LAKEVIEW — Cereal may have ended up on the streets after last month's rowdy — and violent — holiday pub crawl, but now it could end up in a better place.
Festa Parties, the company that runs the Twelve Bars of Christmas pub crawl, will sponsor monthly cereal collection parties for Lakeview Pantry at Rockwood Place, a Wrigleyville bar at 3466 N. Clark St.
It's part of TBOX tradition for revelers to carry around boxes of cereal during the pub crawl.
Last month's TBOX was marred by violence and complaints of rampant property damage, vomiting and public drunkenness. While many community members expressed discontent with the crawl at neighbor meetings, Lakeview Pantry had nothing but kind words regarding interactions with the party promoter.
"It's been great," said Christina Wright, director of annual giving for the food distribution nonprofit. She said a co-worker "had phenomenal things to say about them. She said they're committed to giving back to the community."
The first cereal donation party will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jan. 25. Attendees who bring five boxes of cereal will receive TBOX sunglasses, according to the event's Facebook page. Ten boxes gets attendees the sunglasses and a free pass to Festa Parties' next pub crawl, BeadQuest, on Feb. 16, which otherwise costs $20.
Rockwood will also offer a $15 an all-you-can-drink Miller Lite, well drink and food buffet during the party. Festa Parties did not respond to phone calls.
Festa Parties donated 200 boxes to Lakeview Pantry last month, Wright said, marking the start of the relationship. The promoters will donate 20 boxes each month in addition to the amount collected at the fundraiser, according to their Facebook page.
