Candid Candace

CHEF ART SMITH & JESUS SALGUEIRO'S MAGICAL WEDDING IN D.C.

It was all about love. Love of each other, love and respect of human rights, love of diversity and the deep love between Chef Art Smith and his long time partner, artist Jesus Salgueiro. The wedding weekend took place in Washington, D.C. and there was something historic and exciting planned for every minute. Saturday began with a walk/run/stroll to the Lincoln Memorial. Art and Jesus had provided Nike running shoes and shorts for each and every one of almost 400 guests who had come from all over the globe to attend this much beloved couple’s wedding and celebration. There were friends from Sweden, Malaysia, Costa Rica and from almost every state in the country. It was a hot day Saturday but that didn’t stop anyone from taking part in the Blessing Ceremony on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Famed inspirational speaker, Marianne Williamson, joined Art and Jesus’ hands together and delivered a powerful speech to the crowd assembled. She touched on the human rights issue and invoked the names of Lincoln and Washington and the fact that the Constitution provided equal rights for all and not just for some. These two monuments were like bookends for the ceremony and provided a powerful exclamation point to the proceedings. Art’s dear mother, Addie Mae Smith, looked on adoringly while Jesus’ large family was in the crowd watching. The fact that the blessing was delivered on the same spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech was not lost on the crowd. Art also thanked the lady who arranged to have this ceremony performed on this historic spot as well as his trainer, Az Ferguson, who saved his life with his incredible wellness program. (Art has lost 95 pounds to date and looks like a GQ model!)

After the moving ceremony, Dori Wilson and I strolled over to the Vietnam Memorial. I had never been to Washington, D.C. before and had taken a delightful double-decker bus tour of the monuments that included the White House and Georgetown the day before but nothing had prepared me for the emotion we both felt at this sacred spot. Over 58,000 men and women died in this senseless war. As soon as you touch the wall with the names engraved there, tears flow. There is a 9-foot-tall bronze statue of three soldiers at the entrance and their haunted eyes are looking directly at the wall with the names of their fallen comrades. It was a very emotional moment and I was glad to have experienced it. 
 
