Michigan Avenue will be brimming with visual eye candy for the month of February when the Hearts-a-Bluhm campaign kicks off on February 1st thru the 28th. One hundred five-foot tall acrylic hearts created by artists at Columbia College will dot the Mag
Mile to celebrate Northwestern Memorial's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute's heart health awareness campaign, Hearts-a-Bluhm. This awesome public art exhibit, which will be displayed on sidewalk planters and thoroughfares, will also include heart health facts as well as some famous autographs. Chicago Blackhawks' Captain Jonathan Toews, Patrick
Sharp, Brent Seabrook, Marty Turco, Niklas Hjalmarsson, John Scott, Corey Crawford and Marian Hossa, among others, signed team versions of these hearts. Cubs’ player Randy Wells signed his team's heart to add to the avenue as well. This campaign was created to raise awareness about the
prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in America. Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said, “Our intent with this bold public art display is to encourage conversations about cardiovascular disease and its prevention and to celebrate the people whose lives have been saved through proper diagnosis and treatment.” Like the cows, this
colorful display will provide some wonderful whimsy and color during a month when we sorely need it to ward off the winter doldrums. It's nice to know the City of Big Shoulders is also a city of BIG hearts! Heart sponsorships range from $2,500 to $10,000. A limited number of "celebrity designed" hearts featuring the artwork of high-profile athletes and Chicago personalities are still available
for sponsorship. After the exhibit is over, sponsors will own their "heart" and be able to display it at their discretion. Proceeds from the sale of the hearts will benefit cardiovascular programs at Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, as well as art scholarships at Columbia College Chicago, the campaign’s artistic partner. What a
wonderful way to celebrate National Heart Month! Congrats to Kathleen Henson and Julee White for this wonderful idea for Chicago...just in time for Valentine's Day too, of course, when love and hearts will be “bluhm-ing” all over town! For more info about this campaign or to sponsor a heart, please visit www.heartsabluhm.org.
The newly formed Joffrey Auxiliary Board (JAB) is making its move with a very cool fundraiser called “Pointe of Departure” on Thursday, February 10th, from 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.at Archisesto, located at 1006 W. Randolph St. This art exhibition will be an evening where the stage
and canvas collide. Inspired by a dancer’s pointe shoe, featured works by over 40 noteworthy artists were commissioned specifically for this event. From contemporary to classic, all pieces are unique and will be available for sale to benefit the Joffrey Ballet. In addition to these works, there will also be over 50 vintage Joffrey posters for sale.
Wolfgang Puck will cater the party and there will be a live and silent auction as well as “Buy it Now” prices. Guests will meet the artists, enjoy the hot sounds of DJ Sadie, enjoy complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and mingle with our world famous Joffrey dancers. Co-chairs Jennifer Anton and John Walcher,
along with their fab Honorary Host Committee and event committee, have worked hard and long on this first-of-its-kind event and I hope to see you all there! Advanced tickets are $40, or $55 at the door. For more information, visit www.joffrey.org or call Julia at 312-386-8941.
The Art Institute of Chicago will be honoring Mayor Daley on Friday, April 15th for his HUGE contributions to the arts in Chicago. The arts have been a cornerstone of the Mayor’s goals. He has always said that they are central to the vitality of our city; they bring people together in public places, they introduce us to world cultures, spur creativity, drive the economy and are a major part of Chicago’s tourist profile. Here are just a few of the cultural developments during his 21 years as Mayor: The Modern Wing of the Art Institute; Millennium Park; Pritzker Pavilion; new building for the Museum of Contemporary Art; renewal of Chicago’s Theatre District; new homes for Goodman and Steppenwolf Theatres; Joffrey Tower, renovation of the Civic Opera House and Symphony Center; more
than 900 movies filmed in Chicago; loads of music festivals including Latino, Country and Celtic; creation of World Music Festival; Shakespeare Theater Navy Pier; founding of Gallery 37; built 59 libraries (!!) across the city and the creation of the Harris Theater to name a few. So save the date, April 15th, to honor Mayor Daley and I will follow-up with the invite and more details.
