Not even the weasly vandals who slashed the tires of 51 of the floats dampened the crowd’s enthusiasm this year. If anything, this made everyone more determined than ever to make this 42nd Pride Parade one of 
the best ones yet! And they succeeded! With over 240 entries, this parade gets bigger and better every year. This year was the third time I've had the delight of riding in the Pride Parade, twice on the Baton 
Show Lounge float and this year, on newcomers PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving), courtesy of supportive Board members and pet lovers, Bonnie and Jim Spurlock. Sadly, theirs was also one of the floats that was vandalized 
overnight, which caused a two-hour delay. This delay changed the route for some of the floats but the crowds still came out in force to support this annual event in support of LGBT rights. There was joy everywhere 
you looked on this perfectly gorgeous day that was kicked off this year by Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who had declared June as "Pride Month in Chicago." Grand Marshall Fernanda Rocha, a bisexual “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast 
member and also fitness guru, led the parade. Previous parade marshals in recent years have included Chely Wright, Amanda Billings, Eric Alva and George Takei. Newcomers this year included representatives from the United Peace Corps, the Chicago Teachers Union and the City Colleges of Chicago. Returning this year was an 
entry from the Chicago Cubs as well as parents and children from both the Nettelhorst School and Chicago Waldorf School, PFLAG (Parents & Friends of LGBT’s), American Veterans for Equal Rights and LGBT elders, to name a few. Close to 50 elected city, county, state and federal officials also participated. Historically, the parade is a commemoration and celebration of an 
incident that took place on June 28th, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village gay bar in New York City. That night, patrons of the bar fought back during a raid by police, which was common during that era. Street demonstrations 
continued for several days afterwards. Although gay organizations existed before 1969, during that week, gay liberation groups were formed thus giving birth to the modern day LGBT rights movement that the Pride 
Parade celebrates. Richard Pfeiffer, the parade coordinator, had his hands full this year to say the least but, as always, kept a clear head and the parade moving along. It seemed like every major news station covered this event which was so 
thrilling. Estimates put the crowd at 450,000 and, from my viewpoint atop the PAWS float, I can believe it. There were smiling faces, cheers, doggies, kiddies, Miss Foozie, costumes (skimpy and otherwise), beads and baubles, 
feathers, leather, wigs, balloons, sunburns, cocktails, flags and music everywhere you looked. And, as always, the haters were out. In the last three years, I’ve seen people near the end of the parade 
route, surrounded by police, with very hateful placards that I won’t mention here. Again, it did NOT deter us. I just feel sorry for them…it must be a terrible drain to waste so much energy on hatred. I love this parade 
and what it stands for and always feel very privileged to be a part of it. It is filled with such love and kindness…something we certainly could use more of. (Sadly, my photo gallery on 
Chicago Now is not working due to a platform change. Recently, CN switched from Movable Type to WordPress and, so far, the kinks haven’t been worked out. But if you want to keep checking, click here to EVENTUALLY, see fab photos by Mila Samokhina, Steve Starr and Debra Lynne Harris.)
Last week, I was thrilled to co-host the “50 & Beautiful” fashion show along with Cece & Melinda and Shaun Rajah from the Drake Hotel. Fifty glamorous 
and influential Chicago women over the age of 50 walked the catwalk for charity benefiting the North West Indiana Chapter for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the APDA, the American Parkinson Disease Association. Featured designers included LeAnita, Crescendo Apparel, Menotti Couture, Christos Fur & Leather, Luca Luca, 
DISMERO and Carrie Ella Designer Handbags. The event, held in the magnificent Gold Coast Room, featured models Dorothy Whealan, Jolanta Rouge, Bonni Gross, Kathy 
O’Malley Piccone, Rosemary Fanti, Cookie Cohen, Elizabeth Woodbury, Susan Gohl, Eileen Weinberg, Lynda Silverman, Sue Carey, Tate Devereau, Ellen Wesley, Peggy Jester, Laurie Davis, Marci Holzer and Vonita Reescer to name a few. Man-about-town Marco Foster escorted the ladies on the runway and Rose Mandel produced the show. Congrats and thanks to all of these women who came out to lend their time and talents for charity! (Photos by Steve Starr and Urszula Szterner...click here to view more!)
The Standard Club will host Bright Pink’s 4th Annual High Tea Celebration & Benefit on Sunday, July 10th, from 1 – 4 PM. This event celebrates and honors young, courageous women who face a high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. “For the Women We Love” is a 
benefit that supports the continuation and expansion of Bright Pink’s education and prevention focused programs utilized by the organization’s network of 400,000 individuals. Founded by the human dynamo Lindsay Avner, this high tea will take place in the Standard Club’s Grand Ballroom. Guests will be greeted by a live harpist and the afternoon will be emceed by Celeb TV’s Kelli Zink. The program will include live 
from former Broadway performe, Laurie Akers, stories from the women we serve, a lavish silent auction featuring lifestyle and luxury items as well as the opportunity for a professional photo of you and the women you love on a “bright pink” couch courtesy of Kehoe Designs. Tickets begin at $65 and can be purchased by clicking here.