The next day, the wedding ceremony and reception began at 12:30 in Art’s famous Art & Soul restaurant which is located in the Affinia Liason Capitol Hill Hotel. The restaurant is the talk of the town and there are wonderful reviews in any magazine you pick up. Security was very tight and everyone had to be checked in on clipboards. The ceremony was also presided over by Marianne Williamson and was so very touching. (See their vows below). They both wore identical military style jackets with dark slacks and white tennis shoes decorated with the wedding date and hearts. After the touching ceremony, guests mixed and mingled and dined on delicious BBQ brisket, ribs, pulled pork, peach BBQ baked beans, lamb burgers, mac and cheese, homemade guacamole, heirloom tomato salad, buttermilk fried chicken, homemade potato chips, three different types of cole slaw and so much more. The food, as you can imagine, was sensational. I had spoke with one of the ribmasters the night before, Myron Mixon, and he said he was preparing 400 pounds of BBQ and it had been slow cooking for two days! The smell alone caused weight gain! I saw Fox News’ Chris Wallace with a plate piled high with fried chicken on my way for a second helping. The most noticeable aspect of this entire day was the amazing love and respect that everyone showed to each other. It was a direct result of the type of people Art and Jesus are so I wasn’t a bit surprised to be in the company of such incredible friends and felt very honored to have been included. For an after brunch surprise, Art and Jesus had arranged to have the popular group, Straight, No Chaser, perform. This is a 10-man group who can sing and dance like you couldn’t believe. They did Motown, gospel and pop to a crowd filled with camera phones. It was a surreal moment; former ABC newsman, Dan Ponce, helped get the group together. They had all attended Indiana University and had sang and harmonized for fun until a YouTube video of them started a sensation. After the brunch, I went back to my room to await the next event—a pool party which started on the roof at 6 p.m. My friends and travel partners, Ken Norgan and Pepe Conforme, met me in the lobby before the party and up we went. The pool was huge with beautiful floral arrangements everywhere you looked. Bars were everywhere and DJ Eric Jones was already playing the hottest mixes when we arrived. And, as you would expect, the food here was spectacular as well. They had even brought pizza ovens to the pool deck and chefs were busy making three types of pizzas from scratch right before your eyes. There were also amazing vegetable frittatas with three different kinds of dipping sauce, lamb burgers and vegetarian hotdogs were sizzling on the grills and the cupcakes!! OMG! Georgetown Bakery had created gorgeous cupcakes and the arrangement was so beautiful I didn’t know how anyone was going to take one! The guests came in all manner of dress—gorgeous patio dresses, colorful summer frocks, cocktail attire, shorts, swimming suits…everything and anything! Art and Jesus had on beautiful white Indian tunics over their little bathing suits and looked so very happy and THIN! When Art shed his tunic and did an Olympic dive into the pool, the photogs went wild! One photog from the NY Times told me this party was THE place to be in town and I could see why! After Art was in the water for a while, a buzz began again and there appeared Jesus. The DJ was playing a very hot song and Jesus was dancing for Art at the edge of the pool. It was so darling to see them looking into each other’s eyes and knowing their forever love had been officially and lawfully sealed on this special day. And then slowly Jesus shed his white tunic teasing Art for a minute and showing just his beautiful blue eyes. And then, voila, the tunic came off to reveal a tiny leopard bathing suit! Again, a roar went up from the crowd as the photog’s flashes went off. After spending some quality pool time, Art and Jesus walked over to the DJ and announced that world-famous Moby was in the house! ANOTHER roar went up from the happy guests as everyone crowded around the two newlyweds and then the dancing began in earnest! I must say I’ve heard plenty of DJs in my time but Moby really blew the doors off with his danceable, pounding mixes. It was MUCHO CALIENTE on the roof my friends! All through the evening, everyone was using their cameras, cell phones and recorders to make sure they captured this incredibly memorable and joyous occasion and I was happily one of them. After the pool party, guests wound up in Art & Soul’s bar on the main floor. I had left by then, my dancing feet had danced their last. The next morning, Jesus was in the lobby saying goodbye and he said that he and Art were the very last ones to leave. I wasn’t surprised since they had made every guest feel like they were the only ones at the party all day long. That’s the kind of people they are; here’s to a lifetime of love, health and happiness to two of the nicest people I know. They will be honeymooning in Cabo. And now, please read their incredible vows and feel as moved as everyone in the room did on that Saturday afternoon:
 
Jesus (who read this with such emotion his voice cracked) - Art, as here now the world is my witness, I say to you: Your love sustains me and makes me strong. You inspire me. I am an artist, but you are the Art—my Art. And it is with utmost pride that I say that you are my Art. Without you, the canvas of my life would be empty and bare. There would be no colors, no brush strokes, no desire to paint. So, Art, Art of my Heart, I ask you to be my inspiration, from now into forever, to be the colors, the brush strokes, the paintings that I make. And may God allow me to replicate, in no small measures, the gleam in your eye and the tenderness in your heart, and may the entire Universe recognize in me and in my work the life force that you are that so fuels my passion. I love you, Art, with an Infinite Love.
 
(After Jesus said these vows so lovingly to Art, Marianne Williamson said to him, “Gosh Jesus, I wish you were straight!” which broke the crowd up!)
 
Art - Jesus, as here now the world is my witness, I say to you: Your love for me has been transforming. Because of the gift that you are, because of the vision that you hold, it is as if I have been given new eyes. You have made my life a kaleidoscope of colors. While I may set the table, be it known that you are the banquet and the feast, the incomparable spice in my life, the salt of the earth. So, Jesus, heart of my heart and soul of my soul, I ask you to share with me my life, in every respect, to the very end of time. While indeed I may set the table before you, be there no doubt that it is I who eat from the palm of your loving hand. Yes, you are an artist, but you are also a great teacher, and above all I have learned humility from you. Jesus, I love you. I love you with these new eyes, with this new heart, with a never ending longing in my soul.
 
