New York Fashion Week was filled with lots of fashionable Chicagoans who reported the new setup worked out just fine for the second season of designer showings at Lincoln Center. There were 85 onsite shows featured during the course of eight days with 16 new designers that showed for the first time as well as 16 associate members presenting in other locations. In other words, those stilettos were doing double duty on guests lucky enough to be there! Chicagoans in attendance included Heather Farley, Andrea Schwartz (at my favorite designer’s show, Pamella Roland), designers Paul Sisti and John Schultz (who also presented their collections), photographer Christopher Free, Ingrid Feder, Dusty Stemer, Toni Canada, Rose Mae Turner, Tracey Beliard, Whitney Lasky, Robin Berger and Lynne Bredfeldt. The shows had been at Bryant Park since 1993 but a prolonged dispute between the designers and the park management caused the event to be moved to Lincoln Center. Donna Karan was one of the first designers to show in Bryant Park on Halloween of 1993. She said, “When you think Lincoln Center, you think of the arts, the music, the dance and the opera so I think being there will elevate and celebrate fashion as an art.” Designer Anna Sui said, “I love the fact that Bryant Park was where they chose to do the shows because I love the garment center. Even up to the last shows in the tents, many designers were still wheeling their outfits on rolling racks to the shows themselves.” But with the garment district (from 34th to 40th between Broadway and Ninth) in a deep decline, I think this new location might be better to keep everyone’s minds off of this sad fact and looking forward to a fresh start. Ever since the Joffrey Ballet’s “Couture & Cocktails” my favorite designer has been Pamella Roland. She was our featured designer at the magnificent Palmer House two years ago and her show elevated this event and all who saw it to a new level of appreciation for fashion. Once I was lucky enough to get to know her and her family personally, that did it for me. Not only were her designs chic, modern and unique but she, her children, her husband and her Marketing Director, Kenneth Marks, all stole your hearts too. So it was with great pleasure that we (Helen Melchior and I) were able to host a luncheon in her honor at Neiman Marcus recently with a group of admirers. The lucky guest who won SECOND ROW SEATS to her show was none other than Macy’s Andrea Schwartz. She said it was an opportunity she will never forget. “The people watching was almost as good as the show!” Seen in the audience at The Studio at Lincoln Center were J Alexander, Nigel Barker and his gorgeous model/wife Cristen Chin, the Real Housewives of NY, Brittany Snow, Anika Noni Rose, Celerie Kemble, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Alexandra Lebantha, Genevieve Jones, Jennifer Creel, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, June Ambrose and Robert Verdi among a zillion other glam guests. Pamella’s collection was inspired by the Far East and included fur-trimmed coats and capes, stretch wool tux jackets for day, intricately embroidered evening wear and exquisite and wearable cocktail dresses with the finale ensemble being a deep burgundy floor length cinched waist coat that billowed out dramatically to reveal an underlay of floral designs. Oh, I wish I could’ve been there! Other celebrities spotted during the eight days of shows included Matthew McConaughey, Debra Messing, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Bette Midler, Alan Cumming, Emma Roberts, Fergie, Kanye, Joan Rivers, Julia Stiles, Jerry Seinfeld, Kelly Osbourne, Samantha Ronson, Kim Kardashian, Iman, Sean Lennon, Mena Suvari, Kristin Chenoweth and Lauren Bush among many others. Click HERE to see ALL of the pics from Fashion Week and check out a video of Pamella’s show below!
