PLUS FIREFLY BALL; JOE MADDON TRIES NOT TO SUCK; PLAYBOY'S LATEST ISSUE; MARIO'S MASTER-CLASS; HAUTE DOG CHICAGO; DYLAN LOVES PAWS; GILDA'S CLUB'S "NIGHT OF 1000 NOOGIES"; EASTERSEALS' MODERN CLASSIC; THE HAPPINESS CLUB BASH FOR THE KIDS; TOM DREESEN'S HONOR; NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION HONORS OUR WARRIORS; FRIENDS OF CONSERVATION HONORS VONITA; PUPPY MILL PROJECT'S MARCH FOR JUSTICE; "OUT IN THE PARK" WITH TODRICK; JOHN CARROLL--GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN; WOMEN DRIVING EXCELLENCE PANEL SERIES; CNN HERO CARRIE; HOTTEST UPCOMING EVENTS; FUN-FILLED VIDEOS AND SO MUCH MORE!
A launch party, by its very definition, means an event to wow, to thrill and to amaze and to introduce something new and exciting. Partyslate's event did all this and more at Moonlight Studios on August 25. Over 700 movers, shakers and just plain cool peeps in the event industry and Chicago's social scene attended
this magical party to celebrate the city's new one-stop shopping destination for anyone and everyone in the party business. Partyslate offers a beautiful website that features thousands of photos posted by the best of the best in the gala, wedding, mitzvah and corporate party planning business in Chicago, Dallas and soon, the rest of the country. Paulette Wolf Events produced the exciting launch party to perfection and I loved seeing my friends from
Modern Luxury, the media sponsor, there too! The decor partners, Kehoe Designs, HMR Designs and Platinum Events, created out-of-this-world venues where guests mixed, mingled, oohed and ahhhed. And the food was deliciously over the top from Entertaining Company, J & L
Catering & Events, Paramount Events Chicago, Foodstuffs Events & Catering, Blue Plate Chicago and Catering by Michaels. The four rooms each had a different theme, food and speciality cocktails from the caterer and decor partners while Tablescapes presented
an elegant (fully stocked) bar in the main room. The crowd was thrilled by the gospel choir, drum line and DJ from BeatMix Music. Everywhere you looked, something entertaining and visually stimulating was happening. And I was wowed by the live red carpet presentation that was literally a woman with a longggggg red dress, along with stilted servers and a champagne chandelier from NewMoon Chicago! TagPrints photo booth
was busy all night with guests wanting to take home a memory of the party. The wall to wall video from Sound Investment kept the warehouse space stimulating throughout the night. And what party is complete without the Doughnut Vault truck waiting outside!?! What a remarkable
evening to celebrate the launch of this new concept! If you're in the party business, and who isn't, you have to visit Partyslate's website! And, if you missed all the fun, check out a 360-degree video from Jamwoc and amazing photos by Sheri Whitko next week here! Congrats to all, especially Partyslate co-founders Julie Roth Novack and John Haro!
It was Mario Dedivanovic's first makeup master class in Chicago and I was thrilled to be there! In case you haven't heard of Mario, he is the uber-successful and uber-talented top makeup artist for the world famous Kardashian clan. And, love 'em or hate 'em, you have to admit they are ALWAYS fabulously made up! The "Makeup by Mario" sold-out
event was held at Victory Gardens Theater and I attended with my dear friend/makeup artist Nicole Jacob Delahanty (Nancy Angelair Salon). Tickets sold out online in minutes so Mario clearly has a following. (Watch video here!) I'm ashamed to admit I'd never heard his name before now. I
have always thought that Kim-K and her sisters had THE most amazing makeup but, it never occurred to me who the guru behind the magic might be. Mario's a handsome young man with rather old-fashioned (delightful) manners. He encouraged people to shout-out questions as he demonstrated his makeup techniques on knock-out Chicago model Rachel. Nicole and I both wondered how in the world he would make her
look any better than she already did, but surprisingly, he succeeded in spades. Before the 10 am to 4 pm presentation began on Sunday, Mario popped an Advil--which I thought was cute of him to admit he had a headache! He then admonished
all the bloggers in the crowd not to try and share his unique step-by-step process. He shared many reasons why but, mostly it was because he said he "had to pay his mortgage" and didn't want anyone "screwing with his
money." At least he's honest! A video montage played before the presentation showing glamorous images of Kim, her many covers, her sisters and other models with whom Mario has worked. He asked people in the audience who were makeup artists to raise their hands--most of the hands went up. People had flown from all over the world to see Mario at work and came from as far away as Croatia, Albania (where he's from), Argentina and the United Arab Emirates. As he began the application, he told us, "Everything is photo-shopped." (in reference to images you see on social media). I'm not sure if this is true or not, but we all nodded along agreeably. One of the questions from the audience was about makeup transferring onto white clothes and
how to avoid it. Mario's answer, "Pray." Another question, "Do you have any product or advice for someone with wrinkles?" Mario, "Yes, I have a doctor's number I could give you." He has a cute sense of humor that works well with his presentation. During an intermission, even his darling mother got in on the act passing out delicious empanadas to all the
guests. At the end, his sisters helped facilitate photo opps on a red carpet with each and every guest. A loaded goody bag contained over $1000 worth of products! I was in makeup heaven happily clutching my 20 pages of notes to my chest! We even received diplomas! Nicole and I giggled all the way home. (To see a list of some of his chosen products, click here!)
