Chicago Style, a “forward-thinking” cocktail conference taking place next week for the first time, was born from conversations—and the goal of the event is to create more. Founders Shelby Allison (co-owner of Lost Lake), Caitlin Laman (beverage director at the Ace Hotel), and Sharon Bronstein (vice president of marketing for the 86 Company) are friends who often discuss their jobs and the beverage industry in general. “That’s how this conference came about,” Laman says, “from Shelby, Sharon, and I talking about our regular experiences, and the topics [we wanted to highlight] are the things we talk most about right now.”
The time for a conference like this, according to Bronstein, has been right for a long time. “It’s past due, in fact,” she says. “The current climate in our country with #MeToo and Time’s Up certainly raises enthusiasm from a business side of things; it was easier to get the financial support we needed to execute this conference. I think before, companies might have shied away from having a three-hour seminar on sexual harassment training, or they might not have jumped at the chance to sponsor a seminar about community activism.”
Speed Rack National Finals: The speed bartending competition raises money for breast cancer research; food and drink are included in the ticket price along with a view of the action. Laman won the national finals in season three but won’t be competing this year; national winners aren’t allowed to enter again. “It’s a really fun and really serious competition,” she says. “The best part about winning it the first year [I participated] is that I never had to do it again. Because it’s really stressful.” Tue 5/8, 6:30-10:30 PM, Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market, $30.
