PLUS EMIRATES BASH; BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL; A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND NOOGIES; WINDY CITY WINE FESTIVAL; DREAMWORKS AND MARCON COLLABORATE; THE CAROUSEL OF POSSIBLE DREAMS; FRIENDS IN FAR PLACES; GET WELL WISHES; WOODY WINS OVER CHICAGO; LIVE OUT LOUD; GRACIOUS HOUSE PROTECTS KIDS; LIFE ITSELF ON RIVET; SOUTH BEACH ON THE RUN AND SO MUCH MORE!
For this year's Glamorama, Macy's had a sell-out crowd at the Harris Theater (nearly 1,500) and showcased fall fashions from Calvin Klein, Ryan Seacrest Distinction (is there anything this guy isn't involved with?), I.N.C., Tommy Hilfiger and more! And for the 5th year, this high profile event
benefited Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. The evening began with an introduction by Macy's Chairman/COO Terry Lundgren. He introduced Samantha Roberson, the beautiful Ambassador for RMHC who shared her story via a video
introduced by Ryan Seacrest. And then the show! This hour long extravaganza featured musical performances by hot recording artist and YouTube sensation Jason Derulo and Before You Exit, Macy's iHeart Radio's winning brothers Toby, Riley and Connor
McDonough. The Hello Kitty segment with 8 darling young dancers brought cheers from the crowd as did the ever popular Diesel underwear segment modeled by hunky male models. (My personal favorite!) What I loved about this fashion show is the fact that the clothes will all be
available at Macy's. For many shows, designers create the looks JUST for the runway and, as much as we may lust for the pieces, you will never see them in a store. I've marked some favorites, all expertly selected by Glam's creative artist, Paul Anthony. His discerning eye added chic touches to the looks that included feather headdresses and
piled on jewelry ala Coco Chanel, one of his inspirations. The Red Carpet, although cramped as always in the Harris Theater space, still brought out the best in the stars. Jason Derulo was darling beyond words, even though he did have to rework the lyrics to "Talk Dirty" for the Glam crowd that night. Before You Exit brothers all let me know that they were "single
and ready to mingle." They're certainly in a good place for this dream to come true! Following the confetti-filled finale, chic guests made their way next door to the Harris Rooftop. The weather was perfect and the stars shone brightly on this fun-loving crowd who enjoyed Lancome makeup
stations, scantily clad "candy boys" offering Macy's favors, photo booths, DJ's and food inspired by Macy's Culinary Council Chef Stephanie Izard. Nearly $250,000 was raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, whose mission is to provide a home away from home for families of children with
complex medical needs.(Fabulous photos by Amie Hana and for further coverage, check out my Chicago Tribune column here! More Pics Here!
The Red Carpet snaked all along the side of Navy Pier and into the Grand Ballroom for
the hotly anticipated Emirates gala celebrating the launch of its daily, nonstop service to Dubai that began on August 5. Emirates Executive Vice President and COO Adel Al Redha and Chicago Deputy Mayor Steven Koch were joined by more than 500 guests to commemorate the opening of Emirates'
ninth U.S. gateway. Partygoers were greeted by beautiful Emirates cabin crew members and treated to traditional dates, cold hand towels, Arabic coffee, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres plus music by Chicago's Jazz Couture. Photogs snapped pics as guests mixed and mingled before the doors opened to the Grand Ballroom. Brittney Payton, the daughter of
the late, great Walter Payton, served as emcee for this night that also included performances by electric violin troupe Ken Arlen's Sirens (Their rendition of "We Will Rock You" was a hit with the crowd). After a video presentation
showcasing Emirates' award-winning service, Adel Al Redha, offered opening remarks. Deputy Mayor Koch welcomed Emirates and spoke about Mayor Emanuel's strategy and plans to make Chicago a top global city. After attendees
enjoyed a lavish dinner --poached lobster starter, filet with veggie medley and roasted potatoes, and a trio of tempting desserts--the surprise guest was announced. Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe Award winning artist Lionel Richie performed hit after hit for an
excited crowd, including "Hello", "You Are", "Dancing on the Ceiling' and more. He was a very generous performer taking selfies with almost anyone who had an Iphone! The night ended with fans surrounding the stage dancing and singing to "All Night Long". On August 5, a ceremony at
O'Hare marked the arrival of the first Dubai-Chicago flight with a water cannon salute and gift exchange between Emirates executives and Chicago public officials.
Luxury travel blogger and Mumbai native, Riaan George, was on the flight and described it as "long, but breathtaking and luxurious". What a great party to welcome this award-winning airline to the Windy City!
