The Steppenwolf Gala is one of the hottest tickets in town and is almost always sold out before any invites are even sent out so when we were lucky enough to be
invited, we jumped at the chance. This year the attire was urban chic/black tie optional. In the past, it has always been full-out evening gowns and tuxes which I’ve always loved but the crowd was very chic
with the winning dress going to my lovely table host, Jan Melk: Her champagne colored, delicately embroidered Valentino made me weep. Our friends Deb and John Gross picked us up in their chauffeured Phantom V vintage 1960 Rolls Royce to start the evening off in
grand style. (They even brought along two bottles of Dom Perignon 2000 given to them by the owners of the vineyard for the table!) There is always a pre-Gala performance at the theater and this year, they presented an excerpt from Beckett’s “Endgame” featuring William Petersen, Artistic Director Martha Lavey, Ian Barford and Francis Guinan. At the end of the performance, a marching band played raucously in the aisles
and played the crowd out to the trolleys which were waiting to take guests a few blocks away to their
new venue for this year at 1460 N. Halsted. The space was an empty building which was donated for tonight’s gala and it fit the bill perfectly. The décor was sheer magic---leafy ferns with dramatic uplights nestled inside as well as four-foot-tall mini trees with glowing orbs in their branches. It was literally an enchanted woodland and everyone oohed and aahed. I
learned this night that two major event/floral companies had merged their
talents so it was no surprise that the room looked so beautiful. Ronsley and Heffernan Morgan are now partners so watch out Chicago—they will be a formidable collaboration for sure! Co-chairs for the evening included Jan Melk, Sarah Beardsley, Charles James III and David Kalt. Contributors and major supporters each had an ensemble member seated at their table for the dinner. We were fortunate to have the charming and
talented Amy Morton at ours. Gary Cole was at the table next to us and both were gracious in their exchanges with
fans and friends which was so nice to see. The dinner was excellent and started with a salad with lemon bay dressing, grilled will Pacific coast spotted prawns in a basil yogurt sauce followed by Chicago Spice House rubbed beef sirloin and grilled Green City Market asparagus…and then the live auction began. Steppenwolf has always been known for their unique
auction packages since the actors who are involved always come up with creative ideas to raise money. Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy
Letts offered a dinner for eight in his home prepared by Chef Michael Kornick (MK Restaurant) with guest of honor actress Amy Morton which went for $14,000. ABC’s “Modern Family” star Eric Stonestreet (who plays Cameron) offered an on-set visit for four with hotel and first-class airfare via United that went for $16,000. Four people won
a chance to celebrate opening night of “Mice and Men” directed by ensemble member and Tony Award-winning director Anna D. Shapiro, invitations to the exclusive post-performance cast
party plus roundtrip first-class airfare that brought $14,000. Ten friends won the dinner party at the Elysian with ensemble member John Malkovich for $17,000. Gary Sinise’s package raised the most money for the evening. He offered four people tickets to the Sixth Annual CSI:NY Mid-Season Concert Bash that he hosts
for all of the actors and crews working at CBS. This package also included a set tour, hotel accommodations and first-class roundtrip airfare. TWO of these packages were sold at $25,000 each! After dessert, Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band got everyone onto the dance floor and when they finished around 12:30 a.m., a DJ took over and the party kept on going but we were well on our way home to turn back into pumpkins by then! What a fabulously fun evening…only in Chicago baby! (Did I say the Mayor and Maggie were there? They came to support their daughter, Nora Daley Conroy, who is the Executive Committee Chair…sweet!). Check out more pics here!
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago hosted its 76th annual fashion show, The Walk 2010, presented for the first time in the Renzo Piano-designed Griffin Court of the Art Institute’s Modern Wing.
