PLUS BROOKFIELD ZOO'S "WHIRL"; MAUREEN AND MARC HONORED AT STANLEY PAUL BENEFIT; A STARRY NIGHT AT COMMFEST; THOUGHTS ON THE ROYAL WEDDING; CHICAGO HOUSE'S "RALLY ON THE RUNWAY"; SPECIAL OLYMPICS' "INSPIRE GREATNESS"; MATT BRINGS FITNESS TO A NEW LEVEL; HANDS OF PEACE BENEFIT; GOODBYE GALA FOR A LIVING LANDMARK; HONORS FOR MOSQUITO; NIGHTLIFE GURU BJ MURRAY RETURNS FOR LYME FIGHT; GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER TO HONOR ETHAN HAWKE; MELISSA RETURNS TO US VIA WLIT-FM!; BUTTERFLY BALL; ST. JANE HOTEL PREVIEW; CUTE VIDEOS AND SO MUCH MORE!!!
Everyone loves Mamie! Chicago's very own social queen and beloved philanthropist, Mamie Walton (herself a Brit) celebrated her 90th birthday in a style that rivaled the royal wedding's! The Peninsula was dressed in the colors of the
Union Jack with jolly good decor by Kehoe Designs, planned in collaboration with the Pen's Greg Hyder and, of course, Mamie. 126 by-invite-only guests arrived through a dramatic, scarlet set of sheer curtains to enter London's High Street where storefronts like Harrod's filled the lobby alongside bright red traditional English phone booths. Four fully outfitted
Beefeaters (really Coldstream Guards) were also on hand to greet partygoers. Mamie welcomed guests in a stunning, gold, floor-length Michael Kors gown that perfectly complimented her always chic blond bob. When the
doors opened to the ballroom, you could hear gasps from the crowd as they looked upon splendor like I've never seen before. (See decor HERE!) White roses overflowed on every table beside candles
displayed in elegant crystal holders. Multiple chandeliers were grouped together in the ceiling above the dance floor where a towering, gilded
cake sat with a golden statue of "Mamie (ala Marilyn)" on top holding an American flag and the Union Jack. Stanley Paul's band had the crowd on the dance floor for most of the night except when they were enjoying a gourmet British-inspired dinner
prepared by the Pen's executive chef Toni Robertson (in collaboration with Greg, the Pen's Catering Director) that featured Beef Wellington and for dessert, Eton Mess (a traditional British dessert consisting of strawberries, meringue, whipped heavy cream
and strawberry sorbet). As guests finished dinner, trumpets sounded and the Beefeaters appeared in the spotlight at the entry to the ballroom and, suddenly, there was Prince Harry! A PERFECT look-a-like wearing the complete uniform with medals and a gold sash whisked Mamie onto the dance floor amid
swoons and squeals of delight. He was truly the spitting image of the Prince and dare I say, even cuter! They danced to "Foggy Day in London Town", of course! He then mingled and danced with attendees and took photos
with anyone who asked. Tom Kehoe had discovered "Wade" in Oregon and flew him in for this grand occasion. Kehoe Designs completely outfitted him in this amazing costume that was spot on. Following her dance with the Prince, she took to the mic and serenaded us all, in perfect pitch, to "Time After Time." (See her sing HERE!) Talk about a perfect evening! No one wanted to leave the dance floor but, finally they did. But not Mamie! Mamie was the last to leave, of course, and chatted with Greg and Tom afterwards about how happy she was with the evening. I couldn't agree more. It was a night we'll never, ever forget. Guests in the crowd included Mark Olley, Sherry Fox, Maria and Bob Zec, John Cannon and Cary Frank, Peter and Karen Martino, Tracey DiBuono, Jean and Andy Antoniou, Lynda and Howard Silverman, Toni and Rick Canada, Heather and Bruce Ingram, Linda and Mark Heister, Stanley Paul, Vonita Reescer, Kevin
Sullivan, Cathy and Bill Bartholomay, Leslie and Bob Zentner, Sherrill and John Bodine, Janet Owen, Bob Barr, Lynn and John McMahan, Jim Smith, Dori Wilson, Denise Allen, Susan Gohl, Myra and John Reilly, Sean Eshagy and his mom Carol Blaney Eshagy and so many more! The next day, I called Mamie to thank her for a wonderful evening and this is the message on her phone, "Life is a cabaret, Mamie here".....What a perfect motto for a life well lived. Long may you reign Queen Mamie and here's to 100 more! We all love you!
