CHERRY CIRCLE YACHT CLUB

JUNE 10-26,2016 

 

In the summer of 2016, the Chicago Athletic Association hotel and Land and Sea Dept. opened the Cherry Circle Yacht Club – a pop-up bar experience in the hotel’s ground floor space that formerly served as the Chicago Athletic Association’s pool, The Tank.

The pop-up coincided with the world-renowned America’s Cup sailing competition, happening on Lake Michigan for the first time. The Cherry Circle Yacht Club was inspired by the Chicago Athletic Association’s own yacht team from the early 20th century, and was named after their boat the Cherry Circle. The concept was developed by Chicago-based art gallery Johalla Projects and Ship to Shore Productions.

The bar, operated by Land and Sea Dept., featured a menu of historic and nautically inclined cocktails from beverage director Paul McGee, alongside a selection of beer from Anchor Brewing and champagne from Moët-Hennessey. The pop up also featured products from Anchor Distilling & Real McCoy Rum.

Designed by Johalla Projects, the Yacht Club was outfitted in vintage furniture, maritime-inspired décor, and coastal touches. To celebrate the pop-up, Ship To Shore hosted an installment of CAA’s Storytelling Series in the Yacht Club featuring sailing photographer Zachary James Johnston in conversation with fellow photographer and Great Lakes surfer Mike Killion.