Speaking of fashion, there was another super hot party in NY for Brian Atwood, the world’s sexiest designer and all-around nice guy! The Jones Group rented out “The Lion” for this launch party which is a very cool, hip restaurant of the fashionista crowd at 62 W. 9th St. According to Brian’s equally gorgeous mother, Dusty Stemer, the place has beautiful food, people and art. “You know the type of spot, no name on the front of the place, etc.” Brian’s beautiful collection was shown upstairs for VIP buyers while downstairs, guests drank champagne and enjoyed appetizers while listening to the hot mixes from the celebrity DJ Alexandra Richards (yes that Richards…Keith’s daughter). Guests for the launch party included model Molly Sims, Rachel Roy, Nate Berkus, Riley Viall, Giovanni Monte, Rose McGowan, Hilary Rhoda, Byrdie Bell, Hamish Bowles and Genevieve Jones plus a lot of famous stylists and models. Also included were Dusty and hubby Alex’s dear friends Dr. Jim and Abby Lipton, Toni and Rick Canada, Dr. Juan and Maria Benitez and Jerry Mickelson. And of course, the whole Stemer crew was there to support big brother including sisters Jordan and Cameron, brother Zack and niece Andi Francesca Laidlaw. After the launch, it was off to a private dinner at Il Cantinori, a top Italian restaurant, for 60 friends. Dusty said, “It was more like Brian’s Bar Mitzvah!!!” Seen on the scene were DJ Donna D’Cruz, actor Josh Lucas and Pippa Cohen among many others. Long may Brian reign with his Queen Mother Dusty beside him! (Check out ALL of the party pics on my Chicago Now page).
I hope you can join me and hundreds of Chicago’s most fashionables at Runway Exclusive 2011, a Fashion Show Benefit for Little City. The event will take place on Friday, March 4th, 2011, at 6 p.m. at 720 S. Michigan. With Michigan Avenue Magazine’s Susanna Negovan leading the charge and ZZazz Productions participating, you know this will be an event not to be missed! The show will present the latest spring (sigh) and summer (sigh) fashions while raising awareness for children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Little City. This year, Neiman Marcus will unveil the latest trends for 2011 with a runway show featuring Ford Models and the designs of Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, Elie Tahari, Tory Burch, Nanette Lepore, St. John and Milly. For tickets ($175) and more info, please visit www.LittleCity.org. Congratulations to Factor Models on their one year anniversary! Factor Women Model Management, one of the leading high fashion boutique modeling agencies in the industry, recently celebrated their New Generation Division at the Hubbard Inn. The campaign for the occasion was shot by Russell Hd and featured 18 of the most sought after new faces. Two hundred of Chicago’s style makers were in attendance including models, photographers, fans and friends. Seen in the beautiful crowd were Amanda Lyons, Brianna Peeples, Marta Traskevych, Emily Marinelli, Jami Hassl, Brian Whitely, Forrest Gregory, Cameron Croft, Philip Chang, Margeaux Raymond, Melissa Hubbard, Madeleine Rock, Alyssa Lochum, Nikolina Djogo and Borris Powell among others. Congrats Factor!!!! To see ALL pics, please click HERE.
And speaking of designer Borris Powell, he will be hosting a viewing of his fall/winter collection at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday, March 11th beginning with dinner at the hotel from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The show begins around 8 p.m. and will feature some of the most talented designers around. Borris, as you know WON the Oscar Challenge for his beautiful gown entry so this show will be packed!!! Tickets are $20 and $50 and can be purchased at the venue. For more info, please visit www.borrispowell.com.
Forgive me while I brag a minute. My stepson, Charley Jordan, is a terrific actor! He’s been doing theater, voiceovers, ads and has even had a highly-acclaimed one-man play AND NOW, he is co-starring in an upcoming Polarity Ensemble Theatre premiere of “Ephemera,” a sci-fi comedy directed by Laura Sturm. When a talking monkey appears in the airlock of the space station, Ephemera, the crew learns they may be the last defense of planet Earth. Bryce Wissel’s zany comedy features a tortured love triangle, a mariachi-singing robot, and the threat of interstellar combat with an unknowable enemy! March 22nd thru May 1st at 1500 N. Bell St. in Wicker Park. Gala Premiere Night is Friday, March 25th, which includes a post-show reception. Actors include Sarah Grant, Bob Wilson, Kim Boler, Jonas Grey, Kaelan Strouse, Hilary Holbrook and CHARLEY! Please mention his name when you order tickets! For more info and to order, please visit www.petheatre.com/tickets.html.
