BLACK CREATIVITY GALA; URBAN INITIATIVES' SOCCER BALL; VIVICA FOX AND TAYLOR DAYNE WOW AT GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE GALA; THE D'VINE AFFAIR; CRYSTAL HEART BALL; ROSE HOTEL OPENING NIGHT; GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO "LIVES IN THE MOMENTUM"; FUN AND GAMES AT EISENOPOLY; JOFFREY BALLET'S ANNA KARENINA; CHEF JAIME LAURITA HOSTS A PARTY; A ROYAL GARDEN SOIREE FOR THE SERVICE CLUB OF CHICAGO; CHICAGO AUTO SHOW; A SILVER LINING'S GLITZ & GLAMOUR; RANDOLPH MARKET IS "CALM, COOL & COLLECTIBLE"; A BRAND NEW LE COLONIAL; CHARM'D AT DEUCES & THE DIAMOND CLUB; UPCOMING EVENTS; CHARMING VIDEO AND SO MUCH MORE!
I usually open my blog with event news from some deserving nonprofit but, this time I have to share the news of a wondrous new restaurant that just opened February 15, Barton G. The Restaurant Chicago. It is an experience where the food is as fabulous as the whimsy. And, for once, I'm struggling for words to describe this 12,000 square-foot-space located at 415 N. Dearborn, in River North's hot Hubbard Street entertainment strip. Situated on the first two floors of the former Sullivan's Steakhouse, Barton G. offers guests a multi-sensory experience in which they
interact with fellow diners as collective gasps and Instagram moments are shared over every dish that comes out of the kitchen. Perhaps summed up best by this Zagat review of its flagship Miami Beach location
(one of our favorite spots there): “If a restaurant was the circus it would resemble this outlandish South Beach fantasyland, where presentations of its New American dishes are over-the-top with signature trinkets and liquid-nitrogen mixology provides a smoky sideshow, with spot-on food and service and a unique atmosphere make this the perfect place to wow someone.” Guests will feast their eyes and delight their taste buds on signature, Instagram-worthy dishes
that include: the BBQ OF BONES with 12-hour beef ribs, lamb riblets and long-bone chicken wings; KOBE MEATLOAF IN TERRACOTTA ; COCKTAIL BISQUE featuring sherry laced bisque with bronzino and fresh Maine lobster; WHOLE GRILLED BRONZINI, Asian profiteroles with Thai coconut shrimp filling; ORANGE SALMON and
SLOW COOKED SHORT RIBS. It's extensive list of sides include BRUSSELS SPROUTS BRANCH, which appears to be plucked from the pages of a Dr. Seuss story. Every dish is a work of art and there are all price points. My favorite, among many, on this night was the Barton G. Castle (see it here)-48 oz. of Jackman ranch wagyu prime rib served with a giant baked Idaho potato and a 1 pound Caribbean lobster served with 3 cheeses and chives. It's served in a replica of a White Castle that, once it's
placed on the table, out pops a giant 5-foot air-blown puppet! (For two, $320). OMG. Another favorite was the Marie Antoinette "Let Them Eat Cake" towering cotton candy head served with bombolini cupcakes filled with blackberry jam and topped with roasted almond buttercream. ($29) There was too much to describe here and I don't want to spoil ALL the surprises but I'm telling you, even as we were leaving, and I thought I'd seen all of their whimsical/magical creations, I was
still seeing new dishes being delivered. It was never ending. I had a chance to talk to the man behind the magic, Barton G. Weiss, a handsome man with a devilish twinkle in his eye that makes you understand where all of this creativity comes from. He spoke about how his design in Chicago differs from his other two locations in Miami and Los Angeles. "This is a design that I thought could work in Chicago and not in other cities. It's sexy, it's warm and inviting and I don't think
the other restaurants have the same panache like this one does. I came here for a few weeks to check out the local dining scene and everything was a steakhouse and I really didn't find anything that, I thought, was exciting--where you could come, party and stay all night with things coming out
of the kitchen where you could expect the unexpected, " he said. "I've had a restaurant in Miami now for 17 years and my restaurant in L.A. is 7 years old. They appeal to a certain person who likes sophistication and the sexiness of old world nightclubs with a mix of old and new." Barton works closely with his talented culinary team led by Starchefs Rising Star and Six Star Diamond Award winner, corporate chef and culinary director Jeff O’Neill, corporate executive chef Miguel Angel Rebolledo and Chicago-based executive chef, Erwin Mallet. This restaurant is considered the most Instagrammed restaurant in the world and I can certainly see why. They're open for dinner, lunch and brunch with a 6,000-square-foot banquet space. It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys and we can't wait to go back!
