PLAYBOY’S SEARCH FOR THE “GIRL NEXT DOOR”

I had the best time reconnecting with old friends at the recent Playboy Casting Call Kick-Off Party at the Wit. Over 100 ladies turned out for this “Girls Only” party that I co-hosted with the gorgeous Miss May 2009, Crystal McCahill. Her mom, Gale Olson, was also a Playmate in August 1968. Crystal has been featured on the hit TV show, “The Girls Next Door,” and was also a finalist in the search for the 55th Anniversary Playmate. The ROOF of the Wit was the perfect venue and even though the cooler weather dictated that the doors remain closed, the views are some of the best in the city! I ran into longtime Playboy makeup artist, Pat Tomlinson, who calculated that she had done over 70 centerfolds including that of murdered Playmate of the Year from 1980, Dorothy Stratten. Pat said she and Dorothy had become good friends and she realized very quickly that her estranged husband, Paul Snider, who tragically shot her, was bad news from the very start. Pat said he hounded her constantly with phone calls in the lead up to her untimely demise at the age of 20. I’ll never forget this horrible time. In any case, this was a very happy occasion at the Wit and the girls assembled there were excited to learn as much as they could about the Playmate process. Playboy’s Stacy Collins explained that the actual casting call will be held on April 13th and 14th from 10 AM – 6 PM at the W Hotel on Lake Shore Drive. The instructions read: “A) In the weeks prior to your audition, exercise and eat right. B) Pick the right outfits such as lingerie or swimsuit. C) Get your beauty rest the night before so you look and feel great. D) Have your hair and makeup done prior to your arrival—remember less is more. E) Don’t stress. Even if you’re running late, your appointment will be held for you. F) Remember your IDs—two forms to prove you’re 18 or over. G) Change into your outfit, slip on a robe and have a seat. H) Never modeled before? No worries—the photographer will guide you through your test photo session.” I remember my Playmate test. Since I knew all of the art directors from working in the Club, I was perfectly comfortable doing the shoot. Playboy photographers are the most professional I’ve ever worked with, before or since, so these ladies will all be in very good hands. I also talked with retired PB Art Director, Jeff Cohen, who remains involved with Playboy and will be overseeing the Casting Call. It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it! He said he will be looking for ladies who resemble the original Playmates who were compared to the “girls next door.” Jeff’s sense of humor has always been a delight and I was happy to see he hasn’t changed one whit! Interested candidates can sign up for an appointment by visiting www.PlayboyCastingCalls.com. Good luck, ladies! (To view ALL event pics by Mila Samokhina, please click here.) 
 
When Cece Gonzalez and Melinda Joseph with Raymi Productions host a party, EVERYBODY COMES! Their recent celebration of their 2011 Event Lineup was held at Texas de Brazil and was packed with fans and friends who came out to support this dynamic duo. Proceeds of the evening benefitted the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. I had never been to this restaurant before and I was blown away by its beauty. The floral arrangement you see upon entering must be at least 6 feet long!  I’ve never seen anything like it! They also have a Cirque du Soleil-type entertainer literally “flying” around the wine room ferrying bottles to and fro. I will definitely be going back! The Brazilian food looked delicious, too. Melinda and Cece had thought of everything, of course, including a dance demonstration by Chicago Samba that they both participated in to the delight of party goers. These girls have such high energy that it is contagious so soon everyone was on the dance floor. Seen on the scene were Paul Iacono, Marco Foster, Isabel Rosales, Bonnie Gross, Marcus Riley, Leticia Herrera, Tsi-tsi-ki Felix, Borris Powell, Nicole Townsend, LeAnita Ragland-Brooks, Julie Darling, Trevian Kutti, James Feeley, John Donohue, Cara and Scott Nava, Brandon Carone, Kiran Khanna, Ryan Beshel, Miriam Cecilia Carlson, Julianne Glatz among many others. Congrats, Cece and Melinda! You are much loved! (Fab fotos by Caitlin Saville...click here to view more.)
 