Well, as many of you know, I've been a staunch critic of the new direction Playboy magazine has been headed. The first magazines featuring the "no-nude" look were a complete embarrassment that had images of girls who looked half-drugged out and like someone Roman Polanski would hit on. But, after receiving the latest issue, I might have to eat my words. The cover shot and
featured layout of Miss September, Kelly Gale (shot by Chris Heads), is very alluring and, dare I say, even artistic. Perhaps the powers that be at Playboy are actually listening to their critics like me. The photos are sexy and playful although I do think the "tongue out" centerfold shot is a little too predictable, the other images look terrific and even sort of chic and fashionable. I loved it and think this Swedish-born sexpot, who
is "ethnically Australian, via her father, and Indian, via her mother" is drop-dead gorgeous. However, they did include a layout of the prerequisite underage-looking goofball, Langley Fox photographed by Kava Gorna, I guess to appeal to every taste. So, it's not exactly there yet, but it sure does look promising.
You gotta love this title, "Try Not To Suck", for Cubs' manager Joe Maddon's golf tourney/fundraiser held at Bryn Mawr Country Club on August 15. The event featured a star-studded cast of characters including actor John Cusack, comedian Tom Dreesen (who served as emcee), former Cubs Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster, Steve Trout, Fergie
Jenkins, Bob Dernier and so many more. The tournament pitted current and former Cubs players as well as diehard celebrity fans in foursomes, with Joe playing the first hole with each group, to benefit Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation Charities. This non-profit provides Chicago's inner city children and young adults with
opportunities to develop championship attitudes through sports while encouraging fitness, academic and community engagement. (The 90 in "Respect 90" represents the number of feet between home plate and first base with "respect" being a reminder
to run hard all the way). The name of the event came about in the summer of 2015 when in-fielder Javier Baez arrived back with the Cubs. "Try not to suck," is what Maddon jokingly told Baez and it has stuck and become a rallying cry for the organization. Other notable attendees included current Cubs players Ben Zobrist,
Miguel Montero and Mike Montgomery, Cubs TV announcer Jim Deshaies, former Cubs players Paul Popovich, Pete LaCock (son of Peter Marshall, former "Hollywood Squares" host), Gene Hiser, Ron Coomer, coaches Lester Strode and Brandon
Hyde, author Scott Turow, Randy Hundley, Bill Campbell and Tim Stoddard, former Chicago Bear Lance Briggs, sports announcer Dave Kaplan and 1980 Olympic Gold Medal hockey player Jack O'Callaghan. The event, co-hosted by Maddon and Jerry Lasky (who also helped organize the fundraiser), raised over $250,000 for Respect 90 Foundation Charities.
