Candid Candace

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE’S 40TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

...PLUS “MAKING A SCENE” FOR CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE, “GREAT FUTURES” FOR UNION LEAGUE, WORLD OF CHOCOLATE, POP TABS FOR CHARITY, WHAT I’M THANKFUL FOR AND MORE!

The Junior League’s 40th annual Gazebo Holiday Market celebrated the organization’s centennial year on Friday, November 18th, and was filled with more than 40 vendors from across the country. The preview party, “Martinis & Mistletoe,” was chaired by Julie Rogers and Laura Stevenson and attracted more than 350 young, professional movers and shakers. Santa (aka John Sullivan) greeted guests at the door and, for a small donation, you could have your photo taken with him. The atmosphere was festive and happy and it seemed like ALL of the organization’s 1,600 women members participated in some way to make this event the success that it was. Shopping continued on Saturday with almost 1,000 people attending! Friday night’s preview party included cocktails, music, cheese samplings from Cabot Creamery, Jo Malone fragrance consultations, facials by Thrive Integrative Medical Spa, chair massages by Health Source Chiropractic, raffle drawings, Sugar Bliss Cupcakes samplings, tasty hors d’oeuvres and so much more. It also offered a first look at the unique holiday offerings that included gifts from Antique Creations (Art Deco cufflinks, Victorian watches and more items filled with nostalgia), Tiny Creations (children’s clothing), Katherine Anne Confections (delicious handmade chocolate truffles and caramels), K. Amato Jewelry, Barque (canine couture) and Shernette Swaby (designer creations) among many others. There were a couple of standouts at this holiday market that could be a column all on their own – the first being Frames by Devora. I was captivated by this colorful booth manned by a very cheery Sheila Fisher, mother of Devora. At seven months old, Devora was diagnosed with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum and has since then had numerous additional medical problems requiring 24-hour supervision. Despite her diagnosis, she graduated from New Trier High School in 2007 and now, at age 26, is painting and designing custom photo frames to raise awareness for this disease as well as to enable herself and others like her to live with family and lead fulfilling lives as productive members of their community. Sheila Fisher said, “Our goal with Frames by Devora is to spread the message that no matter what level someone is that everyone can do something and everyone has worth.” What a delightful idea for a holiday gift! My other highlight was an amazing baby collection called TwoTara designed and conceived 15 months ago by Kate Janeczko that included pink-to-blue reversible clothing and accessories for newborn babies. With over 40 percent of new parents not learning the sex of their baby until birth, this product is a game changer! No more settling for yellow and green for a baby gift. TwoTara also makes a perfect baby shower gift, take-home outfit and the perfect hand-me-down! Kate’s collection is now in 50 stores in eleven states and I’m pretty sure it will become a household name soon! For this wonderful two-day market, a portion of every purchase was donated to the JLC’s community projects dedicated to the empowerment of at-risk women and children in the Chicagoland area. Mark your calendars now for their next event, “Windy City Nights,” which is set for Saturday, March 24th.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked off the annual “Making a Scene” benefit with more than 250 supporters in attendance to benefit the Chicago Children’s Theatre, the city’s only professional theatre company dedicated to young audiences. The event was held at the Ravenswood Billboard Factory, a hip, urban one-of-a-kind special event venue filled with classic cars, retro neon signs, steel beams and skylights. Steve Dolinsky, ABC 7’s “Hungry Hound” planned a delicious menu for the evening in consultation with J & L Catering. Magician and House Theatre company member Dennis Watkins performed a daring stunt made famous by Harry Houdini – a death-defying escape from Houdini’s Water Torture Cell. (Watkins’ stunt spurred buzz for the theatre’s upcoming world premiere of “The Houdini Box,” the new musical adventure set to begin on January 27th at Chicago’s Mercury Theater.) With leadership from event co-chairs Krista and J.P. Gallagher, Julia Harris, Sonny Garg and the CCT “Making a Scene” host committee, this event surpassed its fundraising goals raising more than $340K for the theatre company and its Red Kite Project, an ongoing outreach initiative dedicated to making live theater accessible to children on the autism spectrum. Actor Daniel Eichengreen delivered a touching testimonial about this project and the effect it’s had on his own life. Auctioneer Greg Dellinger fielded bids on live auction packages that included a Starwood’s Viceroy Anguilla Caribbean Beach Resort trip with first class United Airlines airfare (what a perfect time for this prize!) and a Top Gun Simulator package gifted by United Airlines to experience flight from the captain’s seat at their Denver training facility among other exciting offerings. (I’ll take the Caribbean trip please, thank you very much!) “Scenemaker” host committee members included Eda Davidman, Gigi Pritzker Pucker and Michael Pucker, Elizabeth and Jeff Purvis, Steve Dolinsky, Ahmer and Samar Ahmad, Kristen and Matt Bonanno, Tom and Dawn Clewatt, Rob and Mary Collins, Nancy Cooper, Jerry and Bill Eichengreen, Bridget Gainer, Mara and Andy Gloor, Nada and Michael Gray among others. Chicago Children’s Theatre’s latest hit musical, “Goodnight Moon, the Musical” is on stage now at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, located at 2433 N. Lincoln, through December 23rd. To view ALL event pics by Ravi Ganapathy, please click here!)

