Plus: Praying for Australia and how to help; Sheryl and Joe's big day; Goodbye Fabrice; Ashley's honor; NYE with NBC's "Chicago Today"; Push Excel's MLK Jr. Scholarship Breakfast; NYE at La Scarola; Service Club of Chicago's debut event "New Year, New Me, TEA!"; Stockton's grand opening; Remi is a cover star; Tracey passes the gavel; Hope Through Caring Gala; Videos and so much MORE!
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Playboy magazine hosted a kick-ass Holiday Party at the Culver Hotel on December 11. It was a little like old home week for me as I loved seeing the past
Playmates who were in attendance. It was also exciting to get a first-look at the Winter 2020 issue, titled "The Equality Issue: Once a Playmate, Always a Playmate." I was proud to be included along with Renee Tenison (the first African American PMOY, 1990, and November 1989 PM); Victoria
Valentino (September 1963 Playmate who was a Cosby victim and is now the oldest PM to ever appear in the magazine at age 77); Raquel Pomplun (the first Mexican/ American PMOY, 2013, and the April 2012 Playmate) and Brande Roderick (PMOY 2001 and April 2000 PM). News of the issue has been featured in Forbes, People and the Daily Mail as it's a first for the magazine and celebrates diversity, empowerment and 5 decades of Playmates. This party was the first without any Hefners and I didn't know quite what to expect as I'm a lifelong fan of the Hefner family and, of course, the man who started it all. At first, it felt a little like a betrayal but then the incredibly welcoming Playboy staff made me, and
everyone else, feel right at home. In fact, I felt like I was right where I belonged again. It was also great to finally put faces to the names of some of the staff at the magazine. I was thrilled to see that everything seems to be in very capable hands with the likes of Cat Auer, Erica Loewy, Kristi Beck and Micaela Leone, to name a few. Playboy CEO Ben Kohn gave a short speech at the party detailing all of the magazine's recent triumphs and plans for the future, which looks very bright indeed! He announced
that "2019 was a hugely exciting year in our storied history with some phenomenal storytelling and grand moments such as building a world class team that is aligned for 2020, and beyond, and meeting our financial
goals for the third year in a row!...We codified our mission which is not a departure from our 66-year history but rather a recommitment to the DNA that originally made this brand a force to be reckoned with...Our mission is to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure." He added, "some of the biggest talent on the planet has been pursuing us this year to find ways to work together because they believe in what we stand for. This affirmed, for us, that our role serving as a pleasure/lifestyle guide promoting free expression, sex positivity and fun is maybe even more important today than ever before." Kohn went on to speak about Playboy's traction in the market. "Between
two of Playboy's partners, Pacsun [a California inspired clothing and accessories brand designed for teens and young adults] and Missguided [a global online fashion brand for women], consumers in the U.S. and the U.K. spent almost $50 million buying PB branded products this year. And,
internationally, we expanded our business by almost $10 million in Asia and also laid the foundation to launch in India. He closed his comments with, "We continue to champion for causes that are important to us through our storytelling,
partnerships, events and charity involvements. These causes include reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, sex workers' rights, free speech, freedom of expression and civil rights, among others. He proposed a toast to "our history, our present,
our future and each other." This was the second time Chuck and I have been to the Culver Hotel for a Playboy party. The last time was for NYE two year's ago when Cooper Hefner was still in charge. The hotel, established in 1924, is
loaded with charm and is, in fact, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "The Wizard of Oz" was filmed a block away and, as the story goes, Judy, the Munchkins and several other cast members used to hang out here. On this night, I saw Playmates Jeana (Tomasino) Keough (November 1980 Playmate, Real Housewives of Orange County), Michelle Drake (PM
May 1979), Vendela Lindblom (PM Jan. 2019), Bonnie Large (PM March 1973), Cathy St. George (PM August 1982), Raquel Pomplun (PMOY 2013), Ashley Doris (March 2013), Louann Fernald (June 1979 PM), Tiffany Toth (September 2011) and Victoria Valentino (PM Sept. 1963),
and so many more. We took lots of photos and chatted about what we were all up to. No matter how long I'm away from Playboy and the Playmates, our interactions always feel like we just left off yesterday. It's a very unique sorority that I'm proud to be a part of. It was a night I'll never forget. The excitement over the success of the magazine combined with seeing myself featured 40 years after appearing as a centerfold seemed like a fairytale. Thank you Hef for creating such a loving, loyal and supportive family. I'm so happy to see his vision being carried on in such grand style. I think, and I hope, he likes what he sees. I know I do. (The GOOD party pics are by Kit Karzen)
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About the shoot--It was always Hef's (Hugh Hefner's) mantra, 'Once a Playmate, always a Playmate,' and I felt the full force of this after I was asked to fly to L.A.