And finally, if you still have a lot to learn about the world of social media like I do, then I highly recommend this upcoming seminar conducted by online marketing specialist, Tracy Schmidt. Previously, Tracy was the editorial director of Chicago Now and reported for Time in Washington, D.C. She has also taught several graduate-level classes on social media at DePaul University. Click HERE for more info. (Mention the code “Tribune” and receive $50 off each seminar.)
Another full week in Chi-Town! Whew! Thanks for checking in and stay tuned for MORE next week!!!!! Love, Candace [email protected] P.S. Congrats to the Palmer House’s long time Director of PR, Ken Price, on his upcoming interactive luncheon and tour series! As a 28-year resident historian of the property, he will conduct a two-hour lunch and tour combo from Tuesday thru Saturday. For only $50, you can experience a 45-minute insider’s tour of this famed property with the man who knows its secrets. Please call 312-917-3404 for reservations.
What a thrill it was to be included in the by-invite-only luncheon with Arianna Huffington last week at the Casino! It was a crowd filled with bold-faced names including Maggie Daley (who sat next to Arianna at the head table) along with 100 other lucky guests. Thanks to Sugar Rautbord, who knows everyone on the planet, for putting this event together along with sponsor Oak Family Advisors, which is an investment advisory firm for wealthy families. (Sadly, I don’t need their info.) From the moment Arianna took to the podium, you knew this was not going to be one of those ho-hum luncheons. A lot of guests were surprised she even bothered showing up after the Huffington Post’s merger with AOL for $315 million ($300 million in cash) which was finalized during the halftime of the Super Bowl. The Huffington Post is privately owned by its co-founders, Arianna, chairman Kenneth Lerer and a group of happy investors. AOL says a combination of the two sites will reach a total of 117 million unique U.S. visitors (globally, 250 million). Before the merger, the Huffington Post reported 24 million unique visitors a month. (In comparison, the NY Times receives 30 million unique visitors a month.) Arianna was introduced by the National Editor of HP, Timothy O’Brien, the former editor of the NY Times Sunday business section. She was also presented with a lovely crystal bowl by Oak Financial Advisors Chairman John Fitzpatrick. Arianna’s first comment made everyone laugh, “For those of you who haven’t heard me before, this accent is real.” She was funny, charming, obviously brilliant, attractive with beautiful blond hair and impeccably dressed. In other words, this girl has it all and you could’ve heard a pin drop during her speech. She talked about growing up in Greece not speaking a word of English and yet she visualized attending Cambridge by taping a photo of the university on her mirror. You can imagine the success she achieved there when her goal was realized. She also said her mother taught her to never be afraid of failure. She said no one has succeeded without multiple failures and that her two daughters are tired of hearing about them. Her comments about social media in the 21st century were so insightful, too. She said, “Old media is consumed by sitting on a couch. New media is consumed by galloping on a horse.” Her initial plans for the Huffington Post included bringing together the greatest minds of our time. The first person she asked to blog was Arthur Schlesinger…and he had no idea what a blog even was! She said, “People love to blog because it gives them immediate gratification and also makes them feel like they are a voice of our times. There are no deadlines or obligations. They can write or not write.” She explained that the Huffington Post challenges conventional wisdom and there is no left or right. They strive to bring you the best journalists from around the world. The Post has 26 sections including a popular one recently suggested by writer Nora Ephron on divorce. When Arianna had lunch with the head of Twitter