The 34th Annual Union League Boys & Girls Clubs Gala, “Great Futures Start Here,” brought out more than 300 supporters and raised upwards of $200K to support the organization’s five clubhouses throughout the city. ABC7 anchor Kathy Brock emceed this event chaired by Gail Kiss to raise funds to expand programs and services which will benefit more than 11,000 Chicago children. The evening included a silent and live auction featuring a sculpture by respected Chicago artist, Richard Hunt. Guests dined on a seasonally inspired four course meal by Union League Club Executive Chef Michael Garbin and danced the night away to the sounds of the Al Sofia Orchestra. The organization’s impact on the community is substantial with 99 percent of its members graduating from high school. Union League Boys & Girls Club President Michael Chioros had this to say: “Over the past 34 years the gala has raised more than $3 million and benefitted over 250,000 youths ages 6-18 in Chicago. Additionally, we are able to offer 697 youths an opportunity to attend our 250 acre summer camp in Salem, Wisconsin where they can experience an environment free from drugs, gangs and violence and lead them to a great future.” For more than 90 years, the organization has served thousands of children in five inner city Chicago clubs in the Pilsen, West Town and Humboldt Park communities. (For more info about this wonderful organization, please visit www.ulbgc.org and big thanks to Steve Starr for the fab fotos!)

The 10th annual World of Chocolate holiday extravaganza benefitting the Aids Foundation of Chicago will be held at the Hilton Chicago on Thursday, December 1st from 6 – 9 p.m. This year’s event will help commemorate World AIDS Day and help celebrate the beginning of the holiday season in grand style with chocolate creations from more than 30 of Chicago’s finest restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers. A Memory Wall, a powerful display of photos and words, will honor those who have died from HIV/AIDS and those who bravely live with the disease every day. For tickets and more info, please click here. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Food was plentiful at my sister and brother-in-law’s, (Nancy and Os Steinwald) and the family is healthy. Sadly, I know this isn’t the case for everyone. Maybe this is why I’ve always loved Oprah’s idea of a gratitude journal. I also love – and never miss – Michael Sneed’s annual Sun-Times Thanksgiving column where she gives thanks for the important things in her life. And it isn’t just the obvious things like the good health of your children or the love of your spouse: She is thankful for the small things, too, like a cactus wren or the smell of coffee from a favorite restaurant in Mexico. As I reflect on the year that’s almost behind us, I think there is certainly much to be thankful for. Of course I am grateful for my ever-patient husband Chuck. I don’t know how he puts up with some of my “ideas” but I am certainly grateful. I love putting up my Christmas décor and love the memories of each and every ornament as I place it on our tree. I love feeding the backyard birds and especially love the Downy woodpecker that seems so tame he practically comes when I call. I love watching the dancers of the Joffrey Ballet do anything. I love knowing that our city will have the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House. I love knowing that Common Threads is growing by leaps and bounds so more kids can gain confidence and knowledge through its programs. I love the horse and carriages that clatter down our street when you least expect it. I love my neighbors...yes, you heard me right. I love any party at Steve and Lucy Weiss’. They remind me of what a community should be like with wonderful camaraderie and happy, easy laughter. And I love seeing my friends succeed at whatever task they’re attempting. (To see pics, please click here.) I am also so very, very grateful to have this blog, my Tribune column, my Chicago Now gig (and Jimmy Greenfield especially) and my new show on Watch312.com. You never know where life will take you but I am ready for the ride! :)