for another shoot for Playboy magazine, a full 40 years after appearing as its December 1979 centerfold. The request, obviously, caught me completely off guard since I didn't expect to be modeling for Playboy after all these years. My journey with the organization began way back in 1974 when I first became a Bunny at the St. Louis Playboy
Club. My first photo shoot, shortly after, for a "Best Bunnies" pictorial caught the attention of the home
office in Chicago and I was quickly invited to transfer to the hub, which I did, moving into the storied Playboy Mansion on State Street on September 22, 1974. Two years ago, Cooper Hefner invited me to reprise my February 1979 cover for another feature for the magazine that included six other "iconic" Playmates--his mother, Kimberly Conrad Hefner
(Playmate of the Year 1989, Jan. 1988 Playmate); Reneé Tenison (PMOY 1990, Nov. 1989 PM, who also appears in
the Equality Issue); Lisa Matthews (PMOY 1991, April 1990 PM); Charlotte Kemp Muhl (December 1982 PM); Cathy St. George (August 1982 PM) and Monique St. Pierre (PMOY 1979, November 1978 PM). This most recent shoot was a complete departure of anything I've ever done for Playboy before. The request to pose came via email on October 9, just after Chuck and I
had returned from a trip to Dollywood where I had been happily eating my way through every fried food stand available. This is when the crash "raisin" diet began.....Omgoodness. Talk about
being unprepared! The special edition 12-page cover feature was shot by Nadia Lee Cohen (@nadialeelee), a cool, edgy female photographer who also serves as her own muse on her Instagram
account, and written by Jamilah Lemieux (@jamilahlemieux). Cohen is a contributing photog for Vogue too. Her surreal vision for the shoot came as a surprise to me and a few others. It involved a step back in time, the swingin' 60s, when wigs were big (literally and
figuratively). Nadia's crack styling team was on top of it all. Looooonnngggg fake nails were glued onto everyone's hands and looooonnngggg eyelashes were applied. Heavy eye makeup was the order of the day as were the
aforementioned wigs. Downstairs, racks and racks of vintage clothing, underwear, heels, jewelry and more were strewn across every spare surface. Oh, and we were instructed to get spray tans before we came. Nadia mentioned during the shoot that she was aiming for something like a " Valley of the Dolls" vibe. I wasn't
overly pleased to hear this but, in the end, her vision just rocked and made history for Playboy. The venue was a house in Burbank that was once owned by Esther
Williams, the iconic swim star from the '40s/'50s. It's vintage vibe had never been touched as witnessed by the throwback wooden features and overall mustiness. An orange shag carpet had been brought in to add more authenticity to the era. There was a pool in back, of course, and a guest house that served as the staging area for wardrobe, hair and makeup. It was a BIG shoot, lots and lots of crew and even a dog wrangler for two cute pups who seemed to want to be
anywhere else but where they were. I just loved
reconnecting with the Playmates and was happy to meet the new guard at Playboy magazine. They were enthusiastic and very respectful of the past yet with a firm eye on the future. I was so honored to be one of the Playmates chosen for this cover feature representing five decades of Playmates. As photographer Nadia Lee Cohen explained, "I wanted to celebrate the original Playmates who helped shape and pioneer the brand"---Just what Hefner always wanted when he coined the phrase and title of the feature "Once a Playmate, Always a Playmate."
