PLUS THE JENNY AND DONNIE INTERVIEW ON WATCH312; A NEW GUEST BLOGGER; ALL ABOARD!; ABC 7'S LIVE NYE COVERAGE; PUBLIC CHICAGO'S NYE WITH HEBRU AND THE BULLS; EAT AND DRINK TO THE BEAT AT THE HARRIS; REDMOON'S SPECTACLE LUNATIQUE (VIDEO!); BORRIS POWELL'S "FREEDOM" FASHION SHOW (VIDEO); FANTASY OF THE OPERA; 10 FAVORITE VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT IDEAS AND SO MUCH MORE!
Welcome to 2014! I hope your year is off to a great start! There were so many wonderful parties around town and I hope you enjoyed hearing about the plans of the movers & shakers in my last blog (if you missed it, click here). We missed the New Year's Eve Party this year with Hef and Crystal at the Playboy Mansion. The invite was so cute as the night also celebrated their one-year anniversary. We used to attend these parties with my beautiful friend, Patti Connors and her handsome husband, legendary tennis player, Jimmy. Patti was Playboy's 1977 Playmate of the Year and is one of the most gorgeous women I know. They have two beautiful children Aubree and Brett who I've known since they were born.
Brett has become quite a well known photographer who also does production work for ESPN Sports. He got interested in photography when his dog Bentley got sick. He felt the need to document his every move but, happily, Bentley is just fine and now Brett has a brand new hobby/career path! His favorite subjects are nature and animals but he rocks sporting events too, of course! The highlight of his career was having one of his photos used as the cover of his dad Jimmy Connor's exciting autobiography "The Outsider: A Memoir". When I asked him how it was growing up with such famous parents, he answered, "It was pretty normal to be honest. My parents are just normal people who happen to have been in the public eye but, growing up at home, they were just mom and dad for me and my sister Aubree. My father traveled a lot which was tough because he would be gone all the time but, at the same time, it was awesome because I got to go on the road with him a lot. Dad's the guy who I go to when I need advice and runs me around on the tennis court and mom cooks me the best meals ever and always makes me laugh. I'm so lucky to have them for parents." When asked what his hopes for the future were for his photography he said, "Leaving something behind is the coolest aspect of art to me, it's timeless, it can last forever." His dream is to go on safari and possibly do some stuff for National Geographic. "I would love to be camped out somewhere and catch a glimpse of something rare!" I can't wait to see the places he'll go with his amazing talent! (To see more of Brett's work and for more info, email him at [email protected])
Since Brett has been attending Hef's parties since he was young, I thought he would be the perfect candidate to cover this year's NYE party for my blog so here's his delightful boots-on-the-ground report:
I remember it like it was yesterday, I had just turned 21 and I was invited to my first Playboy Mansion party!! It would have been sooner but my mother (a former Playmate of the Year) made me wait until I was of legal drinking age until she unleashed me to the wonderland that is Playboy Mansion West! It was everything I had imagined and then some, a surreal world of colors, music and of course, beautiful women, most walking around wearing very little while trying to out-do one another as to who could wear the least amount of clothing and gain the most attention! My head was on a swivel all night long and I remember seeing girls I recognized from the magazine left and right, some wearing nothing more than body paint as their outfit! I had a blast and, by the end of the night, I remember Hugh Hefner himself leaning over to me and whispering, "Hey Brett, you're on “the list” now!"
At the time I didn't know exactly what that meant, but what Hef was telling me was that I was now a part of the Playboy family and would be invited back whenever they threw a big party, had a Sunday movie night or went out for a night on the town! I was told there was only one stipulation: Stay away from the blondes, those are for Mr Hefner! Ok, I could handle that....I had always been partial to brunettes anyway, and since Hef had 7 blonde girlfriends at the time, I figured that was a small sacrifice to be able to run with this crew!