The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago hosted Opening Night of its 20th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival on August 1. Chaz Ebert and Roger Ebert (posthumously) received the Deloris Jordan Award for Excellence in Community Leadership, presented by Mrs. Deloris Jordan, the president of the James
R. Jordan Foundation. “Through their tireless championing of emerging diverse filmmakers and how they have dedicated their lives to movies, we are honored to present Chaz with this award on behalf of both her and Roger, and grateful that she
keeps Roger’s legacy and love of film alive as an advocate for film criticism and an involved presence at film festivals worldwide. Without the advocacy of the Eberts, festivals like Black
Harvest would not be celebrating their 20-year history of presenting filmmakers from the African Diaspora,” said Jean de St. Aubin, Executive Director of the Gene Siskel
Film Center. Following the award presentation, films from the Opening Night program for the festival—A Black Harvest Feast—was shown. The six short films conveyed the spirit of the month-long festival and included the cross-cultural comedy Chris’s Briss; a wildly imaginative London bus ride experienced in Frayed; a
rousing history lesson in Strange Fruit; a compelling two-women drama in The Way You Love; a cheeky schoolboy fantasy in Vivre; and Perfect Day, a charming high school romance with a bold twist. LeeAnn Trotter,
entertainment reporter for NBC 5, served as emcee. The reception was held in the Joffrey Tower and featured music by Musicians of the Chicago Sinfonietta. Throughout both of their careers, Chaz Hammelsmith Ebert and Roger Ebert have
worked tirelessly to engage and encourage a diverse set of emerging filmmakers while also maintaining a commitment to civic engagement. Congrats to all!
On a related note, DreamWorks Pictures
and MarCon Communications joined with The Trotter Project to host an exclusive red carpet screening of The Hundred Foot Journey. Families and kids from Common Threads, Pilot Light and the Primo Center for Women & Children were invited to attend and have their photos taken on the Red
Carpet with some of Chicago’s top chefs. Trotter alumni Homaro Cantu, Bill Kim, Matthias Merges, Guillermo Tellez-Cruz, Giuseppe Tentori and Sommelier Robert Houde, along with
longtime Trotter friends Carrie Nahabedian and Art Smith were seen on the red carpet. Margaret O’Connor introduced the chefs and special guests and Art Smith introduced the film. Prior to the start of the film, Smith received a text from Oprah Winfrey, one of the movie’s producers and Smith's former employer, (he was Winfrey's personal chef for
several years) who wrote she was looking forward to hearing what he thought of the movie. A few Trotter alumni left bright and early the next morning on a road trip to
Kansas City for The American Culinary Federation’s national convention. They were made up of a panel that was paying a tribute to their former boss, culinary legend Charlie Trotter. Scott Trotter, Charlie's brother, spoke first about the outpouring of support from Trotter alumni, friends and
colleagues who wanted to create something to honor and celebrate Charlie's legacy. Out of those conversations came The Trotter Project. He announced the Trotter Family Foundation is donating $100K to The Trotter Project. A special Cooking Today Live segment followed, with the alumni panel
which included Homaro Cantu, Michael Taus, Guillermo Tellez and Robert Houde. The panel discussed the life, business and cooking lessons they learned in the kitchen and dining room of Trotter’s
restaurant that helped them to build and sustain their careers in today’s fast-paced culinary world. Chef Homaro Cantu, owner of the highly regarded Michelin starred restaurant Moto, said, "We're all honored to be a part of this panel. Talking about the Trotter days is always a seriously comedic discussion!" The alumni also
announced to conference attendees that The State of Illinois and The City of Chicago was proclaiming August 17, Charlie Trotter Day. (August 17 is the anniversary of Charlie Trotter's restaurant
opening day and a significant day in the lives of all Trotter alumni).
For the Chicago premiere of Woody Allen's latest film, Magic in the Moonlight, Metropolitan Capital, a premier Universal Bank (the “Bank”), and Sony
Pictures Classics co-hosted a private party on July 19 with a special Red Carpet appearance by the film's writer and director Woody Allen. The host committee for the
event included the Bank’s Susan Payne, Brandon Moulton, Nick O’Brien, Eliza Caldwell and Tess Stender. The festivities began with a cocktail reception at Bellwether, 302 E. Illinois St., where Mr. Allen stopped by before heading across the street to the Red Carpet at AMC River East.
