The Ascot Ball at the Casino benefitting the English Speaking Union was an Audrey Hepburn fan’s dream come true for its "Breakfast at Tiffany's" party! Guests all dressed according to the theme with lots of form-fitting black dresses with pearls cascading down the front. Event co-chairs Lynn McMahan, Mamie Walton and ESU president Brian White even supplied “props” to help guests transform themselves “into the
moment” with white boas, ultra long cigarette holders and little mini rhinestone crowns. Audrey would’ve been so proud! More than 150 people were in attendance and were greeted by a trio of violinists dressed in white tie and tails playing nostalgic melodies associated with this famous icon. A highlight of
the evening was the traditional Toast to the Queen led by National English Speaking Union president emerita Doe Thornburg, OBE, followed by the Response Toast to the United States President from Consul General for India, the Honorable Ashok Attri. The
room décor by Tom Kehoe was one of the prettiest I’ve seen and fit the space and theme perfectly: towering vases of white plumes with a profusion of massed white flowers, white satin tablecloths with Tiffany blue napkins and silver bowls of white roses and hydrangeas with shaded crystal candelabras. The room sparkled and drew gasps from the guests when the doors were opened. An elegant menu began with cucumber consommé
followed by Colorado rack of lamb or halibut with spring vegetables. Next came a salad of romaine, pear and Roquefort cheese ending with a Grand Marnier soufflé with crème anglaise…makes me hungry just typing this. The live auction was led by Christie’s Steven Zick and included lots of
interesting items. A cocktail party at Stanley Paul’s fabulous Art Deco penthouse with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for 14 went to lucky bidder Oscar Tatisian. A sailboat cruise aboard The Grand Vizier on Lake Michigan, donated by Jim Kinney and Brian White, included cocktails and a luncheon served by the boat’s butler and was won by Ann O’Brien. A Naples package, donated by Susan and Fred Gohl, included a three-hour cruise on their 106-foot
boat, the Susanna Bella, which was decorated by famous interior designer John Regas. This package also included a stay at the Ritz Carlton in Naples and a day of golf on their
course for lucky winners Rodger and Janet Owens. And then the moment everyone was waiting for! Who was the winner of the raffle prize which was a gorgeous platinum, diamond and aquamarine “Legacy” cocktail ring donated by Tiffany & Co. and valued at $7,650? The ring caused fevered ticket buying but the winner wanted to remain anonymous. I saw the ring and I don’t blame her for this…it’s
GORGEOUS and everyone wanted it! The evening went on into the wee hours with dancing to the Stanley Paul Orchestra. I know how hard
Mamie and Lynn worked on this and I also know Lynn did a lot of the work under terrible conditions at her home—including lack of computer and phone service for a while and even flooding! But a swarm of locusts couldn’t keep these co-chairs down, that’s for sure!!! I am so proud and happy for them and their success with this event!! Kudos Mamie, Lynn and Brian!!! :) Photos from top right: event chairs Mamie Walton, Brian White and Lynn
McMahan; Toni Canada, Rochelle Smith, Heather Farley and Karen Smith; India's Consul General Ashok Attri and his wife; Kristina and Mike
McGrath; Brad Griffith and Tiffani Kim; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Martino and friend; Tom Kehoe decor; Mamie Walton, Averill Leviton, Cynthia Olson and Lynn McMahan; Megan McKinney and Bunky Cushing; Cookie Cohen and Stewart Fineberg; Kate Gaynor and Ray Drymalski; Stanley Paul with Mamie and Lynn. For more photos from this fantastic fete, click here!
Chicago’s very own powerhouse and “Hostess with the Mostest” Kathy O’Malley celebrated her birthday in grand style at Prosecco Ristorante last Tuesday night. Event organizer
BJ Murray and I invited close to 200 people and they all came to toast this beloved woman! Kathy has always been gorgeous but I think she’s never looked better! See the pics for proof! The party lasted until around 2 a.m. with Kathy blowing out candles on her
giant birthday cake (and no, I didn’t stay this long!). Everyone came—old friends Angie and Paul Murges, Jerry Ranalli, Alan Sax, John Regas, Paul Iacono, Rhonda Sanderson, Jim Levin, Dorothy Whealan, Felicia and Curt Winiecki, Thom Ward, Chilli Pepper, Caren Crystal, Sarinda and Gian
Fulgoni, Jason Totani, Dori Wilson, Pedro Vega, Lee Casty, boss Steve Lombardo, Kelly Mulqueeny, Charley Jordan, Elizabeth Bertucci, Gail and Denny Engleman,
Monica Kasley, Bonni and Chuck Gross, TCW’s Lauren Rafferty, Matthewy Adamczyk and many, many more. The photog for the evening was the very aptly-named Steve Starr! Happy birthday, my dear friend! :) Photos from top left: Kathy O'Malley, BJ Murray and me; Siliwia Wilcznska, Kathy and Candace Boyle; John Regas, Paul Iacono, Matthew Adamczyk, me, Chuck and Rhonda Sanderson; Chuck, Angie Murges, Jerry Ranalli and Paul Murges; Kelly Mulqueeney and Diana Chavez. Click here for more pictures from this spectacular celebration!