The next few years I spent a good amount of my free time at the Playboy Mansion, whether it was Valentines Day, Fourth of July, or Hef's birthday. What I realized was that Hef's friends were quite a bit older than me which gave me a leg up when it came to meeting the girls since I was much closer to their age. I became good friends with some of the (non-blonde!) girls, and it really did feel like a small family. I couldn't believe it, I was in my mid 20's and a regular at the Playboy Mansion! People always talk about the heyday of the Mansion being the 70's, but the early mid 2000's weren't so bad either! The parties Hef threw were the stuff that legends are made of. He spared no expense when it came to the food and entertainment and he's one of the most generous, welcoming people I have ever met! Besides creating the Playboy lifestyle, Hugh Hefner is a pioneer in the world of journalism and there will never be anyone like him again. He paved the way for so many people to gain opportunities and it didn't matter your age, race, or sex. Even though I came to the Playboy world late, I respected and appreciated all that it stood for and was happy to be a small part of it!
Eventually, Hef got more serious when it came to his relationships and the parties. While he was still hosting parties, they were getting a little smaller and less crazy than my first few years. I still visited but only a few times a year for the big parties, such as Mid-Summer Night's Dream and Halloween. But no matter how long I was away, I was always welcomed back with open arms by my Playboy family, and would enjoy seeing my friends and meeting any new additions to the crew!
This brings me to my most recent visit to PBMW, New Years Eve 2014! While the attire for New Year's isn't as casual as the other parties, I figured it gave me a chance to get dressed up in my black-tie attire and strut my stuff! When I arrived, I saw familiar faces that were there that fateful night over 13 years ago when I made my first appearance. Hef is very loyal to his friends. Through thick and thin, they're his friends to the end and are always there supporting him! The last night of 2013 was a doozy once again. Hef spared no expense in setting up his "playground for adults." He
put a giant tent in his backyard and decorated it to the 9's! There was great food served and plenty of booze for those who liked to wet their whistle to ring in the New Year! Hef's wife Crystal was DJ-ing, there was a Big Band group that performed with dancers and everything and, of course, a countdown clock to let everyone know how close we were to ringing in a new year! When it came time for the countdown, everyone was on the dance floor and I was with two of my dearest friends, Alison and Joel, a married couple who have been going there even longer than me! They had seen me transform from a shy 21 year old who was too nervous to wear pajamas to his first party to the guy in the middle of the dance floor leading the count down for everyone! 3..2..1 Happy New Year!!!! Confetti and balloons were dropped from the ceiling, beautiful women surrounded me and the music played! I snapped pictures throughout the night so I could try and share my Mansion experience with you, but pictures never seem to be enough. It's a place that must be seen to be believed and, while my photos give you a glimpse into this world, it can never do it justice or show just how cool it is! I stayed and danced for a couple hours and like that, the night was over, another Playboy Mansion Party in the books. While Hef is older now and things might not be as wild as they used to be, the Playboy Mansion can still throw a kick-ass party and will always have its place in history. I'm so lucky to say that I was a part of it!
One of my favorite interviews for my "Candid Candace Chicago" Watch312.com internet show occurred on December 20 when I had the privilege of interviewing "The View's" newest co-host Jenny McCarthy and her darling beau actor Donnie Wahlberg. Besides being a former Playboy Playmate of the Year, she is also an author, activist and actress. The event was a fundraiser for a charity dear to her heart, Generation Rescue, at hot nightspot Parliament. But after my interview, I realized the buzz-worthy part of the event was the love-match in the making that I observed in front of the camera. Take a look and get the rice ready!
