– Demetria Limparis

 

Art Experiences By Mishkalo

How: What : Why: Where

 

COVID-19 hit the wedding industry hard. The wedding industry is usually recession-proof and the last pandemic we had was in 1918 where people did not rely on wedding planners or companies to make their day happen. Charu Swaminthan, the CEO of Mishkalo Art Experiences had to alter her company in a way to survive through a completely virtual world. That is when the journey for  art experiences baby Mishkalo began.

PAINT AND SIPS?

 

Paint and Sips have been around for some time but usually are held in an art studio that is open for anyone to come to join. Charu expanded this way of mingling and having a fun night but into a way for corporate companies to bond and team build. While strengthening the relationships in the workspace it is also showing people have to use Zoom as a form of pleasure instead of just work. These fun and interactive art experiences by Mishkalo  has altered the way companies can focus on a task together that is not just the same work that they do for their job.

 

WHAT TYPE OF CLIENTS MISHKALO HAS WORKED WITH:

 

 

WHERE MISHKALO’S CLIENTS ARE FROM:

EVERYWHERE! The clients we have connected with have not just been from the Chicago-land area but all over the world. We thrive off of making new connections with people from all corners of the globe to help spread this new, healthy way to bond in some of these darkest and lonesome times that we hopefully never will experience in our lifetime again.

 

WHAT ART EXPERIENCES MISHKALO HAS TO OFFER:

 

 

When a client arrives at Mishkalo Art Experiences website there you can find all the different packages Mishkalo has to offer.

There are specific paintings paired with beverages, cookies, and chocolates. For example, there is a package called “Monet & Merlot” where Mishkalo provides the Merlot wine and the artist instructs the group through recreating a Monet painting.

Another similar package offered is “Pint with Picasso” where clients enjoy craft beer that is sent to them while recreating a classic Picasso painting. This trend continues with more packages like “Canvas & Chocolate tastings” and “Canvas & Cookies”. 

 

WHAT KIND OF PAINTINGS ARE OFFERED?

 

Once you have picked the package you like, we set a date and share the artist’s portfolio so you and your group can pick what painting you all would like to do. We have a couple of artists working for Mishkalo that are all very talented with their work but even more so skilled instructors. Making the event and process of completing the painting stress-free.

HOW THE EVENT FLOWS:

 

 

As the event begins and everyone is logging onto the Zoom, you are greeted by a welcome screen, with your company name and the Artist and painting for the session with relaxing music in the background while everyone is waiting for the event to commence. 

When everyone is settled in the host will begin by welcoming and thanking them for picking Mishkalo and introducing the staff. 

The host will explain that this is a time to relax, mingle and have fun with the group. Then they stress the importance of not worrying about how well the painting turns out and instead focusing on bonding with everyone through art! The host then hands the reins off to the artist to begin the painting session.

The artist will begin by explaining the kit that everyone got shipped to them by us. It comes with three canvases, a variety of brushes of different s  izes, and an array of acrylic paints. We use acrylic paints because they are very beginner-friendly. After all, they are very forgiving paints, they dry faster which makes it easy to paint over mistakes.

They will remind everyone to have one or even two cups of water to clean the brushes when switching between colors and some sort of napkin to dry the brushes. The host always adds in to separate your drink from the water cups in case you dip your brush in your drink on accident! (Unfortunately, it has happened before).

THE ARTIST’S INCITES:

The artists really stress on the techniques of handling acrylic paint. They explain how to open the paint bottles and how much should be put on your palette. They focus on the amount of paint that should be mixed with other paints to create the perfect color for each part of the painting. Aswell, the artists explain what way to stroke when painting and how to fix mistakes with water or even just painting over when the paint dries. 

 

HOW THE BONDING FLOWS:

 

As the painting session continues, some brave souls will share the progress of their work with a giggle or a smile. The hosts are constantly keeping everyone on track and helping with keeping a steady pace with the session. 

As the canvas is covered with your unique interpretation of the painting, there is a show and tell at the end and everyone gets to share their finished product. Whether people are embarrassed or proud of their final product, everyone has a smile on their face. The host then tells everyone to hold up their canvas and get ready for a screenshot picture. 

