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 coutureandcocktails@joffrey.org. 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 Eleanor@commonthreads.org. 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
Candace@CandidCandace.com

Comments

[Bob]

love your blog...always looking forward to reading it....keeping up with Chicago..in Delray Beach, Florida.....isn't easy.....

[Stephanie]

I so enjoy your blog because you have a unique way of combining the presentation of Chicago events with what is obviously a warm heart, and a grounded nature. Thanks for the fun updates!

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