When the city announced that after 52 years, it was cancelling Chicago’s Venetian Night celebration, Joe and I were SO disappointed. It’s always been one of our favorite summer celebrations – one we looked forward to all year.
Then we talked to our friend Theresa Carter, aka The Local Tourist (who’s hosted a chef’s cruise and networking parties on our yachts this summer). She loved Venetian Night too (although she’s a red-haired Irish lass). The upshot? Together we came up with this amazing idea…to host a Bringing Back Venetian Night cruise.
Get ready to party –Italian style. We’re Bringing Back Venetian Night!
Come cruise on our Free Spirit luxury yacht (far more comfy than a gondola). Lake Michigan will be our canal. The magnificent Chicago skyline our Venice (but not sinking into the sea).
You’ll dine on a delectably decadent Italian buffet and enjoy a premium open bar. And there WILL be fireworks…from Navy Pier…..but fireworks nonetheless.
Head Gondolier, Captain Joe Donofrio (yes, we ARE Italian) will make sure you have the best viewing spot on Lake Michigan.
Sound like a dreamy way to spend a summer evening? Yep. That’s what we thought!
Over 50 people enjoyed a scrumptious Middle Eastern buffet from Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, decadently delish cupcakes from The Goddess & Grocer and icy cold drinks.
There was music and dancing and door prizes from places you’ve always wanted to go. And as the cruise ended, each guest left with an “OMG! Look what’s in here!” goody bag filled with coupons for Cubs tickets and pizza tours and restaurant specials and more.
If you missed it, you missed a great time on Lake Michigan. But we just might have another tweetup cruise before the summer ends. So you’ll get another chance. In the meantime, here’s a video from JenChicago.
You’ll be happy to hear that July 4th just opened up aboard the Free Spirit. And this year, you and your friends can enjoy not 1, not 2, but 3 fireworks shows all at once on Chicago’s world-famous lakefront!
Spread the word. Then sign up now to be front row for these spectacular shows.
Great food. Icy cold beverages. Beautiful weather. And THREE simultaneous fireworks displays. While you relax aboard one of Chicago’s most inviting yachts, cruising Lake Michigan. Sea you there!
Never been to a tweetup? Here’s your chance! We’re having one this Tuesday night, and it might be the most fun you’ll have on Lake Michigan all summer.
The Local Tourist (TLT) is hosting a “tweetup with a twist” Tues June 29th, 6 – 9p, aboard our Free Spirit luxury yacht.
3 hours of meeting interesting new people who share a love of being out and about in our fair city, eating scrumptious food (Middle Eastern buffet, decadently delicious cupcakes), beer/wine/soda bar and basking in the breezes of Lake Michigan on a beautiful, weather-perfect Chicago night (yep, it’s supposed to be in the 70s!)
You can tweet if you want to (sending updates and photos from your cell phone) or turn off your tech gear and just hang out, chill and have a good time.
They’ll be jam-packed goody bags for everyone…filled with all kinds of super swag (coupons to the hottest local restaurants and summer attractions). So not only will you see Chicago’s world famous skyline from the deck of a luxury yacht, but you’ll get all kinds of special offers for lots of other fun things to do in our super city – like Chocolate Tours and Ravinia and festivals and more.
And the whole party…goody bags included….is only $50/person.
So don’t wait till it’s all filled. Here’s where you can get more info or book a reservation online right now!
Don’t forget to share this with your friends. They’ll thank you.
Thanks to the Bui Brothers and Zacuto for creating and sharing this time-lapse video. This video was shot in May on an evening Lake Michigan and Chicago River cruise aboard the Gypsy Spirit.
Very cool shots of going through the Chicago locks, cruising the Chicago river, amazing sunset and our world famous Chicago skyline. Check it out.
Last post, we talked about how much better the weather has been this summer than last year.
This week, we’re happy to report that the number of charters is far better as well (although a little less rain would be fine!).