The first Haute Dog Chicago, a doggie runway show featuring local notables and their four-legged friends, will benefit Canine Companions for Independence at the Peninsula Chicago on Thursday, September 8 from 6-9 pm. This elegant tail wagging affair will begin in true fashion week style with a walk
down the red carpet (produced by ZZAZZ Productions) followed in the Grand Ballroom with a cocktail reception, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. At 7:00, sit back and watch couture canines give new meaning to the catwalk as they model the latest fall
fashions provided by Chicago’s Tails in the City. “Haute Dog Chicago coincides with NY Fashion Week. The timing is perfect to show off the latest doggie Fall fashions,” stated Tails in the City owners Bruce Haas and Phillip Emigh. The evening will wrap up with a dog-gone
good dessert. Joining the couture canines are some of Chicago’s finest: The Joffrey Ballet dancers Dylan Gutierrez and Jeraldine Mendoza, Janet Lee
Mandell, Sherill Bodine, Lakesha Rose, Kate Platis, Angie Demars, Katy Sandberg, Michelle Delaney, Jan Flanagan, Kim Gleeson and Elizabeth Steele Applebaum among others. (ROONEY will be in show and I'm thrilled to serve as emcee)! The couture canines’ counterparts will be
clothed by Contessa Bottega boutique. The heart of Haute Dog Chicago is to raise support and awareness to help Canine Companions continue their mission of providing highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities free of charge. “These exceptional dogs truly
change lives. When placed with an individual with a disability, they are able to increase the quality of life tenfold. Canine Companions’ extraordinary dogs allow their partners to have an increased sense of independence and with the newfound independence comes a heightened sense of confidence. They place ‘exceptional dogs with exceptional people,’ shared Greg Hyder, Peninsula Special Events Director. For tickets and more info, click here.
The 8th annual Off The Street Club's Firefly Ball took place at Morgan's on Fulton on July 22 and gave guests the chance to enjoy a beautiful summer night while also providing the Off the Street Club kids the opportunity to enjoy a moment of bliss at a sleep-away camp during the summer. The event was a sell-
out and attracted partygoers of all ages to raise funds for this much-needed non-profit that sends kids to their summer safe-haven, Camp Mathieu. Upon arrival, guests entered an art gallery filled with the creations of local artists whose work was later auctioned off to support the
goal and mission of sending kids to Camp. On the rooftop, the party continued with a delicious dinner and desserts from vendors like XO Marshmallow and Eli’s Cheesecake while an open bar quenched party-goers’ summer thirst. As the party continued, guests danced the night away with some of the Off The Street Club kids. Every year, as the temperature rises in Chicago, so do the rates of violent crime in West Garfield Park. This puts local children in danger during the time of year when they are out of school. Camp Mathieu, located on 30 beautiful acres just 30 miles outside of Chicago, aims to trade a summer of dodging violence, drugs and gang
activity with all the classic summer camp activities that help shape young adults. The kids deserve a safe place to play and be themselves and the Firefly Ball gives them that chance, sending 200 kids to Camp Mathieu. Founded
in 1900, Off The Street Club is Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club, currently serving more than 3,000 kids in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country - West Garfield Park. “The negative forces around us are multiplying at a frightening rate,
and they could swallow these kids up if we don’t act,” said Ralph Campagna, OTSC executive director. “Camp Mathieu serves as the bright beacon of light, providing opportunities the Off The Street Club kids do not normally get, like playing outside in the fresh air or sitting around a campfire. But most importantly, the young campers have peace of mind knowing they are safe and sound.”
You'll laugh out loud when Gilda's Club Chicago hosts a comedic extravaganza, "Night of a Thousand Noogies," on Saturday, October 15, at Park West. This annual event features Chicago's own Second City, who will perform their signature sketch comedy and improv with emcee for the evening, TJ Shanoff. The performers will be joined onstage by notable Chicagoans who will be roasted by the cast. Attendees will enjoy an open bar, dine on light bites,
bid on a silent auction and try their luck at raffle prizes. All proceeds from the night will be used to support the more than 350 free activities offered each month at Gilda's Club Chicago and other satellite locations. General admission tickets are $75 and VIP tix are $125. For more info and tickets, click here. (I will be one of the nervous "roastees" so I hope you'll join me for moral
support!)
The Easterseals Modern Classic took place at Morgan Manufacturing on August 24 hosted by James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of the Boka Restaurant Group. This unique culinary experience featured ten of Chicago’s top chefs who
showcased their classic dishes with modern twists while guests voted on their favorite. More than 300 attendees enjoyed dishes created by Chefs Doug Psaltis, Jimmy Bannos Sr., Fabio Viviani, Trevor Teich, Phillip Foss, Mark Hellyar, Lee Wolen, Bill Kim, Michael Coté and
Aaron Thebault. NBC-5's Alex Maragos was the event emcee. Teich from the Claudia Pop-Up Restaurant took home top prize for Best Modern Classic Dish. His offering, butter poached scallops with compressed cucumber and black olive puree topped with tomato-basil nage, had mouths watering. All of the proceeds benefited Easterseals. Congrats to ALL!
