EVENTS, ETC.

ELI’S CHEESECAKE

A Chicago institution since it made its debut at the first Taste of Chicago in 1980, this super-creamy confection invented by Eli Schulman has been enjoyed by Chicago mayors, US Presidents, and celebrities galore in classic flavors like original plain, chocolate chip, and strawberry and new varieties like chocolate hazelnut crunch and cookie butter. 6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr., 800-354-2253; elicheesecake.com

EVENT CREATIVE

From scenic design and event management to lighting, sound, video, and floral, this one-stop-shop event producer is known for its can-do philosophy and epic productions, from recent successes like Chicago Gourmet, Zoo Ball, and Steppenwoolf Theatre’s

40th anniversary gala. 219 N. Paulina St., 312-442-0887; eventcreative.com

KEHOE DESIGNS

Tom Kehoe’s full-service event design company pulls out all the stops for see-it-to-believe-it soirées at venues all over town—including Kehoe’s own astonishing new 25,000-square-foot venue The Geraghty, featuring 22-foot ceilings, in-house liquor license, and Wi-fi for up to 1,000 devices. 2555 S. Leavitt St., 312-421-0030; kehoedesigns.com

PARAMOUNT EVENTS

With an emphasis on all things local and the goal of bringing restaurantquality food to every event, this respected caterer headed by Jodi Fyfe and Tony Pontillo crafts inventive creations like squash and leek fritters and bite-sized fish and chips for weddings, galas, corporate events, and a variety of other social gatherings. 1932 W. Lake St., 773-880-8044; paramounteventschicago.com

SOUND INVESTMENT

From sound, lighting, and video to design and installation, the team of engineers, artists, and consultants at this Chicago-born company—which has expanded to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas—bring events of all kinds to life. 1438 W. Kinzie St., 800-720-8545; soundinvestmentav.com