GLAMORAMA LAUNCH PARTY FEATURES BLAH BLAH BLAH!

If Glamorama’s Launch Party is any indication of what’s to come for the main event on Friday, August 12th, then we are going to have to wear helmets! I don’t know where to begin to describe this party at the super cool venue, Room 1520 at 1520 W. Fulton, on Thursday night. We had all the ingredients and then some to make this party rock starting with the incredibly fantastic band, Blah Blah Blah, who graced our event with, not only a high octane musical performance, but also with the debut of their first music video which featured the song from their upcoming EP “Why Am I the Only One Laughing?” Watch for a surprise cameo! (The EP is set for release in August and, currently, the band is giving away a free download on their website, BlahBlahBlahMusic.com.) The crowd of 300 fashion and music loving friends rocked out to the hot sounds of Blah Blah Blah as well as the tunes of DJ E- SIX Crossfader King. They “jumped for joy” in the Action Photo Booth (to see all pics, visit ActionBooth.com), had their portraits done by talented artist Rosemary Fanti, enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and candy counters courtesy of Blue Plate Catering, Hershey and Anna’s Custom Sweets & Treats and were awed by an amazing performance by Hip Hop ConnXion Dancers. There was something for everyone! Local designers Elda de la Rosa and Horacio Nieto brought gorgeous models who sashayed through the crowd in their latest creations to the delight of the guests. As you know Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama is one of the most anticipated fashion shows and parties of the year and I was proud to be its host along with a fantastic Host Committee that included Carol Beitler, Lynne Bredfeldt, Cindy Burns, DC Crenshaw, Fabrice Calmels, Christopher Clinton Conway, Samantha Amato, Erica Bethe Levin, Jessica Zweig, Corri McFadden, Kristina McGrath, Quenten Schumacher, Marcus Riley, Ken Norgan, Helen, Maryanne and Corinne Melchior, Cece Gonzalez, Melinda Joseph, Kerry and Sally Shorr, Lynn McMahan, Rich Varnes, Leslie Hindman, Linda Johnson Rice, Katie McLenaghan, John Walcher, Julee White, Jim Smith, Andrea and Laura Schwartz, Ann Danner, Rhonda Sanderson, Richard Gamble, Tom Gorman, Greg Hyder and Amanda Puck. Event Creative transformed the space to create magic that corresponded to the Ronald McDonald House mission. Scattered throughout the space were oversized Ronald McDonald Houses imprinted with the words HOPE, LOVE and CARE. The point of the evening was driven home when 12-year- old Alisha Van Fosson took to the stage. She tearfully described what the House has meant to her and her family during the course of her 32 surgeries. No 12-year-old should have to bear these kinds of troubles but it was heartening to know that the ray of hope and love for her and her family was a Ronald McDonald House. For the third year, Glamorama has chosen Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana as its charity beneficiary and I couldn’t be happier! Cee-Lo Green and Far East Movement will be performing at Glamorama and I know they will be terrific but my heart belongs to BLAH BLAH BLAH! Hope to see you all at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, August 12th! Special thanks to CS Magazine, Lisa Newman of Creative One Consulting and presenting sponsor Aon Hewitt and Tyronne Stoudemire. We couldn’t have done it without YOU! For Glam tickets and more info, please visit www.RonaldHouseChicago.com (To view ALL event pics by Mila Samokhina with additional pics by Steve Starr, please click here.)

I am sad to say I had never been to the Friends of Prentice Gala but I am happy to say they didn’t need me anyway since this event is a yearly sellout. For their 25th annual gala themed “Reflections,” the phrase that kept popping up with everyone I talked with was “this party is wild!” And you had to see it to believe it! First of all, it was the largest silent auction I had ever seen with over 750 items. There were trip giveaways, kid stuff, food and wine packages, beauty and fashion offerings, interior décor items and nights on the town that included Lollapalooza, Steppenwolf, The Joffrey Ballet, Lyle Lovett and Victory Gardens Theatre among a zillion others. Everywhere you looked guests were carrying big tote bags for the toy giveaways that were to come. Navy Pier is a gorgeous venue for big events and the décor by Taylor & Co. on this night was simply elegant. Long, willowy branches on the tables were dramatic yet still allowed guests to see each other. Their “Heads or Tails” game is a highly anticipated part of the evening and involved anyone who had purchased a day-glo necklace. I’m not giving this idea away. You need to go next year and see it for yourself! Event co-chairs, Carol Bernick (Friends of Prentice founder), Erica Goldman, Joanne DeSanctis Kirk, Christopher Newton and Stanley Pillman, attracted over 700 guests to this event that raised $450,000 for the charity. For info on this wonderful organization, please visit www.friendsofprentice.org. (To view ALL gala pics, please click here.)

