This year, the DMC Chicago office decided to keep things local and hosted our third annual Yearly Office Event (YOE) right here in the Windy City. Since most of us have already experienced most of the typical Chicago experiences, we decided to branch out a little and try some not-so-typical Chi-town activities.
What is a YOE?
First off, a YOE, or Yearly Office Event, is a fun weekend for employees from every office to gather at a specific DMC location. The event is partially sponsored by DMC. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy activities together and relax with co-workers who live in other cities. Denver usually hits the slopes, while Boston usually hits the shore. In Chicago, we usually explore Chicago’s roots and participate in a multitude of activities.
Rooftop Happy Hour
The weekend got started on Friday after work with our usual Happy Hour on our glorious rooftop deck. Many of us gathered around, enjoyed each other's company and the mild summer air while also fueling up on some deep dish pizza from an office favorite, Pequod's. These gatherings are also always kid and dog-friendly, so some of our employees brought along their kids and dogs to join in on the merriment.
Off to the Arlington Races
The main event began on Saturday morning. Everyone met at the office, and we walked over to the nearby Metra stop to take the train to the Arlington Park Horse Races. Throughout the day, everyone carefully placed their bets on their lucky horses. Some of us even won over $100!
We had amazing seats right next to the track, so we spent the day cheering on the horses, listening to live music and enjoying each other's company.
We took the train back to the office and had a grill-out back on our rooftop deck. Dinner included burgers, hot dogs, grilled pineapple, homemade pasta salad and many other delicious sides.
We also indulged on a customized Chicago YOE cake made by our very own, Justine Chavez! The majority of us kept the party going with some obligatory late-night YOE games and hangouts.
Air and Water Show
We wrapped up the weekend with the Chicago Air and Water Show. A few of us made our way to Fullerton Beach and grabbed some pretty spectacular spots right next to Lake Michigan to watch the show. This activity was a personal favorite of mine and brought back some great memories, as I grew up attending the Ft. Worth Alliance Air Show countless times. The U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds headlined the show and, per usual, did not fail to impress.
Overall, the 2018 Chi-town YOE was a huge success. We are already eagerly awaiting the adventures to come for next year's YOE.
Want to join us next year? Apply to be a part of DMC here!
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