Magic and trivia — a local social, professional club stays connected to members

By Daniel Patton, April 21, 2020

When Governor Pritzker closed down most of Illinois to combat the threat of coronavirus, The Mid-America Club continued to serve its members by seamlessly transitioning to a virtual model. Although their official home on the 80^th floor of the AON building has been temporarily shuttered to comply with the stay-at-home order, the club offers online trivia nights, seminars, wine tastings, workouts, dining options, happy hours and more.

Now, nearly 1,500 college grads, seasoned professionals, and families enjoy the club’s renowned “socially, culturally and intellectually stimulating environment” by simply logging on to their computers.

“Our tagline lately has been, ‘we’re virtual, not closed,’” explained Member Relations Coordinator Katie Wiest. “Last Friday, there was a virtual wine tasting with over a thousand people on a Zoom call that included major discounts on six-bottle cases of wine.”

Dining options

For those who want to get away from the digital monitor for a while, Mid-America offers take-out dining options from its award-winning kitchen operated by Mid-America Chef Michael Pivoney.

The Club Eats menu features a number of à la carte items available for pickup. Among them: classic Caesar salad, chicken salad, snacks, fresh fruit, yogurt, chips, cookies, wine, beer and the MAC Smashburger (pictured at top). It is available for members as well as non-members between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To view the menu, click here.

The Family Meal Kit, prepared by Chef Pivoney, contains all the ingredients necessary to make a miso glazed salmon or filet mignon dinner, including a dessert of cheese cake and fresh berries. “The first day that we launched it, one of our members ordered, and he surprised our delivery worker with a big box of Stan’s donuts to show his appreciation for us,” recalls Wiest.

Of course, there’s always the option to eat, drink and socialize at the same time. Just make sure to clear your schedule in advance: the club hosted an online Beer Bingo Night last week that ran nearly two hours longer than planned.

“We have a very social club,” said Membership Director Melissa Czyz. “Members are used to seeing each other every day and everyone’s really missing their friends and that interaction.”

Upcoming events

Below is a summary of upcoming Mid-America events. To learn more, visit the club’s website or Facebook page.

YEX Earth Day Trivia Night | Tues April 21st at 6PM

In honor of Earth Day, the Young Executives invite all Members to join them for a fun and interactive Zoom Earth Day Trivia Night! This Trivia Night will be focused on our beautiful Planet Earth, quizzing players on geography, English vocabulary, and the environment. For every 10 questions that are answered correctly, the game sponsors donate enough money to plant one tree in Africa!

WNI Happy Hour Zoom | Thurs April 23rd at 6:30PM

Women’s Steering Committee Happy Hour with fun conversation starters to get the crowd comfortable, interactive and joyous.

A Night of Magic via Facebook Live | Fri, April 24

Gather ’round for an evening of magical mischief and fun for the whole family. As seen on ABC, NBC, FOX, The CW and even the season finale of the hit show, Penn & Teller Fool Us ‑ magician Denny Corby is hosting a live, online magic show just for you. Let your mind be dazzled by Denny’s astounding tricks, and if you play your cards right, he just might teach you a trick or two. Join us for a Facebook Live event on our Facebook page, and prepare to be amazed!

Virtual Vineyard via Facebook Live | May 2

Featuring Freemark Abbey featuring winemaker Kristy Melton. They’re celebrating 130 years, and when you taste their delicious wines, you’ll see why. We’ll be sampling:

• 2019 Napa Sauvignon Blanc
• 2018 Napa Chardonnay
• 2016 Napa Merlot
• 2016 Napa Cabernet

Kristy is the first female winemaker at Freemark since its founding in 1886 by Josephine Tychson, one of the first female winery owners in California. She leverages her meticulous attention to detail to craft wines of structure, finesse, and balance.