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Australia, praying your ordeal will end soon. Please share photos and donate as you can to Red Cross Australia, WIRES, Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors and whatever other agencies you find who are able to help. Any amount, no matter how small, can help. CommonNews.org reports:
Ecologists at the University of Sydney are estimating that nearly half a billion animals have been killed in Australia's unprecedented and catastrophic wildfires, which have sparked a continent-wide crisis and forced tens of thousands of
people to flee their homes in desperation. News Corp Australia reported that "there are real concerns entire species of plants and animals have been wiped out by bush fires following revelations almost 500 million animals have
died since the crisis began." "Ecologists from the University of Sydney now estimate 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles have been lost since September," according to News Corp. "That figure is likely to soar following the devastating fires which have ripped through Victoria and
the [New South Wales] South Coast over the past couple of days, leaving several people dead or unaccounted for, razing scores of homes and leaving thousands stranded." Koalas in particular have been devastated by the fires, Graham noted, because they "really have no capacity to move fast enough to get away." As Reuters reported Tuesday, "Australia's bushland is home to a range of indigenous fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, possums, wombats, and echidnas. Officials fear that 30 percent of just one koala colony on the country's northeast coast, or between 4,500 and 8,400, have been lost in the recent fires." Too sad for words.
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Congrats to The Joffrey Ballet's artistic director, Ashley Wheater! He has just been appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's 2020 New Year honors were announced recently in the official newspaper of the Crown, The Gazette. (Wild applause emoji here!)
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On another Joffrey note, we sadly say goodbye to longtime lead dancer Fabrice Calmels, who danced his last dance for the company on December 29 at the Auditorium Theatre in the Nutcracker (by Christopher
Wheeldon) as The Great Impresario of the Fair. He danced opposite April Daley, who starred as the Queen of the Fair. The theater was packed with fans and friends who came to say goodbye and in true Fabrice fashion, he did not disappoint. With a salute to the late Gerald
Arpino's empty box, he placed his dance shoes side by side onstage and left the world of dance to the sounds of thunderous applause. (See moving video here). He is headed to L.A. where I know we will seeing a LOT more of him! #starmaterialbaby (Coincidentally, this was also the last Nutcracker at the Auditorium before moving to the Lyric.)
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Thanks so much to NBC's "Chicago Today" for having me on to discuss NYE fashion with co-host Cortney
Hall! The show came in second in the NYE ratings and was a blast to be a part of! All of the outfits were
festive and creative and worn by adorable people so they were very easy to critique. Thanks to co-host Matt Rodrigues and producer Jamie Gregg for putting together such a cool show (and for including me!) Watch segment here and check Chicago Today show schedule here!
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Following the NBC segment, Chuck and I enjoyed a NYE dinner at one of our favorite spots, La Scarola, with
Michael Kutza. The place was packed and stacked with beautiful people thanks to co-owner Armando Vasquez who always manages to make every dinner a happening. From beginning to end, it was a great way to welcome in the New Year!
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Love and congrats to newlyweds Sheryl Dyer and Joe Schmidt who tied the knot in front of family and friends on December 28 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catholic Church in Glenview. Sheryl looked stunning in a backless white gown with a long, elegant train and Joe looked dapper, of course, in his tux. Sheryl's matron of honor was her sister Susan Laudick and Joe's best men were Paul and Bill Schmidt, his brothers. Other bridesmaids included Lauren Laudick and Natalie Laudick and junior bridesmaid Shannon Beyer. Darling flower girls Lanie Beyer and Stella Dyer were escorted by the very proper and
handsome Jack Mackey. Greg Hyder served as a guest soloist and sang "Mary Did You Know" with such depth and feeling that he had the crowd crying happy
tears. (He belongs on The Voice!) (See him singing here!) Following the beautiful ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and lavish buffet at St. Patrick High School. You can't imagine the transformation Kehoe Designs (Ramsey Prince) did to make this into a most spectacular venue! The theatre, where all the dancing occurred, was breathtakingly beautiful (see photo). I loved the song the
couple chose for their first dance, "Love Me Tender." Ramsey Prince (of Kehoe) deserves
a gold medal for decor design! Partygoers never wanted to leave. It was a night to remember and Sheryl's perfect touch could be seen everywhere from the ceremony to the reception following. Her taste has always been exquisite--no wonder she chose Joe! Love and congrats to the happy lovebirds! Forever may you float on a cloud of pure love and joy as we witnessed that night!