Guests dined on ceviche, filet mignon sliders, bruschetta, chocolate mousse and cheesecake bites. Red Carpet attendees included Allen, Executive Producer Ron Chez and Metropolitan Capital Chairman/ CEO Michael Rose. We LOVED this film set in the 1920s on the opulent French Riviera! Great cast
and a wonderful surprise ending.... awwwwww... :-)
To celebrate his wife's upcoming 40th birthday (August 17th), hubby Bill Rancic kicked off Giuliana Rancic’s birthday weekend with a fun night out in the Windy City at one of Chicago’s hottest clubs, Studio Paris. The loving couple raised
a glass to the milestone birthday alongside close friends and Lettuce Entertain You restaurant partners/club owners, RJ and Jerrod Melman. On
Saturday, the festivities continued! Prior to the VIP preview party for the Rancic’s much-anticipated new Chicago restaurant, RPM Steak (with partners RJ, Jerrod and Molly Melman, chef/partner Doug Psaltis), Bill surprised his wife
with a private pre-party to honor the big 4-0. Upon entering the restaurant’s chic and sophisticated mezzanine space -- rocking a black Stella McCartney skirt, black top and sky-high silver pumps – Giuliana was surprised by a group of her closest friends and family. To sweetly top off the affair – a specially made Hermes
Birkin Bag cake! (Love this!) The who’s who of Chicago turned out to get the first look at the much buzzed-about RPM Steak. Those spotted at the stylish cocktail party included fellow E! News host Jason Kennedy alongside fiancé Lauren Scruggs, Giuliana’s parents Eduardo and Anna (who most affectionately call Mama
DePandi), former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, NBC’s Stefan Holt and Cheryl Scott, CBS’s Ryan Baker and Kris Gutierrez and Nina and Bob Mariano. (RPM Steak will officially open to the public late August). On Sunday morning, Giuliana was spotted brunching at popular restaurant HUB 51 (a favorite of celebrities, including Jennie Garth) before returning to Los Angeles. Happy 40th Giuliana! (Photos by Barry Brecheisen).
On Thursday, August 28, St. Baldrick's Foundation will host a fundraiser, Girls Night Out to Conquer Kids' Cancer, at the Tortoise Club, 350 N. State. As the battle against childhood cancer continues, this event is dedicated to helping fill the funding gap in research. The evening will include a Gold Ribbon Grab Bag, raffles, a silent auction and so much more!. Since its inception in 2000, St. Baldrick's has granted more than $150 million in childhood cancer
research programs. To learn more, please click here.
Inspired cuisine, artisanal wines, craft beers and entertainment come together on Thursday, September 4, when The Grant Park Conservancy’s kicks off opening night of the Windy City Wine Festival at Buckingham Fountain. This is the tenth year for the Festival and, this year, the fundraising event is in collaboration with The Trotter Project. Alumni of the legendary Charlie Trotter’s restaurant, culinary colleagues and supporters of the Conservancy will showcase food and wine pairings and innovative brews. David Young Band will provide entertainment. For tickets and more info, click here or call 312.951.5050.
On Thursday, August 21, the 4th Annual Patrick J. Ryan Golf Outing returns to the beautiful St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago. Beginning at 8 a.m., this full day of golf, food and fundraising for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will attract more than 300 golfers and benefits the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) Program for Children and Youth. The memorial outing was
established by former Attorney General Jim Ryan, his wife Marie and their
family after the loss of their son, Patrick J. Ryan to suicide. Both Jim and Marie serve as committee chairs for the event and invite golfers to “tee up” for this personal and meaningful cause. Since the event began, more than $300,000 has been raised for the program. For tickets and more info, click here.
Approximately 200 people within the design industries community attended the launch party for the Gracious House Designer Show House held at Cosentino Center Chicago recently. While guests sipped
specialty cocktails and enjoyed Asian inspired appetizers, they meandered around Cosentino's showroom and the massive state-of-the-art granite and quartz surfacing warehouse. The Designer Show House, which will debut in September, is themed, “Boutique Hotel,” and will present innovative concepts and ideas in the context of the house as a beautiful, safe and nurturing environment. Proceeds from the launch party and the September Show House opening preview party and tours will
benefit Prevent Child Abuse America. Eight residential interior designers will transform a 5,400 square foot house in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood into the Gracious House Chicago Designer Show House including M.Grace Sielaff , Debbie Auer, Michelle Rohrer-Lauer, Donna Hall, Mary Susan Bicicchi, Susan Brunstrum, Loren Reid Seaman and Lauri Venema. For tix and more info click here. (Photos by Slawomir Chrzaszcz)
On August 19 and 20, Chicago area residents are invited to support one of the biggest events in the region for the Christian global hunger charity Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). More than 2,500 volunteers are expected to gather at Union Station to pack half a million meals for starving children in the developing world. The FMSC Union Station MobilePack event is one of hundreds held across the U.S. packing more than 50 million meals. If you'd like to participate, see details here.
The Carousel of Possible Dreams, presented by Receptions for Research (The Greg Olsen Foundation), will host a fundraiser at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois at 789 Plum Tree
Road, on Saturday, August 23, benefiting THREE outstanding charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Little Angels and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event will include estate tours, carousel rides and a reception. For tickets and more info, click here or call (877) 492-KIDS.