Gibson’s Restaurant Group along with the Chicago White Sox opened their latest restaurant venture, Bacardi at the Park, on opening day, April 7th, at Gate 5 of U.S. Cellular Field. The sports bar atmosphere serves delicious food that includes smokehouse maple chicken wings, smoked brisket nachos, some of the best roasted corn on the cob I’ve ever had, pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ ribs among other tasty offerings. The restaurant is on two levels and attracted a sporting crowd on this night as well including the Bears' Khalil Bell, Ozzie Guillen, Jr., Chyla Wilson (Otis’ beautiful daughter), Illinois Sports Authority honcho Perri Irmer with her fab family including mom, dad and daughters Adrienne and Isabel, Julee White, investor Mickey Norton, Carrie Birkel, John Daley, Peter Bynoe, Gibson’s John Colletti and Lori Soderholm among many others. The restaurant, which seats 350 people and has 75 flat screen TVs, opens 2.5 hours before all home games and remains open throughout the game until two hours after the last out. Congrats to the White Sox and Gibson’s on another sure hit! To view ALL party pics, please click here.  
 
Speaking of parties, Sarah Vargo of Maven Productions, is no slouch in this category either! Her recent event at JBar at the James Hotel was jammed with friends who turned out to celebrate the “Diva Fashionistas” who included Corri McFadden (founder of Edrop-Off Express), Melissa Maynard De Kerch (Factio Magazine), designer Anna Fong, Carol Calacci (Second City Style Editor), Ashley Zygmunt (owner/designer Zamrie), Tamika Maria Martell (stylist and Wardrobe Coach), Michelle Elfvin (prez of Shop Mag Style), Jessica Lindsay (owner of Double-Edged Couture), Julie Blake (fashion consultant Mark Shale), Nikia Jefferson (ChiTownFashionista.com), Nicki Brashear (Fashionista Chicago owner), Kristen Pizzolato (Shop Mag Style), Katie Cahnmann (Now You Know events) and moi among many others! Sponsors for the event included the Aparecio Foundation and TCW Magazine. This monthly cocktail series, launched in June 2008, has recognized over 100 women in various lifestyle industries. Seen on the scene were Marchello Smiter, TCW’s Cassandra Gaddo, Marco Foster, Sandra-Smith Dogmi, Sequin’s Frances Renk, Benjamin Cottrell, Julia Jacobs-Sandford and Corey Sanford, Neal Agustin, Annie Wasserman, Jessica George, Amanda Wolfson, Laura Alexander, Dominic Gaziano, Jennifer Ruppert and Maria Noll among many others. (Photos by Mila Samokhina.)
 
I am so proud of my friend Sonya Jackson, the head of giving for United Airlines. She is a woman who wears many hats and supports too many charities to mention, but most recently she donned a surprising one: She appeared onstage doing standup comedy at Zanie’s on Wells Street!! The SRO crowd loved her, of course, and she proved, once again, that there is no limit to her abilities. Her comedy coach, Pat McGann, looked on admiringly, as did I! Congrats Sonya! :) 

There was a sneak preview party, “Hollywood & Vines,” hosted recently by Myra and John Reilly as a kick-off party to celebrate Zoo Ball 2011. Almost 100 guests gathered in the spacious John Reilly Studio to sip champagne, nibble hors d’oeuvres and share their excitement for the upcoming Ball set for July 8th. Congrats in advance to co-chairs Rosemary Jones, Susan Ehrler and Kirsten Johnson on, what I know, will be another exciting event! For tickets (beginning at $600) and more info, please visit www.lpzooball.org. To view ALL party pics, please click here.  
 
I’ve heard and seen some very cool PR moves but this one takes the cake! One of my favorite style icons, Daphne Guinness, will be getting dressed for the Met Gala set for May 2nd in the WINDOW of Barney’s New York on Madison Avenue! In addition to being “window dressing,” a selection of pieces from her museum-worthy clothing collection, including items Daphne acquired when she bought Isabella Blow’s entire wardrobe, will be displayed as well! Only in New York kids, only in New York! 
 