Four Seasons Chicago’s Executive Chef Kevin Hickey and Chef Koren Grieveson of avec paired 
up for the 5th Annual Crosstown Culinary Classic dinner benefitting Common Threads at Seasons Restaurant. The evening began with a Ballpark Reception featuring Hickey’s and Grieveson’s creative 
interpretations of baseball park snacks. Guests bid on items such as autographed sports memorabilia, culinary experiences and getaways at the silent auction tables that included Cubs’ owner Tom Ricketts’ private seats for a game. For dinner, the chefs served up a three-course menu as ABC 7’s Jim Rose provided the plate-by-plate commentary. For the Sweets Reception, guests were treated to caramel corn, funnel cakes, Valrhona fudgsicles and champagne and beer floats. It was a Cubs/Sox match that they BOTH won for the kids of Common Threads! Click here for more info...and here for more photos!
Congratulations to Chicago magazine’s 2011 “Bold & Beautiful” honorees! They include Lindsay Avner (Bright Pink founder), Andrea Metcalf (“Naked Fitness” author), 
Monica Pedersen (HGTV interior designer and host), Allison Rosati (NBC anchor and reporter) and Audarshia Townsend (features journalist, 312DiningDiva.com and WCIU’s “You & Me This Morning.”) The party will be held at the Kohler Store (Merchandise Mart) on Wednesday, July 13th, from 6 – 8 PM. Congrats to these deserving women!!! I hope to see you at the cocktail party! (Click here for more pics.)
On Tuesday, July 12th, PAVE founder Angela Rose will celebrate “15 Years of Paving Positive Futures” at Rockit Bar & Grill from 6 – 8 PM. The $15 ticket includes appetizers, 
private reception and benefits the nonprofit PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment. Host committee members include Andrea Metcalf, April Rose, Cassandra Gaddo, Chloe Ifergan, Dr. Dominic Gaziano, Frances Renk, Glen Murray, Jenner Evans, Jonathan Landan, Lindsay Hays and moi. Recently, Angela was in Louisiana for a 
statewide training session that PAVE partnered with the Louisiana State Police to discuss sex offenses, sex offenders and the victims of their crimes. Congrats Angela and keep up the great work! For event tickets and more info, please click here).
Wirtz’ Beverage’s Jim Feeley III hosted a Grey Goose Yacht Party this weekend aboard the Perseverance II to thank their supporters and it was one of those kinds of evenings in Chicago 
that you dream about all winter long. Low humidity and a sunset that looked like it had been painted by Renoir. The vodka specialty drinks flowed, the DJ played, the nibbles were nibbled and life was good aboard this 123’ boat docked in Burnham Harbor. Seen on the 
scene were D.C. Crenshaw, Chef Ryan Poli, glam Kelli Zink, the colorful Landon twins (Jon and Andrew), Rebecca Solomon, Dan 
Uslan, Amanda Puck, David Iszak, Ryan Pruett, Liza Sweltzer, Lou Vasta, Joe Minyard, Marisa Molinaro and Alex Boyle with photographer Tyler Curtis. (Tyler recently won a big 
contract shooting the famous soccer team, Manchester United for Aon. No one works harder than Tyler and I am so thrilled for him!) Thanks for the 
beautiful evening, Jim! After, with a recommendation from Kelli Zink, we drove to Taylor Street for dinner at Anthony Potenzo’s Three Aces. This place is so charming with a patio aglow under strands of twinkle lights and a delicious, well-priced menu by Chef Matt Troost. But just seeing Anthony was worth the trip alone! To view ALL party pics, please click here.
It’s summer in Chicago and I hope you’ve all enjoyed your July 4th weekend! I love the smell from all of the backyard BBQs in the neighborhood and hope you have a happy week ahead. May your grills stay hot and your drinks stay cold!
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
P.S. Run, don’t walk to see Cirque du Soleil’s OVO! This fantasy spectacular will leave you bug-eyed with excitement! Opening 
night included a private reception in the Tapis Rouge (Red Carpet) tent, OVO photo ops, champagne, performance artists and hors d’oeuvres. Maureen and Marc Shulman presented OVO with a 10-layer cheesecake topped with a giant 
buttercream egg to celebrate the occasion. They also passed out 900 cheesecake bars to lucky opening night guests. I am still filled with wonderment over the staging, costumes, story, music and acrobatics of these multi-talented performers. 
The show runs through August 21st under the Big Top at United Center. (For tickets and more info, please click here or call 1-800-450-1480...and click here for additional photos.)
Fantastic! Those sexy queens who wore those crowns just rocks my world. :D
Posted by: Spartan300workout | July 11, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Aren't they fabulous?! Every year it seems the parade gets better and better! I was proud to be a part of it! Thanks for checking out my blog too!!!
Posted by: Candid Candace | August 4, 2011 at 11:38 AM