Toyota celebrated the 2016 Chicago Auto Show Charity Preview with a swanky private after-party at The Peninsula Hotel on Feb. 12. Influencers, media, and special guests showed up dressed to the nines for the semi-formal affair. For an added touch of class, food stations lined the perimeter of the ballroom with delicious servings of shrimp, carved beef, tasty appetizers, and an open bar. A number of Toyota’s corporate executives including Jim Colon, Alva Mason, and Phil McKnight were spotted mingling with guests.
Usually, corporate events can be a bit stuffy but Toyota has a history of hosting great parties, and this one was no different. The DJ played hit after hit from the stage, but the crowd was still a bit hesitant to make their way to the dance floor. All of that changed when the “Human Beat Box” and hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh took the stage.
Doug E. warmed the crowd by paying homage to recently deceased soul Icon Maurice White (Earth, Wind, and Fire) by playing “Let’s Groove,” before following up with Frankie Beverly and Maze’s classic “Before I Let Go.” The party really fired up when Doug E. performed his personal classics like “6 Minutes,” “La Di Da Di” and “The Show.” Self-billed as the world’s greatest entertainer, Doug E. Fresh continued with hits like “Teach Me How to Dougie,” “Let Me Clear My Throat,” and many others before closing the show with “The Wobble.”
By this time, the 30+ crowd had either lost their voices, sweated out their shirts, or pulled a thigh muscle. Doug E. left the stage to take pictures with the audience before heading over to popular promoter and club owner Kenny Johnson’s venue for the “after, after” party. Toyota, who presented its Avalon at the event, had a busy weekend ahead of them. Their “My Boots” program, which gives over 200 pairs of boots to the needy throughout the United States, was being hosted with the Salvation Army the next day.
Gallery images provided by Ken Davis.