May everyone in the world experience this kind of love. For a complete photo album of this magical day, please visit www.chicagonow.com/blogs/candid-candace.  
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
 
(Art and Jesus requested no gifts but rather a donation to their charity, Common Threads. This charity, as you know, is an after school program that teaches low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals. CT believes that through their hands-on cooking classes they can help prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers while celebrating cultural differences and the things people all over the world have in common. If you would like to send a wedding donation in honor of Art and Jesus, please click here or call 312-329-2501.)

GLAMORAMA 2010 WAS THE SHOW OF SHOWS!

Angels were flying, glitter was raining down, children were dancing, Macy and Eric were singing, visuals were exploding, fashion was all around us and then there was Max! Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama 2010 was the show of shows and little Max Herrick and parents were the ambassador family for this extravaganza of fashion, fantasy, music and magic, which was this year’s theme. Max was born with heart troubles which eventually led to a transplant at age 2. After surgery, due to his suppressed immune system as a result of the anti-rejection medication he was taking, Max developed non- Hodgkin lymphoma. During his extensive time in and out of the hospital, his family was able to stay close to him thanks to the Ronald McDonald House. Even though he is still undergoing surgeries and treatments, he and his family continue to keep a positive attitude and a smile on their faces. This is the second year that the proceeds from Glamorama will benefit the Ronald McDonald Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and, specifically, the building of the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House in Streeterville. I hope this will be a long lasting partnership!! And as for the show: The fashions and the way they were presented were so dramatic with incredible music, exciting visuals, glamorous models (who were chosen from L.A., NYC and Chicago and who travel to all four cities with the show), beautiful makeup courtesy of Alex Sanchez for Lancôme and creative hair makeovers provided and created by Joseph Michael’s Salon. I particularly loved the fluffy balls on the sides of the girls’ heads for the Sonia Rykiel segment…tres French! There were also collections by Jean Paul Gaultier, Sportmax, Hugo Boss (my favorite was the men’s ¾ velvet tuxedo jacket!!!), Just Cavalli (who showed the fashions against a visual with the same models in a field flowing across the screen to “Strawberry Fields Forever”), Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Marc Jacobs (where the models came out of a massive “wooden” door with the initials M and J on each side), Felina (who presented the models in very sexy undergarments) and 2(X)IST, who proved that angels do exist! Madonna and her daughter Lourdes designed the clothes for the Material Girl segment which was presented, of course, to a great Madonna video/soundtrack. I attended the rehearsal, which was just as good as the original, so I got to see the show twice and each time, it gave me goose bumps! As I entered the theatre for the first time, the backstage area was packed wall-to-wall with gorgeous fall fashions filled with marvelous textures, fur and deep colors on amazing fabrics. The helpers were dressed all in black and the room was buzzing…there were so many people/press at the rehearsal that it looked like the real show for a minute! All of the entertainers sang their numbers as if it was show time and the models and dancers gave it their all, too. When the show began that evening, the theatre was packed with fun-loving fashionistas eager to see the latest trends and, of course, Macy Gray and Eric Hutchinson. Eric was so likeable and, with his debut album, I predict a big success! He said, “This is a little intimidating for me with all of the good looking models – male and female – backstage. I feel like I should’ve worn heels.” He couldn’t have been cuter and I loved his song, “All Right With Me,” which was about a real lost love named Bernadette. I loved  most of of the fashions in the show and particularly loved the Material Girl presentation which was choreographed by Brian Friedman of “So You Think You Can Dance?” The after-party on the seventh floor of Macy’s perfectly captured their theme of “Fashion, Fantasy, Music and Magic.” Picture yourself entering the room under a canopy of butterflies filled with illuminated elements and interactive entertainment. Glow-in-the-dark hula hoops spiraled and spun on dancers’ bodies throughout the evening as DJ Rex played the hottest hits and dance club mixes. There were also one-of-a-kind work and fashion designs resulting from the collaboration of the Chicago Fashion Incubator designers with sponsor OfficeMax that introduced the blending of style with function. The VIP pre-party was held on the second level of the theatre and guests enjoyed posing in front of the step-and-repeat while sipping champagne and watching the guests enter the theatre. The event raised over $200,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. A special congrats to the following people who made this event the success that it was: Ken Norgan, Andrea Schwartz, Kamal Bosamia, Christina Thomas, Jamie Haberkorn, Katharine Grieve, Mike Gansmoe and Andy Wiersma among many, many others. I was honored to be the Chair of the Host Committee and I thank everyone who supported this wonderful and worthy cause. (Pics by Caitlin Saville and moi.) Click here for more photos and to see ALL images, visit www.ChicagoNow.com/CandidCandace. Also, a special thanks to Tribeca Flashpoint’s Howard Tullman for covering the event.