What a great evening at the Peninsula for the annual Illinois Eye-Bank Gala! Only this year, the hosts mixed things up a bit and decided the sit-down dinner would be replaced with a more casual “Summer Sight Soiree” to honor this year’s Woman of Vision, Jean Antoniou, and the Gift of Sight Honoree, Dr. Randy Epstein. Since the temps were rather cool, the outdoor terrace was nixed but the ever resilient Greg Hyder, the Pen’s Director of Catering, simply moved the Tom Kehoe décor inside to the ballroom and all was right with the world. Actually, it looked even better indoors instead of outdoors, who knew? Anyway, the room was filled with friends of Jean’s and Randy’s who were thrilled that they had been chosen for this honor. Event Chair Dr. David Donnersberger said, “This may be the first annual Summer Sight Soiree, but it is our 13th annual spring event benefitting the Illinois Eye-Bank. The woman behind all these years of success is Beverly Blettner. In honor of her efforts, the Beverly Blettner Gift of Knowledge endowment fund was created in 2003. From the start, Beverly understood the need for the Eye-Bank to educate people about eye, organ and tissue donation, and the importance of sharing one’s decision to be a donor with family members.” There was a VIP reception, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres, a BIG buffet, a raffle, silent auction and music by Deep Blue Field. Greg Hyder lovingly introduced his long-time friend Jean and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Congrats to these two philanthropic Chicagoans on their much deserved honors! For more info on this organization, please visit www.IllinoisEyeBank.org. (To view ALL event pics by Caitlin Saville and Steve Starr, please click here.)

The DuPage Children’s Museum “Champions for Children” Benefit Ball raised more than $335,000 for their annual gala at Hotel Arista this year. This black-tie sit-down dinner’s live auction included a trip on the Orient Express from Venice to Paris, a Sea Dream Yacht Club luxury Caribben cruise and a golf package at Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale. Brenda and Tom Harter Sr. were Honorary Chairs and ABC 7’s Judy Hsu was the emcee for the evening. The DuPage Children’s Museum helps develop learning skills for children through their interactive exhibits and programs. The lead sponsor for this year’s event was Macy’s. Additional sponsors included the Harter Family, Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation and Bulley & Andrews, among others. Congrats on another year of making learning fun for kids! To learn more about this organization, please visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org.

And now for something completely different! Australia’s “Thunder from Down Under” comes to town on Friday, June 24th, to the LaSalle Power Company. This one is for the LADIES! This steamy, internationally acclaimed Las Vegas-based male revue has been drawing raves. Voted “Best Male Revue” by readers of the Las Vegas Review- Journal, this sexy group of guys have appeared on “Ellen,” “Regis & Kelly,” “The Today Show” and the “The View” to name a few. They will be in town until October 29th and will be appearing Fridays at 7 and 10 PM, and Saturdays at 7, 9 and 11 PM.  I will meet you in the ticket line! (Tickets are $39.95 per person with a VIP package available at $59.95. (For tix and more info, please visit www.ThunderinChicago.com.)

Don’t forget Common Threads’ Crosstown Culinary Classic on Friday, June 24th at Seasons Restaurant in the Four Seasons. This multi-course dinner is described as a “Culinary Field of Dreams” between Seasons' Chef Kevin Hickey (an avid White Sox fan) and avec’s Chef Koren Grieveson. Tickets are $175 and can be purchased by calling 312.329.2501.

The following night, Saturday June 25th, Dr. Sandy Goldberg will be hosting the Ninth Annual Tasting Stars party benefitting her A Silver Lining Foundation’s free mammography program, “Buy Mom a Mammogram.” The party will be held at DIRTT, located at 325 N. Wells St., overlooking the Chicago River. Guests will enjoy champagne, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and delicious treats from Terry’s Toffee and cheese pairings courtesy of Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine. This wonderful organization funds cost free mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women at six Chicagoland partner hospitals. For more info and tickets ($150), please visit www.TastingStars.org.)

The 62nd Annual Old Town Art Fair is one of the oldest juried art fairs in the country and this year attracted 260 talented artists from every medium. There were beautiful paintings, sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, photography, ceramics, metalworks and even some darling whimsical pieces that were hard to describe except for the fact that they just made you smile. The gardens that were on view this year were especially lush after all of the rain. The Children's Corner offered face painting, Mad Science projects and dancing with Thodos Dance Chicago while the adults were treated to wonderful food stands that included funnel cakes, corn dogs, blue crabcakes, key lime pie, BBQ, sirloin pita pockets, brats, Polish sausage, hot dogs, tacos, tamales, guacamole, sweet potato fries, cheese fries, organic donuts and grilled corn on the cob. My waistline is expanding just writing these words but it was a fine weekend of fun and I can't wait until my little street is magically transformed again next year with the Hobbit-like little booths of the artists. My highlights of the Old Town Art Fair this year included Lucy and Steve Weiss' fantastic party in the courtyard of the famous Yellow House, Diane and Tom Leibig's musical get-together with Tom's famous marinated lamb kebobs, Pat and John Hall's surprise party for former Alderman Vi Daley and the much anticipated launch of Shirley Baugher's latest book about this area we love so much entitled “Hidden History of Old Town.” (To buy this charming book, please click here and to see more photos here!)

I was so thrilled to be on ABC 7’s hot, new show “Windy City Live” this week. I love this show because its entire focus is all things-Chicago. I also think Valerie Warner and Ryan Chiaverini are two of the cutest hosts around. One of the producers calls Valerie “lightning in a bottle” and I couldn’t agree more! To see my segment, please click here and for my WCL back-story, please click here. Watch weekdays beginning at 9 AM on Ch. 7. You will love it too! Good luck WCL! It’s great having you in town! (To view more pics, click here.)

Whew, that’s a lot of news for one week! Chicago is always on the move and I can’t wait to bring you the highlights from around town! See you next week, same time, same place!

Love,
Candace
[email protected]

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