The Happiness Club benefit was held at Park West on August 14 and honored Chance The Rapper with the Legacy Award for his commitment to Chicago’s youth and desire to curb violence in Chicago. Hosted by Maureen and Marc Schulman, the
event featured a Taste of Home theme with delectable treats from Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Vienna Beef and Eli's Cheesecake. Notable attendees included LaRoyce Hawkins (actor, stand-up comic, spoken word artist and musician) and longtime supporters Lynett Putterman and Nia Blackbelt. During the evening Blackbelt performed "Shake That
Stress Off." Chicago's own Morris Gearring, along with Brown's daughter Maggie Brown, performed a groundbreaking hit of her father's titled, "Opportunity Please Knock." (Morris and his one-man show, "Something About Oscar," has received critical acclaim across the country). Composer and activist Oscar Brown Jr., helped bring peace to the south side of Chicago in 1967 when he recruited members of the Blackstone Rangers to perform in
a musical review: Opportunity Please Knock. The show led to a truce in the gang warfare on Chicago’s south side and it brought national attention to teens who had
talent but little opportunity. This year would be Oscar Brown Jr's. 90th birthday and, with all the violence in Chicago, the message is as important today as it was in 1967. The Happiness Club is a diverse group of Chicago kids who encourage positive values and social change through the creation of original hip hop and pop music, dance and rap. Many of the kids are from the south and west side, so the prevention of violence and gun control is an important message of the group. (Side note: Maggie Brown protested Donald Trump's use of her father's song The Snake,
during his presidential campaign). (Photos by George Burns)
Honoring our Warriors! The 5th annual "Chicago Evening of Tribute" supporting the Navy Seal Foundation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Hilton. There will
be inspiring speeches by the recent Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr. and General Martin Dempsey. The event, emceed by ABC-7's Sylvia Perez, will make you so proud to be an American. To date, it has raised over $3 million to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare Community and its families. For tickets and more info, click here.
The annual "Friends of Conservation" will hold its signature gala on Friday, October 21, at the Four Seasons. The event, chaired by FOC co-founder Reute Butler and co-chaired by Kristina McGrath, Kyle DeSantis and Mitchell
Hatcher, will honor its longtime supporter Vonita Reescer. A special wildlife presentation by John Rendall of "Christian the Lion" fame is sure to delight the crowd. Mary Ann Childers and Jay Levine will emcee and the Stanley Paul Orchestra will provide fabulous music. Congrats to ALL! For tickets and more info, click here!
Other exciting, upcoming events include: Children's Home & Aid Gala on 9/9; Catholic Children's Charities Gala on 9/9; Celestial Ball at the Adler Planetarium on 9/10; Wings of Hope Gala at the University Club on
9/15; Botanic Garden's Harvest Ball on 9/17; After School Matters' 25th anniversary Gala on 9/19; Goodman Theater's Season Opening Gala on 9/20 featuring "Wonderful Town"; Gold Coast Fashion Show at Revel on 9/21; Wood Family Foundation's "Journey to Neverland" on 9/23; Chicago Lighthouse's FLAIR event honoring Kristina McGrath on Monday, Oct. 17 at the Ritz and my high school's (Dupo Community High School), "No Class Reunion," LOL!, on Saturday September 24!
All-around-great-guy, comedian Tom Dreesen is a busy man but his upcoming schedule in Chicago is even exhausting to read about, so take a seat! On Tuesday, Sept. 27, he will be honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications for his 48 years in show business! Dean Richards will emcee and the Governor will proclaim it "Tom Dreesen Day" in
Illinois! Watch the Museum's website for ticket info! He will also sing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley on Sept. 20 and, on Wednesday, Sept. 21, he will be hosting his "Tom Dreesen Comedians Gold Tournament" in Barrington. For the 50th anniversary of the 100 Club at the Four Seasons on Sept. 22, he will serve as the emcee. On Saturday, Sept. 24, he will be performing his one man show "An
Evening of Laughter & Memories of Sinatra" at Freedom Hall in Park Forest. And, last but not least, he will be emceeing the Illinois Chiefs of Police annual banquet at Drury Lane!! Whew! This guy is a machine! Hope you can make one or all of these exciting events with the "hardest working man in show biz." Literally! For event info, check out Tom's website here!