Love and thanks for your readership,
Candace
[email protected] 

P.S. I know that money is short nowadays for everybody and that buying expensive tickets to charity galas is not always an option, but if you still want to help the less fortunate, Ronald McDonald House Charities has a solution! If you have the opportunity, please save your pop tabs! United Scrap Metal, a local recycling company, recycles the metal and pays RMHC the market value, plus a charitable match on a percentage of their profit. There are six locations to turn in your tabs so please click here for more info and happy recycling!

“DREAMING A LITTLE DREAM” FOR ST. JUDE

...PLUS PAWS’ RECORD BREAKER, OPEN DOORS GALA, MARTHA STEWART, TOY DRIVES, A TRIP TO THE DESERT, HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS AND MORE!

It is so heartwarming to see charity events breaking records in these tough economic times. All of the events I’ve attended recently have had record attendance and have raised more money than in years past. This year’s, St. Jude “Dream a Little Dream” Fashion Show and Luncheon was no exception. With the biggest crowd in the event’s 17-year history, this much loved event brought out more than 1,500 supporters and raised more than $338K! Presenting sponsors for the next two years, Camping World and Good Sam presented a fashion extravaganza produced by none other than Chicago’s own Tracey Tarantino of ZZazz Productions. (Nancy Long was the fashion coordinator.) They knocked it out of the ballpark with collections from York Furrier, BCBG, Cusp, Neiman Marcus, Escada, Talbots, Luca Luca, Swaby, Nade Baer, Elda de la Rosa, menswear by Lord & Taylor and Furla accessories. Show highlights included glam jewels from sponsor Swarovski and a cool, holiday-inspired collection by designer darling Peach Carr of “Project Runway.” Since this is the 17th year of this event and the underlying theme of the fashion show was “Dream a Little Dream,” Tracey opted for music from The Beatles, opening with “She Was Just 17.” There were even five dancing Marilyn Monroes to add some high energy fun to the show. Entertainment was provided by Larry Adams who performed with his wife, Jessye Wright. Both are accomplished singers with Larry being named by Chicago magazine as Chicago Theatre’s best singer. Emcee for the event was NBC’s Allison Rosati who charmed the crowd from beginning to end. I was so thrilled to be the honorary chair and my highlight was introducing this year’s host family, Annie and Michael Brady and their superhero son, Michael. Michael was diagnosed last year at age three with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. Within hours of this diagnosis, Michael and Annie were pursuing the best course of treatment for their precious little boy. With the support of family and friends, they decided to uproot their small family (Michael also has a little sister, Allie) and relocate to Memphis, the home of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They made this decision knowing that at St. Jude, Michael would receive the best care in the world available for children with cancer. Annie, told the crowd in a moving speech that her daughter “took her first steps in the halls of St. Jude with the support and cheering of St. Jude staff.” Executive Committee member Cathy Shaker Breit said, “I was informed that tickets sales were sold out four weeks ago or else the attendance might have hit over 2,000. This event, from my 478 years on the Board (LOL!) is by far the largest I’m aware of. The goodwill and grassroots efforts it creates to fuel other local Chicago events is invaluable.” (To view Michael Brady's heartfelt story, please see the following video).

