It was a very cold evening and I wondered whether I really wanted to go out or stay home and cozy up to the fireplace. Well, you can guess what I 
decided. I never like to miss an event that Brenda Sexton of Chicago Link Productions plans and this night was no exception. The occasion was a launch party at Martini Park for Virginia Madsen and her Emmy-Award 
winning mother, Elaine Madsen, for their documentary entitled “I Know a Woman Like That.” Virginia produced and Elaine directed this story featuring live interviews with extraordinary women ages 64 through 94. These women are fully engaged in their lives in the arts, athletics, social justice, environmentalism and high finance. Their unconventional choices, attitudes and 
discoveries about the opportunities they find at this time in their lives will motivate and inspire people of all ages. Chaz Ebert spoke eloquently on Roger’s behalf describing the film and no words could ever match his, so in his own words, I am proud to share this with you: “Its description may sound innocuous, but 
Elaine Madsen’s documentary is transformative in the way it regards life from the perspective of age. She talks intimately with 16 women in their 70’s or above, who didn’t put life on pause but kept right on living. Barbara Hillary skied to the North Pole, and says women her age are expected to feel ‘mindless, useless and sexless.’ Lauren Hutton smiles, ‘I’m better in bed.’ Elaine 
Kaufman presides nightly over the most famous saloon in New York. Lorraine Morton was elected mayor of Evanston at 74, and is still mayor 14 years later. After a famous career in prose, Maxine Hong Kingston has returned to poetry, her childhood love. Gloria Steinem thinks maybe at 70 you find out who you really were at 14. Madsen doesn’t ask celeb-trash questions, but is an adult 
talking to adults—even when she and Suzanne Adams (her daughter Virginia’s drama teacher) are lying on a rug on their tummies, talking face to 
face like two seven-year-old girls. Extraordinary.” Some of the guests for this exciting evening included Roger Ebert, Amanda Puck, Susanna Negovan, LeeAnn Trotter, Sherren Leigh, Janet 
Davies, Lisa Skolnik, Terry Savage, Richard Roeper, Suzanne LeMignot, Ruth Ratny, Larry Wert, Bill Zwecker, Chef Art Smith and Jesus Salguiero, Marisa Molinaro, Marlene Glitzen (better known as Marlene Siskel), Bruno Cohen (the new head of CBS), Lisa Aprati, Jane Davies, Kevin and Lim Kline, WTTW’s Elizabeth Brackett, Alice and John Sabl, Lyn McKeaney, Stanley Paul and Terry Savage among others. For more photos, click here!
We attended the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards dinner at the Public Library as guests of darling Leslie Hindman. She had a wonderfully “bookish” table that included Thomas Joyce (the famous book appraiser, rare 
bookseller and former star of HGTV’s “The Appraisal Fair”) as well as Mary Williams (the head of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Rare Book Dept.), Matt Kohnke, Ann Marie Lipinski, Steve Kaplan 
and Nancy O’Shea. Since Chuck and I are book collectors, this evening was a special treat for us. Francie Comer and Miles White were the co-chairs and this year’s recipient of the prestigious Carl Sandburg Literary Award went to Salman Rushdie. The 21st 
Century Award went to author Patrick Somerville. Both gave witty, charming and informative speeches and then Mayor Daley spoke, stressing the importance of libraries in our neighborhoods not only for knowledge but also to provide a safe haven for children after school. Leslie is a strong supporter of this wonderful 
cause and was proud to point out that we (Chicago) have the best library system in the country and many people come to our 
city to study it. Clever table designs by Heffernan Morgan included books by both authors surrounded by candlelight and flowers. Guests were encouraged to take the books and have them autographed after the dinner. Other supporters at the event included Governor and Jayne Thompson, Mary Lou Gorno, Cindy Pritzker, Ralph Hughes and Bill Zwecker among others. Click here to learn more!
Bunky Cushing always has the best guests for his Handbags and Halos luncheon every year benefitting the Howard Brown Health Center but this year he outdid himself! Maybe it’s because I love the world of 
interior design but I think when it’s coupled with the world famous designer David Easton, it makes it doubly interesting for me (and I am pretty sure everyone who attended would agree)! I met David the night 
before at the fabulous and oh-so-elegant Patron’s Tea hosted by long-time friend of Bunky’s, Stanley Paul. His penthouse has been featured in so many magazines that I’ve lost count but every time I’ve been there, I felt like I’ve taken a trip to 
Paris—Art Deco Paristhat is….everything about his home is sheer elegance but it’s also so very warm and cozy. Patricia Zadony did the catering (call 773-495- 8463 for more info) and offerings included chicken curry tea sandwiches, goat cheese and watercress tea sandwiches, apple-Boursin cheese fingers 
and smoked salmon with capers and dill on black bread. Delicious!!! Bunky came up with the idea for this Patron’s Tea for his third luncheon featuring Lynn Wyatt as the keynote speaker because he felt, and rightfully so, that some of the ladies would love a chance to meet her on a one-on-one basis. For this Patron’s Tea, about 35 supporters attended including 
Cynthia Olson, Linda Heister, Zarada Gowenlock, Sherren Leigh, Cheryl Bollinger (with her 
darling granddaughter), Gerri Shute, Toni Canada, Dusty Stemer, Karen Goodyear, John Ansehl, Robin Berger, Cookie Cohen, Mamie Walton, Mary Ann Rose, Peg Lombardo, Lynn McMahan, Carlette McMullen, Gia McDermott, HBHC President and CEO Michael Cook, Paul Fairchild and Alan Brainerd among others. Stay tuned for pics from the luncheon coming next week. :) Great job again, as always Bunky!!! Check out more photos here!