 

CLOSING REMARKS AND REVIEWS:

 

The picture is shared with the client and is also posted to Mishkalo’s website. Mishkalo profits greatly off of word of mouth marketing and reviews that are left on the website. The option of leaving a review on the website is proposed. The host and artist express their gratification to the client for choosing Mishkalo Art Experiences.

 

For more fun art themed activities check out

Mishkalo Art Experiences

 

 

 

 

– Demetria Limparis

 

The perfect summer

DIY Cocktail

WHERE? – Let’s set the scene for your DIY Cocktail experience…We are in the middle of the summer and putting some ice cubes in a glass of that cheap bottle of Moscato you always get is not gonna cut it anymore for yourself and whomever you have over. You need a refreshing and unique drink that you can whip up for a relaxing night on your patio with friends or even for a date night with your significant other. 

WHY? – What are you going to get out of a DIY cocktail rather than an alternative? You do not have to spend a lot of money to make a trendy drink. Whenever someone wants to have a trendy drink, they will usually go to a nice restaurant and order one that is way too overpriced. Making one for yourself is more cost-efficient and is a fun activity for you and your friends or date on a hot summer night.

WHO? – Who else would this benefit other than myself? If you decide to “DIY” it for your date night, it will give you guys a fun activity for the night or even can just be a conversation starter. You guys can make it together as a bonding activity and then enjoy it after with dinner. Even if you decide to make it yourself, it is a way to show your gratitude for being able to spend time with that person. They will feel appreciated and thought of because you went out of your way to make a special drink for your guy’s  summer night together.

HOW? – According to Drizly.com’s blog 7 Simple Date Night Drinks for Summer, they got to share a couple of drink recipes made by mixologists. These drinks were created from a “talented crew of Top Shelf Bloggers” (Drizly) that created simple but delicious cocktails. 

Two cocktails that stuck out were the Mimosa Mojito and the Rosé and St. Germain Cocktail.

 

The Mimosa Mojito

 

Photo credit: drizly.com

This fun but strong combination of a mimosa and a mojito was made by Bright Eyed Baker. The ingredients are as follows:

• Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne
• Captain Morgan White Rum 
• Fresh mint
• Lime juice 
• Orange juice
• Simple syrup
• Ice

To begin making this drink, combine the lime juice, mint, and sugar together. After combining them all together in a cocktail shaker, smash up the mint leaves. By smashing the mint leaves, the mint’s strong flavors are able to come out and give the drink that minty accent. Then to continue, add two ounces of rum, two ounces of orange juice and a half-ounce of simple syrup. After that is all well shaken, pour the mixture over a glass filled with ice and add a mint leaf to top it off. 

This is the perfect summer cocktail for a girl’s night, brunch, or even with a date. With a refreshing but powerful taste, this will quickly become your go-to drink for not just summer but any time of the year.

 

Rosé St. Germain Cocktail

Photo credit: drizly.com

This recipe by Charmingly Styled was inspired by the signature summer wine, Rosé. The ingredients for this masterpiece are:

• Barefoot Rosé
• St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• Lime
• Blackberries
• Simple syrup

Begin with combining a cup of rosé, two ounces of St. Germain, and all the juice from half of a lime. After thoroughly stirring all three of those ingredients together, muddle your blackberries at the bottom of each glass that is going to be served. Add the rosé and st. Germain mixture to each glass and add a couple of berries and fresh lime slices to the top. This drink gives off a more party vibe for a bridal shower or even just a girl’s night out.

Either of these cocktails would fit perfectly with Mishkalo’s Canvas and Cocktails! Mishkalo Art Experiences offers a joyful, relaxing hour of art and enjoying your favorite drink. You can find all of the different Paint and Sip options at mishkaloartexperiences.com. 

 

For more fun art themed activities check out

Mishkalo Art Experiences

 

 

 

 

– Demetria Limparis

FIVE Ways You Can Celebrate Pride Month in Chicago

The month of June in Chicago is known and dedicated for the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, referred to as Pride Month. This month is for people who are part of the community to express themselves with their peers and for people who are outsiders of the community to learn more about the Pride culture. 

There are many events that are happening throughout the month of June to celebrate Pride. You can’t go wrong with just going to Boystown and coming across a way to join in the celebration. Although, if you would like to broaden your horizons to any part of Chicago and not leave your big plans up to chance, we have picked out a couple of Pride events for you. Here are five fun ways you can celebrate Pride 2021.

