Candid Candace

CHICAGOANS AT SUNDANCE 2010

My trip to Park City, Utah, was a first for me and quite unforgettable! Whenever you receive an invite to Kristina and Mike McGrath’s home, it is an opportunity you cannot pass up! Kristina invited 10 girlfriends for a winter getaway that included Heather Farley, Lynn McMahan, Jan Flanagan, Nina Mariano, Toni Canada and her California friends Tami Kahn and Joni D’Amato, and her beautiful twin sister, Korinna Isselhardt. Their home in Deer Valley was breathtaking and offered guests the ability to ski right out the back door and into the great outdoors. Kristina made fantastic lunch and dinner plans at all of the local hot spots such as Riverhorse Café, Cafe Terego, Wahso, Grappa, St. Regis Hotel and the Glitretind Restaurant at the Stein Eriksen Lodge. She even went so far to ensure that we were entertained by hiring the Music Taxi to take us to lots of our spots. The cab was decorated inside with Christmas lights and music played constantly. The driver even had props for us and a microphone (don’t ask) and we all sang and laughed to and from our various venues. It was a riot! A few of us bravely skied out their back door up and down in front of the ski lifts which are also conveniently located outside their door although “skiing” might be a strong word to use in my case. On one of the nights, Kristina hosted a cocktail party that included Brenda Sexton, Julee White, Carrie Birkel, Greg Nye, Sean Eshagy, Denis Healy, Richie Rinella and Mike’s son, Mike McGrath Jr. There were other parties over the weekend including “The Fourth Annual Chicagoans at Sundance Party” (which attracted around 150 partygoers) and was hosted by Denis Healy, Brenda and Julee at Stein’s on Saturday along with hosts Carrie Birkel, Jonathan Bross, Les Coney, Kim Kline, Kristina McGrath, Lyn McKeaney, Lynn McMahan, Robin Robinson and Scott Schroeder. Other guests in attendance included Betsy Steinberg, Sylvia Perez, Todd Lizak, Andrea Metcalf, Jackson Miranda, Billy Dec, Mike McNamara, Bryan Glazer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner), Dr. Warwick Carter (Columbia College), Dr. Eric Winston, Doreen Bartoni, Bruce Sheridan, Charlie Kam and Lance Chody (owner of Garrett’s Popcorn) among others. After this party, guests (including Mayor Daley’s nephew, RJ Vanecko) went to Harry O’s and saw Joan Jett perform. Columbia College also hosted a three-day series of events. Thursday was the first day of the 20th Sundance Film Festival and the streets had filled dramatically overnight with camera crews. The theme this year was “RE….Remind, Rebel and Renew” and the screen before every film began with “This is the recharged fight against the establishment of the expected. This is the rebirth of the battle for brave new ideas.” The restaurants even change their way of operating for this occasion by only offering prix fixe dinners. One waitress put it this way: “It costs you $75 just for a seat.” Sundance attracts around 20,000 year round residents and jumps to 75,000 during the film fest. On average, 10,000 movies are submitted to the Festival judges who narrow it down to around 1000 films. They use around 10 to 15 venues around town to preview the movies and Park City benefits to the tune of $20 million dollars. No wonder Robert Redford is the local hero! Celebs in attendance this year included Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones  (appearing in “The Company Men”), Chris Cooper, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, Robert Duvall and his wife Luciana, Amanda Peete, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, David Strathairn, Bill Gates, Kristen Stewart, Andie MacDowell, Treat Williams, America Ferrera, Kate Capshaw and her daughter Sasha Spielberg among many others. It was an experience I’ll never forget and the best part of it was spending time with such delightful and accomplished women. Thanks so much for these wonderful memories Kristina and for being such a wonderful and gracious hostess! (By the way, I came back early from Park City on Friday so these celeb pics are courtesy of Peter Kramer and Chris Pizzello). :) Click here for more fun photos!