The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Associate Board hosted its tenth annual EISENOPOLY at Revel Fulton Market on February 1. The event raised a record-breaking $215,000 for gastrointestinal cancer research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive
Cancer Center at Northwestern University. This unique fundraiser welcomed a group of over 550 guests to face off in speed rounds of the monopoly-themed board game. Live music by Gold
Coast All Stars, dancing and delicious food served by some of Chicago’s most notable chefs made this night one to remember. Some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants represented with samplings of their best dishes. Brown Bag Seafood,
Cafe Robey, Capital Grille, Formento’s, Gene & Georgetti, Nando’s Peri Peri, Press Room, Wow Bao and more lined “Restaurant Row” much to the delight of guests. A decadent dessert station featured cookies from Beatrix, Carol’s Cookies, and Sweet Shot, as well
as Eli’s Cheesecake bites (my fave!). After game play, guests enjoyed late night eats courtesy of Homeslice pizza and Chick-fil-A. VIPs were offered an exclusive tasting and crafty cocktails from Heaven’s Door. The evening’s “Most Wanted” served time in the signature
life-sized jail, raising thousands in bail. Party-goers were also able to throw fellow guests in jail where they were encouraged to gather bail to support the foundation. One lucky guest walked away with a pair of diamond stud earrings valued at $5,000 courtesy of Shelly Becker Designs at the “Bubbles and Bling” station. “In its tenth year, the outpouring of support from guests, local
restaurants, sponsors and our outstanding board have made this signature event more successful than ever,” said Katie Wales, Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation executive director. “Together
this group is making a lasting and necessary impact on the future of cancer research.” (The event funding supports the GI Cancer Tissue Bank and the $1.5 million dollar commitment to the Harold E. Eisenberg GI Cancer OncoSET program, an
unprecedented initiative to deliver personalized, effective cancer treatments to patients who currently have very limited options). The Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and, as one of the
largest organizations dedicated to gastrointestinal cancer research, remains committed to embracing life’s challenges through furthering the future of cancer research and education. Proceeds from the event contribute to innovative research programs at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, where the foundation funds a GI Cancer Tissue Bank. (Photos by Joshua Albanese)
The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) hosted its 36th annual Black Creativity gala with over 750 guests in attendance. The black tie event raised $475,000 to support the Black Creativity program and its events, which pay tribute to the culture, heritage and scientific contributions of African
Americans and help motivate youth in the sciences. “This event celebrates and encourages MSI guests to expand their curiosity,” said David Mosena, Museum president/CEO. “Each and every guest who attended the Black Creativity Gala encourages and motivates artists and inventors, giving new life and perspective to science, technology,
engineering, art and medicine.” The gala was co-chaired by Dr. Eric Whitaker (TWG Partners chairman/CEO), Dr. Cheryl R. Whitaker (NextLevel Health Partners chairman/CEO) and Cheryl Harris (senior VP Allstate Insurance Company). The evening began with a cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres in the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition that featured more than 170 original works of art from African-American artists. Following the reception, guests enjoyed elegant food stations from
Sodexo inside the Museum’s Rotunda. WGN Meteorologist Demetrius Ivory emceed the evening’s presentation. Live musical entertainment was featured throughout the evening from Chicago Children’s Choir, DJ Nick “Nonstop” Nicholson,
and the Nanette Frank Jazz Orchestra. The Black Creativity Innovation Studio was also open, providing guests with a chance to get hands-on and become creative problem solvers. In addition to the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition and the Innovation Studio, guests were able to explore other Museum exhibits throughout the evening, including Extreme Ice, Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze, Science Storms and The Great Train Story. (Photos by JB Spector and Kasumi Chow)