When Factio Magazine throws a party, EVERYONE comes! The recent “Islands of the World Fashion Tour ‘10” was held at the cool industrial space, Loft on Lake. Publisher Henrique Kerch welcomed the packed house and introduced the creative styles from the island nations of Madagascar (Eric Raisina), Bahamas (Harl Taylor BAG), Jamaica (K.Bobby), Bali (Nadya) and newcomer Raang Designs from Trinidad and Tobago. Chicago is the second city of the tour, which began at the El Paseo Fashion Week in Palm Springs, Calif. President of Mode Isles, Owen Bethel, was thrilled to present these amazing fashions to Chicago along with Factio. The gorgeous models, from Factor, sashayed down the runway to the island sounds of DJ Megan Taylor of Fig Deejay and sporting dramatic makeup by Artists by Timothy Priano. Hosts for the event included Barbara Samuels, Saira Mohan, Melissa Maynard, Corri McFadden, Ashley Drapes, Kristen Skordilis and moi. The next stop will be in Miami in October as the journey continues. (Photos by Steve Starr and moi...see more pics here!)
 
There’s a new bar/restaurant in my ‘hood and I had to share the good news with you! Benchmark opened its doors last week at 1510 N. Wells and I absolutely love it! When the retractable roof opened up to the night sky, I almost lost it. Other restaurants in the area have outdoor patios but I haven’t seen anything like this! Benchmark is owned by the Four Corners Tavern Group, who also own Kirkwood, Schoolyard, WestEnd and Brownstone. The two-story building features a video wall, booths with built-in TVs and screens that rise up out of the back of banquettes. And the food is divine, too: Among favorites are Merkts cheddar-topped burgers, Cuban sandwiches, thin-crust pizzas and great salads. Hope to see you there under the stars!
 
There have been a couple of fun birthdays lately! My favorite judge for the Baton’s Miss Continental Pageant and long-time Tiffany’s superstar, Nadine Epstein, celebrated her big 5-0 with a fun-filled bash hosted by dear friends Jannie and Elliot Pearlman in their lovely home in Lincoln Park. Over 40 guests came together to congratulate this beloved woman-about-town. The delicious food, catered by George Jewell, included fabulous lamb chops and beef tenderloin. Near the end of the night, the karaoke began in earnest and we had a blast. Happy guests included Hedwig and Bob Golant, Alan Sax, Kasia and Greg Kay, Basia, Tonya and Adam Stevenson, Alan Sax, Sarinda Fulgoni, Kristina and Mike McGrath among many others. (Click here for more pics!) Sadly, I missed Brenda Sexton’s VIP-filled party at the Four Seasons on August 2nd but I heard it was a GREAT time, too! Brenda, as you know, was Illinois’ former managing director of the Illinois Film Office and founder of Chicago Link Productions. She has hosted many parties to celebrate fashion and film in Chicago. Seasons’ Executive Chef Kevin Hickey prepared a wonderful summer dinner that started with a crunchy spicy tuna roll, Maryland crab cakes, Vietnamese spring rolls, greens with Michigan peaches, grilled wild salmon with grain mustard and honey blossom glaze, fig and Bing cherry braised Wagyu shortribs and a goat cheese potato gratin. Some of Chicago’s most prominent couples and influential members of the media came out to celebrate the occasion including Sun-Times publisher John Barron and wife Maureen, CBS station manager Bruno Cohen and his wife Lydia, Bill Zwecker, Christie Hefner, Bill Marovitz, Kim and Kevin Cline, Adair Schwartz, Bill White and Suzie and Ross Glickman among others. Another, earlier celebration at the hotel, included guests Sylvia Perez, Linda Yu, Robin Robinson, Laura Schwartz, Andrea Schwartz, Deborah Chapman and Sue Leonis. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA…hope to be there for your next one!!! :) (Click here for more pics.)

