Best Beach Bash: Volleywood Presented by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly

Chicago Sport and Social once again takes over North Avenue Beach on Saturday, July 7^th to host the city’s biggest beach party and sand volleyball tournament. More than 5,000 attendees will be transported to the ultimate fantasy beach bash filled with food, drinks, sun, competition and live music.

The largest sand volleyball tournament in the Midwest will kick off the day’s festivities at 8 am with more than 300 teams competing (recreational and competitive levels). Contestants will be battling it out for $5,000 in prizes.

Alongside the tournament is a spring-break style beach party that starts at noon with music by DJ Dante the Don, Too White Crew, DJ Rock City and Havana Brown, best known for her summer hit song with Pit Bull “We Run the Night” performs her favorite tracks as well as a DJ set. Partygoers will spend the day lounging in the sun, cheering on contestants in the volleyball tournament, enjoying Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, icy cold Coors Light Beer and heading over to the stage for the awesome lineup of live music.

General admission tickets are available for $10 and VIP cabanas are also available. To purchase general admission tickets and VIP cabanas or to register for the tournament, click here or call 312.850.8196

-Carolyn Pelissero 

Tags: barefoot wine and bubbly, Beach, biggest beach party, cabanas, Castaways, celebrities, Chicago sport and socia;, competition, coors light, dante the don, dj rock city, havana brown, midwest, Music, North Ave Beach, pitbull, sand volleyball, Sun, too white crew, vip, Volleywood, we run the night

Chicago Gateway Green’s 20th Annual Green Tie Ball

I can’t believe this is the 20th anniversary of Green Tie Ball! I remember when I was graduating college and wanted to get involved in one charity that I knew could allow me to make a difference. I had always heard the best party of the year was called Green Tie Ball, so I did my research and found it was so much more than that I had to get involved.

The Green Tie Ball benefits Chicago Gateway Green, whose mission is dedicated to greening and beautifying Chicago’s expressways, gateways and neighborhoods. The non-profit organization was founded in 1986 and since then, have helped to improve both the local environment and the quality of life for millions of Chicago residents and visitors. They are able to improve our communities through three key programs: the Expressway Partnership, transforming city roadways into landscaped parkways; the International Sculpture Program, beautifying gateways through the installation of public, international art on expressways; and the Tree Partnership Program, a large-scale tree planting initiative that transforms vacant land into tree-filled green spaces.

12 years ago I started by stuffing gift bags and helping with whatever I could, I went on to book entertainment, then chaired the event and now was just voted on to the Executive Board of Directors! This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary and it’s back where it originated at A. Finkl & Sons and a “Return to Emerald City” theme. Saturday will be Co-Chaired by Tim Smithe – Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design and Stephanie Castagnier – NBC’s The Apprentice 2010, plus we have over 60 of Chicago’s top restaurants including Sunda & Rockit Bar & Grill. Expect fabulous drinks and the best entertainment by Too White Crew, Dr. Bombay and tunes by DJ’s Rock City, Yours Truly and DJ Galvan – with the official after-party at The Underground. Tickets and more info – www.gatewaygreen.org.

- Jon Landan

Tags: after party, annual gala, charitable events, chicago, chicago expressway, chicago gateway green, chicago non-profit, chicago weekend events, dj galvan, dj rock city, dj yours truly, dr. bombay, gateway green, green tie ball, jon landan, NBC, rockit bar and grill, stephanie castagnier, sunda, the apprentice, the underground, tim smithe, too white crew, walter e. smithe

Who do you think is best in Chicago!?

Just voted for the Chicago Reader “Best in Chicago” awards online! Figured I would share my answers since everyone asks me on Twitter and Facebook about my Chicago favs! (BTW, sorry did these fast, was in a rush, sorry if missed anyone!) You should vote too! (Especially for my places! haha) Voting ends this weekend so go to http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/ now!

Tags: alice in wonderland, amc on illinois, andrew lee, andy lee, arthur murray, ashkenaz, assault.it, avenues, back up, best of, bill and phil movers, billy dec, binny's, carrie seacrist, chicago reader, conan o'brien, connie's, dance center chicago, dj rock city, dr. wax, el tapitio, elevation, equinox, golden triangle, hero fitness, house of blues, house of glunz, hubbard, improv olympic, jim bean club, joe's, kanye west, kinsella landscaping, kith kin, lolla, lookingglass theatre, loveabulls, lovehammers, medinah country club, merchandise mart, metro, niketown, paws, plain white t's, que rico, reeza's, richard's, riverside cafe, rockit bar and grill, rockit wrigley, second city, skinny cows, smart rooms, south of 80, sue, sunda, the peninsula, trex, u of i, u2, underground, vermillion, village cycle, whole foods, wiener circle