Marcel's Culinary Experience

In 2007, best friends Jonathan Bricklin and Franck Raharinosy had a crazy idea—to practice ping pong night and day and get so good that they could make the USA Olympic Team. So, they got busy doing what any future Olympians would do—throwing a weekly ping pong party! Their parties drew in an eccentric range of artists and actors, musicians and bankers, brokers and broadcasters, and (of course) professional ping pong players and everyone in between. The diversity of the crowd fueled the fun and vibrant energy that remains the essence of SPIN today. Bricklin and Raharinosy joined forces with retired investment banker and former tennis pro, Andrew Gordon, to launch SPIN’s flagship location on Park Avenue in New York City in the summer of 2009. From the moment we opened our doors, we have seen the world-wide growth of an iconic ping pong culture, lifestyle, and movement, which has redefined the game to know no boundaries. It’s all about having fun, not taking life too seriously, making human connections and embracing the contradictions. At SPIN, we come together to socialize and celebrate play. At our core is the drive to connect through ping pong—a game that transcends age, gender, ethnicity, and all physical boundaries. We are the original ping pong social club, your offline social network, a place to call home. We welcome diversity and embrace the unconventional. With venues in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington DC and Boston we encourage you to participate. Do it together and never alone. #UnitedbyPingPong

Impact 4 Good is the one source for bringing community service to your next event! Exciting and engaging team building activities are just part of what we offer. Let us identify the best cause/beneficiary to support, manage the donation logistics and bring the spirit of community service to your group. From your initial request through the day of your event, Impact 4 Good handles all the details. Where are we? Nationwide and abroad, our local team’s got you covered. Got a cause you love? Our events put your philanthropic values into action. Short on time? Activities typically range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Looking for something unique? We customize events to meet your goals/objectives/budget.

Beatrix is a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant, and meeting place in Chicago’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market, Loop, and Oak Brook neighborhoods. Our semi-private and private dining spaces are perfect for your next family-style brunch, business lunch, reception or dinner party. The menu features healthy meets delicious options, and is known for its iconic coffee and bakery counter, including signature cookies and in-house pastry favorites. The chef team takes pride in serving a menu that caters to all food preferences, including gluten-free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options.

The vision behind Ignite Glass Studios is connecting people back to the process of creating art and engaging in the beauty of the time-honored craft of glass blowing and the exquisite art it produces along with building a new sense of community through the interactive experience of blowing glass and glass making. Ignite Glass Studios is a thriving glass art community in a space where artists can create and grow, novices can experiment and learn, and young people’s lives are transformed by the power of this collaborative art form. Ignite sparks the imagination and the creation of amazing works of art, creates a space for unique, memorable events, and opens opportunities for individual growth in a learning community that values difference, participation and collaboration. Providing a safe place for youth to explore, grow and draw inspiration is a fundamental element of Ignite’s vision.

A Local’s Guide to Chicago Kayaking Founded by two brothers and their life-long friend, Urban Kayaks gives visitors the chance to experience the Windy City from the water. As native Chicagoans and avid adventurers, our goal is to showcase our hometown in a fun and unique way. While kayaking, guests can interact with our knowledgeable and courteous staff members and even say ‘hi’ to the office’s resident pooches. We absolutely love Chicago and can’t wait to share more about the city that raised us. “We’ve always dreamed of having the outdoors as our office. Now, with Urban Kayaks, we’re able to do what we love while being where we love.”

Located on the Chicago Riverwalk, Taco Rio is the premier event venue, offering stunning views, authentic Mexican cuisine, and handcrafted cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices. We would love to help bring your next event to life—let’s make it unforgettable.

Located at Freedom Commons in Naperville, Fogo de Chão provides local residents, business travelers, and tourists a place to unwind. Co-starring in a cast of the area’s finest restaurants and retailers, Fogo elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco – the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame – into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Differentiated menus are offered for all dayparts including lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and group dining, plus full-service catering and contactless takeout and delivery options.

Elevate your meal ​90th Meridian is a destination for midday meals, Happy Hour cocktails, Post-Work Dinner and everything in between. 90th Meridian provides a superb atmosphere combined with a compelling menu and extensive bar for a sublime experience in the Financial District.

A few words from the man himself… Growing up in an Italian-American household, food was always front and center in all family gatherings. I found myself in the kitchen during any family event and have fond memories watching as my mother made sauce, my grandmother made meatballs, and my aunts made cookies. As I got older it became obvious to me that my passion and future profession would be cooking in one capacity or another. I started my training with Inspiration Kitchens in Chicago, followed by stints in my uncle's hot dog stand Mandino's located in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Eventually, I formalized my training in some of Chicago's most beloved restaurants with names such as Publican Quality Meats, Au Cheval, Formento's, and Table Donkey and Stick. While fine-dining kitchens help sharpen my skills, my Italian/American roots were calling. Nothing made me want to make my mark on this industry quite like pizza.