The Miss Continental Pageant finals are always held on Labor Day night. This year’s show, owner Jim Flint’s 30th, was the best one we’ve attended so far at Park West. Everyone was dressed to the nines and all fans had placards and noisemakers ready to cheer their favorites on. It really is the best show around. For $75, you get at least 10 production numbers that are like mini-Broadway shows with the elaborate costuming and choreography. The Continental Pageantry system was started in 1980 to provide an avenue for professional female impersonators to compete for a national title. The opening number was a wonderful medley of the top Broadway hits from Cats, The Wiz, 9 to 5, La Cage aux Folles and many, many more. The closing number of this segment was performed by the legendary, Chili Pepper (who was also the very first winner of the Miss Continental title in 1980), “singing” a song from Sunset Boulevard as Norma Desmond. Clad all in white and acting her little heart out, she was clearly the crowd favorite! There were 30 contestants from all over the country who started out in the semi-finals at the Baton Show Lounge on Sunday night. By the finals on Monday, there were 13 and then the final five who each performed amazing talent segments and appeared in swimsuits and evening gowns for the judging. My friend, Nadine Epstein, has been a judge for 25 years and I know how hard it must’ve been to choose a winner since they were all terrific! Other judges included Jim DeMundo, Skip Mackall, Brian Reams, Howard Meyer, Tommie Ross (a former Continental winner), Antonio Edwards, Denis Sabol, Robert Hamm and Fred Asbell. During the opening greeting, Jim Flint mentioned that they had received a long-distance call from a soldier serving in Afghanistan for tickets – she was home on leave – and he introduced her from the stage to a standing ovation. Erica Dunlap, Miss America 2004, was there enjoying the show as well as 16 former Miss Continental Pageant winners. Approximately 1100 excited fans and friends watched as Armani (Miss Continental Florida) was named the winner (she performed a mean Michael Jackson number for her talent segment). First runner-up was Mokha Montrese (Miss Canada Continental) who performed Swan Lake, and second runner-up was Naysha Lopez (Miss Virginia Icon Continental) who performed a space-age production number. The other two finalists were Aurora Sexton from Chicago and Kim Moore from Puerto Rico. We’ve been to lots of Continental Pageants and were so thrilled to see how far the show has come. We thoroughly enjoyed it and want to congratulate Jim Flint on his dedication to the community and for creating this exciting and unique show! See you all NEXT Labor Day! Photos from top right: finalist Aurora Sexton, winner Armani, first runner-up Mokha Montrese, second runner-up Naysha Lopez and finalist Kim Moore; Sunny Dee-Lite's production number; winner Armani as Michael Jackson; Sunny Dee-Lite's evening gown; with event founder Jim Flint; Cezanne, Mimi Marks and Monica Monroe; John Regas and Chili Pepper; Chuck, Chanel and David Brandt; retiring Miss Continental, Tulsi; Cats production number; judges Nadine Epstein, Skip Mackall and Tommie Ross; Chili Pepper as Norma Desmond; Tim Gideon and former Miss America Erica Dunlap; happy partygoers. For more photos from this event, click here!
The Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society hosted a reception at Neiman Marcus Thursday night to announce the FashioNext designers who will be competing to create a garment inspired by select pieces from its Costume Collection. This year’s focus will be inspired by an upcoming exhibition on weddings entitled “I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot!” opening May 22, 2010. The designers will each create a wedding gown constructed solely with fabric provided by Brentano, a Chicago-based interior design textile company. The 2009-2010 design contestants are James de Colon, Caroline Devillo, Elda De La Rosa, Anna Fong, Sam Kori George, Holly Greenhagen of Dame Couture, Jane and Saeed Hamidi, Kenneth Park and Carla Hwang and Katrin Schnabl. Several gowns were on display and although they were all gorgeous, a standout was James de Colon’s. It was haute couture and priced at $5,000. (A girl can dream……) Neiman’s chic GM, Wendy Krimins, welcomed the crowd and introduced Costume Council President Noren Ungaretti, who explained the contest and the purpose and encouraged everyone to come to the pre- party before the May opening. Then Timothy Long, the museum curator, spoke…..it was a lovely event with lots of familiar faces in the crowd including upcoming party co-chairs Laura Barnett Sawchyn and Heather Farley (with her handsome fiancé, Bruce Ingram), Tony Rossi, Toni Canada, Robin Berger, Connie, Katherine and Caitlin Saville, John Clese. Omar Miller, Joel Mangers, Alex Aubrey, Patti Kent, Peggy Snorpf, Andrea Reynders, last year’s winners, Roger Price and Tommy Walton (who are this year’s judges), Dan DiCeasar and many more. (BTW, the exhibition preview party will be on Friday, May 21st, so mark your calendars now! For more info and to follow the competition, please go to the Chicago History Museum's web site. Photos from top right: Joel Mangers, Omar Miller. Dan DiCeasar and Alex Aubry; Laura Barnett Sawchyn, Patti Kent, Susanna Johnson and Tony Rossi; designer James de Colon with his models; gorgeous James de Colon design; John Clese, Heather Farley and Bruce Ingram; Cliff Duske and Michael Spellmeyer; Roger Price, Andrea Reynders and Tommy Walton; Marcus Riley and Jessica Zweig; Wendy Krimins with Timothy Long and Noren Ungaretti; Katherine Saville, Peggy Snorpf and Connie Saville.
The Chicago Gourmet event is right around the corner and I hope I’ll see you there! This is a must-attend since its purpose is to promote Chicago internationally as a world-class city and also the fabulous chefs who we are so lucky to have by the dozens! It takes place Saturday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) September 26th and 27th in Millenium Park and is a celebration of the city’s finest in food and wine. Multiple chefs and restaurants will offer tastings of a variety of cuisines each day including on-stage demonstrations. Celebrity appearances include Ted Allen (of Top Chef and Chopped), Rick Bayless (Top Chef Masters winner and star of PBS’ “Mexico-One Plate at a Time”), Rahman “Rock” Harper (winner of Season 3 of Hell’s Kitchen). Stephanie Izard (winner of Season 4 Top Chef), Marcus Samuelsson (of Inner Chef, Urban Cuisine and Iron Chef America), Fabio Viviani (of Top Chef) and Art Smith (who we all know will be cooking for the Dalai Lama soon!). There will also be the ultimate wine experience with Grand Cru Tastings which will offer attendees tastings of the finest wines in the world as selected by their Master Sommeliers. (The Grand Cru is a separate ticketed event at $175 per person and requires a general admission ticket. Attendance is limited to 200 per day). General admission tickets are $150 per day (a two-day pass is also available for $250). This event was founded by my friend Sheila O’Grady from the Illinois Restaurant Association and I am so proud and happy for her and all of her IRA friends! I hope everyone will support this wonderful event for Chicago! For more info and tickets, please go to www.chicagogourmet.org. Photos from top right: Chicago Gourmet; last year's Chicago Gourmet; Chef Bartolotta and Chef Bayless; chef tasting at Chicago Gourmet; Mayor Daley with Chef Bayless; Top Chef Stephanie Izard serving the crowd; Chef Art Smith; Chef Marcus Samuelsson.
The Gold Coast Neighbors (in its 52nd year) recently hosted its signature event, “Evening on Astor.” We were very lucky to be guests of Toni Canada, Heather Jane Johnston, Michelle Herman and Kimberly Gleeson who had one of the cutest tables there. The theme was orange right down to the colorful hors d’oeuvres and guests were instructed to wear “orange attire if you desire.” Needless to say, it made the task of finding their table pretty easy! Right next to the “Orange Table” was the Leslie Hindman table—staffed by her crack team with crystal stemware, lilies and sterling silver. The street from Schiller to Goethe was chock-a-block with familiar faces. Seen in the crowd were Katherine Chez and Judd Malkin, Shari and Jerry Michaels, Lynda and Howard Silverman, Mike Wilkie, Lori and Don Shroud, Justin Dedeaux, Gabrielle and Don Weisberg, Brian White, Dr. Steve Stryker, Richard Doermer, Lyndsay Canada, Elaine Yusa, Wesley Donohoe and Abigail Rutherford, Michelle Klarchek, Anda and Marc Elardo, John Vaile, Lauri Krakora, Lily Liu and Jimmy Florek among many others. This event for GCN not only brings neighbors and friends together but is also a major source of funds for the upcoming year’s activities and educational efforts. Photos from top right: with Kimberly Gleeson, Toni Canada and Heather Jane Johnston; Leslie Hindman; Katherine Chez and Judd Malkin; Heather Johnston and Richard Doermer; the "Orange Table" with flowers by Jonathan Ryan; Anda Smith-Elardo with Kimberly and Marc Elardo. For more photos from this event, click here!