I’ve made the drive to my small hometown in Dupo, Illinois, hundreds of times and every time I see something I’ve never seen before. Near Towanda, there is an Italianate row house smack dab in the middle of a cornfield. It’s
four stories high with filigreed porch details that looks like it was plucked straight out of a Dickens novel. As it turns out, this house, known as the Duncan Mansion aka Towanda Meadows (top left photo), is the largest vintage farmhouse
in McLean County having been built in the late 1860’s. And then there’s the water tower with the bright yellow smiley face on it in Atlanta, Illinois, that was built for the town’s 150th birthday. I think I would like to live in a town that has a
sense of humor like this. We also took some side roads and travelled along the old Route 66. There were even old Burma Shave signs still standing. And even though the five-hour drive is flat, the snow covering the fields, barns and
farmhouses would’ve made for an award winning photo. And I long to relive the trip I took as a child back to Mammoth Cave...one of the largest cave systems in the world with 365 miles of explored underground
passages. It’s here that I learned the difference between stalagmite and stalactite and I’ve never forgotten it. And who knew that Cracker Barrel restaurants made homemade chicken and dumplings better than your grandmother ever could?! I will never tire of the wonders in our own backyard. (Click here for a great chicken and dumpling recipe!)
Huge congrats to the new editor-in-chief of Sheridan Road Magazine: Kerry Kennedy Mudd, also an officer on the Joffrey Women’s Board, has been tapped for this honor! They are VERY lucky to have her and I wish her all the best!
Hope to see you tonight at the Bulls game when they play the Charlotte Bobcats! The Joffrey Strobel-Step-Up Dancers will be performing at half-time so it’s a game not to be missed! Hope to see you there, not only as a Bulls fan, but to support these amazing young dancers too! For more info, please visit www.joffrey.org
Kudos are in order for friend Suzette Bulley Bross! I knew she was super smart and super cute but I didn’t know she was an exhibited artist. Her photos, shot with an iPhone, are being featured in an exhibition at the Schneider Gallery, 230 W. Superior, which will run through Febuary 26th. Hope you get a chance to check out this creative new art form! Congrats Suzette!
Well, if American Girl can do it with their many varieties of relatable dolls, why can’t the Tonner Doll Company who just introduced the company’s first gay doll? “Andy Mills” is described as a Manhattan event planner and is part of the Cami and Jon doll story line. He is their gay friend and they all live in the Big Apple. The 17-inch doll is a Matt
O’Neill original and is limited to 500 units. The description reads: “Blue Eyes and Wigged Brunette Hair - This well-suited party planner is ready for business in a sleek pin-striped suit with contrast pocket square, cotton shirt, tie, socks, molded plastic shoes, and glasses. Includes display stand.” I must admit, since I like rare things, I looked into purchasing
one but with a price tag of $180, I figured my impulse buy wasn’t worth it. Founder Robert Tonner said, “It’s empowering for any minority group to see themselves reflected in a positive light in pop culture.” Tonner also introduced a plus-size fashion model doll into their 2002 collection. If you would like info on having an “Andy Mills” of your own, please visit www.tonnerdirect.com/p-1007-andy-mills-event-planner.aspx. I think it’s brilliant...
So many parties, so little time! Julie Lampert and Jennifer Meyers are co-chairing Be My Valentine Family Event on
Sunday, January 23rd, at the Ritz-Carlton from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The invite says to bring your children and grandchildren to this event benefitting the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation. Tickets are $85 for adults and $55 for children. To purchase tickets please visit www.lynnsage.org or for more info, call Northwestern Memorial Foundation at 312-926-7133.
And last but not least, vintage clothing expert extraordinaire, Abigail Rutherford, has developed her own jewelry line. Her interactive shopping site includes her unique vintage designs as well as a contemporary
collection. Abigail, a Kenilworth native, attended Lafayette College majoring in art history. She found a niche for her love of fashion in 2006 when she became Director of Vintage Couture & Accessories for Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. I found so many pieces I loved on her site and I know you will, too! Good luck Abigail!! Click here for more info.
Don’t forget the “Cheeky Chicks” party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sunda, located at 111 W. Illinois Thursday night! Hope to see everyone there! For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Wooo hoooo, BEARS WIN!! Can’t wait for next Sunday.....
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
Very, very nicely done!
Posted by: Belstaff Outlets UK | December 1, 2011 at 07:29 AM