Six years ago, then director of the Illinois Film Office, Brenda Sexton, decided Chicago needed a greater presence at the Sundance Film Festival. So she bought a condo large enough to host about 100 people and created the Annual Chicago at Sundance Party. I was so sad I couldn’t go this year but I know it has now become such a big hit that people send their resumes into Brenda for consideration to get in! This year, she has joined forces with Denis John Healy, Chicagoan and CEO of Turtle Wax, and moved the party to his magnificent large home in Deer Valley. Over 200 guests RSVP’d to this party, one of the hottest events at Sundance. The Peninsula Chicago decided to become the name sponsor this year to help encourage filmmakers to produce in Chicago as well as supporters Garrett’s Popcorn and Eli’s Cheesecake, who flew in treats for the event. Guests in attendance this year included Gabe and Alan Polsky (producers of the film “Bad Lieutenant”), Jack Gilardi (mega ICM talent agent), Jim Stern (CEO of Endgame), Christie Hefner and Billy Marovitz, Billy Dec, Les Coney, ABC’s Sylvia Perez, Diann Burns, Lance Chody (CEO of Garrett’s Popcorn), Susanna Negovan, Dr. Warwick Carter (Prez of Columbia College), Dr. Eric Winston (VP of Columbia College), Wade Bradley (CEO of IndieVest), NBC’s Andrea Metcalfe, Betsy Steinberg (Director of Illinois Film Office), Todd Lizak (AD of Ill. Film Office), Marc Anderson (Peninsula’s Director of Marketing), Lake Forest’s Ann and Kevin Dwyer and Lynne Bredfeldt. Lynne reported that she talked to late night talk show host Chelsea Handler and her new beau, hunky hotelier Andre Balazs, at Tao Saturday night, saw two great movie premieres (“The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” and “Cedar Rapids”) and spotted Chaz Bono, James Franco (in a blond wig), Anne Heche and Ed Helms. She was one busy girl!!! Chicago Link Productions is also the host for the annual bash in LA for Chicago alumni with RJ and Jerrod Melman at their Santa Monica eatery, La Grand Orange. Wherever you find Chicagoans, you find FUN with a capital F! Congrats Brenda for taking your show on the road to Park City! They are so lucky to have you!!! We miss you here big time! Click hereto see who the party animals were! I’m beginning to feel that Chicago is the center of the world. Everyone who is anybody comes through here, makes movies here, opens restaurants here and opens world class stores here. It’s also good to know we’re pretty safe from earthquakes, tsunamis and rocket launchers from the Middle East. In other words, I think it’s a pretty special place to live. Even our winters are getting milder, go figure! And the longer I write Candid Candace, the more aware I am of all of the wonderful charities and worthy organizations that are thriving here. Here’s just a sampling of some of the recent events along with exciting upcoming parties. This week at Rockit, I supported Scott Norton in his efforts with his new charitable idea called “Make My Day Mondays.” It’s a simple concept with far reaching results. As a player agent for 17 years, Scott has enlisted some of his sports star clients like St. Louis Blues enforcer Cam Janssen who tweeted on a Monday, “Dinner at Indian Rest. Walked out and gave homeless man leftovers with a $20 bill inside in case not a big fan of Indian! Make My Day Monday!” Scott described how this idea came about, “I talked with the guys about a way to get our company involved in a charitable movement and help people. I came up with this idea and name. I want to lead by example and show people that EVERYONE can help a little!” Through social media, Scott and his clients don’t focus on a dollar amount or specific organization, but behave with a sense of morality and support for the community in ways that don’t require a ton of money but rather a desire to help someone in need. Scott explains, “People feel they cannot give enough, so they don’t give at all.” Fans can follow Norton Sports clients such as Los Angeles King’s Dustin Brown (@DustinBrown23) and Cam Janssen (@CamJanssen55) each Monday on Twitter. This week’s MMDM event at Rockit brought out over 150 friends in support of Step-Up Women’s Network. So, hopefully, you can take a moment this Monday, and every Monday, to make someone’s day! What a wonderful idea Scott and what a great way to be on Karma’s good side! For more info, contact Scott at 312-330-0329 or on Twitter, @NortonSports. Click here for more photos from this fun event! CS Magazine’s Samantha Saifer is hosting a BIG launch party for Luxury Garage Sale, a company specializing in upscale consignment. This two day, Saturday and Sunday, February 12th and 13th, shopping event will be held at Galleria Unico, located at 1936 W. Division (2nd floor) from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Shop an inventory of new and gently used designer, contemporary and vintage clothing, accessories and shoes from the most sought after fashionistas’ closets in town. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide. Needless to say, this will be the biggest and most handpicked consignment sale of the year! Hope to see you there!!! On Saturday, February 26th, you won’t want to miss the 2011 Bear Tie Ball, “Tropicure.” This year’s event for the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, will be held at Union Station from 6 p.m. until midnight. Ball chairperson Maxie Clarke promises an island adventure with captivating raffles, sizzling auctions (with new iTouch bidding) and dancing, dancing, dancing! Black tie preferred, island flair encouraged! Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a national organization founded in 1992 by Kathleen Casey and her 8-year-old son, Bear. Their mission is to eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it. For tickets, starting at $325, please visit www.bearnecessities.org or call 312-214-1200, ext. 29. The Benjamin Marshall Society will host a celebration of the First Centennial Anniversary of East Lake Shore Drive, 1911-2011, on Friday, March 4th at the Drake Hotel. This 100-year milestone in Chicago’s social and architectural history will honor Benjamin Marshall, who designed five of the eight buildings on iconic East Lake Shore Drive including the Drake and 999 N. Lake Shore. Marshall’s creation of the Drive came at a time when that piece of land was merely a landfill and when the wealthy were still living in sumptuous residences on the south side of Prairie Avenue. Jane Lepauw of Northbrook and Jennifer MacGregor of Lake Forest are co-chairs for this upcoming gala along with Honorary Chair, 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly. Tickets are $250. Reservations can be made at [email protected] or by calling 312-932-4309. Under the “it’s about time” category, we have the upcoming Stanley Paul-Raelene Mittelman Scholarship Benefit for AIBI which will honor the Duchess of DuPage, our own Hazel Barr! Her contributions to Chicago’s philanthropic community are unparalleled and her singular drive and leadership towards her goals have endeared her to so many. As a matter of fact, I believe the term “Grande Dame” was created just for HER! She has so many admirers that I’m not sure the Casino will be able to hold them all on Wednesday, April 27th. I am very proud to call her my friend. Tickets are $200 and include a cocktail reception from 6 to 9 p.m. and a light supper. Reservations can be made by calling 312-836-1041. See you all there I hope!!! I ran across a very interesting blog lately called “At Home with the Farmer’s Wife.” This website is the kind you want to read on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee. It’s a feel good column about life in rural Illinois and I love it. It reads, “The Farmer’s Wife lives 9 miles from anything. Join her on a journey to connect with the rest of the world and find some common ground. The screen door will be open and the porch light will be on.” Too charming for words! I wonder if her farm looks anything like auctioneer Leslie Hindman’s whose Fair Warning Farm was featured in a great spread in this month’s Chicago magazine? This year’s Service Club Gala promises to be quite a party so save the date now for Friday, November 4th! Co-chairs Dusty Stemer, Toni Canada and Laurie Davis are planning an evening at El Morocco filled with 1940’s glamour so stay tuned for more info! Click here for pics. And last but not least, the Maxim Chicago Party, celebrating the biggest weekend in football, will be held on Friday, February 4th at SpyBar, located at 646 N. Franklin, Chicago. This VIP event will be hosted by NBC Chicago’s Marcus Riley alongside Maxim spokeperson April Rose. The Blackhawks Ice Crew and Maxim models will be featured this evening along with the world renowned DJ D Ramirez. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the party will go on until 4 a.m. For more info, please contact Hannah at 773-963-1333 or e-mail [email protected]. Congrats to Marcus and April on what I know will be a very full house!! I know it’s getting a little gloomy around here with the lack of sun and never ending snow, but take a look at this little video of 10-year-old LaLa who just LOVES this kind of weather! Love, Candace [email protected] P.S. Don’t miss the documentary, “Louder Than a Bomb,” coming on February 4th to the Gene Siskel Film Center. Filmmakers Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs, have already garnered 11 awards at film festivals across the country with the biggest accolade being chosen by the Oprah Winfrey Network for her upcoming “OWN Documentary Club.” The film is based around an annual event where more than 600 teenagers from over 60 Chicago area high school poetry teams gather for the world’s largest youth poetry slam. Roger Ebert called it, “Surely one of the best and most powerful films in this year’s Chicago International Film Festival.” I can’t wait to see it. Take a sneak peek here at this powerful documentary about finding one’s voice at www.louderthanabombfilm.com.