Sunday marked a wonderful day for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana when they held their “Cement Hands Event” to celebrate the building of the World’s Largest Ronald McDonald House at 211 E. Grand Avenue in Streeterville set to open in 2012. President and CEO of RMHC-CNI, Doug Porter, reported that $20 million has been raised towards a capital campaign of $30 million. Guests included project architect Joe Antunovich, Mark Evans, Board Chairman Mike Kotynek, Paul Clark, Julee White, Jill Bastian, Ken Norgan, Fred Jackson, Greg Koerner, Mary Haggerty, Joe Endress, Mark Butterly, Maneesh Chawla, Paul Huebener, Bill Keyser, Sheila Musolino, Tim Nevins, Jim Petrowich, Charlie Stone, Jim Brady, Lesley Prizant Goodman, Margaret Unetich, Felicia, Kurt and Janey Winiecki and family, Laura and Michael Moran and family and many others. The “hands” will go into the foundation of the building so they will always be there to hold and support the families. To find out more info, please visit www.RonaldHouseChicago.org.
 
I always look forward to the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute Gala, not only because it supports this wonderful film center and great programming, but also because they attract such top talent to attend. Past Renaissance Award recipients have included George Lucas, Alan Arkin, Nicole Kidman, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman and Michael Mann among others. This year’s event, “A Night with Jamie Foxx,” will be hosted by none other than last year’s honoree and one of my favorites –  Robert Downey, Jr. – on June 4th at the Ritz-Carlton from 6 - 10 PM!  I will meet you all in the ticket line!!! For more info and to purchase tickets - starting at $400 - please call Joel Mangers at 312-846-2072 or email [email protected].
 
A Silver Lining Foundation presents “Cabaret for a Cause” at the Redhead Piano Bar, located at 16 W. Ontario St. on Tuesday, April 12th, from 5:30 PM – 8PM. Guests will enjoy cocktails, tasty treats from Cork Catering and a special performance by jazz vocalist Arlene Bardelle accompanied by Tom Muellner. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.ASilverLiningFoundation.org. One hundred percent of the evening’s proceeds support ASLF’s “Buy a Mom a Mammogram” program, which provides no cost screening mammograms and diagnostic follow up testing for uninsured and underinsured patients. So, come to the Cabaret old chum!  
 
For all of you fashion lovers and lovers of good films in general, then I suggest you make a point to see the documentary “Bill Cunningham New York.” I saw it at the advanced screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center and it was fantastic! The camera follows Bill around the streets of NY photographing the chic and fashionable crowd and then onto Paris for Fashion Week. Besides the fashion aspect, it is a very touching story of a man whose life is all about the clothes. When asked why he didn’t shoot Catherine Deneuve at Paris Fashion Week, he replied, “Because she wasn’t wearing anything interesting.” The film will be at the Music Box Theatre shortly so check your local listings.  
 
Just when you think the kid in you might’ve disappeared, a friend like Jan Melk comes along and restores your faith!  She recently hosted a “1950’s Murder Mystery at the Prom Party” and everyone took their costumes verrrrry seriously! Her gorgeous Lake Shore Drive home was transformed back to the 1950’s as guests like Melinda Jakovich, Chris Long, Deb and John Gross (who wore his Latin High School letter sweater and it FIT!), Michel Desjardins, Pierre Desy, Joel Cabrera, Margaret O’Connor, Ted Tetzlaff and Michael O’Meara dressed their parts. Other fun-loving attendees included Christopher Clinton Conway, Sarah Beardsley Tetzlaff, Floyd Elwell, Deb Walters, Cindy Melk, Mary Lou Gorno, Christine Ott, Helen Melchior, Dawn Mattozzi, Katherine and Carson Veach, Stephanie Fields, Geoff Cooke, Jeff Grinspoon, Jon Foley, Bryan Herb, Ralph Senst and Karen Zelden among others. It was fun to play again! Thanks so much Jan on a wonderful evening! (The show was presented by The Murder Mystery Company.) For more pics from this fantastic evening, click here.
 
Finally, warmer weather seems to be approaching! I’m sure we will be going from -80 to 80+ degrees but that’s the price we pay to live in a city as gorgeous as Chicago! In closing, I hope you enjoy this inspiring and thought-provoking video about the power of words, courtesy of Larry Armstrong.
 
Love,
Candace
[email protected]