The Woman's Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society recently held its eighth annual All Aboard! Party amid the Garden’s festive indoor holiday and model train exhibition, Wonderland Express. In keeping with All Aboard! tradition, the benefit chairs, Marianne Bestler and Carole Sandner, evoked the theme of a grand train journey, “From Paris to Versailles in Style.” Peggy Carr, a Woman’s Board member since 1960, served as honorary chair of the event. Guests entered the event through Golden Gates to the Palace of Versailles, the home of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, then traveled past a picture- perfect gingerbread village composed entirely of edible sweets. A fragrant, cedar-lined hall led guests to the Wonderland Express garden-scale train exhibition, featuring lush horticultural displays of holiday plants and 80 miniature replicas of Chicago landmarks. Upon exiting, guests were greeted with strains of classical French music provided by the Allium String Quartet, which played among café tables and sparkling lights, poinsettias and evergreens. Refreshments included champagne, cocktails and French-inspired appetizers from the event caterer, Culinary Landscape. Choices included steak tartare with cornichons, Dijon sauce grabiche; triple cream fromage with caramel apple jam and watercress on a red currant crostini; warm pots of Camembert, spiced pears, cranberry and toasted baguette; foie gras mousse with brandied cherries, black pepper brioche and wild arugula; and warm scallop gratiné with fennel-onion marmalade. Vocalist Lisa Yuen Sandner performed before dinner. Three dining areas staged by Designs by Jody recalled the grandeur of the royal residence of the last Bourbon king of France: the Garden of Versailles, Library of Louis XVI and Hall of Mirrors. French cheeses, wines and other flavors inspired the menu, which began with a first course of mâché with roasted red beets, toasted walnuts, French Roquefort and sherry vinaigrette with smoked salmon mousse in a petite eggshell with whipped crème fraîche and chervil. The entrée featured beef tenderloin bourguignon and dessert offered a duet of white chocolate mint pots de crème, candy cane brittle, and cranberry tartlet, gingerbread truffle, and vanilla crème anglaise. Yummy! Final destinations of the evening included a Crêpe Station and a Souvenir Station. The event raised $250,000 for the Woman’s Board “Growing the Future” campaign. Now in its third year, the effort will raise $1 million to fund the renovation of the English Walled Garden and replacement of trees damaged by the Emerald Ash Borer. The Woman’s Board is dedicated to supporting the Chicago Botanic Garden through advancement of conservation, education and horticulture. (Photos courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden)
I loved ABC 7’s NYE coverage! Their 23-year tradition continued with a new twist this year as Windy City LIVE joined the party! COUNTDOWN CHICAGO 2014 gave viewers a front row seat to the hottest parties, music, comedy and spectacular fireworks in and around Chicago. The only live, local New Year’s Eve show in Chicago was co-hosted by Ryan Chiaverini, Janet Davies, Mark Giangreco, Hosea Sanders, Val Warner, and Ji Suk Yi. The coverage included a magical night at Chicago’s elegant and historic Palmer House Hotel, a dance party at the South Side Parkway Ballroom, and a country/western good time at Toby Keith’s Restaurant and Bar inside Rosemont’s MB Financial Park Entertainment Complex. There were performances by Chicago Blues great Wayne Baker Brooks and American Idol’s Nick Lynch; a year-end comedy review from Zanies Comedy Club’s own Pat McGann; New Year’s resolutions from a kid’s perspective in a fun exchange with WGCI’s Tony Sculfield; and Ryan Chiaverini skating on thin ice when he showed off some of his favorite hockey moves at one of the coolest rinks around. Davies and Giangreco teamed up for the countdown as a spectacular fireworks display from Chicago’s Navy Pier exploded ushering in 2014. Congrats to all!
There was a nice crowd at Public Chicago on NYE, too! I love the feel of this place and think it's a great spot for a party since there's so many nooks and crannies. On this night, they had the library screening room blocked off for a party for the Chicago Bulls. There was a great buffet and the bartenders were all in a good mood. But the best part of the event was the fact that there was artwork scattered everywhere by one of my favorites, Bronzeville native Hebru Brantley! His style is described as being derived from graffiti-worn buildings and sneaker-hung telephone poles honoring memories of local legends. Saturday morning cartoons and comic books celebrating the triumphs of mythological heroes inspire him to tell stories. Catch him while you can!