Soccer Ball 2019 was presented by Urban Initiatives and Allstate at Rockwell on The River on January 25. Guests included some of Chicago’s top philanthropic leaders, business executives and family foundations who joined in to celebrate Urban Initiatives and help raise
funds for its continuum of programming. The evening raised over $650,000 to help the organization continue to empower its participants to become community leaders in Chicago Public Schools through academic success, healthy living and social-emotional learning. During the
onstage presentation, emcees Dionne Miller (ABC 7) and Mawi Asgedom (Mawi Learning) helped present awards to dedicated stakeholders. The prestigious Soccer Ball Award was presented to Grainger for its
generous support since 2013. Grainger, a business-to-business distributor of products used to maintain, repair and operate facilities, has gone above and beyond in its support of
Urban Initiatives’ sports-based youth development programming. The 2019 Paula Armstrong Memorial Heart of a Champion Award was presented to Paul Damato, who has been involved with UI for almost ten years. Paul’s tireless dedication to UI has been absolutely essential to its
team and an inspiration to those around him. Coach Cynthia Gonzalez from Marquette School of Excellence presented the Troy Cameron Memorial Team Captain of the Year Award to the very inspirational 8th grade program participant, Jade. Jade has demonstrated leadership on the field and in the classroom at Marquette and has become a role model for her fellow teammates. (The 2020 Soccer Ball will take place at Rockwell on the River on January 24th, 2020).
More than a thousand guests joined beautiful actress Vivica A. Fox and pop icon Taylor Dayne at the 12th annual GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers’ Chicagoland “i have a Voice” Gala. The event was held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel on February 2 and is renowned as a black-tie event with a rockin' edge. It lived up to its name with high energy from the red carpet that continued onto the dance floor. Fox,
actress, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, hosted the exhilarating evening with pop star Dayne kicking off the dance party portion of the evening. When she sang her hit “Tell It To My Heart,”
the crowd jumped to its feet, singing, dancing and clapping along to this exciting performance. The party continued with 7th Heaven taking the stage. The red carpet was abuzz with GiGi’s Playhouse stars, Miss Illinois and The Retired Professional Football Players "Elite 12" or known that night as “Gigi’s Elite 12” that included Desmond Clark (Chicago Bears), Brent Novoselsky (Minnesota Vikings), Jason Willis (Seattle
Seahawks), Darius Fleming (New England Patriots), Wendell Davis (Chicago Bears), Anthony Herron (Detroit Lions), Kurt Becker (Chicago Bears), Al Harris (Chicago Bears), Chris Watt (San Diego Chargers), Brian Arnfelt (Pittsburgh Steelers), David Porter (Green Bay Packers) and
Tom Serpento (executive dfirector, NFL Players Association – Chicago Chapter.) “To have a thousand people in the room say I CAN and WILL accept you as you are means everything to me. No one should feel alone in this journey of acceptance. To be around celebrities, athletes and a room full of believers empowers families, kids and all of us fighting for acceptance every day,” said Nancy Gianni, founder and chief belief officer of GiGi's Playhouse. Gianni’s
daughter GiGi inspired her to start GiGi’s Playhouse 15 years ago to provide a place to change lives and offer FREE therapeutic, educational and career training. Today, GiGi’s Playhouse has expanded to 42 locations across the United States and Mexico with more than 200 inquiries expressing interest in starting locations around the world. Proceeds from this annual gala support the GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, which provide FREE life-changing programming such as one-on-one literacy and math tutoring, speech therapy, fitness classes, career training and more for children and adults with Down syndrome.