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This event began with a champagne reception as well as makeup and hair touchups by Trish McEvoy and Ultimate Hair and a wine tasting by The Naked Grape. I was also proud to conduct a “Text to Live” that raised an extra $4,400 for the event. The extensive raffle had something for everyone and is always a favorite of attendees. Exciting packages this year for the Dream Raffle included tickets to the finale of “American Idol,” a Disney package with a Waldorf-Astoria stay, Blackhawks, Sox and Cubs tickets, a $1,000 Nordstrom gift card and a Kayman Scooter among hundreds of other prizes. The St. Jude Executive Committee - Cathy Shaker Breit, Ann Danner Dwyer, Toni Hasan and Terry Shaker - worked long and hard to make this “Dream a Little Dream” a reality and they did so in grand style. Congrats on this wonderful event benefitting the premier pediatric cancer research center in the world! To view ALL event pics by Mila Samokhina and John Giesecke, please click here and to view my “Candid Candace Chicago” video on Watch312.com, please see below! Do you like the new show name!!??? :)

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The PAWS Fur Ball is one of my favorite events! How could it not be when you see terriers in tennis shoes, dachshunds in diamonds and Chihuahuas in cowboy hats?! And like the St. Jude event, this event was also a sellout with more than 650 animal lovers and their 200 pets! The 10th annual Fur Ball’s co-chairs Julie and Kurt Miller and Nancy and Michael Timmers planned an exciting night of fundraising highlights that included amazing one-of-a-kind live auction packages. A trip for two to Argentina brought $11K while a portrait sitting by Victor Skrebneski raised $31K. Other packages included two tickets to an “American Idol” taping in Hollywood, a week-long stay in a Tuscan villa, tickets for two to the 2012 Grammy Awards (that sold for $25K) and the opportunity to have your pet featured on the cover of PAWS’ 2013 desktop calendar that sold for $38K. Five-year board member Judith Blazer also donated $1 million the week before to support PAWS’ many good works. Fifteen PAWS puppies and kittens were on display tugging at everyone’s heartstrings and during the course of the evening six were adopted. One of the adoptees, a kitten with burned paws who had just been released from the hospital on this day, was the first to be adopted by Joann and Michael Sweig. Two of my tablemates, Anne-Marie and Murry Peretz, also became proud parents of a darling doggie on this magical night. This premier pet lover’s event began with a red carpet followed by a cocktail reception surrounded by the extensive silent auction items. There was even a doggie spa complete with masseuses and pawdicures donated by Paradise 4 Paws. Canine guests were also treated to a Pet Buffet located in the French Room where they could dine on chicken and rice with gravy, green beans and carrots served in crystal goblets and dog cookies, donated by McGrath Lexus & Acura. Animal communicator Debbie Weaver was on hand as well as artist Rosemary Fanti who had so many requests for pet pics that she ran out of paper!!! Human parents enjoyed a delicious dinner buffet in the elegant Gold Coast Room of the Drake Hotel; dancing continued in the French Room. PAWS Chicago has been saving pets’ lives since 1997 and, this year, will exceed 4,200 adoptions. Founder Paula Fasseas was proud to report that this year’s event netted $750K - $150K more than last year’s! To learn more about this worthwhile organization, please click here. To view ALL event pics by Mila Samokhina and moi, please click here and to see my “Candid Candace Chicago” video on Watch312.com, please see below!

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Columbia College’s Open Doors Gala, co-chaired by Richard Kiphart and Sylvia Neil, raised nearly $700K and honored Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of Johnson Publishing Company. The organization’s first Chicago Legacy Award was created to recognize those who have made a significant impact in the Chicago community and have helped “open doors” for future generations. Johnson Publishing has a long-standing relationship with Columbia College, including hiring interns and graduates. Columbia College recently purchased the Johnson Publishing headquarters building for the future site of the college library. This festive evening began with a cocktail reception featuring creative installations throughout the Media Production Center displaying student film work, art, photography, jazz music and fashion design. Columbia President Dr. Warrick Carter and Board Chairman Allen Turner welcomed guests. The sit-down dinner, catered by Food for Thought, followed and included a root vegetable “mosaic wall” and beef tenderloin plus a made-to-order donut bar for dessert. The evening’s entertainment featured performances by the Columbia College Gospel Choir & Rhythm Section among other student-driven performances. Congrats to Linda Johnson Rice for this much deserved honor! For more info about Columbia College and all they have to offer, please click here. (Photos courtesy of Steve Becker and Robert Kusel...to view all event pics, please click here!)