If you’re wondering what happened to any of the many local ladies who tried out for Chicago’s Housewives, I know what happened to one of them! Registered nurse Leslie Forrester will be starring with her father, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Leon Forrester Tcheupdjian, in a reality-based series pilot called “Plastic Royalty.” Airing on Sunday, Sept. 5th at 12:30 a.m., this show takes you inside the “fabulous, outrageous, and often hilarious lives of Chicago’s self-proclaimed ‘King of Liposuction’ and his number one employee, his princess of a daughter.” Towers Productions casting director Becky Cattie, who discovered Leslie during the Housewives auditions, said, “Leslie was an open book right from the start. She’s an impressive business woman but doesn’t take herself too seriously. She maintains a very relatable quality while being immersed in the glamorous world of the Gold Coast.” BTW Becky, I’m still waiting for my close-up! ;) Good luck with this fun show!!! (To keep up-to-date on all of the nip-tuck action, visit the Plastic Royalty Facebook page and click here for a sneak peek of the show!
 
Long-time Chicago designer Jermikko has come up with a really cool idea for shoppers looking for a mate in the produce aisles of grocery stores all over town! I know a lot of my single friends always wonder if that cute guy/girl squeezing the melons is single or not. Now Jermikko has the answer for you: Her unique grocery bags allow you to wear your status on your arms and will include the phrases “Single Girl Groceries,” “Single Guy Groceries,” “Hitched” and “Connected.” Now why didn’t I think of this?? She is now in talks with HSN and QVC…and I can say I knew her when! Good luck Jermikko…you’re the hardest working woman in showbiz!!!
 
That’s all folks! Hope you’ve enjoyed it! Don’t forget to check out my blog on Chicago Now too! 
 
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
 
P.S. I am so excited! The recent September issue of Playboy has TWO pics of me in it! Nice to see they don’t forget about us older wabbits! :)