Catholic Charities hosted the 18th annual d'Vine Affair at the Union League Club with over 400 guests in attendance on January 27. The event featured over 250 wines from around the world as well as several craft and
imported beers from over 90 vintners and breweries, along with gourmet hors d'oeuvres and desserts. The Sunday afternoon soiree kicked off with a special wine appreciation seminar led by sommelier Rachael Lowe of Spiaggia,
and a beer seminar led by Anthony Norkus of Louis Glunz Beer. Hosted by Reverend Monsignor Michael M. Boland, President of Catholic Charities, along with event co-chairs Joseph Jr. and Kristin Glunz, and Jon Cohn and Erin Reardon Cohn, the event raised more than $100,000 for the Catholic Charities' self-sufficiency programs.
Little Company of Mary Hospital’s (LCMH) Foundation hosted its 29th annual Crystal Heart Ball at the Field Museum on February 2. The emcees were Little Company of Mary’s very own baby alum, Patrick Elwood along with Nancy Loo (WGN News). More than 700 guests danced the night away to the music by Maggie Speaks – Talk of the Town Big Band while experiencing international cultures and observing artifacts from all over the world. This premiere gala, the largest on Chicago’s Southwest side, raised $410,000 to benefit LCMH Interventional Radiology Services. The Venerable Mary Potter Humanitarian Award was presented to Jim McKeever, who has coordinated the Kevin Dowling Toy Drive for the last 20 years. This high honor celebrates individuals whose personal and professional
accomplishments embody the ideas, vision and mission of Venerable Mary Potter, who founded the Little Company of Mary Sisters in 1877. McKeever also established the Kevin Dowling Scholarship Fund to promote the education of three students each year who are enrolled in a Catholic School Program. The Fund was established in 1995 and the Kevin Dowling committee is made up of family and friends of Kevin (Jim’s brother-in-law) and the Dowling Family. Jim’s civic-mindedness is evident, not only because of his membership on the
executive committee for the annual South Side Irish Parade, but through his engagement as St. Rita’s Fathers Club president, Mother McAuley Father’s Club, and Holy Name Society member of St. John Fisher Parish. Whew! Jim is one deserving recipient! As if this weren't enough, he also belongs to the Christmas without Cancer campaign that gives funds and supports families struggling with cancer. Uzma and Hamid Nazeer, D.O., were co-chairs along with Lindsay and Christopher Vandenberg. To complement the Starry Starry Night theme, guests enjoyed signature blue cocktails followed by a gourmet meal prepared by Food For Thought. Guest William Heneghan won the Grand Prize Luxury Vacation for two, a 10 Day River Cruise to Amsterdam to Lucerne, or $15,000.
The Rose Hotel held their Grand Opening Party last Thursday at 5200 Pearl Street in Rosemont on January 24. The festive event included everything from a live rose wall installation with champagne to a smash cake table and live beats from KISS FM's DJ Nurotic. The hotel serves as the closest off-airport hotel in proximity to O'Hare International and is the first Tapestry Collection by Hilton property to be built from the ground up. So glam!
Dance in Chicago is alive and well and THRIVING! We had the pleasure of attending a dynamic performance by Giordano Dance Chicago at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on February 2. The "Live in the Momentum" program brought the crowd to its feet several times during the performance by this tight, talented group of dancers as they strutted their stuff opening with "Sidecar" (choreographed by Mark Swanhart), followed
by "Loose Cannon" (choreographer Jon Lehrer) and "Jolt" (choreography by Autumn Eckman). A short intermission was followed by "Divided Against" (choreography by Peter Chu) and my favorite (but then I'm prejudiced) Ray Leeper's jaw-dropping, high energy "SOUL." (created in honor of my Legacy Ball
recognition.) This company has so many exciting things on the horizon and I hope you'll be able to join us for it ALL!! The grand LEGACY BALL, the dance party to end all dance parties, will be held on Saturday, March 9, at the Ravenswood Event Center. Honoring Liz and Matt Connelly, the evening will transcend your sensibilities! I can't say anymore...come and see for yourself! Tickets/more info HERE!