The tribute for Eunice Johnson in New York was scheduled before her death which made the luncheon tribute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, January 11th, even more poignant. The Temple of Dendur was filled with 200 A-list celebs and high-powered Chicagoans including MK Pritzker, Eunice’s granddaughter Alexa Johnson, Whoopi Goldberg, model Veronica Webb, Gayle King, Soledad O’Brien, Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Susan Fales- Hill, Neal Zucker, Pat Cleveland (who was one of the first Ebony Fashion Fair models), Ashford and Simpson and Latonya Richardson (wife of Samuel Jackson) among many others. The high profile host committee consisted of Gayle Perkins Atkins, Carol Sutton Lewis, David Meitus, designer B. Michael, Linda Johnson Rice, Audrey Smaltz, Andre Leon Talley, Lizzie Tisch and Isabel and Ruben Toledo. The invitation was non-transferable, required business attire and read: “The Host Committee invite you to a luncheon celebrating a philanthropist, fashion icon and a founder of Ebony Magazine.” Former President Bill Clinton gave the sentimental opening address and told the guests that he and Mr. Johnson were from the same state of Arkansas. He went on to say how honored he was to escort Mrs. Johnson to her late husband’s funeral in 2005. White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers read a letter from President Obama and First Lady Michelle sending their condolences to the family. Since Eunice Johnson was the producer and director of the internationally famous Ebony Fashion Fair, several of the garments from the show were displayed at the tribute. The gorgeous fashions included designs by Bob Mackie, Patrick Kelly and Valentino among others. Linda Johnson Rice said in her remarks that her mother developed close personal relationships with many of the designers because rather than borrow pieces for her show, she would buy them outright. Under Eunice’s direction, the fair traveled to nearly 180 cities annually in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, raising more than $55 million for various charities. New York Governor David Paterson bestowed a proclamation in her honor  and it read in part:  “The Empire State is proud to recognize the lives of extraordinary individuals…Eunice was a groundbreaking giant in the world of fashion and design as well as a visionary pioneer, philanthropist and inspiration to countless Americans of all ages, races and backgrounds.” Her legacy is in very good hands with her daughter Linda Johnson Rice at the helm. (Pics courtesy of Aisha Murff..click here to view more!)
 
Author Sherrill Bodine’s book launch party at the Palmer House was a celebration not only of her latest novel, “A Black Tie Affair,” but for the incredible body of work she has produced! Writing under her pseudonym, Leslie Lynn, Sherrill has written an astounding number of romance novels –14 (six Regency novels for Fawcett and eight books for Harlequin) – many with thinly disguised characters that you’ll instantly recognize from around town. She was swathed on this night in a body hugging vintage lavender cocktail dress that only she could wear, no doubt purchased from her friend Laurie Davis’ shop LuLu’s at the Belle-Kay. She tirelessly signed EVERYONE’S books from the beginning to well past the designated stopping time. She is a woman clearly enjoying this new stage of her amazing life! Congrats Sherrill! And, by the way, we are developing our own Algonquin Round Table right here in Chicago…the list of scribes who have had book parties recently include Lydia Fisher Alouf, Terri Lee Ryan, Catherine O’Connell and Judge Michele Lowrance. I am very proud and happy for all of you and wish you great success! Keep up the good work…you’re making our town look VERY literate! (Pics courtesy of Steve Starr..view more here!)
 
January is shaping up to be quite the “Girls Only” vacation time! I would like to wish Susanna Negovan, Natasha Isaacs, Laurie Davis and Dusty Stemer a great trip to Mexico at the end of the month!  Have a blast ladies!
 
Don’t forget these fun parties coming up…I don’t want any of you to miss them! On Thursday, February 4th, there will be a Sneak Preview of Pottery Barn’s new store in Lincoln Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1000 W. North Avenue benefitting the Parkways Foundation. Hosts include Stacey Reineking Sather, Susanna Negovan, Jessica LaGrange and moi. Hope to see you there. To RSVP, please visit [email protected].
 
The Joffrey Ballet’s “Cindy’s Having a Ball” will ensure fun from coast to coast! Beginning in LA, the Joffrey will be dancing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from January 28th through the 31st. On Friday, January 29th, there will be a luncheon at the Four Seasons filled with fun and surprises. This same party will be in Chicago on Friday, February 19th, with the performance beginning on Wednesday, February 17th and running through the 28th. I hope you will be able to attend this enchanting production by Sir Frederick Ashton and one or both of these fun lunches benefitting the Joffrey Ballet. For tickets and info please call 312-386-8921 or [email protected] for more details.
 
