"A Night Out with Windows Phone” Party in Chicago

Saturday night Microsoft launched it's second night of  "A Night Out with Windows Phone”: a Windows Phone Launch Party (the event was thrown on Nov. 11th and 12th) at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art') Warehouse on 1747 W. Hubbard St. and I was one of the chosen one's given a VIP invite to play around with the new phones that were being offered on the networks here in Chicago. Being a iPhone user I was interested in finally getting to see the Windows phones in action. 

The theme of the night was bright RED. When you arrived at the MCA Warehouse there was no mistaken where the party was being held, The entrance blared a bright light that made everything and everyone an extreme bright red. As I went in, I had to show my state ID and the mobile Mogotix that I received through a mobile text that sent me to a web page that became my invitation to get in to the party. After getting my VIP wristband I entered a room where Microsoft little helpers with red jackets logged me into their laptops and gave me a RFID badge that enabled me to enter many chances to win a Windows Phone by tapping various boxes throughout the rooms and to scan into any other RFID enabled displays.

As I entered the room I really got to see what a great space the MCA Warehouse offered. I'd have to say it was a great venue for Microsoft to have chosen. The crowd had already began, I got there about 10 minutes after start time, and as soon as you entered there were phones, bars with Stella Artois beer glasses ready for the pouring, and tables with appetizers. Being a Chicagoan, the appetizer may have insulted my tastebuds but I remembered I was there for the phones and I did have VIP which meant  I was able to get as many drinks as I wanted. There were quite a few who came and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

I ran into a few friends and we took a few photos at the photobooth which had an Angry Bird's theme (I have yet to play this game). This was pretty cool because after you took your photos you were able to go over to a table of PC's and as you find your pics you then could use your RFID badge to tag yourself so they could tag you when they post the photos onto Facebook. Across from that area there were screens of video games where you got the chance to try and win an Xbox 360. The people in this area were definitely enthralled. I don't even think they noticed the ninjas that were walking around. Yeah Microsoft went all out. Across from this area was a wall of screens displaying the different apps that were available for the Windows Phones, your mainstreams that are already on the other smartphones. As you walked through an entrance under the lit words  "WIndows Phones" next to the Microsoft logo, there was a stage where the guest for the evening was a musical performance by the band The Drums.

All and all it was a fun night and if anything it bears repeating how great it was to see the great space that MCA Warehouse had to offer. I did get to play around with the phones and really didn't have anything negative to say. By the way when I got the invite I was also given the chance to claim a Windows phone. I wasn't sure if I was going to receive one or if I entered a drawing, Anyway if I do get it I will be able to play around with it even more and write about it on my personal blog, we shall see. I was compelled to do one thing and that was to ask one of Microsoft little helpers, Tiffany Key  who was demonstrating one of the phone for me, to pull up TLT's website on the screen.  In doing so she also put the website as a logo on the main screen. Come on, what kind of TLT blogger would I've been I if I didn't ask? :)

Yes hopefully many of the guest this night clicked on the link and discover The Local Tourist but if anything this evening is just another example of the great venues that are in the Chicago area and the advantage there is to living in a big city where Microsoft came out and partied with us Chicagoans.