We also attended the Joffrey Ballet's opening night performance of its world premiere, Anna Karenina. The costuming, set design and, of course, the dancing, was riveting, albeit a little long for me at over 2 hours with a 20 minute intermission. The train scene was mind blowing but I won't spoil the fun. In the end, the
crowd wouldn't let the dancers leave the stage. Catch it at the Auditorium Theatre until February 24. And, don't miss the company's annual gala on Friday, April 12, this year themed the "Ungala" at the Lyric Opera House that will feature a night of pure imagination--and dare I say it, very reminiscent of the much loved "Couture & Cocktails", that Helen
Melchior and I created years ago. The Ungala, with "experiential dinner and dancing," will be co-chaired by Laura Kofoid and Coco Meers. (For tickets/more info, click here!) On a love note, Joffrey dancers and longtime "it" couple, April Daley and Miguel Blanco, got engaged on January 30 in Varadero, Cuba! Long may you love!
I want to give a very special shout-out to my dear friend and everyone's favorite celebrity chef, Jaime Laurita! I was invited, along with a number of foodies and friends, to a special presentation at the Viking/LaCornue showroom at the Merchandise Mart, where Jaime is the brand ambassador and spokesman. (He also designed this smashing showroom that you shouldn't miss, suite 137). The
special celebration consisted of a conversation moderated by Jaime between distinguished panelists on current trends and the importance of design. Speakers included Emily Sachs Wong (luxury real estate broker), Donna Mondi (interior designer), Michael
Abrams (interior designer) and Noelle Skurchak (LaCornue Director of US Sales). There were delicious treats by Ambrosia Patisserie, Cheeses of Europe and miniature quiches by Mindy Segal. A stuffed goodie bag was courtesy of
Liz Monroe (Chanel at Bloomie's). The delightfully French design associate, Duncan Perrillat, greeted guests at the door with a rose and a smile while Yvonne Cadiz-Kim (design associate/realtor/restaurateur) poured champagne and helped greet guests.
Rufus Greer, showroom manager, gave a warm welcome speech. It was a thrill to see the LaCornue ranges on display, known as the Rolls Royces of ranges. They are magnificent works of art and can be completely customized for
foodies with funds. Also onsite, was the breathtakingly beautiful graffiti model, one of only 6 in the world, for $300,000. Special thanks to Jaime and Margaret McSweeney for the invite and I hope you can all join me on their show, Kitchen Chat, at the showroom on Thursday, March 7, when we will have a little Q & A amid all this splendor.
The Service Club of Chicago will host a Royal Garden Party, which is the nonprofit's annual spring hat luncheon, at the Drake Hotel on Friday, May 17. Special guest will be Graham "Digger" Dillamore, the Gardens & Estates Manager for Historic Royal Palaces. He created the floral tribute for Princess Diana on the 20th anniversary of her death and he will share stories of the gardens and his time spent with the Royal Family. For more info, click here.
This year's Chicago Auto Show featured over 1000 new cars, trucks and SUVs spread out over 1 million-square-feet of show space. I don't know how all of those elegantly clad women (black tie is mandatory) made it through in heels! Entertainment included the Chicago 6, a group comprised of former Bears Dan Hampton, Otis
Wilson and Steve McMichael, who performed in the Chevy display. Dealers came up with all sorts of clever ideas to draw people to their displays this year. Suburu even offered puppies for adoption while Chevy Silverado displayed a truck created out of over 300,000 Lego bricks (see
video here!). Over $2.8 million was raised for 18 local charities that included the 100 Club of Chicago, Misericordia, Advocate Health Care, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Clearbrook, The Cradle, Susan G. Komen-Chicago, March of Dimes, Special Olympics Illinois, Jesse White Tumbling Team, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and others. Attendees could allocate their tickets purchases to the charity of their choice. Guests
enjoyed 3 indoor ad 6 outdoor test tracks, tastings from some of the city's top restaurants and a red carpet hosted by Windy City Live's Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini. (To see more photos, click onto my Chicago Tribune column here!) Congrats to Auto Show chairman Ray Scarpelli Jr. on a job well done! Since it's debut in 1992, "First Look for Charity" has raised more than $53 million for local nonprofits. (Fab photos by Mila Samokhina)
We spent our Valentine's Day at a restaurant that was highly recommended by guests on Check Please! This is fair warning, not to bother with Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar. Things got off on the wrong foot when my friend couldn't make a reservation--the usual "only 5:30 and 9:30 available" routine. I circumvented the traditional method of making a res and secured a 7 pm table. A handful of guests were there and it never got busier so why the lack of availability? Now,
move on to the thimble-sized offerings of caviar for $$$$ and the very short pours on wine and this is just for starters. Two slices of stale black bread were served in place of blinis, or something fresher?, to accompany the Lilliputian caviar servings which, to say the least, weren't very appealing. That's when we decided "pas plus" and moved on to an old favorite, Salerno's at 1201 W. Grand, where it was refreshing to actually see friendly/smiling servers! Thanks for saving our Valentine's Day Salerno's! YOU never disappoint!