The Fifth Annual World Festival comes to Soldier Field this year on Monday, March 1st, to celebrate Art Smith’s 50th birthday. Over 70 chefs from around the country are coming together to make this birthday one he’ll never forget! The After-Party will be at the James Hotel and will include a Southern style lounge as well as other surprises! Tickets start at $250. Make your reservations now and be a part of this joyous celebration for a wonderful cause!!! Hope to see you there! For tickets and more info, please contact [email protected].
 
PAWS is hosting a winter celebration for people and their pets called “Animal Magnetism” on Friday, February 5th, at Galleria Marchetti (825 W. Erie) starting at 7 p.m. There will be a buffet dinner, dancing and open bar. Tickets in advance are $125 per person and $25 per pet and the event day prices are $150 and $25. To purchase tickets and for more info call 773-890-5118 or visit online at www.pawschicago.org.
 
On a sad note, I want to send my deepest sympathy to long-time friend Bonni Gross. Bonni lost her dear husband Chuck suddenly this week. My heart goes out to their family and friends…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more compatible and happy pair. Their smiles would always light up a room…we will miss him so. My love and prayers to you Bonni…
 
This excerpt from a poem by Charles Rafferty entitled “Against Hesitation”-- seems quite apropos:
 
“If you stare at it long enough / the mountain becomes unclimbable / Tally it up. How much time have you spent / waiting for the soup to cool? / Icicles hang from January gutters / only as long as they can. Fingers pause above piano keys for the chord / that will not form. Slam them down / I say. Make music of what you can.”
 
Here’s wishing you beautiful music…
 
Love, 
Candace

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(P.S. AND speaking of Sundance, look what video won last year’s Canine Film Festival! Gidget, Mary Ann Rouse and her two sons appear in this adorable clip.)

Memory Lane 2009

Wow, 2009 sure was a year filled with memories shared with friends old and new…and now I am looking forward to 2010 and the surprises it holds! I want to thank the following friends who have helped make CandidCandace.com come to life: Caitlin Saville, Steve Starr, Todd Chebuhar and most of all, my right arm, Alexis Mattera! I hope you all have the BEST memories in 2010...CandidCandace.com will return on January 26th! 
 
Love,
Candace
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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

The trip to LA for New Year’s proved to be very eventful and was a great way to start off 2010! We stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the first time and all of the accolades you’ve heard about it are true. It was truly a throwback to old world Hollywood glamour. We’d been to the famous Polo Lounge before but this was our first time actually staying in the hotel. The lobby was as gorgeous as a stage set with fireplaces burning in every corner, at least eight Christmas trees and a beautiful six-foot table holding all manner of Christmas greenery and décor. The first day there, we lunched in the Polo Lounge and it was loaded with familiar faces. Actor Jack Black was there lunching with a friend as well as Nancy Reagan (surrounded by her security crew) who was there with long-time pal, Betsy Bloomingdale. Also lunching this day was 1982 Playmate of the Year, Shannon Tweed, with her sister, Tracy. (If you’re not familiar with Shannon from her Playboy days, she also had her own reality show with boyfriend rocker Gene Simmons called “Family Jewels.”)  Just another typical day in L.A., I suppose!

The first night we had dinner at a terrific restaurant called The Little Door (8164 W. 3rd St.) which offered rustic Mediterranean cuisine in a romantic setting. As a matter of fact, it won an award as the “Best Romantic Restaurant in L.A.” The next evening, we dined at a restaurant in the SLS Hotel, Bazaar, located at 465 S. La Cienega Blvd. Chosen by Esquire magazine as the year’s “Restaurant of the Year,” it had a modern and traditional Spanish menu with creative specialty cocktails in a chic Philippe Starck-designed space. It was also given a 4-star review by the L.A. Times. The Moss shop inside the restaurant carried very unique gift items at every price level, too.   
 