The North Shore Women’s Board and the Chicago Women’s Board of the American Cancer Society along with The Book Stall recently welcomed dining and design guru Martha Stewart to celebrate the release of her new book, “Martha’s Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations.” More than 320 guests, including author luncheon chair of the NSWB Shannon Weasler, author luncheon chair of the CWB Connie Teska, and emcee Kathy Brock (ABC 7) enjoyed lunch at the Hilton Orrington Hotel in Evanston while listening to Stewart discuss her life and work. The event raised more than $15K for the American Cancer Society. Seen on the scene were Lynn McMahan, Michaela Parrillo, Toni Canada, Kristina McGrath, Jan Flanagan, Angie Campolo, Megan Galante, Jan Evans, Stacy Barrins (Chicago Women’s Board president), Andrea Hurteau (North Shore Women’s Board president), Sally Jo Morris, Betty Rendell, Ann Lynch and Sheree Valukas among many others.

And now here are some upcoming events for wonderful causes that Candid Candace Recommends!

On December 10th, don’t miss Kris Kringle’s 9th Annual Holiday Toy Drive and Kandy Kane Ball at 940 W. Weed St. beginning at 9 p.m. Spinmasters DJ Sye Young and DJ JEM will get the party started at this Winter Wonderland (aka Joe’s Bar) where a toy donation is required and pre-sale tickets are only $40. Cocktail attire is requested and there will be an open bar, appetizers, a live choir and festive holiday décor. The toys will be distributed to hundreds of children at Holy Name Church on December 17th and anyone is welcome to help. It’s a great opportunity to give back during the holiday season! This event is an annual sellout so get your tickets now! Tickets can be purchased at www.Ticketweb.com or at Joe’s Bar.

Still with children in mind for the holidays, the 5th Annual Brad’s Kids Toy Drive will take place on Thursday, December 15th, from 7 – 9 p.m. at The Joynt, located at 650 N. Dearborn. All you need to bring is a new, wrapped toy to gain entry to this party offering complimentary cocktails, live music and more! Since 2007, Brad’s Kids has delivered more than 25,000 toys to seven local hospitals. Visit www.bradskids.org for more info.

How about a terrific holiday getaway for a good cause? On January 27th, Dance for Life will host a celebratory evening of dance in support of the AIDS Assistance Program and The Dancer’s Fund in Palm Springs at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater. Tickets for the event start at $150 and can be purchased by calling 760.325.8481 or clicking here. With Chicago Ambassadors Katherine Chez Malkin and Carol Kaplan rounding up support from other “snowbirds,” you know this event will be a sellout!

I hope you, your families and friends all have a delightful, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be grateful for...

Love,
Candace
[email protected]

P.S. And if you’re getting in the gift giving mood for the holidays and just don’t know where to go, may I suggest Leslie Hindman Auctioneers at 1338 W. Lake St.? Her “Fine Jewelry and Timepieces” auction will begin previews on Wednesday, November 30th , beginning at 10 a.m. The preview will run through Saturday, December 3rd, with the auction on Sunday and Monday, December 4th and 5th. I have the catalog and, believe you and me, there are more than 1,100 lots running the gamut and price ranges in luxurious jewelry and watches. :) Sigh...

THE SERVICE CLUB OF CHICAGO GALA REVISITS CLUB EL MOROCCO!

...PLUS HALLOWEEN FUN, EMMY NEWS, THE JOFFREY BALLET'S NUT, MENDING FENCES, A NEW CHICAGO STREET, A "CLASSY" BOOK, UPCOMING FUN EVENTS AND MORE!

