TBOX Organizers Launch New Monthly Party, Prep for BeadQuest

The extremely popular and often controversial organizers behind the Twelve Bars of Christmas—or TBOX—event in Wrigleyville are planning another party, but this time, they plan to give back to the community.

Festa Parties announced Wednesday its plan to start a monthly Friday night event centered on generating cereal box donations for the Lakeview Pantry. While the event has yet to be named, it’s inaugural party will be Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

“In December, we donated 200 boxes of cereal to the Lakeview Pantry—a local organization whose mission is to eliminate hunger in our community through a series of great initiatives,” Festa Parties wrote in the Facebook invitation. “They were so nice and appreciative that we are going to have monthly cereal parties for them every month!”

Partiers who bring five boxes of cereal to Rockwood Place at 3466 N. Clark St. get a pair of TBOX sunglasses. Those who donate 10 boxes will also get a free ticket to BeadQuest on Feb. 16, the company’s Mardi Gras themed bar crawl similar to TBOX. That’s combined with Rockwood Place donating 20 gallons of milk.

"I had my trial by fire with my last pub crawl, and I was upset with what happened there.”

However, after a man stabbed and critically injured a party-goer with a broken bottle during TBOX in December, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Lake View neighbors are reportedly extremely concerned with more bar crawls. Tunney’s Director of Community Outreach Erin Duffy says they’re taking extra precautions.

“The 12 Bars of Christmas event—we received a lot of calls about it,” Duffy said. “It took over Wrigleyville and the surrounding neighborhood. Unfortunately, from our office, there’s not a lot that we can do. There’s no permit that’s necessary for bar crawls. (Ald. Tunney) is looking into potential pub crawl legislation because TBOX brought around 40,000 people to Lake View, and while it’s good for business, there were a lot of issues with it.”

Representatives from Festa Parties didn’t immediately return Patch’s attempts to contact them about BeatQuest or the new monthly cereal party.

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And while Duffy says there’s no legal action or control the alderman’s office can take regarding bar crawls, Lake View officials are stepping up safety measures. Tunney is reportedly meeting with every bar participating in BeadQuest, and Festa Parties will set up porta potties and barricades to encourage intoxicated partiers from urinating in public or taking over the whole street. 

That’s combined with the 19th District’s Commander Elias Voulgaris saying he won’t make the same mistake twice when it comes to Wrigleyville bar crawls.

“You’re going to see more visibility out there,” Voulgaris said. “You’re going to see it more in the entertainment areas, especially during the Cubs season and other events. I had my trial by fire with my last pub crawl, and I was upset with what happened there.”

Duffy told members of the Belmont Harbor Neighbors during Tuesday night’s meeting that Festa Parties have been “very cooperative” as well, upping their standards for BeadQuest, an event that usually sees 3,000 participants.

“They’re (adding barricades and porta potties) because it’s what the alderman is looking for, but we can’t permit bar crawls at this time,” Duffy said. “A lot of wards don’t have the type of traffic and events that Lake View and Wrigleyville has, so for all of City Council to vote on something that doesn’t really affect other wards—it’s still something we’re looking into.”

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