Congrats to the "Top 10 Cheeky Chicks of the Year!" At a recent, packed party at Sunda CheekyChicago.com founders, Jessica Zweig and Erica Bethe Levin, introduced their top 10 picks to the crowd at their second annual celebration this year. Honorees included Carrie Nahabedian (Cheeky Chef from Naha), Samantha Saifer (Cheeky Media Girl from CS Magazine), Katrina Markoff (Cheeky Entrepeneur from Vosges Haut-Chocolate), Lynn House (Cheeky Mixologist from Blackbird), Catie Keogh (Cheeky Mom from 24/7), Lois Miller (Cheeky Fitness Guru), Agnes Miles (Cheeky Artist from Love, LuLu Mae), Alexis Cozzini (Cheeky Fashionista from Sarca), Nicole Tempesta (Cheeky Nightlife Gal from SKYY Spirits) and ME (Cheeky Philanthropist). Guests enjoyed Absolut Wild Tea Cocktails, Seven Daughters wine and wonderful hors d’oeuvres plus the hot sounds of a cool DJ. There were also chic selections from the fab boutique, Handle With Care, as well as mini massages by Massage Envy. I tell you these ladies thought of EVERYTHING! Gotta love Jessica and Erica...this killer combo of ingenuity, open-heartedness and love for all things Chicago inspired the creation of their website, CheekyChicago.com. This online magazine, founded in October 2008, is designed exclusively for, by and about the cosmopolitan woman and features dining, nightlife, theatre, music, fashion, beauty...you name it, they cover it and in such grand style! Love and thanks to the two Cheekiest Chicks I know! To see ALL event photos, please visit my Chicago Now site. (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville, Mila Samokhina and Steve Starr)
We know everyone and their grandmother has an opinion on the Golden Globes fashions but I have some personal awards of my own. First up, is the Gag Me Award which goes to Angelina Jolie. The “candid camera” shot of her posing on Brad’s shoulder with her hair perfectly splayed out made me gag. If this wasn’t completely calculated on her part to show the world how happy she and Brad supposedly are then you can pinch me. Come on, Angie...we ALL know you’re a couple so let it go. What happened to the actress I fell in love with who starred in “Gia”? I miss the old, unaffected Angelina. My second award, the "Stop It! Award," goes to both Johnny Depp and Robert Downey, Jr. Really?! Chewing GUM at an awards show?! Weren't your wives paying ANY attention to you? Robert Downey, Jr. also won my "Couldn't You Try Harder Award" by wearing a simple suit…to the GOLDEN GLOBES! I know dressing down is considered cool in some circles but I think a LITTLE effort would've worked wonders. Oh well...sigh...I still love him. And he was the cutest onstage. My "Hot Guy of the Night Award" goes to Christian Bale. I know the long hair and beard were for a role, but OMG, KEEP IT!! You looked soooo cool especially in that black tux, black shirt and black tie by Dolce & Gabbana! I didn't see enough coverage of Amber Riley's gown. She is the plus-size actress who plays Mercedes on "Glee." I thought her Oliver Tolentino beaded gown fit and suited her perfectly! And I loved the fact that she made her own earrings. You go, girl! I am also sick of the criticism of Helena Bonham Carter's quirky Vivienne Westwood outfit. Would you have expected to see her in a minimalist Calvin Klein?! I don't think so! This is totally who she is and she's not afraid to show it! I even loved the cute mismatched shoes. My candidate for "Worst Hairstyle of the Night" goes to Natalie Portman. I know, I know...we ALL love her but it looked like her grandmother styled her ‘70s inspired French twist! I wasn't fond of her Viktor & Rolf dress either for that matter...who was the person who decided at the last minute to slap that red, appliquéd rose on what could've been an elegant gown? I guess we'll never know...but he or she is probably in hiding somewhere...
And now my likes and dislikes on the red carpet. First, the likes: Olivia Wilde – my fav, rocked that Marchesa big-time. Halle Berry – need I say more? Piper Perabo – simple and elegant in her black Oscar gown. Sofia Vergara – my choice for "Bombshell of the Night" in a red Vera Wang with a fishtail and corset. Eva Longoria – stunning in a black Zac Posen and those Neil Lane diamond pins on her hips made the whole outfit. Megan Fox – gorgeous in a blush-colored Armani Prive and just gorgeous in general. January Jones – loved her makeup and hair and would've loved her red Versace gown more if the cut-outs were placed differently. Catherine Zeta-Jones – exquisite in her emerald green Monique Lhullier ballgown. Helena Bonham Carter – love her quirkiness.