The standing ovations never seemed to end on opening night of The Joffrey Ballet's "Othello" Wednesday evening. The company danced their hearts for 
a sell out crowd and the excitement was over the top. The scenery, costumes and music all came together for a perfect performance and the reviews were outstanding! This is Chicago-born choreographer Lar Lubovitch's Midwest premier of Shakespeare's classic tale 
portrayed with an amazing mix of classical and modern movement. The set design by George Tsypin is sheer genius with glass mixed with moving images and even dream 
sequences projected onto the wall. Fabrice Calmels performed as Othello, April Daley as Desdemona, Matthew Adamczyk as Iago, Aaron Rogers as Cassio, Allison Walsh as Bianco and Emila was portrayed by Valerie Robin. There are only 
six more performances through October 25th. This 2009-2010 season of Legends will continue on December 11th through 27th with "The Nutcracker" and "Cinderella" will begin on February 17th and run through the 28th. Congratulations to the Joffrey Ballet: Every step they take makes us breathless with anticipation for the next performance!
Speaking of performances, have YOU ever dreamed of being on stage? Now is your chance at the Victory Garden’s Theater Annual Casting Auction Benefit and Performance on Saturday, November 14th. Now in its 28th year, the Casting Auction is Victory Garden’s unique fundraising event in which all the roles (chorus, 
cameo, supporting and children’s) of a professionally-directed and produced classic American musical are sold at auction! You don’t need to be a professional actor but you should have the appetite to perform and the desire to be onstage in the spotlight. The winners of the roles will have the opportunity to play their parts in performances directed by Artistic Director 
Dennis Zacek, to be scheduled for a weekend in February 2010 before an audience of more than 400 each night. The event at the Victory Gardens Theater (located at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.) on Saturday, November 14th, will include a performance of “Anything Goes,” with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. So polish off those paddles and get ready for your close-up! Casting auction co-chairs are Stuart Burstein, Nancy Studenroth and Fred Zar. For more info, please call 773-549-5788 or click here.
On Friday, October 23rd, the Palm Court at the Drake Hotel will be hosting a unique fundraiser to benefit the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation during this month of breast cancer awareness. Shaun 
Rajah has planned an event called “50 & Beautiful—Catwalk Fridays Special” which will celebrate influential women ages 50 and above with an afternoon tea and a fashion show showcasing collections from six of Chicago’s most exclusive designers: Mira Couture; Quinton De Alexander; Elizabeth M Fashion; Sylwia 
W; milliner Joy Scott; and jewelry designer Sophia Forero. Featured models are Cookie Cohen, Juell Kadet, Lynn McMahan, Dorothy Whealan, Susan Fierro, Joan Sosano, Salome St. Clair, Michelle Yeadon, Marlene Laport, Sheryl Dyer and moi! There 
will be two shows – the first from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and the second from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. – that will include three-tiered tea service. Tickets are $29 and reservations can be made by calling Shaun Rajah at 312-932-4619 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thanks for all of your hard work Shaun! All of your events are such fun! :) For more photos, click here!
And last but not least, please join me at the annual “Taste of TCW” on Wednesday, October 28th at The Chopping Block. All monies raised benefits the TCW Foundation which supports organizations 
helping women and children with operating budgets under $500K. The event, emceed by 
Steve Dolinsky (a.k.a. The Hungry Hound), is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature a contest between Chefs Radhika Desai, Jennifer Gavin and Elaina Vasquez as well as hors ‘d’oeuvres created from the chef’s favorite recipes, signature cocktails by Sunda mixologist Sherrie Geslak and a 
high-end raffle. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by calling 312-951-7600, ext. 171 or by visiting tcwmag.com. I hope to see you there! For more photos, click here!
Some personal congrats are in order for my friends Lydia Fisher and Gregg Zgonena! Lydia’s first book, Cinderella of Wall Street, is out now!! After two decades with a century-old Wall Street investment bank, she writes of 
the far-reaching consequences after its sudden takeover in the spring of 2008 in a totally unique way. A very timely book for these tumultuous times. As for my dear friend Gregg, he has left Ultimo to take on a new and exciting challenge as the sales manager of the Michael Kors Boutique due to open later this month at 900 N. Michigan Ave. A huge congrats to these two go-getters – I am so happy and proud for you both!!!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of Candid Candace. This link will make you vividly recall your difficulties as a child learning to ride a bike….I am now ashamed of my need for training wheels…
Love,
Candace :)
[email protected]
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