recently, he told her there should be three goals to success: Number one, make money; number 2, make a positive global impact; and number 3, make sure people have fun doing it along the way. After the merger was finalized, Arianna had her first analyst’s call. She told them, “I intend to stay here forever because I don’t want to do anything else.” She plans on expanding video and including more women’s content among other ideas. I can’t wait to see what this dynamo does next! Thanks again to Sugar Rautbord and Oak Financial Advisors for this remarkable opportunity to see how social media is changing the world. Guests spotted in the crowd included Maggie Daley, Bill Farley, Ross Glickman, Kristina and Mike McGrath, Helen Melchior, Kerrie Kennedy Mudd, Christopher Clinton Conway, Barbara Kipper, Chaz Ebert, Sarah and Ted Tetzlaff, Laura and Andrea Schwartz, Laurie Davis, Lynda Silverman, Melissa Babcock, Christine Ott, Lydia Alouf, Kathy Lidbury, Margaret O'Connor, Jim Hennessey, Bill Zwecker, Susanna Negovan, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Melinda Jakovich, Cynthia Pacholick, Shirley Ryan, Margot Pritzker, Grace Barry, Marilyn Miglin, Tracy Clifford and her dad Bob Clifford, Carol Prins and hubby John Hart, AOL top brass, NY Times top brass, co-host Oak Financial Advisors' Chairman John Fitzpatrick and his wife Susan, Paula and Alexis Fasseas, Larry Wert, Maureen Smith, Martha Melman, Diane Primo and Jim Cobb among others. (Photos by Mitchell Canoff)
This week, Ted Baker London celebrated their Chicago debut with an evening of “London eccentricity.” Fun loving fashionistas gathered at the store at 1009 N. Rush to view the sophisticated spring collection on this balmy evening. The finger food was plentiful from Public House and there was even double-decker bus transportation from the store to the after party (at Public House) provided by Chicago Trolley & Chicago Double Decker Bus Co. Veddy British, don’t cha know?! Ted Baker appointed two Brand Ambassadors for the city: Lynne Bredfeldt (Park Hyatt) and Corri McFadden (E-Drop Off)…excellent choices! A portion of the proceeds from the event benefitted The Joffrey Ballet. DJ Megan Taylor kept the energy high for the shoppers taking advantage of the evening’s discount. There was even a sign-up to win a $1,000 shopping spree! This party had it all. British retailer Ted Baker began in Glasgow in 1988 and has become a global brand which produces men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as fragrances, accessories, eyewear and cosmetics. Seen in the crowd of revelers were Julee White, Cece Gonzalez and Melinda Joseph, Joni Kilmurry, Gail Dobinson, Bill Zwecker, the Joffrey’s Christopher Clinton Conway and Ashley Wheater, Helen Melchior, Ken Norgan, Rich Foreside, Ben Soldinger, Kevin Aeh, Monica Dimperio and Isaiah Freeman-Schub among many others. Welcome to the Windy City, mates! (Additional pics courtesy of Jack Edinger and www.yourtrendy.com. Click here for more!)
Spring is in the air and thoughts turn to love: whiteCHICAGO and Brides Against Breast Cancer are co-hosting their fifth annual gown sale in Chicago on April 15th and 16th. Proceeds will enable the Making Memories Foundation to grant wishes to breast cancer patients. Over the past four years, whiteCHICAGO and their brides have donated over $787,000 in gowns to Brides Against Breast Cancer! For this “dress drive” (which will take place throughout the month of March), they are in need of contemporary style gowns, slips and veils that are less than seven years old. So if your wedding gown is hanging in the closet or taking up space underneath your bed, please consider finding a new home for it and support this worthy cause. With over 32 shows every year across the nation this event enables brides-to-be to find the gown of their dreams at incredible savings while making wishes and dreams come true for women and men diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. For more info, please visit www.whitechicago.com and www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org.
