I recently attended "Frost", LPYP's signature annual event (their Super Bowl Sunday, or if you're from Brazil, think Carnival, or if you're from Japan, think Pearl Harbor Day). The event was held on the Odyssey, parked next to Navy Pier. The size and luxury of the Odyssey rival that of any of Chicago's finest touring boats. The differences being on this night on the Odyssey, everyone was trying to hook up and it didn't actually go anywhere (which also describe the plots of every show on Bravo).
The event consisted of two party decks. Each had a little dance floor and a DJ spinning those high energy tunes that you listen to on your iPod while running or at the symphony. The rest of the decks are filled with vendors selling and sampling various products. There was no food served, so you had to make do with what was being sampled. For instance one vendor was giving out paper shot glasses with salad. I assumed the small serving size was an effort to make their product last throughout the evening, but I think it would have lasted anyway because IT WAS SALAD (Fun fact, no death row inmate's last meal has ever included salad). Things got more competitive at the savory and sweet tables. If you have never come between a mother grizzly and her young, I discovered it's the same as getting between a 250 lb. woman and her free sliver of chocolate cake. And although you have to pay for drinks at the bar, there were a lot of vendors giving out free alcohol. Drop Chicago sampled their delicate blends of spirits and spices (such as cardamom and lavender). Seriously, I don't understand why Russia doesn't respect us. While Vladimir Putin drinks his vodka out of the eye socket of a Bengal tiger, whose carcass was barbecued on a fire he started by rubbing two protesters together, I often sip my Appletini and say, "This needs more nutmeg."
A lot of reviewers have complained that this group's name, "Lincoln Park Young Professionals" is misleading because it is full of old people. First of all, the word "old" is insulting and they now prefer the term "classic." Second, for all you old people who want to attend but are concerned that you won't find any sweet meat to take back to your Fantasy Suite, take heart (and your heart medication). There were plenty of women in attendance whose purses weren't overflowing with bottles of Boniva. I mean, there are a lot of people who have never experienced the event, go once to see what its like, and then decide its not for them (same way Nicolas Cage movies make money). And if you discriminate against people based on the elasticity of their skin, you missed out on meeting some characters. For example, I met "Captain Mike," a gentleman who was decked out in a captain's hat and jacket, telling me the outfit attracts the ladies. Although he wore the uniform, he didn't actually know anything about the profession, but the same can be said of the entire Chicago Cubs baseball team.
I gave this event 3 stars, but one of those is because you gotta give it up for a group that has endured accusations of stealing money, misleading clients, and deceptive business practices, yet still manages to thrive and make a healthy buck. Ok, now I'm going to write my Yelp review for Wall St. read more