Puppy Mill Project's Awareness Day March will be held on Sunday, September 18, down Michigan Avenue from noon to 2 pm. Susanna Mendoza will serve as the grand marshall and Steve Dale will be the emcee. The supporters will gather at
Michigan Avenue and the river (west side), Plaza of the Americas, and walk down to Oak Street and back. Refreshments will be provided after the walk and a blessing of the animals is being planned. All are welcome! The Puppy Mill Project is an educational and advocacy non-profit organization dedicated to fighting puppy mill cruelty.
And here's more good doggie news! PAWS Chicago will team with Dylan’s Candy BarN, the nonprofit committed to supporting animal welfare organizations created by Dylan Lauren, founder/CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar, to host a dog adoption event on Sunday, September 18. The event will take place at Dylan's Candy Bar (445 N. Michigan Ave. from noon to 4 pm) to increase awareness about saving lives through adoption, to help animals in need find good homes and to donate event proceeds to more animal welfare efforts. The family-friendly
event will feature dogs and puppies ready to be adopted, with 10% of all candy sales benefiting PAWS Chicago and its cause. “Be it candy or canines, there’s certainly something universally special about digging in and giving back. After all, happiness is transcendent and shared with all living beings,even those on four legs," said Lauren. Arf! Arf! (Side note: I loved knowing that PAWS' team saved pets from the Louisiana floods too! They're everywhere there's a need!)
"Out In The Park Celebration of Diversity" will return for the fifth year to Six Flags Great America with YouTube sensation Todrick Hall performing. This private diversity fundraising event will be held on Saturday, September 10, to benefit TPAN's "Ride for Aids", among other charities, and will feature unlimited riding on ALL of Six Flags' THRILL rides! "The LGBTQ community, their family, friends and supporters can enjoy the park with short lines and without homophobic
hassles from anyone. It’s like a Fall Gay Pride Celebration with even MORE amusement and entertainment," said Michael Snell, co-owner BestGayChicago.com. All night long, attendees can "follow the bass" to the Hometown Square dance area where hostess Khloe from The DJ’s of SCARLET Bar Chicago/Honolulu will keep the party jumping. At 8 pm, Todrick will kick off the evening with a couple of live numbers following a meet-and-greet with fans. Attendees get FREE parking for this special event presented by MINI Cooper and Fireball! Advance tickets are $41 and can be purchased here NOW! On September 5th, the price goes up to $46. ($51 at the gate) Tickets will be capped at 5,000 to ensure lines stay short. This is an all-ages event with drinks
available for 21 and over.
As all of you may or may not know, beloved former CS Magazine publisher John Carroll passed away at age 59 on August 24. He was a gentle man who was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. His daughter, Megan Kulick, shared the details in this article of Crain's stating that her dad took his own life in the face of his diagnosis last year with a terminal disease called frontotemporal dementia, which she described as a degenerative disease that affects speech and judgment, among other things. Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife Victoria Priola and his son Matt. I know he was so proud of his granddaughter too who he shared many delightful videos of on social media. He will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to his family and all who knew and loved him.
I hope you can join me, Debi Lilly, Nancy Loo, Janet Davies, Zondra Hughes and Anupy Singla when we share our thoughts on a variety of topics at the Women Driving Excellence Leadership Collaborative Series, hosted by Chicagonista LIVES!' MJ Tam, Nancy Loo and Beth Rosen, at SPACE, 444 N. Wabash. We will discuss branding (with Anupy and Debi on 9/21), building
an engaged community (with Nancy and Zondra on 10/21) and staying relevant (with Janet and me on 11/16)! Each session will be from 6-7:30 pm. To register, click here.
Congrats to Carrie Meghe, founder of the Jackson Chance Foundation (JCF), for being chosen as a CNN Hero! This busy working mom was selected out of
tens of thousands for her foundation's work alleviating parking burdens for families of critically ill babies at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Congrats with love and admiration Carrie! See her inspiring story below. BTW, the annual Jackson Chance "Playing it Forward" Ping Pong Ball will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday, October 27! Get tix and more info here:
I hope you've enjoyed this latest edition of Candid Candace, the little blog with big news from the Windy City and beyond! If you're not a subscriber, please click here and join the fun!
Love, as always,
Candace :-)
[email protected]
P.S. As always, something to make you smile. Now this is what I call coordination!