If you haven’t heard of The Happiness Club, you should know about it. Founded in 1992, this group of Chicago kids are committed to helping their peers by encouraging positive values and social change through original hip-hop, pop music and dance. Diverse in age, race and background, The Happiness Kids sing out against drugs, gangs, violence and smoking and say “yes” to education, tolerance, high self-esteem and helping the environment. Their upcoming fundraiser on Sunday, March 6th, at the Park West (322 W. Armitage) will be chaired by Marc and Maureen Schulman and your support will help change the lives of every child in the club by giving them the opportunity to receive professional training in the arts. They, in turn, use these skills to create a show that addresses vital issues relevant to kids today. There will be a silent auction, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with a Best of Chicago Buffet, Lou Malnati’s pizza, Vienna hot dogs and, of course, fabulous Eli’s cheesecake among other tasty treats. At 6:30 p.m., The Happiness Club will perform featuring Grammy Award-winning recording artist Rhymefest with Kevin Coval, urban poet and founder of Louder Than a Bomb (the biggest poetry contest in the country). For tickets and more info, please visit www.thehappinessclub.com/pages/mainEvent.php. If you love the Oscars, there is no party in town like the Center on Halsted’s! Co-chairs Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, James Baptist and Doug Sandborn invite you to an evening of glitz and glamour on Sunday, February 27th. Beginning with a Red Carpet Pre-Show at 6 p.m., the event will be held at the Center, located at 3656 N. Halsted. There will be a silent auction as well as cocktails and a delicious buffet. Attire is fun & fabulous! Believe me, I’ve been in years past and there is no way I would miss this parteeeeeee! Please visit centeronhalsted.org for tickets (beginning at $75) and for more info. To view more event pics, click here! We are so lucky to have THREE Chicago designers in competition for the “Oscars Designer Challenge 2011!” With only nine designers competing nationwide, this is a wonderful coup for the City of Big Shoulder...Pads! I wish Miriam Cecilia Carlson, James De Colon and Borris Powell the best of luck! Voting ended Monday and the winning design will be announced during “Oscars Red Carpet Live,” the live arrivals show that will air on ABC beginning at 6 p.m. CT on February 27th. I’m looking forward to the 2011 Bearcat Ball, “Tropicure,” benefitting Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation on Saturday, February 26th at Union Station! This island adventure will feature raffles, auctions with iTouch bidding and dancing until midnight! For tickets and more info, please visit www.bearnecessities.orgor call 312-214-1200, ext. 29. (The artwork on the invitation was created by Lorenzo, age 5.) Congrats are in order for my fit and determined friend, Rochelle Smith Trotter, for recently completing the New Orleans Marathon in 2 hours and 19 minutes! Her goal is to run 50 marathons before age 50 in 50 different locations! Next up: The Boston Marathon in April! Charlie must be so proud! Congrats to Macy’s for the tribute to the late Judy Neidermaier in two of their windows. What a classy gesture for this Chicago icon!
The Cabaret Queen of Chicago, Denise Tomasello, will be performing at Maxim’s (24 E. Goethe) on Wednesday, March 9th, with a 7 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. show. I can’t wait to see her again! For tickets and more info, please call 312-742-8497. The Chicago Tribune calls her a “showstopper” and I do, too!!!! That’s Candid Candace for this week! Please check in next week for more party and event news of the movers, shakers and just plain cool! Love, Candace [email protected] P.S. Huge thanks to Luxe File Chicago’s Kerry and Sally Schorr for including me in their fun segment, “What’s in Her Bag!” I just love this clever idea and their always awesome website! Check it out here!
(Technical support provided by Tevolo Technology, www.Tevolo.com, 312-324-0043)
