As it does annually in mid-Spring, Salesforce Connections takes over McCormick Place, the cavernous exhibition hall hugging the shoreline of Lake Michigan, a quick cab ride from downtown Chicago. The 2024 edition runs May 22-23, a great time to be in the Second City. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your time there during the conference.
Before offering where to go and what to do, here is a little about that nickname: Second City. Most think it’s the label given to the second-largest city in terms of population. Interestingly, it was a moniker given to the town after a horrific fire in 1871.
The whole place burned to the ground. Instead of moving, the Chicagoans of the time decided to rebuild the place into the beautiful city you enjoy while attending Connections. It was the Second City of Chicago, replacing the first.
What you can do while in Chicago is far from second-rate. There’s also a lot to take in and experience.
Chicago Outside
Let’s start outside. There’s an 18-mile-long Lakefront Trail that follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan, giving you a chance to see what the locals already know. There’s a beautiful beach right in town.
It might be a little chilly in late May, but it’s worth seeing. It’s a great place to get your mileage in if you’re a runner.
Maggie Daley Park is a delightful contrast to the hustle-bustle of the city. It includes beautiful gardens where a multitude of flowers will be in bloom. If quiet reflection isn’t your preference, there’s a rock climbing wall, tennis courts, and paths for rollerblading. It’s part of the larger Grant Park, which includes Millenium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and a portion of the Museum Campus, comprising the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium.
You might be interested to know the Chicago Cubs will be in town when you are. They’re taking on the Atlanta Braves on the evening of May 22 and a day game on May 23. If
you’ve never been to the “Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field, it’s something to experience.
Chicago Inside
Many consider The Art Institute of Chicago a second-to-none facility. Spending an hour or two there is sure to get your creative juices flowing. You’ll see practically every type of painting, sculpture, and mixed media by many of the world’s masters. While Connections is underway, an exhibit worth a look showcases artists representing the distinctive Chicago school.
In 1919, the U.S. Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages.
That didn’t stop more than a few Chicagoans from creating an industry around bootleg booze. Bathtub gin originated in Chicago less than a year after Congress’ action. Today, Chicago has countless places to enjoy spirits, beer, or wine.
If you’re looking for a change from the intensity of Connections’ show floor to something else, consider Roof Gallery at the ROOF on the Wit. It’s a glamorous escape set 27 stories above Chicago. The ROOF has impressive design and entertainment, sweeping skyline views, and unique hand-crafted cocktails and cuisine. If that doesn’t move you, know it was rated Hotel Bar of the Year by Nightclub & Bar Awards.
Want to get your place at the bar? On Wednesday, May 22, Sercante, SellsWings, and Stensul are sponsoring an evening at the Roof. It will run from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. CT. Space is limited, so RSVP now. The next level doesn’t begin to describe it.
Looking for something more fun and flip-flop style? Then make your way to Three Dots and a Dash. It’s a real-deal tiki bar that is far from tacky. It’s as if you’ve magically gone from the Windy City to some tropical paradise where everyone smiles from ear to ear.
That might be because its drinks menu is, quite simply, amazing. Drinks are made with the freshest exotic fruits and spices, the finest rums, and distilled spirits. Drinks
International named this hideaway one of The World’s 50 Best Bars.
Stensul can get you in here, too. Along with Movable Ink, Inbox Monster, and Airship, Stensul is sponsoring a happy hour at Three Dots and a Dash on Wednesday, May 22, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. CT. Be sure to make it. RSVP today, as space is limited.
Chicago Pizza
A trip to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without biting into a slice of deep-dish pizza. There’s no place better to do that than at the birthplace of this buttery, cheesy delight, Pizzeria Uno. More than 80 years ago, Chicagoan Ike Sewell created this unique pie and opened a restaurant at the corner of Ohio and Wabash to serve it. From the very beginning, when people tasted it, they wanted more. And folks still like it today the same way Ike made it back in 1943.
You might not have time to get there with all the presentations about Salesforce Marketing Cloud or Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (fka Pardot) and meetings with technology providers. Not to worry. Stensul has a solution.
Schedule and hold a meeting with a Stensul platform specialist during Connections, and you’ll be entered to win a Solo Pizza Oven. You can be like Ike whenever you like and make your own deep-dish pie at home.
Don’t wait; book a meeting with Stensul today. We’ll be at booth #311 in the Campground at Connections. I am looking forward to seeing you there.