I hope you will join me on Friday, March 14, when beloved designer Borris Powell debuts his fall/winter 2014 collection titled "FREEDOM" at Block 37! VIP tickets are $100 and can be purchased here! (To receive 5% off, just add "Candace" as your promo code). :-) www.ticketpeak.com/freedomBjP Come experience this all American inspired
Collection featuring dark/rich fabrics that will grab the attention of all fashion savvy individuals! The 2014 collection will feature daytime and evening wear with an assortment of bags for both men and women. Borris will also introduce a new line of accessories including his first ever men's wallet as well as his first lipstick (in his signature RED) called “Red Garden." This is a Standing Room Only event with the exception of VIP ticket holders. VIP ticket holders will gain early entrance to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres one hour before showtime by Paramount Events Chicago and will also have access to a post show cocktail hour. To see all of the fun from the LAST FABULOUS BP Fashion Show, check out my Watch312 video below! His finale left guests breathless! You won't want to miss this one! General Admission Tickets $40. (Standing Room only), VIP Tickets $100 (less 5% if you add "Candace" as your promo code!) www.ticketpeak.com/freedomBjP
On Thursday, January 30, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will present its first Eat (and Drink) to the Beat–a spinoff of the Theater’s popular Eat to the Beat series–with a special “Appy Hour” prior to a performance from the award-winning ensemble DanceWorks Chicago (DWC). Some of the city’s hippest food trucks will be on site to provide audience members with a variety of “apps” and food options. For the first time, the Theater will offer specialty cocktails and wine beverages to pair with food for a relaxing, post-work social gathering catered toward young business professionals of Chicago’s downtown area. In honor of the Harris Theater’s 10th season, DWC will present a diverse four-piece program of works choreographed exclusively by Chicago-based choreographers, including a world premiere from Chicago favorite and Ruth Page Award winner Harrison McEldowney and aerial dance specialist Jeremy Plummer, recipient of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters 2013 Artistic Achievement Award. Tickets for the first Eat (and Drink) to the Beat are $5; subscriptions for the rest of the 2013-2014 Eat to the Beat series are $20, available at www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org , or by calling 312.334.7777.
One of Chicago’s most anticipated galas, Redmoon’s annual Spectacle Lunatique, Saturday, March 15,is a decadent night of inspired performance and culinary delights all in the industrial elegance of Redmoon’s 57,000-square foot warehouse studio in Pilsen. Over 1,000 of Chicago’s civic, cultural and business leaders gather for Spectacle Lunatique each year raising funds for Redmoon’s free public work that happens throughout the city, primarily in areas that are culturally underserved. This year, Lunatique’s theme of “Redmoon: At the Scale of the City” will inspire the evening’s offerings as performances throughout the space give guests an exclusive preview of the Spring Spectacle and the designs and planning of the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival, due to take place in October. This year, over a dozen of Chicago’s top chefs will be represented in “tasting experiences” throughout the evening, all presented in Redmoon’s signature style combining imagination, whimsy and the unexpected. Music and an open bar complete the experience. Howard Tullman, President and CEO of Flashpoint Academy, Chairman and CEO of Experiencia, Inc. and newly named CEO of Chicago tech hub 1871, will be honored as the 2014 Galvanizer Award recipient. Each year, Redmoon presents this award to an individual who galvanizes communities for a more vibrant Chicago. (VIP: $625, General: $450, Late Night: $100. Tickets are available by calling the Redmoon Box Office at 312-850-8440 x123 or online at www.redmoon.org .. (To see how exciting and magical this event will be, check out this Telly Award-winning segment from a past Spectacle Lunatique party on my "Candid Candace Chicago" show on Watch312.com below:
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Guild Board of Directors celebrates its 30th Fantasy of the Opera in the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive., on Friday, January 31, 2014, beginning at 6:30 p.m. "The hottest party in the coldest month” – featuring drinks, music, and dancing all in the beautiful environs of the historic Civic Opera House. This year’s theme, “Petals and
Pearls,” is inspired by Lyric Opera’s beautiful new production of Madama Butterfly. The lobby will be transformed into a beautiful Japanese garden, and to enhance the evening, special performances and demonstrations will take place throughout the evening – taiko drummers, an origami presentation, and an ikebana floral showcase.