Once upon a time in 1890, 14 young ladies - inspired by Jane Addams of Hull House - met to form a philanthropic organization to improve the lives of the less fortunate. Now, 121 years later, the Service Club of Chicago celebrated this landmark anniversary with its annual Gala, this year themed “An Evening of Glamour at Club El Morocco.” The ballroom of the Four Seasons was magically transported back to an era of elegance and Old World Hollywood glamour where the rich and famous danced and drank the night away against the backdrop of zebra printed banquettes. This Manhattan supper club, famous from the ‘30s thru the ‘50s, celebrated a lifestyle that everyday people could only read about in the newspapers. Where people like Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and Jackie Kennedy Onassis (in both incarnations) mixed and mingled with royalty. Event designer Tom Kehoe was the genius behind this evening’s transformation and, according to some who had visited the original El Morocco, it was true down to the last detail. When I first entered the room, my jaw dropped in amazement; believe you and me, I’ve seen some pretty incredible event venues but nothing like this. Tom had even created zebra banquettes that replaced chairs around many of the tables. The centerpieces featured three-foot-tall, thin crystal vases holding simple white calla lilies or wispy palms evocative of that era. Many of the guests were inspired by the invitation to dress accordingly. I saw beautiful vintage gowns with statement jewelry, fur boas, feathered evening bags, flapper-inspired hairstyles, cigarette holders...there were even old-fashioned cigarette girls selling Cuban cigars while wearing flirty, little pillbox hats, shorts and cropped tuxedo jackets. There were prizes inside some of the cigars such as rounds of golf or dinners at top restaurants. (Insanely clever, right?) I also saw some guests who thought “El Morocco” meant the country of Morocco but this is another story! LOL! The live auction prizes, presented by Jim Karas, were outstanding too and included a trip to Ireland for the Notre Dame/Navy football game ($4,500), three days and two nights on Susan and Fred Gohl’s yacht in Naples, Florida ($3,500), an African photo safari ($6,500), a seven-day Holland America Cruise Line trip for two (your choice of itinerary, $3,750), after-party tickets to the Golden Globes, NY Fashion Week tickets and a trip to Skibo Castle in Scotland. An adorable Havanese puppy from PAWS went to a lucky bidder as well. Raffle prizes included a custom gown by designer Elda de la Rosa, earrings from Pomellato and a John Reilly photography session among others. SC President Sherrill Bodine welcomed the crowd and spoke about dedicating her year as president to the memory of her mother, who was mentally disabled since birth. She said, “Mentally, she never progressed older than six years old. She could not read or write. I am a writer—she was never able to read any of my books. In the years I’ve worked on the Philanthropic Committee and seen the organizations in Chicago which assist women like my mother, I’ve often thought that if she’d lived in this wonderful city she could have been helped. She might have been able to learn to read. What a gift that would’ve been. That is the kind of gift you are giving to others by being here tonight. Thank you for helping us make Chicago a better place in which to live—for everyone.” Emcees Valerie Warner and Ryan Chiaverini (struggling with crutches from his recent surgery), spoke about the history of the Service Club and thanked them for their 121 years of service. Event co-chairs Toni Canada, Laurie Davis and Dusty Stemer brought out a sell-out crowd of more than 430 people who danced the night away to the sophisticated dance arrangements by the Ken Arlen Orchestra who played everything from Cole Porter to club music. The orchestra also accompanied special guest performer Shelley MacArthur Farley, who entertained the crowd with her cabaret style. The memorable and delicious dinner menu included potato pumpkin soup, roast beef tenderloin with wild mushroom sauce and asparagus as well as a seasonal trio of desserts. The party continued into the State Room where the Leopard Lounge was in full swing as we said our goodbyes. I could almost hear Truman Capote gossiping in the corner. This year’s Gala raised close to $250K. (Additional photos by Cindy Barrymore, Caitlin Saville Collins and Steve Starr.) Please enjoy my video coverage on Watch312.com and to view ALL event pics, please click here!      

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I don’t know about you, but it was a pretty spooky Halloween in my Old Town neighborhood this year. Emmy award winner Steve Weiss of Zacuto Manufacturing, along with his beautiful wife Lucy and sister-in-law Christina Wojtas, hosted a thriller of an evening complete with fog machines, 12-foot-tall ghosts, vampires, bonfires, roasted weenies and marshmallows and witches’ brew along with a cast of local, costumed characters. Steve and Lucy’s ethereal daughter Isabel was dressed as a Victorian vampire (think Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise’s daughter in “Interview with the Vampire”) and she played her part to the hilt complete with pet “rats” (fake, thank God!) she carried around in a cage to scare the bejesus out of guests to peals of laughter (hers). It was a great night with friends who feel like family. Thanks for the memories! (To view all pics, please click here!)

Emmy congratulations go out to Zacuto’s Steve Weiss, Jens Bogehegn and Scott Lynch on their exciting win this weekend! They received the award for “FilmFellas” and now have multiple Emmys on their office shelves! Kudos all around!