And now for the dislikes: Christina Aguilera – looked like she stole the black lace over nude Zuhair Murad gown from wardrobe on her film "Burlesque." Sarah Hyland – looked like she was wearing her mother’s clothes and jewelry. Nicole Kidman – ill-fitting, wrong color...wrong, wrong, wrong. Julianne Moore – now I'm a huge Lanvin fan but how did this dress slip through the cracks? One arm covered, one not and a hump on her shoulder?! So sad. Heidi Klum – was she getting on a plane for South Beach right after the awards show? Because this is the only excuse for that Marc Jacobs mess she was wearing. Scarlett Johansson – or should I say the Bride of Frankenstein!? You tell me. Yank that hairstylist's license and do it quickly before he or she strikes again! Sandra Bullock – first of all, was she wearing a wig? And secondly, the vintage-inspired Jenny Packham nude gown looked like she was wearing a disguise…well, maybe she should've been. Well, this is one reporter's opinion....gotta love awards shows...especially where there’s drinking involved! And now, click here for a shortened version of my appearance on NBC last week discussing Golden Globes fashion with entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter and designer Borris Powell. Speaking of Borris Powell, he’s been designing beautiful clothes for women ever since his early days in Alabama when he watched his elegant mother dress for church and other special events. Inspired by the masterful shapes of Christian Dior, Powell is again following his dreams after a 10-year stint in retail management. Now he is doing what he loves and does best in his new studio located in Lincoln Park at 2465 N. Halsted. Starting with the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, which will be available in March, he will also offer ready-to-wear pieces as well. Good luck, Borris! Hope to “see” you at the Oscars!
The only disappointment at the recent Bulls/Bobcats game was that the Bulls lost! Other than this small detail, the Joffrey women who attended the game in support of the Exelon Strobel Step-Up students who performed a flash mob at half-time had a blast! The box, courtesy of Kim White, was fully stocked and loaded with every fun food item you could imagine. There were hot dogs, artichoke salads, quesadillas, chips, dips, wine, beer, fresh guacamole, fruit, dessert carts...whew...you name it, they had it! I haven’t been to a Bulls game since the golden age of Jordan (I know...shame on me!) but I was very happy to see that the excitement and the many fun activities have, if anything, increased since those years. Benny the Bull was even more animated than ever riding through the stands on his mini-bike while, overhead, a massive Benny balloon creature roamed through the upper decks. The cheerleaders couldn’t have been sexier...my favorite being Ashley Bond, who just happened to be in the box next to us on her rotation night off with cute friend Matt Pritzker. Life is good in the stadium. Friends who attended included Suzette Bross Bulley, Kathleen Klaeser, Helen Melchior, Kim White, Joyce Wippman and Corinne Melchior (who danced with the students during the flash mob presentation), Christine Ott, Sue Gray Goller, Kelly Dettman, Pam Strobel and Amelia Silva.
Photographer Christopher Free is working on his first online magazine beginning with a feature entitled “Project Inspire.” He chose four women to photograph and they included Lynn McMahan, Kristina McGrath, Trevian Kutti and me. I was thrilled to work with Chris and his beautiful assistant, Ingrid Feder, who should be a model herself. Chris’ next adventure will include covering NY Fashion Week! Look for Project Inspire next week at www.Project-Captured.com and remember you heard his name here first! Good luck, Chris!!!
While we’re talking fashion, our own design god, Brian Atwood, will be appearing at Intermix, located at 40 E. Delaware, on Wednesday, February 23rd from 6-8 PM. There will be cocktails and music but who needs anything besides BKA??!!! A percentage of the sales for this evening will benefit the Service Club of Chicago. To RSVP, please call 312-640-2922. And now here’s Brian winning Designer of the Year Award!
Park 52 in Hyde Park was the restaurant of choice for a pack of Chicago Bears recently after their victory over the Seattle Seahawks last week! Owner Marc Brooks couldn’t have been more excited to host Tommie Harris, Israel Idonije, Johnny Knox, Matt Forte and Chris Harris after their win. I love this chic American bistro: The food, décor and service are always impeccable and it sure can’t hurt to have a cutie like Marc there to greet you!!!
Speaking of the Bears...WHAT HAPPENED?! I was already searching for my Super Bowl outfit on the web but now I’m just miserable. Chuck had even made his lucky chili…next year, TACOS!!! Well, I still love ‘em...that’s for sure!!! So…when does baseball season start??!!! ;)
P.S. Don’t forget Vital Bridges’ fun fundraiser Wednesday night, January 26th, at Nacional 27 from 6-9 PM, “VITAL NIGHTS: HEAT OF THE NIGHT.” Hosts Julie Bouchard, Jim Lee, Kasia Koniar and Jeffrey Ward have planned a fun night of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with performances by Katarina (violinist for the Lyric Opera) and DJ Luv Jones! Tickets are $30 at the door.
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!! Clickhere 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]