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The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, hosted by Push Excel, will be held on Monday, January. 20. The nonprofit promotes educational excellence by engaging stakeholders in education to work together to transform the lives of students. For tickets/more info, click here.
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I hope you can join The Service Club of Chicago on Sunday, January 12 at the Drake, when the nonprofit hosts its first "New Year, New Me TEA"! The event begins at 11am with a panel discussion following, moderated by Craig Hogan, that will include Rochelle Trotter, Andrea Schwartz, me and more! For tickets, please click here!
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The Les Turner ALS Foundation will host its annual Hope Through Caring Gala, emceed by the wonderful Dina Bair, on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Radisson Blu. The evening will include dinner, dancing,a paddle raise, balloon raffle and more to honor those whose extraordinary commitment to the fight against ALS has helped raise funds for research and clinical care, provide services for people living with ALS and their families and increase public awareness. For tickets/more info, click here.
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I'm so in love with PAWS Chicago's 2020 Desktop Calendar, especially since its cover star is Remi Spurlock, the much loved, handsome feline that owns Bonnie and Jim
Spurlock. All of the images in the calendar were shot by photographer/writer David Sutton, who has a keen eye for capturing the shared humanity between people and their pets. Sutton was named the “best pet photographer in America” by Forbes and the Chicago Tribune called him “the Doctor Dolittle of photographers.” I think he captured Regal Remi perfectly! For more info and to purchase a copy of this charming calendar supporting PAWS Chicago, click here!
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Retrospect Chicago returns on April 24 through April 26 at 1341 W. Randolph, the home of Randolph Street Market! This second annual event, hosted by Image Pilots/ RSM, will feature a vintage fashion show produced by Nena Ivon on Friday, April 24 followed by the weekend market. Last year, was such a blast with so many beautifully curated items for sale--jewelry, clothing, one-of-a-kind designer creations and so much more! The designers there are so knowledgeable and bring their A-Game to this market for sure! I can't wait to see what's on offer this year! Hope you can join us! (For more info, click here!)
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Stockton Restaurant & Lounge, the globally-inspired restaurant and high-end lounge located in Chicago's Gold Coast at 1009 N. Rush St., celebrated its Grand Opening on Thursday, November 14 with more than 700 attendees. The private event benefited Special Children’s Charities / Special Olympics Chicago. Guests were greeted with live DJ mixes and treated to the restaurant's signature seafood towers. Surprise pop-up performances by TomCat Trumpet entertained guests as they indulged in
gourmet desserts. Later in the evening, guests moved into The Lounge at Stockton, which was decorated in scarlet red from floor to stage with plush couches and a bronze-finished bar, where Vibe Music Live heated up the evening as the champagne flowed. Owned by Josh Carl and Joseph de Vito, Stockton Restaurant & Lounge is open Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. (For more info, click here!)
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Last night's Service Club of Chicago meeting saw the passing of the gavel from outgoing president Tracey Tarantino DiBuono to incoming president Sherrill Bodine, who has accepted a one year term in honor of her dear friend and longtime SC member, the late Lynda Silverman. Tracey delivered a heartfelt speech on her time in office that had the spillover crowd in happy tears. She said, "My heart is full with the joy of connecting on so many personal levels as well as professional. I will cherish these moments and look forward to continued friendships made. I deeply appreciate all of the hard work, determination, coordination, co-operation, and time devoted by all of you. I am proud to stand amongst you. Thank you for your support and kindness." Congrats, with love, to Tracey, Sherrill and all of the hard-working members of this amazing nonprofit!
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I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little short-changed on the holidays. It seems like as soon as I got our decor up, it was time for it to come down. Oh, I'm still holding out but am noticing all the lights blinking out around town and it's so sad that people are giving up so soon (Michael Caputo, I'm talking to you!) Anyway, it's staying put for a while longer as it brings such a warm, cheery sparkle to our home. It's not over till the Christmas Tree sings and I don't hear anything yet.
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Hope the New Year has started off in grand style for all of you! I sense a year of change, in a good way, and I can't wait to see what 2020 brings. Here's hoping for good health, finding joy in every moment (big or small) and discovering something new around every corner.
Love, as always,
Candace
P.S. Please help where you can.