This marked the return of SAIC’s annual fashion show to the Art Institute for the first time in 15 years. The Walk began with a pre-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception and then emcees
Christian Farr (NBC 5) and Karen Jordan (ABC 7) kicked off the evening and introduced Gary Graham, winner of the 2010 Legend of Fashion Award. Linda Johnson Rice presented a video tribute of her mom, Eunice W. Johnson, and also presented senior student designer, Luis
Rodriguez, with the Eunice W. Johnson Fellowship award which included a check for $25,000. Then the spectacular runway show began featuring cutting-edge garments by the next generation of up-and-coming designers. This years chairs were Marilyn Fields and Greg Cameron and the co-chairs were Stephanie Sick, Donna LaPietra and Bis
Williams Mau. A buffet dinner was served in Terzo Piano overlooking the breathtaking skyline. (There were three shows: one at 2 p.m., The Walk at 7 p.m. and the Nightwalk at 10 p.m.) Everywhere you looked, there were creative guests enjoying the opportunity to break out the coolest stuff from their closets! (Extra pics by Daniel Tomei...to see more, click here!)
I hope you can join me for THREE hot kick-ass Kick-Off parties coming up soon! First up is the Kick-Off for “Chefs & the City” benefitting Vital Bridges on Monday, June 7th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 33 Club (1419 N. Wells St.— my hubby’s old advertising agency!) This
wonderful organization provides food and support to men, women and children living in poverty with HIV/AIDS. Hosts for this Kick-Off party are Lee Blackwell Baur, Amanda Puck, Graham Kostic and moi! Chef Chair is RL’s Chef Ryan Pitts. The event is complimentary, but you must RSVP to attend at 773-271-5117. Don't forget the "Chefs & the City" event will be on Thursday, July 22nd, at the Peninsula. Tickets will be available soon...check their web site for details.
On Thursday, June 10th, don’t miss the Launch Party for Glamorama! Tickets are now on sale for the August 13th fashion show at the Chicago Theatre and after-party at Macy’s, but this year the first 200 people to buy tickets (at 10 percent off!) will get access to this fun-filled pre-party at Prairie Productions (1314 W. Randolph) on June 10th.
The Launch Party will feature entertainment by Naturally 7—a unique group who have recently appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” I won’t tell you more because it will be a surprise! Early-bird tickets range from $155 to $900 (this ticket level includes VIP access which allows you priority seating at the fashion show, entry to this Launch Party, VIP Pre-Party and After-Party!). Designers confirmed for this year’s show include Jean Paul Gaultier, Just Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Philosophy di Alberta and more! Hope to see you there!! Tickets can be purchased online at www.RonaldHouseChicago.org or by calling 630-623-2309.
2010 OTTA Spring Clean-up from Steve Weiss on Vimeo. And last but not least, as a reminder, please join me on Friday, June 11th, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at A New Leaf Studio (1818 N. Wells St.) when we celebrate the 61st Annual Old Town Art Fair with our “First Sight” Kick-Off Party! So far, for our auction, we have 32 artists participating and some amazing jewelry donations. We also have a very unique package surrounding
this little Fiat but you’ll just have to come to see what it’s all about! To RSVP, please call Shirley at 312-337-1938; tickets are$65 in advance and $70 at the door. You can also order online until June 9th at www.oldtownartfair.com. Check out this sweet video of my neighbors readying the ‘hood for the Art Fair!
Sorry my little blog is so late this week! On my trip to Vegas, I was unable to access the internet so it put me behind a little. On a brighter note, wait until you see the pics from the Playmate of the Year Party next week…it was a blast and I can’t wait to share the details with you! Have a great week!
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
I love what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works guys I've added you guys to my blogroll.
Posted by: desenvolvimento de sites | September 15, 2013 at 10:34 AM
incredible! Hugh Hefner go to this kind of events, well you know I used to see his in others events, but in something like this is a little weird.
Posted by: Cialis Online | April 28, 2011 at 09:32 AM
Candace,
What a great event! Wonderful group of attendees, fabulous images!
Karena
Art by Karena
Posted by: Karena | May 21, 2010 at 06:59 PM