 

•  Pride in the Park

Pride in the Park will be held in Chicago’s historical Grant Park on June 26th and 27th. during the pride month . Pride in the Park is a two-day music festival to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community where people can freely express their identity and sexuality. The lineup is filled with amazing artists with the headliners being Chaka Khan, Gryffin and Tiesto. Two ticket options are being offered, general admission and VIP. The general admission tickets are offered to people 15 years of age and older, people between the ages of 11 to 14 are to be accompanied by an adult. Children that are 10 and younger get in for free with an adult. Pride in the Park will continue to abide by the City of Chicago Guidelines and will ask attendees that are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask while at the festival. 

• Proud to Run 5k/10k/Marathon

Proud to run will be held on June 26th  for Pride month offering runners three different distances to run; 5K, 10K and a half marathon. This lakefront race is not to just raise money for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community but to also raise awareness on a larger scale too. 

• Chicago is a Drag Fest

Hosted by A Queer Pride, Block Club Chicago, is Chicago Is A Drag Fest. This Drag event will be on June 28th with special guests Raja, Tiffany Pollard, TS Madison. This seven-hour show is the first outdoor drag festival EVER! Throughout the event, the performers and artists will exhibit all different expressions of drag from a variety of backgrounds. It is 21+ for general admission and can be purchased on www.chicagoisadrag.com. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/5238-n-clark-st-cheetah-gym-parking-lot/chicago-is-a-drag-festival/1999692310139449/

• A midsummers night dream from PrideArts

If you would like to celebrate Pride month through the arts, Pride Films and Plays will be presenting their original translation of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. This original work of art will run on June 22nd at the PrideArts theatre for $10.00 per ticket. https://pridearts.org/a-midsummer-nights-dream-tuesday-june-22/

• Mishkalo Paint and Pride 

Another way you can join the celebration of Pride month through art in the month of June is with Mishkalo Art Experiences. Mishkalo is offering a Pride-themed Paint and Sip called Paint and Pride! This is a completely virtual canvas and acrylic paint art experience that you can do with any size group. Mishkalo will do all the heavy lifting by providing the art supplies and artist, all you have to do is sit back, relax and create a beautiful pride theme canvas painting.

Visit mishkaloartexperiences.com for more information about bundles and booking!

 

For more fun art themed activities check out

Mishkalo Art Experiences

 

 

 

 

– Demetria Limparis

Looking for a way to have fun remote team building? Consider tapping into your inner artist with Paint and Sips by Mishkalo. 

Team chemistry is an essential part of any type of successful enterprise. From office workspace to sports teams, team building should be exercised routinely for all types of working groups.

Just a little peek into my life, I am a part of a division-1 collegiate soccer team. Each year in preseason my coaches always have some sort of team-building scheduled somewhere. My freshman year my team went to a weekend outdoor camp, that was about trusting each other and showing vulnerability. We broke the ice and truly got to see everyone, good and bad parts. This set us up for success the rest of the year because that weekend we created a high level of respect for one another.

Then the following year we went bowling on our one day off. We were all so annoyed that our coaches bent the rules and made us be together on our only day off for the next two weeks just to bowl. As we got there, we were split up randomly into separate lanes.

We were exhausted from a long week of two-a-day practices and the last thing we wanted to do was bowl. As we started to get going everyone began to get a little bit more into it. Then before we even knew it, we were fighting neck to neck for the lowest score. We were talking, laughing at each other’s horrible gutterballs, and genuinely having a good time. This brought out everyone’s competitive sides and showed our coaches that we could get competitive doing just about anything.

 

 

Then junior year, our coaches were not able to schedule anything like that due to the pandemic. We were under strict guidelines even for practice so the likelihood to do anything but play soccer was not high. Although, we got to bond in a more traditional way, just spending time with our small inter-squad groups then later in the year our whole team.  We would usually hang with our friends outside the team and have little cliques within the team but that all changed this year. We had no choice but to only hang with each other, which led to the cliques diminishing and a high level of oneness. 

Team building is important for a multitude of reasons. It does not just benefit the group but the leader or manager of the group as well. Regardless of the activity, the team is bonding over, many strengths and weaknesses of each member will be exploited. This will show how the members work together and what type of role each person naturally falls into when working collectively on tasks.