A Night of a Thousand Noogies, benefiting Gilda's Club of Chicago, will be presented by its Associate Board on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Park West Theater. This high profile event offers guests an evening of top-notch entertainment, food, drink, prizes and swag. Partnering with The Second City, this fun-filled party will feature a performance from top improv players who deliver off-the-cuff, sardonic, gut-busting hilarity as only Second City can. Gilda's Club Chicago is a community for anyone
who has been affected by cancer and includes men, women, teens and children as well as their partners, families and friends. For tickets and more info, click here.
Congrats to one of my favorite full service event decor/design firms, Kehoe Designs, who have moved their massive operation to a new location at 2555 S. Leavitt Street!
Long may you reign Tom Kehoe! Miss you David Brandt!
Longtime, dear friends Angie and Paul Murges celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary at Tufano's Vernon Park Tap recently with adoring friends who included Kathy O'Malley, Skip Pope,
Jerry Ranalli, Jimmy O'Brien, Cheri James, Barbara and Gene Compari, Rich Gregorin and Irv Solganic. It was a true love fest for this loving couple whose only daughter, Giana Pisellini, is a rock star at Unilever!
Please join me in wishing our very own Hazel Barr a quick recovery from a broken collarbone! It's hard to imagine this beloved dynamo being
out of commission! The city sure isn't the same without her out and about! Please send get well wishes to Hazel Barr, c/o the Warren Barr Pavilion, 66 W. Oak St., Room 602, Chicago, Illinois, 60610. I know she will appreciate it! Love you Hazel!
More get well wishes to another social dynamo, Vonita Reescer, who had a brief hospital stay recently but is, thankfully, back home now and out and about. Please send healing thoughts her way, too! Cheers V!
Celebrating 5 years of suicide prevention, Live Out Loud Charity (a non profit organization focused on
saving lives through core character development and suicide intervention training) will be the beneficiary of Tiara Magazine’s 5th annual suicide prevention seminar and fashion show held October 11, in Schaumburg, Illinois. To learn more, click here . All net proceeds benefit Live Out Loud Charity founded by Sherrie
Gearheart (Miss United Nations World Ambassador 2014) after she lost her best friend to suicide. To be involved in the charity show as a volunteer, model, or titleholder, email [email protected].
I hope you enjoy my latest Rivet Radio show about the fabulous Chicago premiere of Life Itself, the documentary by director Steve James about the life of beloved film critic Roger Ebert. Hear it here!
Congrats to dear friend Rhonda Sanderson! She took a trip of a lifetime to South
Africa where she was spotted hobnobbing with some four-legged friends! I know her daughter Samantha Amato and sister Debbie Pinkus are having a blast, too!
I want to thank you for the wonderful anniversary
wishes Chuck and I received last month for our 25th. We took a romantic getaway to South Beach, one of our fav spots, for a little R & R and fun. For the first time, we stayed at the SLS Hotel South Beach, 1701 Collins Ave., and it was
fabulous! The trendy decor by Lenny Kravitz and Phillippe Starck was modern and chic, how could it not be with these two designers, and we loved it. We were disappointed that our very favorite SoBe hotspot, La Piaggia,
was closed for vacation, but this just gives us something to look forward to the next time. This beach club/restaurant is the closest you'll get to St. Tropez without actually being there! The food, decor and people watching are fabulous, but we had fun sampling some new restaurants, too. On the first night, I was thrilled to discover
we had planned our trip during Mercedes Benz Swimwear Week and, even more exciting, one of the opening night fashion shows was held at our hotel! It was a sexy show with the runway set up over the pool. After, we had a great dinner at the SLS's award-winning Japanese restaurant, Katsuya.
While we were there, we also enjoyed Prime Fish, the latest offering from Myles Restaurant Group (that includes Prime 112), that's in Nemo's old spot at 100 Collins Avenue. For our anniversary on July 21, we went to Casa Tua, arguably the most romantic spot on the Beach that's both a hotel and restaurant. When we arrived, they
had strewn rose petals on our table....what a delightful touch! The next day, we drove to Bal Harbour where I was surprised to find that this awesome shopping center's top luxury clients, Louis Vuitton and Hermes, both had decamped to
the Design District! Chuck was thrilled! LOL! However, we did visit the Design District to check out its progress. It has a ways to go before all of the ongoing construction is completed, but lunch at Michael's Genuine was delicious and a high spot of this side trip. It was hard to leave, but we always love coming home to Chicago. :-)
Thanks for checking in and I hope you've enjoyed this latest edition of Candid Candace! If you have any exciting news you'd like me to share, please pass it along! Until then, enjoy our glorious summer!
Love, as always,
Candace :-)
[email protected]
P.S. Don't miss my favorite market, Randolph Street Market, that will return to 1340 W. Washington on Aug. 30/31 and Sept. 27/28! See you there!