Our invite for Hef’s New Year’s Eve party this year came in the form of a phone call from the Mansion. In year’s past, we’ve always received a beautiful invite with artwork a la Vargas by Olivia de Berardinis but I guess everyone has to face cutbacks of some sort this year! We had also heard a rumor about the party being much smaller this year and as we came to find out, only 300 people had been invited. This made me a little worried but the moment we pulled up in front of the Mansion and saw it decorated and dramatically lit up in deep shades of pink and purple, I knew we were going to have a great time. The buzz started as soon as we walked through the front door and when we stepped into the tented backyard and saw all of the décor – it took our breath away! The tables all held fabulous floral arrangements and the backdrop was eye-popping as were the endless displays of food. It was Playboy at its finest…

There were so many “vintage” Playmates….even the 25th Anniversary Playmate, Candy Loving, was there! She looked terrific and it was great catching up with her. We sat next to another Playmate from 1968, Nancy Harwood (Miss February), and in Hef’s Twitter after the party, he said, “It was a perfect New Year’s Eve party—new friends and old. And now to bed.” He looked great—better than the last time I saw him—in a wine-colored velvet tuxedo jacket happily ensconced between the Shannon Twins (Karissa and Kristina) and Crystal Harris. He welcomed guests in his designated area in front of the stage…I had brought a photo of us from 1976 taken at a party he had thrown at the Mansion for the ABC special featuring the Bunny of the Year Pageant. He got a big kick out of it and showed it around to the girls…all the while the video cameras and still cameras were rolling and flashing. (Hef is a stickler for documentation. He has at least 1,000 books in him for sure!) After paying my respects to our host, we mingled.

There were lots of familiar faces….it seemed like everyone was a good friend of Hef’s and not just partygoers in general like in some year’s past. I saw long-time Hef friend, Hugh O’Brien, in the room—looking much older and using a cane but still dressed like Wyatt Earp. Seen in the crowd were astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his wife Lois (just back from a skiing weekend in Deer Valley), Julie Newmar (who was slamming down jello shots—not a pretty look for Catwoman!), Lou Ferrigno (the “Incredible Hulk”), Kato Kaelin (who was proud to point out he had the same girlfriend, Amber, as he had at the last New Year’s Eve party!), Jane Russell (who’s now 85 with dark black hair), former Bears wide receiver Willie Gault, Jerry Buss (owner of the L.A. Lakers), Terry Moore (ex-paramour of Howard Hughes), former “Girls Next Door Star” and Hef’s ex, Bridget Marquardt (looking very happy with boyfriend Nick Carpenter), Corey Feldman, Jose Canseco, Serria Tawan (Miss November 2002), Dolores Del Monte (Miss March 1954), Peggy McIntaggart (Miss Jan. 1990), 1976 Playmate of the Year Lillian Muller with her photographer boyfriend Maurice Rinaldi, Cynthia Myers (Miss December 1968), Julie McCullough (Miss February 1986) and Victoria Valentino (Miss September 1963) among many others. Even Hef’s high school sweetheart, Betty, was there! 
 
The beautiful young servers and dancers were all body-painted and, if you recall, this is how Hef met Kendra. I think many of these young girls have similar dreams and when I asked one of them about the process, she said master body-painter, Mark Frazier, sends out a casting call to various agencies around town and then the girls audition but the final selections are made by Hef himself. We met a gorgeous, sexy girl, Kristy Ann Keppel Spillane (no relation to the writer), who has been body painted four times for Playboy parties…you can certainly see why! She told me the girls make $400 for the event and this was her comment about the party: “I think this New Year’s Eve party was fantastic! More low key than most of the parties I’ve attended but that made it more intimate and exclusive.” Dolores Del Monte (who attends many Playboy parties) had this to say, “It was completely different from any I’ve been to in 12 years. It had a homey, family feel to it.” I agree on all counts…
 
We also got a chance to talk to the Shannon Twins and they couldn’t have been nicer. They asked me about my Playboy experience and are clearly enthralled with Hef and the whole Playboy world. They never tired of taking pics with guests (even though personal cameras were strictly prohibited) and were a delight to be around. The cute bartenders were particularly happy to see them! Crystal Harris never left Hef’s side. She kept him busy taking pics with her family, including her sister who had flown in from England for the party.
 
Nearer to midnight, everyone took to the dance floor and a rap group took over the mikes. The Twins and several other beautiful ladies took to the stage and then the balloons dropped….Hef’s brother Keith was seen kissing a beautiful woman and all around there were tears and hugs….another year had passed at the Playboy Mansion and all was right in Hef’s world! Welcome to 2010! Hope yours was great too and I look forward to sharing more fun with you in the year ahead!! As always, click here for more photos!

 

Love,
Candace :)
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