THE SERVICE CLUB FASHION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS TOP CHICAGO CHEFS

The Service Club’s 10th Annual “Day on the Terrace” fashion show at the Peninsula was the best one yet! Top stores including Dennis Basso, Escada, Michael Kors, Luca Luca, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Paul Stuart, Tory Burch and Starr Couture presented their fall/winter 2010 collections while Lulu’s at the Belle Kay showed vintage selections. Service Club members modeled along with local celebs including Anna Davlantes, Bill Zwecker, top model Saira Cooper, Celeb TV’s Kelli Zink, Ryan Baker, Mary Ann Childers, the Baton’s Chilli Pepper and the Joffrey Ballet’s principal hunk Fabrice Calmels among others. There were also handsome firemen to spice things up and help sell raffle tickets! It was as exciting backstage as it was onstage with champagne flowing, hair and makeup being applied and the happy chatter of socializing. The outfits were outstanding and the ladies and men all seemed to have found the perfect styles and fit to strut in down the runway. Many of them loved their outfits so much that they bought them which, of course, made the stores very happy, too! I wore a sable and ermine fur from Dennis Basso that was priced at around $50,000 and even though it fit me perfectly, I don’t think Chuck was willing to make that kind of donation! All of the models were beautiful and professional; I especially loved the evening gown segment presented by Neiman Marcus since the finale included top Chicago chefs escorting the evening-gown clad models down the runway. The chefs included Curtis Duffy (Peninsula), Mario Santiago (May Street Café), Ryan Poli (Perennial), Ryan Pitts (RL), Kevin Hickey (Four Seasons), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno), Chris Curren (Blue 13), Christophe David (NoMi), Carlos Gaytan (Mexique), Chad Starling (Aria) and Dirk Flanigan (The Gage) among others. They strutted their stuff like professional models, looking so dapper in their chef’s coats with black pants. They received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd and are truly the rock stars of today! Thanks to SC member Sheila O’Grady for helping secure the chefs for the show. (And don’t forget, they will all be participating in Chicago Gourmet in Millennium Park on Sept. 25th and 26th). Event founder, society doyenne Hazel Barr, hit another one out of the ballpark. As always, she emceed and created another day of fun for all! The event, co-chaired by Jean Antoniou, Cindy Burns, Sheryl Dyer and Myra Reilly, was a sell out and raised over $40,000. Thirty years ago, “Day in the Country,” as it was originally called, was held at a member’s estate and the guests ate their lunches in brown paper bags that they brought themselves. Nowadays, it’s one of the hottest tickets in town all thanks to the hard work of its creator (Hazel!) who has tirelessly promoted the event since its inception. SC member, Tracey DiBuono (ZZazz Production) produced the show and even gave all of the models lessons in walking the runway. No one does it better than Tracey and she had the ladies in stitches. When it came time for her to teach the men how to work the runway, she even jokingly “walked like a man” so they could visualize what they needed to do…it was just too cute for words! One of the chefs remarked to Tracey, “Wow, I like how you take charge!” She replied, “You do this in your kitchen everyday and it’s the same thing with the runway!” Great job, Tracey! And thanks for making it so much fun for everyone :) The menu, created by Executive Chef Kai Lermen and overseen by the Director of Catering Greg Hyder, was outstanding, too: It began with a chilled Michigan melon soup with melon caviars, followed by an entrée of roasted free range chicken with Tellegio cheese, grapes and mushrooms and capped off with the sinfully delicious dessert of chocolate peanut butter crunch bars served with caramel peanut syrup and a chocolate crisp. The table décor (by Tom Kehoe) was equally impressive and made the room look like a spring garden. Also, special thanks to Peninsula’s GM Maria Zec for making this event so special. This year, The Service Club of Chicago is celebrating its 120th year of serving the community with donations of over $250,000 going to more than 30 local charities. This year’s Gala, the theme of which is “Return to the Magic of the White City,” will be at the Four Seasons on November 5th. Co-chairs are Sally Jo Morris and Vonita Reescer. For tickets and more info, visit www.ServiceClubofChicago.org. (Fab Fotos by Caitlin Saville, Bob Carl, John Reilly, Steve Starr and moi. Click here for more but to view ALL event photos, please check out my Chicago Now page!)
 
I’ve attended four Glamourcons so far and have loved each and every one of them! This year’s 49th show was at the Crowne Plaza and included lots of Playmates I hadn’t met before. Bob Schultz, the event founder, makes sure only top talent attends and keeps the show running like a clock. Playmates in attendance this year included Julie Cialini (Playmate of the Year 1995), Debra Jo Fondren (Playmate of the Year 1978), Jaime Faith Edmondson (1/10), Liz Glazowski (4/80), Janis Schmitt (2/78, who I was also a bunny with at the St. Louis Club), Penny Baker (1/84), Janet Lupo (11/75), Cathy St. George (8/82), Cindy Fuller (5/59), Helena Antonaccio (6/69), Bridgett Rollins (5/75), Kerri Kendall (9/90), Julie Woodson (4/73), Carrie Yazel (5/91), Dolores Del Monte (3/54), Gig Gangel (1/80), Stacy Arthur (1/91), Crystal McCahill (5/09), Gale Olson (8/68), Kimberly Phillips (9/09), Debra Jensen  
( 1/78), Christina Smith (3/78), Daphnee Duplaix (7/97), Kara Monaco (Playmate of the Year 2006), Tiffany Selby (7/07) and Valerie Mason (9/08). The show also included sexy Playboy Cyber Girls and other pinups. Some of the ladies had really cool stuff for sale at the show. Janis Schmitt had an original promo poster from the ‘70s along with her bunny tail for sale while Christina Smith had the only Hef-signed copy of the first issue of Playboy’s Marilyn I’ve ever seen! Cathy St. George is marketing her own wine with a glam image of her on the bottle. Super fans Wil Rivers and Tom Shimada were there and Tom had even found another cover that I didn’t know I had from Spain…February 1979! United Airlines pilot Christopher “Bloke” Maurer, presented me with my double cover from Spanish Playboy (September 1986), bringing my cover total to seven…who knew?! Larry Armstrong and his friend, Jeff Evans, continue to make Playmates who are new to the event feel totally at ease and are dear friends to all. I also saw my two favorite model/Cyber girls, Alexah Adams and Kristy Ann Keppel,there!  I had a blast with all of the girls and hope to see them all at the next event in Long Beach, Calif. on November 13th and 14th. Hello Hef, are you listening? For more pics, click here!
 