Of course, a boss supervises and watches their employees in their workplace but what makes that judgment not as accurate is because when at work, everyone is on their best behavior. Then when observing when they have their guard down a little, not during work hours, one can see their true personality. 

 

 

There are many different ways for a group to team build. People go on retreats, have company parties or even just go out for drinks after work. Due to the pandemic, the number of options has decimated due to social distancing and were forced into virtual meetings.

Although, Mishkalo offers a way to have a team bond over zoom with paint and sips. Paint and sips can be done with any type of team or organization. The painting breaks down that wall and opens up everyone to be vulnerable in the session. By doing an activity like painting, which might not be some people’s strong suit, it gives something to bond and banter over.

Like how my team and I were making fun of each other’s throws and missing the pins in bowling, your team can find that comfortability with a simple canvas painting. They will be given all the art supplies and an art instructor through Mishkalo. Then through zoom the artist will take your team through an easy but beautiful acrylic canvas painting.

While painting everyone can enjoy a beverage of their choice or one that came with your art supplies. Mishkalo has an array of beverages, cookies and chocolates that can come with your package if you desire. Between the painting and sipping the bonding comes naturally, which sets your team up for wanting more interactions with each other for the future.

 

For more Team Building activities check out

Mishkalo Art Experiences

 

 

 

 

– Demetria Limparis

No restaurants, no problem. Let’s get creative and talk about the new way to bond during a pandemic with date night paint and sips.

Lincoln Park, Chicago is home to a young couple Ted and Jane. They live in a one-bedroom apartment which can feel smaller than it already is at times. They both work full-time jobs and going out together after work on Fridays is what they look forward to every week.

Whether it is going to the Gold Coast for a nice dinner or just going to a local bar for drinks, they are always finding somewhere to spend time together. Since they both have a very busy work life, when they get home during the week they usually don’t have much time to hang out and just end up crashing so they have enough energy for work in the morning.

 

 

When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, Ted and Jane were forced to work remotely and began to spend more time together than usual. Soon after the stay-at-home order hit, the young couple began to bicker more and were having trouble with balancing their work and personal life. If they weren’t procrastinating their work and distracting one another, they were annoyed by not being able to have alone time to finish their work. The worst part of this transition for Ted and Jane was not being able to go out for a drink or out to dinner. Before the pandemic, they cherished their time together and their date nights were very meaningful to them. They soon began to realize how much they took their life for granted before the pandemic. They want to get back into having date nights but have no idea where to start since going out in public was no longer an option.

The pandemic has forced us to stay at home and is halting us from leading normal lives. A specific part of people’s lives that the pandemic has changed is by paralyzing any ordinary social interactions. Since the stay-at-home order and restaurants and bars closing, it has been very difficult for couples or even people who are single to do anything but sit at home on a Friday night. Not only young couples and singles that want to see their friends but also Gen-X and Boomers are being hit hard by this pandemic.

Since some of those age groups fall most at risk of contracting COVID-19, they are even more in a bind when it comes to seeing others. In order for people to lead a halfway normal life, people either have to go against CDC rules and host a gathering or risk going out in public. 

Something that Ted and Jane or any couple experiencing the same obstacles could try to spice up their relationship during this pandemic is date night paint and sips.

Date night paint and sips could be organized by Mishkalo for you and your significant other to have a relaxing but unique night together. This painting experience can be either with a cocktail, some wine, or beer.

Mishkalo gives you the option to BYOB or they can provide the type of beverage of your choosing. The Mishkalo staff put much time and effort into providing the best drink for their clients, never settling for anything less than perfection.

 

 

 

If you and your significant other do not consume alcohol, Mishkalo has an array of other options to pair with painting. Some of those options include cookies, cold brews, and a company favorite, chocolate. The canvas and chocolate tasting event option provide a half and half experience of chocolate tasting and painting. Mishkalo partnered up with Gourmet Boutique to serve the most delicious chocolates for you and your partner.

Whether your paintings are paired with a drink or chocolates, you and your significant other will be able to bond over both parts of the experience. You will get to create a beautiful, easy canvas together while enjoying a tasty treat of your choosing. Mishkalo can provide an enjoyable hour of date night paint and sips for couples in need of something to spice up their quarantine life.

 

For more Date Night Paint and Sips check out

Mishkalo Art Experiences

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that highly engaged teams are 21% more productive, 22% more profitable, 59% less likely to quit, 100% more happy?