It looks like there’s a new sheriff in town among the young see-and-be-seen set. The Joffrey Ballet’s Auxiliary Board (JAB) hosted one of the hottest parties in recent memory Thursday night at Archisesto in the West Loop. The place was so packed you couldn’t see inside because of all of the steam on the windows! The event was a fundraiser for the Joffrey Ballet featuring the art of local artists and would-be artists based on the inspiration from a dancer’s toe shoe called “Pointe of Departure.” I think the success of this event even surprised the co-chairs John Walcher and Jennifer Anton along with their formidable board and host committee. The crowd was young, chic and hot…with a fantastic DJ, Sadie Woods, who kept the atmosphere pumping with energy. There were three levels and so much to see. Even Joffrey dancers donated some original artwork: Matthew Adamscyk created a beautiful acrylic piece entitled “Odett” and Temur Suluashvili donated a stunning black and white photograph of toe shoes as well as a sculpture entitled “B+.” Women’s Board members Dana Hokin Garvey and Barbara Levy Kipper were also a part of the action. Dana’s “En Pointe” was done in beeswax, bristle and graphite on paper. Barbara, an accomplished photographer, donated seven pieces from her own collection that included handsome Joffrey dancer Fabrice Calmels as Othello. Her work has been widely exhibited and covers a range of interesting topics including selections from her far-reaching travels. Photographer Mila Samokhina’s photographs were transformed into artistic watercolor images and raised $1,200 for the evening. Renowned artist Francine Turk offered one of her coveted charcoals on linen entitled “Angeline.” The Joffrey VP of Development, Rhonda Brown, painted a lovely acrylic of two young African American girls on a bench. There was something for everyone at every price point with the Joffrey reaching back into their own archives to offer vintage performance posters as well. The extensive silent auction included beauty treatments, sports memorabilia, event tickets, dinners, hotel stays, a private party at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, a champagne and jewelry party at Takhol as well as tickets for two on United to the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Nayarit, Mexico. Artist Rosemary Fanti created gorgeous illustrations of guests on the spot. There was something to see and do in every corner! The “Pointe of Departure” committee consisted of Auxiliary Board members Camille Britton, Ashley Chan, Amanda Ciborowski, Diane Crary, Rachel Eisenhauer, Rosalyn Emerson, Coco Meers, Melissa Mickey, Bradley Parks, Abigail Reddel, Nico Rodriguez, Ben Strobel, Alan Swanke, Betsy Sylvester and Annie Wallis. The artwork for the evening was curated and installed by Sadie Woods. The tasty and extensive food offerings were by Wolfgang Puck. It was a truly exciting evening with a creative ballet inspired theme. I think this Auxiliary Board will be a force to contend with around town with their unique ideas and endless energy. This was their first major event so you can imagine what the future holds. JAB Membership Chair Callie Michels is going to be a VERY busy lady! (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville…click here for ALL event pics!) I am so excited about the upcoming Sixth Annual World Festival set for Monday, March 7th, at Soldier Field from 6-9 p.m. Over 60 of the world's most renowned chefs will bring their culinary expertise together for Common Threads' biggest fundraiser. Celebrity chefs will offer their signature gourmet creations and vintners will serve accompanying fine wines. This event supports the organization's after-school cooking courses for low-income children and families. There is so much excitement planned with so many great chefs participating so please mark your calendars now for this always fantastic party to support this great cause. This year, Chef Art Smith and Michelin Star Chef Jason McLeod will host “A Black Tie Ball” on the Sunday evening (March 6th) before World Fest at the Elysian Hotel, located at 11 E. Walton, beginning with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by a sit-down dinner. The ticket price for this event is $1,000 per person which will also include VIP entrance to Monday’s event. World Fest’s Honorary Host will be Gail Simmons and event co- chairs are Rama Dandamudi, Merita Tan, Anne and Daniel Wirtz, Chuck and moi. General admission is $250 with a VIP package for $500 as well as opportunities to host a Chef’s Table. The VIP Reception, from 5-6 p.m., will feature a must-see surprise fashion show! The VIP After-Party will begin at 9 p.m. at The James Hotel Chicago, located at 55 E. Ontario. This is one of my favorite events in town so I hope you will join me to support the wonderful work of Common Threads at their biggest fundraiser! For tickets and more info, please contact Eleanor Leichenko at 312-329-2501 or e-mail her at [email protected]. My fork and party hat await… Whenever PAWS hosts an event, the room is always filled with wonderful photo ops of darling furry guests who are always welcomed to attend. Their “Animal Magnetism” party at Gallerie Marchetti attracted over 350 guests and raised nearly $100,000 for Pets are Worth Saving. Event emcee was the ever glamorous Fox TV’s Anna Davlantes. Co-chairs Ashley and Noah Pettit should be very proud of their wonderful success. The invite