A VERY chic dinner party was hosted recently by Lydia Fisher Alouf to celebrate her Aquarian friends. It was called an “Aquarian Intermezzo” and her guests included Christina Ghilberti, Dana Capone, Laura Rosenkranz, Jeannette Cooper, Judy Kaplan, actress/producer/model Alex Meneses, Kelly Brown, Suzanne LeMignot and Diane Whiteley. Lydia is an expert cook and all of her dinner parties always include an array of unbelievable home-cooked dishes. I was so sorry to miss this party (even though I’m a Gemini I was still invited). Lydia’s culinary rainbow included sesame encrusted salmon with sweet and sour glaze, pine nut/red pepper/ginger orzo, Lithuanian beet salad, Lithuanian Napoleonas tortes and much, much more. I know everyone had a great time and we are all looking forward to Lydia’s upcoming book! (Love from Ausra—Lydia’s Lithuanian name for me.) Photos from top right: having fun with Lydia; can you say YUM?; hostess Lydia Fisher Alouf, Christina Ghilberti and Dana Capone; hostess Lydia Fisher Alouf.
There was a wonderful party at Bebe on Oak Street this week called a “Salute to Rising Stars”…my friend, Lynne Bredfeldt, is a nominee and I have my fingers crossed that this much-deserved title will be going to her! The party was fun with lots of chic peeps and wonderful food by The Entertaining Company! Seen on the scene were Kevin Sullivan, Melissa Song, Lisa Ackerman, models Cecily Rodriguez, Elena Greenwell, Lina Pakrosnyte and Harold Zimmerman from Votre Vu. Good luck, Lynne! Photos from top right: Melissa Song, Kevin Sullivan and Lisa Ackerman; Lynne Bredfeldt; Cecily Rodriguez, Elena Greenwell and Lina Pakrosnyte.
My friend Harriet Ross had great news to report for the recent Dance for Life benefit! They raised over $300,000 with $175,000 going towards all of their good works! Kudos to Dance for Life!! Photo: Harriet Ross.
It’s not long now before THE JOFFREY BALLET’S COUTURE & COCKTAILS event on Friday, Sept, 25th at the Palmer House! We will have lots of surprises and celebrity guests PLUS an incredible Pamella Roland runway show! This is an awful lot of fun for just $250! Even if you have plans earlier in the evening, you can still come to the awesome after-party from 9 p.m. to midnight to dance with the dancers, listen to the world-class DJ, Donna D’Cruz, and see the fashion show projected on a super-size screen in the State Ballroom’s chic lounge area. Hope to see you all there! For tickets, please call Julia Jankowski at 312-386-8921. :) Photos from top right: a scene from last year's Couture & Cocktails; Pamella Roland with her daughter Sydney and Joffrey Director of Development Christopher Conway; having fun at last year's Couture & Cocktails.
Hope you’re enjoying our wonderful weather now that summer has finally arrived! We will be going to New York this week for Fashion Week and to preview the Pamella Roland show firsthand. (Her runway show at Couture & Cocktails will be the first look-see outside of her Bryant Park show!) I will be bringing back lots of fun photos for the next Candid Candace so stay tuned! In the meantime, enjoy this little video that shows true friends come in unusual shapes, sizes and species! Please e-mail me with your comments at [email protected].
Love,
Candace :)
P.S. Thanks to Sun-Times reporter Celeste Busk for this wonderful article on our book collection! (Just click the image at right to read the article in its entirety.)
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