A Silver Lining Foundation will host its annual fundraiser/ fashion show, Glitz & Glamour, at the Peninsula on Thursday, March 14. The fashion show, produced by ZZAZZ Productions, will feature looks from popular local designers including Elda de la Rosa, Mark Roscoe, Sylwia Designs, Contessa Bottega, Mira Couture, Leandro Mulet, Ricorso and Tamra Ellingson, all to benefit Dr. Sandy Goldberg's foundation that raises awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. For tickets, more info, click here!
My favorite market, Randolph Street Market, returns on February 23/24 to 1241 W. Randolph St. "Calm, Cool & Collectible" will feature over 125 vendors offering vintage finds, fashion, food, collectibles, jewelry, mid-century design and so much more. For more info, please click here!
Le Colonial restaurant will open on March 1 at a new address in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, above the new Van Cleef & Arpels store, at 57 E. Oak St. Its new home will reveal an updated menu by executive chef/partner Quoc Luong, stunning interiors by the award-winning architect Mark Knauer and warm hospitality guided by director of operations/wine director Valerie Cao and the restaurant’s first and only maître d’/partner Rafael Lopez. Can't wait!
Prepare to be Charm’d this March as Deuces & The Diamond Club debuts Chicago’s 1st magical Irish pop-up experience. Charm’d - The Magical Irish Pop-Up is an enchanting, over-the-top, multi-room, multi-level magical Irish experience. Featuring wall-to-wall Irish decor, lucky charms, multiple bars, social photo-ops and a whole lot of leprechaun mischief! Frolic in the Leprechaun Garden, press your luck on Lucky Lane, take a stroll thru the Emerald Isle, enjoy a colorful cocktail in the Rainbow Room or meet your mischief at Shenanigan’s Shot Bar. It’s Irish myth and magic like you’ve never seen it before - will you be Charm’d? For more info, click here!
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events! PAWS Chicago's Animal Magnetism Party at Morgan Manufacturing on Friday, March 8; Illinois Holocaust
Museum Humanitarian Awards at the Hyatt Regency on Wednesday, March 13; Chicago Flower & Garden Show's "Evening in Bloom" at Navy Pier on Tuesday, March 19; Face the Future Foundation Gala at the
Four Seasons on Saturday, March 23; Chicago Library Foundation's "Night in the Stacks" at the Harold Washington Library on Friday, April 5; FAME (Foundation for Artists Mentored in Entertainment) at the Chicago Yacht Club on
Saturday, April 13; Brookfield Zoo Gala at the zoo on Saturday, April 27; the Discovery Ball at the Hilton Chicago on Saturday, April 27; Horizon for Youth at the Palmer House on Saturday, April 27; Catering Executives Club of America gala at the Peggy Notebaert Museum on Sunday, April 28; Alexian
Brothers Ball at Rockwell on the River on Saturday, May 4; USO Derby Party at Revel Fulton Market on Saturday, May 4; Rush Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, May 7 at
the Hilton Chicago; Chicago Art & Antiques Opening Night at the Merchandise Mart on Thursday, May 16; Service Club's Spring Luncheon at the Drake Hotel on Friday, May 17.
That's all for this week! I hope you've enjoyed reading about all the hottest happenings from Chicago and beyond! If not a subscriber, please sign up here so you won't miss an edition!
Love, as always,
Candace
[email protected]
P.S. Wish there were more like him in the world....
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