Thanks to the generosity of our Sponsors including Miller Lite and Murphy’s Rooftop Company, we wanted to announce the winners of our raffle entries for BeadQuest III…  Congratulations, Guys!!!

Gift Certificate Winners

Christine Neuberg – $10 to Pauly’s Pizzaria
Amy Irvin -  $25 to The Curse
Alexx Miles – $25 to Red Ivy
Jessica Ebersberger – $25 to Red Ivy
Carrie Macchia – $25 to Moe’s Cantina
Tracey Kiefer – $25 to John Barleycorn
Lauren Porto – $25 to Slugger’s
Travis Tansel – $25 to Slugger’s
Victor Udeshi – $50 to Bernie’s
Katie Kormann – $50 to Murphy’s Bleachers
Maggie Mitchell – $50 to The Full Shilling
Blerta Mandro – $50 to Sports Corner/Cubby Bear/Vines
Brian Davis – $50 to Casey Moran’s
Matt Ford – $50 to Pajama City
Mike Russ – 2 Tickets to James Blunt at Riviera
Caity Isham – 2 Tickets to Chris Cornell at the Vic
Pat Van Wagoner – 2 Tickets to Drive By Truckers at the Vic
Jori Kovarsky – 2 Tickets to Cage the Elephant at the Vic
Greg Berkowitiz – 2 Tickets to the Deftones at Riviera
Alyssa Flisiak – 2 Tickets to Cut Copy at Riviera
Colleen Hayes – 2 Tickets to Of Montreal at the Vic

If there’s one thing that Festa Parties is great at, it’s giving Chicagoans something to celebrate. Mardi Gras, traditionally celebrated in and heralded as a New Orleans gaiety, now has a home in Chicago thanks to BeadQuest! On Saturday, February 19, 2011, Festa Parties hosted its 3rd Annual Mardi Gras themed Pub Crawl through Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood. The familiar “Cubby Blue” was replaced with purple, green, and gold beads, feather boas, wigs, sequins – participants came out in full force and didn’t let a Windy City winter keep them from baring some skin. Over 1,200 people participated in this year’s event, which started at 2pm at Murphy’s Bleachers. Crawlers traveled to 12 different bars, collecting and competing for numbered beads throughout the day. Although BeadQuest is on a smaller scale compared to TBOX, it still had all the manic energy and unrivaled fun that has become characteristic of Festa’s events.

At 1030PM, Attendees returned to Murphy’s Bleachers around 10pm for a private DJ/Karaoke party and raffle drawing. Prizes included complimentary tickets to TBOX 2011, gift certificates to Chicago’s hottest bars, tailgate swag from lead sponsor Miller Lite, and Opening Day Cubs Rooftop tickets. Festa Parties took the winter doldrums, slapped some Mardi Gras beads on them, flashed them cool bottles of Miller Lite, and turned an otherwise uneventful winter weekend into something to celebrate!  It’s what we do!

To view all of the Mardi Gras BeadQuest Pub Crawl Photos from 2011, View Our Gallery Here.

In conjunction with their Sponsorship and Donations to Chicago Dance Marathon, Festa Parties has partnered with CDM volunteers by providing them a table and marketing opportunity at the BEADQUEST III Pub Crawl event.  CDM volunteers set up shop at Murphy’s Bleachers, the home bar and beginning and end of the crawl, where CDM Volunteers were able to distribute literature and educate participants on the event. Festa Parties also placed the CDM Logo on its event t-shirts and distributed information through its event newsletters, as well as in participants information packets.

For more information on the Chicago Dance Marathon, Click Here!

“Where kids come first.” This is the slogan for Children’s Memorial Hospital, Illinois’ only hospital that’s exclusively for kids. In 2010, CMH treated over 146,000 patients and its Family Services programs are the best in the nation. CMH relies heavily on funding to support its growing number of patients. One such organization that directly benefits CMF is CHICAGO Dance Marathon (CDM). CDM is a 13 hour “dancing marathon” event – participants must stand on their feet for the entirety of the event in honor of the children receiving treatment there. Since September, business entrepreneur Christopher Festa, has worked closely with CDM. His company, Festa Parties (mastermind behind the insanely popular “Twelve Bars of Xmas – TBOX” Pub Crawl) was a Bronze Sponsor at their event held on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Chicago. Festa led a team at CDM, which is no surprise; TBOX is an 18 hour long pub crawl through Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, so 13 hours of fun was a walk in the park for him and his crew. Festa’s second business, Great To Be Here Tees, recently donated children and infant apparel to the children at the hospital. This is just one of the many charities Festa and his businesses have supported over the years. To learn more about the CHICAGO Dance Marathon and ways to get involved next year, please Click Here!

Chicago Dance Marathon

Pajama City, home of the world’s tallest adult/teen footed pajamas, is now an Official Sponsor of BeadQuest III! PajamaCity footie pajamas, available in fleece or flannel, feature front zipper, kangaroo pockets, drop seats for convenient “access”, and even button feet on some styles! PJC has dozens of colors & prints to choose from, and all are machine washable. **Hint: These PJs make for AWESOME TBOX costumes, too!**

Pajama City is an Official Sponsor of BeadQuest III

You can’t have a Mardi Gras celebration without delicious food! Pauly’s Pizzaria is the Official Restaurant Sponsor of BeadQuest III! Stop in between bars and grab a slice of Chicago’s freshest pizza. Pauly’s is located at 3515 N. Clark Street.