That’s the power of  team-building activities.

Want to liven up your meetings and conferences, improve training sessions, motivate your employees and drive business goals? Consider introducing team-building games and exercises to inspire creativity and innovation, enhance business outputs and secure other organizational benefits.

The benefits of a team building event can include:

1. Creating a sense of belonging among employees and improving professional relationships
2. Defining key areas of employee goals, strengths and improvements 
3. Improving your team’s skills and leadership qualities 
4. Less time spent on training and employee turnover 
5. Strengthening communication and participation among team-members

 

According to a  recent Gallup study, close work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50%, while people with a self-described best friend at work are seven times more likely to be fully engaged at work. What better way to build those bonds than through team building activities? Another Gallup study reported that engaged companies consistently outperform the competition when it comes to things like profits, productivity, and turnover. Naturally, the level of happiness people experience at work is closely related to the kind of professional relationships they have with their co-workers, which is a crucial factor in determining their success.

 

 

Scavenger hunt-

 

 

The Scavenger hunt is a very effective team building activity because it requires teams to use various soft skills. Teammates have to communicate effectively with each other in order to achieve their goals. They also have to learn to work together to accomplish tasks where they rely on each other or use the divide and conquer approach to succeed. A competitive game like the scavenger hunt tends to bring out leadership skills among people as they learn to delegate and share the workload with team members. They also help team members think outside the box to find practical solutions which encourages creative thinking as well as stepping outside their comfort zones to win the game. These skills directly translate to work life where they would help teams work more efficiently together as well as individually. Scavenger hunts facilitate bonding among team members because it is easier for them to let their guard down and get to know each other during the game.

 

Escape room –

 

 

One of the most popular team building activities is the Escape Room! One of the major aspects of escape rooms is that it helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of members on your team, while highlighting different roles members play- the natural leader who takes charge and delegates tasks to ensure puzzles are solved as quickly as possible; the problem solver who knows mediation and negotiation like no other and makes sure everyone is working toward the same goal; the analytical thinker who is a master at solving puzzles and cracking codes and is often looked up to by the rest of the team to solve clues; the spotter who has an eye for detail and collects all the clues in the room. Solving an escape room teaches teams how to communicate effectively and trust each other. It also helps them learn to take wins and losses as a team, boosting their team spirit. Overall, it gives teams a sense of thrill and excitement and they’re more open to work together after the fun experience they just shared with each other.

 

Online Office games-

 

 

Murder mysteries, disaster and survival, the jeopardy game, bingo games, etc., all involve a high level of critical thinking, leadership development and teamwork in order to succeed and win the game. These games often provide teams with an environment for friendly competition and opportunities to help and encourage one another. These games also serve as good bonding tools in virtual environments where employees do not meet each other or spend time together in a shared space so are unfamiliar with each other. Playing games helps boost team spirit and facilitates collaboration which brings your team closer together.

 

Pixtory-

 

 

 

To play this game, each participant is given a part of a picture. Think of a jig-saw puzzle. In this case, the participants must describe their picture to unfold the story behind the bigger picture by finding out the right order of the images. To succeed in this game, participants must display strong communication skills such as active listening, asking relevant questions, verifying information and sharing feedback. Teams learn to be mindful, customer-oriented, manage conflicts and the importance of working together

as a cohesive unit. Putting together pieces of a puzzle is definitely an effective way to help your team collaborate better and Pixtory is a creative way of achieving that goal.

 

Paint and Sips-

 

Paint and Sips are the most creative ways to facilitate team bonding because it allows people to display their creativity while adding an element of fun by adding alcohol to the mix. Gather your team for a virtual/ hybrid Paint and Sip party. Mishkalo ships the art supplies and wine to you and your teammates and one of their artists will guide you through the process of creating your own masterpiece! Your team can enjoy a fun and relaxing evening by selecting either the wine, cocktails or beer tasting offered by Mishkalo. One of the important skills that Paint and Sips help develop is ‘seeing the big picture.’ Creating a painting can be a difficult task sometimes because it involves trusting the process. Often they start out very different from what they end up, so it challenges your group’s communication, teamwork, and group’s problem-solving skills, since they all want to end up with the same final product. It also helps them support and encourage each other which promotes team spirit and furthers bonding.