It was a wonderful surprise to see last year’s Joffrey’s Couture & Cocktails featured designer, Pamella Roland, at a chic cocktail soiree at Stanley Paul’s last week! Pamella had purchased this cocktail package last year at our fourth C & C event and had invited a few of her friends and family. They are all huge fans of Stanley’s, of course, and couldn’t wait to hear some of his priceless stories about his illustrious career. I loved the story he told about the dislike between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis: He said Bette used to come to see him at the Pump Room all of the time and would insist on sitting with him at his piano, smoking and singing. He said you never said no to Bette but she had a terrible voice and knowing how particular Stanley is about his piano, it must’ve been torture to have ashes strewn over the keyboard! Stanley was, as always, the most gracious host and his home and terrace have the best views of the city. It was a perfect summer night and Pamella was there along with her handsome hubby, Dan DeVos, her beautiful daughter and muse Cassandra DeVos (her sister Sydney couldn’t be there), Sam and Janene Cummings, Heath Thorndill, Mike Matthews and Michele VanDonk. As I was leaving, Stanley was taking a wide-eyed Pamella into his office to show her his extensive collection of vintage memorabilia and I smiled to myself because I was so very happy to see them all! AND don’t forget: THIS year’s Couture & Cocktails (our fifth!) will be chaired by Kristina McGrath and Marci Holzer on Friday, September 24th at the W Hotel-City Center. It will feature the designs of Carmen Marc Valvo, who will also be in attendance, and, as always, will feature the Joffrey dancers, a silent and live auction, world-class food and fun and dancing, dancing, dancing!!!! For tickets and more info, please e-mail [email protected]. Click here for more pics!   
 
Speaking of parties, this Saturday there will be a party at the Michigan country home of legendary caterer, George Jewell. The event, entitled “Into the Woods: Venture Behind the Gates of Burscott Park,” will benefit Lambda Legal, which is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people and those with HIV through litigation, education and public policy work. How wonderful of George to open his home for this wonderful cause! The event will go from 7 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. (Eastern time…we will be in Michigan after all!) and will be replete with a gourmet feast, and dancing under the stars in the private garden designed by Craig Bergmann. Tickets begin at $125 and are available online at www.lambdalegal.org/intothewoods or by calling 312-663-4413. There will even be a motor coach to transport you to and from Chicago for an extra $25 so get your tickets fast!
 
The much-anticipated Common Threads World Cookout returns for another year on Thursday, September 23rd, at Fulton’s on the River, located at 315 N. LaSalle from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. For this summer soiree, guests will enjoy delectable cuisine while partaking in unparalleled views of the Chicago River from Fulton’s on the River’s open-air veranda and Riverfront Room. Participating chefs include Robert Andrea (Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap), Greg Biggers (Fulton’s on the River), David Dworshak (Carnivale), Rick Gresh (David Burke’s Primehouse), Phillip Foss (Lockwood Restaurant), Sarah Grueneberg (Spiaggia), Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat), Ryan Poli (Perennial) and Mario Santiago (May Street Café) among many others. Tickets are $75 per person with a VIP package for $150. For tickets and more info, please visit www.commonthreads.org, call Eleanor Leichenko at 312-329-2501, ext. 209 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Let’s grab a little summer fun in Chicago for this wonderful cause!!
 
That’s it for this week! I hope you’ve enjoyed it and I hope to see you at one or more of these fun events! 
 
Love,
Candace
[email protected]