The economy is still far from strong, but we’re seeing a definite increase in the number of corporate charters. New companies as well as many returning clients are cruising with us, and Joe and I are happy to see old friends and meet new ones.
Our Free Spirit and Gypsy Spirit are also busy with far more private events than last year. Lots of parties are booked on weekends with graduation, birthdays, and wedding-related celebrations.
But we still have room for you and your friends! Including some Wednesday and Saturday nights that are open for Chicago fireworks cruises.
So if you’ve been thinking about how much fun it would be to be out on Lake Michigan watching our spectacular fireworks shows (it is!), now’s your chance. Call us to see what dates are open. And then you can send us a note like this:
“Hi Angela! Thanks again for last night. Everyone had a wonderful time!”
Best Regards,
What a difference from last year at this time. That’s when Joe and I ran out to buy extra blankets cause it was SO cold on the lake….even though our yachts are heated!
We dug up a picture of some of the guests on Theresa Carter’s (The Local Tourist) charter last June that she won in our drawing. You’ll see that her guests are celebrating decked out in red fleece. Yes, it was summer in Chicago! They still had a great time on her birthday cruise…. but how much nicer to be cruising Lake Michigan when the weather is warm and beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful….the forecast is looking really fabulous for cruises. Mid 70s, a few 80s and a lot of those little sun icons we love so much.
If you’ve been thinking how much fun it would be to round up a group of friends and spend three hours on a luxury yacht cruising Lake Michigan, this is the perfect time. You don’t need a large group. Our smaller yacht, the Gypsy Spirit, holds up to 50 people, the perfect size for an intimate gathering. The Free Spirit is our larger luxury yacht that can accommodate up to 120 guests. But you don’t need that size group to book a cruise.
And you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy the spectacular Chicago skyline from a yacht on Lake Michigan. Although we do lots of parties and weddings and meetings, we also do “no special reason we just love to be on a yacht” charters.
All you need is some nice weather and some friends you like to be with. We’ll take care of the menu and drinks and make sure you and your friends are happy campers sailors.
Our Saturdays are pretty booked (although we do get periodic cancellations so if you have a special date in mind, always give us a call). But we’ve got some Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons (talk about a super way to relax on a Sunday!) and some weekdays here and there that are open.
To see some more of our happy sailors (most out on deck without blankets!), check out our photo gallery.
Celebrate the start of Summer on our first Fireworks Cruise of the 2010 season.
Join us on the luxurious Gypsy Spirit for three hours of relaxing fun on Lake Michigan.
Enjoy a mouthwatering American Style Buffet and icy cold drinks as you take in Chicago’s spectacular fireworks!
The forecast is looking fabulous for the weekend. So round up some friends, and don’t wait too long to sign up. The Gypsy is an intimate yacht and spots go fast.
For tickets, information and to buy now, click here.
Our last post was about building your network. This one is to help you do that. Well, it’s a suggestion actually….
A colleague of ours and fellow Lincoln Park Chamber member, Bob Wasserman, is an uber networker. He probably attends 4-6 events a week. He decided he wanted to do a networking cruise for one of his groups. And we thought, “what a super idea! “
So we’ve decided to host Lake Michigan networking cruises on Monday nights….which are generally pretty slow for networking events (and probably the only night Bob is free).
Our first Free Spirit Yacht Cruises after work Networking Voyage is on Monday, May 24th.
We’ll cruise on the Free Spirit, enjoy a yummy Sailor’s Delight Deli Buffet and network in a relaxing, comfortable setting – on a luxury yacht cruising Lake Michigan and taking in our spectacular Chicago skyline.
Three hours. $45. Includes food and wine/beer/soda bar.
Sound interesting? Sign up or get more info here. And feel free to tell your friends!
The Local Tourist (TLT) is hosting a “tweetup with a twist” Tues June 29th, 6 – 9p, aboard our Free Spirit luxury yacht.
We dug up a picture of some of the guests on Theresa Carter’s (