The Cabaret performance in the Ardis Krainik Theatre begins at 8:00pm and features some of the biggest stars from Lyric’s current season. Music director Sir Andrew Davis returns as Master of Ceremonies. Christine Brewer (The Sound of Music), Ana María Martínez (Rusalka and Otello), Brandon Jovanovich (Rusalka), Eric Owens (Rusalka), Jill Grove (Rusalka), and David Cangelosi (Die Fledermaus and Madama Butterfly) will perform selections from the great American songbook and Broadway classics. (For tickets, starting at $275, and more info, click here or call 312.827.5656.
While I was shopping for gifts for the holidays, I realized that some of these ideas might be good for gift giving suggestions for Valentine's Day, too! So, I've put together a list of 10 of my favorite things from around town....everything from makeup to jewelry to art. Maybe you'll find something YOU like, too!
1) Caron Powder Puffs: Chuck and I discovered these luxurious, goosedown powder puffs at one of the first Caron shops to open in Paris many years ago. They will spoil you forever and their beautiful colors make this item a lovely gift for any occasion. They come in three sizes, too, beginning at $45! (www.parfumscaron.com)
2) Furla Riviera Lux leopard clutch: I love the combo of camel and leopard on this clutch. It's also the perfect size, not too little and not too big. For $648, you get a lot of bang for your buck and, as we all know, leopard is classic and timeless. (Furla Boutique, 106 E. Oak St.)
3) Swarovski "Triumphal" cuff: This stunning bracelet is only $125 and is a terrific statement piece that would go with everything from formal to jeans. (Swarovski Boutique, 540 N. Michigan Ave.)
4) Louis Vuitton bag charms: Change the look of your handbag instantly without the cost of buying a new one with these chic bag charms. They come in a wide variety of styles and price ranges but "Insolence" is my favorite! (www.louisvuitton.com)
5) Borris Powell's Signature Handbags/Clutches: I love this local designer and his eye-catching fashions but I'm also hooked on his signature handbags and clutches! They come in a wide variety of styles, colors and patterns so you can choose what's best for you. They start at $350, have a removable strap and are lined with suede. The Signature BjP Tote comes in 3 sizes and starts at $600. (www.borrispowell.com)
6) CAMP Cosmetics' Candid Candace lipstick: Yes, I know I might be a bit prejudiced but I do believe it's THE perfect coral and is especially perfect to keep the doldrums of winter at bay! CAMP Cosmetics' founder Michael Perich has a wide range of other fabulous makeup, too. (http://www.campcosmetics.com/campaign.html)
7) I love all things Hermes but, sadly, a lot of it is out of my price range, BUT these exquisite horn necklaces and earrings are reasonably priced and packed with style. And, like Louis Vuitton, these designer pieces only seem to increase in value on the vintage market. (Fidele Corne horn necklaces ($275) and Isthme earrings ($430): (Hermes, 25 E. Oak Street, Chicago)
8) Pomellato Gourmette Knot Ring: I love this shop on Oak Street and think their jewelry is oh-so chic, especially their sterling silver and marcasite knot ring priced at $755. And they have the cutest store manager, Alayna Crenshaw! (Pomellato, 41 E. Oak Street)
9) Makeup Forever's HD (High Definition) Powder: This is a miracle making product that allows you to highlight your best features and hide dark circles. It's particularly great for on-camera work or photo shoots. I love it! (www.Sephora.com)
10) And last, but certainly not least, no home is complete without a gorgeous portrait from Rosemary Fanti. Her artistry makes everyone sigh and wish they looked as good as she portrays them.
Hope you've enjoyed this week's Candid Candace and I hope to see you at one or more of these wonderful events around town! Until next time, stay warm and here's my fun-filled thoughts on this wintry weather! LOL!
Love, as always,
Candace
[email protected]
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