor sponsored events, if you can snag an invite, will curate an eclectic guestlist (depending on the firm they use), a decent DJ, said alcohol flowing for a few hours, guests drink and leave; not the Tanqueray Trunkshow. The alcohol brand enlisted the services of the Epiphany group out of NYC for the national tour. The Chicago stop featured a candid entrepreneur focused panel moderated by Coltrane Curtis, with KITH NYC founder Ronnie Fieg, Jason Geter of Grand Hustle Group and Public School NYC and Black Apple co-founder Maxwell Osborne. Guest were then able to snag goodies from one of the gift stations. After a set by DJ Timbuck2, Common performed; ’twas lit see it here.
RH Chicago, The Gallery at The Three Arts Club Spectacular Grand Opening
Ever walked into a place and just wished you could click your heels three times and everything within the store would miraculously show up in your place? That’s what its like walking into the newly opened RH Chicago, The Gallery at The Three Arts Club and the opening party for this Gold Coast gem was nothing but spectacular with guest ohhh and ahh-ing on every floor while trying to get a glimpse of Chicago PD star Sophia Bush, Mad Men star Christina Hendrix and her husband Geoffrey Arendt of Madame Secretary; revisit it here.
Don’t miss a minute of the scene, follow us on Instagram | Facebook | Snapchat | Twitter and signup to get our event recaps and more in our newsletter here.