And speaking of kudos, congrats to Dr. Arnie Tatar! Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently passed a resolution naming a street after this beloved doc! Can’t wait to drive down Honorary Arnold M. Tatar, MD Way! Congrats to Arnie and his darling family on this great honor!

 

I met the “The Fence Doctor” Fred Gebbia when he was working on a street near my house...on a fence, of course! You see, Fred is a master iron worker and craftsman who has been featured in a zillion magazines and the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. He built the winning structure on national TV for HGTV’s "Landscape Design Challenge," appeared in “Public Enemies” and the “Garden in a City” show in Millennium Park. He has brought treasured, landmarked Victorian iron fences back to life, many times recreating the missing pieces himself in his studio. He has worked on many celebrity homes and to show you the kind of guy he is, he didn’t want to share their names unless he got their permission. He’s not interested in expanding his company to multiple crews since he makes sure he’s on every job himself “to make sure it’s done right.” He laughs and says, “That means I’ll never get rich but I don’t think that’s why we’re here on earth.” This guy is the real deal from the inside out and as the Carly Simon song goes, “Nobody does it better...” To learn more, email Fred here.

The holiday season is fast approaching and during this time of the year, my thoughts turn to nutcrackers – as in the The Joffrey Ballet’s annual crowd pleaser known affectionately as “America’s #1 Nutcracker” which begins on Saturday, December 9th and runs through the 27th at the Auditorium Theatre. On Saturday, December 10th, The Women’s Board of The Joffrey Ballet presents the Nutcracker Family Dinner which will be held at the Palmer House Hilton in the State and Grand Ballrooms. The enchanting evening will feature entertainment for children and adults alike, a traditional family-style meal, and of course, a thrilling performance of Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker. Guests will have the option of attending the matinee or evening performance of The Nutcracker on December 10th. The evening’s co-chairs Sonya Jackson and Cindy Burns, both Women’s Board members, have created an evening of family fun. The delightful evening begins at 4:00 PM on the fourth floor of the Palmer House in the State Ballroom with cocktails, punch, lively entertainment and special “Creation Stations” that the entire family can enjoy. At 5:15 PM, guests will be seated in the Grand Ballroom for a traditional family-style meal. It is a tradition you should begin now! 

Desiree Rogers, Susu Block and Kara Mann co-hosted a party in PUBLIC Chicago’s Library to celebrate the launch of Derek Blasberg’s latest book, “Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady.” Blasberg is a fashion writer, editor and New York Times best-selling author who was born in St. Louis now lives in NY (with his dachshund named Monster) where he is the editor-at-large of Harper’s Bazaar and senior editor of V magazine and VMAN, the fashion titles from arts collective Visionaire. His latest book, an expanded, updated and revamped version of his original best seller - “Very Classy” - is a collection of humorous essays and illustrations that pertain to etiquette. Harper’s Bazaar said, “He is to parties what Rob Pattinson is to vampires but you don’t get bitten, you get smitten.” In its second week, “Very Classy” was certified a New York Times best seller and has since been translated into several languages and published in countries in Asia, South America and Europe. (To order his book, please click here!) 

The Chicago Academy of Dance is hosting a “More Dinner Than Dance” soiree at Tantrik Chicago, located at 800 Superior, on Friday, November 18th, from 7 – 10 PM with an after-party from 10 PM – 2 AM. This formal party will benefit the renovation of their first location at 3433 S. Indiana Ave. CAM offers free music education through a variety of programs for children who are undeserved and/or chronically poor in the South and West sides of Chicago. This event will showcase the finest vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers Chicago has to offer. For tickets and more info, please visit www.CAMChicago.org.

Well, that’s the lowdown on this week’s fun highlights! Hope you’re having a great week and I hope to “see” you here next week!

Love,
Candace
[email protected]

P.S. I conducted a little Facebook Halloween Contest and I had lots of creative entries but, hands down, my favorite was "24/7" producer Jeff Conway’s! Both the name and the costume made me giggle - take a look at his “Jack (Daniels) and the Beanstalk” look if you want a laugh, too! He’s a brave man! To see all of the cute entries, please click here!