called for “urban chic” attire and, in this case, the pets were as well dressed as their “parents!” Take a look at my Chicago Now site and check out the darling pics by Mila Samokhina and Steve Starr to see for yourself! Chicago Q Restaurant, located at 1160 N. Dearborn, was the scene of a power dinner for 30 of the city’s notables recently. PR whiz Dori Wilson and TCW magazine’s Sherren Leigh teamed up to invite some of their high-powered friends to a private dinner at this fabulous BBQ spot. The upstairs lounge featured a cozy fireplace where the invitees gathered for pre-dinner cocktails. Owner Fred Latsko has done a great job with his latest restaurant venture combining great food, southern quality service with a modern ambience to create an unforgettable dining experience. Chef/Partner Lee Ann Whippen presented her prize-winning whole pork shoulder and demonstrated the way to “pull” it for maximum effect. She also showed us the part called the “money maker” which is where the accolades are won in competition – even Master Chef Bobby Flay tips his hat to her famous dish. Other delicious courses included house bacon cheddar hush puppies, baby green salad with cornbread croutons, pulled chicken and pork, linguini with spinach and smoked cherry tomato sauce, Kobe brisket baked beans, coleslaw and honey butter cornbread. For dessert, espresso ice cream brittle was served. The guests who dined in the private wine room on the second floor included the Sun-Times’ Stella Foster, Dr. James Chandler (neurosurgeon from Northwestern), Cheryl Rucker Whitaker (Chicago Community Trust), Todd Hatoff (Allen Bros. Meats), Chaz Ebert (TV producer), Cheryl Pearson McNeil (Sr. VP with Nielsen), Lee and Tom Baur (investor and businessman), Carrie Hightman (NiSource Gas) and Harry Hightman, Vi Nelson (publicist), Eileen and Howard Weinberg (lawyer), Janice Corley (real estate) and her cute hubby Ray Blaney (WGN), Kyle Williams (JP Morgan), Perri Irmer (CEO Ill. Sports Facilities, lawyer, architect), Cheryl Coleman, Emilio Rivers and Scott Wilker (Salon Duo partners), Joy Germont and moi. It was such a fabulous meal with some really cool peeps. I even took a tour of the kitchen and it was spotless and clearly filled with proud employees. I can’t wait to return! (Chicago Q, 1160 N. Dearborn, 312-642-1160) Click hereto view more pics from this night to remember. The Maxim Chicago Party celebrated the biggest weekend in football and was hosted at SpyBar by NBC Chicago’s Marcus Riley along with gorgeous Maxim spokesmodel, April Rose. The party was filled with glam guests including the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew, Maxim models, Playboy Cyber Girl Danielle Fornarelli as well as Lingerie Football League players from the Chicago Bliss Breanna Junea and Michele Sotak. The Svedka video booth was a highlight of the party and featured streaming videos of the guests all night long. So cool. Sushi x provided delectable edibles and the party continued into the wee hours. Thanks to Steve Starr and Mila Samokhina for the great pics…I felt like I was there! (Check out my Chicago Now sitefor the rest of the sexy pics.)
Come celebrate the launch of Amy Creyer’s fashion blog, Chicago Streetstyle Scene, at a party on Thursday, February 24th, at the Cynthia Rowley boutique at 1653 N. Damen from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will be complimentary manicures, hair styling and mini makeovers as well as sweet treats by Vosges. Be one of the first to view Rowley’s 2011 Spring Collection and receive 20-percent off, too!!! Amy’s blog competes with the best in the international blogosphere and serves as a “digital park bench” for readers to experience Chicago street fashion. Congrats Amy! To RSVP, please call 773-276-9209 or e-mail [email protected]. The invite reads, “Stellar music, killer drinks, better patrons, one hell of a party with proceeds benefitting an amazing cause; STAND UP Chicago, it’s time to ACT!” With proceeds benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association, LaSalle Power Company along with Ashlea Abbene from English Chicago, will be hosting the first ever “Rock to End Alzheimer’s, a Concert to Conquer.” The event will begin at 8:45 p.m. at the LaSalle Power Company, located at 500 N. LaSalle, on Friday, February 25th. Participating bands will include The Paper Game, Noise FM and headliner Seth Bradley and The Personnel. Other special guests will include Mike Hall from the Big 10 network and Special K from Kiss FM. General admission is only $10 and the Rock Star VIP package is $35. For tickets and more info, click here!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! “See” you next week! Love, Candace [email protected] P.S. Hundreds gathered to protest global warming…