Christie Hefner hosted a book signing party this week for her friend, Barbara Bonfigli, who has just written her first book, Café Tempest. The event was held at Christie and Billy Marovitz's magnificent apartment with drop-dead gorgeous views of the
city from every room. Billy told me it used to belong to Jerry Wexler and he remembered visiting and seeing many big-name politicians here so it’s a dream come true for him to be living here now. Barbara is a very accomplished lady and besides being an author, she is also a lyricist and theatrical producer. She is a delight
with a bright twinkle in her eye that tells you this is a woman living her dreams and marching to her own drumbeat. Christie served wonderful Greek appetizers and wines in keeping with the “flavor” of the book which is a wonderful fictional memoir based on Barbara’s adventures on a small Greek island. According to her
bio, “she wore out five passports and four continents before settling down on a mythical Greek island to uncork her memories, her imagination, and a bottle or two of retsina.” Retsina, by the way, is a Greek wine that is the key ingredient in Barbara’s Tempestini cocktail creation. These were served at the party and as a treat the recipe was given out
in the form of bookmarks. It is 3 oz of retsina, 1 ½ oz of Samos (a Greek dessert wine), 3 oz of pure unsweetened cranberry juice and a splash of Triple Sec. Put all ingredients in a martini shaker full of ice and shake well then strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh orange slice. Barbara suggests you sip this while reading Café Tempest! She read two chapters from her book and it sounds absolutely delightful. Her co-creators include her partner Marilynn Preston and Adnan Periyali. I have my
signed copy ready and waiting by my bedside. Christie was a brilliant hostess and led the audience in a Q & A. I think there might be a talk show in her future, for sure! Christie’s mom, Millie Gunn, was there looking exactly the same as she did 20-plus years ago in our Playboy days. Now she is retired and happily spending time tutoring little children—she was a teacher in her early years and seems very happy and content. Barbara’s glamorous mother, Dorris Carr Bonfigli, flew in from New York for
her daughter’s book signing and there was a wonderfully supportive crowd of friends. They included Bill Zwecker, Tom Gorman, Marisa and Dimitri
Alexander (who are expecting a baby girl soon), Dori Wilson, Joy Germont, Barbara Kipper, Andrea Dres (who is with the Oprah Show and was one of the 1,500 lucky employees who got to take her family on the all expense paid ocean liner cruise with Oprah and Gail), Katherine Smith, George
Bliss, Maria Pappas, Susanna Negovan, Brenda Sexton, Leslie Hindman, Mary Lou Gorno and many others. Café Tempest has been called a contemporary version of Zorba the Greek, A Year in Provence and “Eat, Pray, Love and is available at Women & Children First Bookstore at 5233 N. Clark or through www.TellMePress.com. Kali tihi Barbara! Photos from top right: author Barbara Bonfigli with
hostess Christie Hefner; Barbara Kipper and Bill Marovitz; Mary Lou Gorno and Leslie Hindman; Margo Rush, Millie Gunn and Barbara Kipper; tray of Tempestinis; Joy Germont, Katherine Smith and Andrea Dres; Joan and Richard Kohn with Marisa and Dimitri Alexander; Margo Rush with Barbara's mom Dorris Carr Bonfigli; Andrea Dres, George Bliss, Terry Poulos and Susanna Negovan; listening to the chapter reading. For more photos from this event, click here!
I am so excited about this week! “Blackbird” opened last night at the Victory Gardens Theater starring William Petersen, Cavalia opens tonight AND we have a sneak preview of AND a sneak preview of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”!!!! I may be the biggest Potter fan on the planet! As a matter of fact, the Sun-
Times is doing an article on our book collection which will run the end of this month or early August. Part of the collection
consists of all things Potter! We have all of the American and British first editions signed by J.K. Rowling including the three presentation books addressed to her father as well as the
script from the first and second movies signed by the cast members….so YESSSS I am a HUGE fan! I am SOOO excited about this movie premiere and all of these other wonderful events in Chicago! And, as always, you will have every detail! Photos from top right: William Petersen in "Blackbird"; Cavalia; "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" poster; signed "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" presentation copy to J.K. Rowling's father, Peter.
Hope you have a wonderful week and stay forever young!
Love,
Candace :)
Hello, just wanted to say, I loved this blog post. It was helpful. Keep on posting!
Posted by: emergency appliance repair tampa | November 14, 2013 at 03:39 PM
Sure Mollie! Glad you enjoy my content! :-)
Posted by: Candace Jordan | November 14, 2013 at 01:06 PM
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Cheers!
Posted by: Bench Craft Company Headquaters | November 14, 2013 at 12:51 PM