Each year, beloved bandleader Stanley Paul hosts a benefit for his Stanley Paul-Raelene Mittelman Scholarship Fund at a private club in the Gold Coast. This year, on May 9, the deserving honorees were Maureen and
Marc Schulman of Eli's Cheesecake fame (and so much more). Their list of philanthropic endeavors reads like an encyclopedia. Personally, I can't think of a nonprofit that they haven't touched/supported in one
way or another, oftentimes with a donation of one of their giant, delicious cheesecakes! I was honored to be a speaker along with Chicago Tribune's Rick Kogan, Bill Zwecker and the Schulman's beautiful,
articulate daughters Elana, Haley and Kori. The evening was expertly produced by Donna LaPietra who came attired in an Eli's Cheesecake t-shirt, of course! Her dedication to themes are legendary and this night was
no exception. Photos of each speaker appeared onscreen with a funny cheesecake affiliation. A video of the couple documented their philanthropy and devotion to all things Chicago that
included wonderful, historical photos of the company and its founder Eli. I look at the Schulmans as members of everyone's family. This makes sense since they and
their cheesecakes seem to have been a part of every major celebration and special occasion that I can remember. They even supplied cakes for former Presidents Clinton and Obama's inaugurations! The cake made its debut at the first Taste of Chicago in
1980 and was an immediate hit. I also love this couple's amazing love story. I asked Maureen recently how she and Marc met. She said
that Marc was a bit of a player in college. In fact, when Maureen attended the national convention of her sorority as president (of course!) of Sigma Delta Tau, all the girls were discussing who they were dating. Maureen told them she had just started dating a guy named Marc Schulman. Girls from
Chicago, the suburbs and Denver, where Marc went to college, all said, "We are too!" Over the years, I've become an ardent admirer of this much loved couple, not just because of their delicious cheesecakes, but because of their great big hearts. I have covered their Happiness Club benefit on several occasions and asked its artistic director, Tanji Harper, for her thoughts on the Schulmans. "What I know of Marc and Maureen, after being blessed to work with them long enough to consider
them a second family, is that they have a profound calling to help others. They have used their ideas, network and resources to help hundreds of Chicago kids who have morphed into incredible adults because of the opportunities the Happiness Club gave them. I believe
desserts are just a clever conduit for their true purpose--they are really ambassadors of generosity who live in service to others and influence the rest of the world to make positive changes too," she said. I couldn't agree more! A giant Eli's Cheesecake, bearing an image of the darling duo dressed in identical suits and ties, was wheeled into the ballroom by their beautiful daughters accompanied by the company's mascot, The Slice. Merriment ensued
following Stanley's presentation to the Schulmans of a beautiful, Tiffany crystal award. Thank you Stanley for creating this wonderful benefit to honor your sister, Raelene Mittelman, who loved fashion and design. Through this fund, awards are made annually to college students from the Chicagoland area that are enrolled in a fashion design program. The scholarship monies are used as tuition for the study of fashion design in a Chicago area college or university. A perfect tribute to one of Chicago's "sweetest" couples! (Photos by Francis Son)
Any event that has animal ambassadors greeting guests has my interest! And this is the case every year for the unique Brookfield Zoo Gala hosted by the Women's Board and
Board of Trustees of the Chicago Zoological Society. The 37th annual Whirl, chaired by Elisa Templeton, was held on April 28 and grossed more than $1.3 million! Proceeds will support the animals (including its darling ambassador squad) at the Zoo, as well as the Chicago Zoological Society’s conservation, education and community outreach programs. This year, more than 525 guests attended the gala, which was held on the Zoo's grounds. During the cocktail reception, guests had the opportunity to meet and take photos with many of the beloved animal ambassadors, including a
Humboldt penguin, sulcata tortoise, binturong, serval, wallaby, toe-toed sloth, cape porcupine, tamandua, Burmese python, screech owl, red-tailed hawk, Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, great-horned owl, red knee tarantula, rabbits, and Guinea pigs. Whew! It was a real zoo in there! Additionally, Aston Martin of Glenview partnered with CZS on the event and had a beautiful car on display too! Themed Whirl of Fortune, the gala featured decor created by the Flower
Firm that featured stunning candelabras and large white plumage in tall vases along with oversized playing cards and dice on each table. The ceiling was illuminated in red, white, and black geometric designs. Food for Thought catered the evening’s three-course dinner. Later in the evening, attendees enjoyed dancing to the music of Maggie Speaks and trying their luck at blackjack, roulette, craps, and Texas hold’em poker. The black-tie gala also featured a live auction and paddle raise conducted by auctioneer Jason Lamaruouex. Items
included the privilege of naming Brookfield Zoo’s male red panda; a trip of a lifetime to a private St. Lucia estate complete with three houses, personal chefs, and a driver and a gorgeous Palmiero-colored sapphire and diamond “pansy” pendant featuring 2.06 carats of diamonds complimented by pink, blue, and yellow sapphires totaling 4.23 carats donated by A. Marek Fine Jewelry. Since its inception in 1992, the Women’s Board has raised more than $30 million for the Society, presented nearly $200,000 in educational scholarships, and hosted tens of thousands of children at Brookfield Zoo through its outreach endeavors. (Photos by Kelly Tone and Jim Schuzz)
A star-studded lineup of Northwestern University School of Communication alumni turned the newly christened Ryan Fieldhouse into a rollicking, full-throttle reunion Saturday night (April 21), paying
tribute in music and comedy to the school’s storied past while challenging the next generation of students to carry on the tradition. Emceed by “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert ’86, ’11 H, the variety show, “A Starry Night,” drew a crowd of more than 2,600, who were treated to performances by dozens of famous
alumni and current Northwestern students. "Tonight is a demonstration of the capability of our community and the love everybody has for Northwestern to make it happen, ” said Barbara O'Keefe, Dean of the School of Communication. The night began with a VIP reception and dinner before the performance, at which O’Keefe thanked the guests, students, stars and University faculty and staff for their work on the show over the past year. Much of the evening was spent reminiscing about the legendary professors who helped launch countless careers in theater, television
and film and about the students who joined the celebrities both on stage and behind the scenes. After the dinner ended, the crowd settled in for the show, which kicked off with a pre-recorded video skit that featured Colbert and fellow alum Seth Meyers ’96, ’16 H. The two sat in wingback chairs in a faux Northwestern club with a fireplace behind them, set in New York City, riffing off each other. The pair joked about what actors are really thinking when they put on a listening face on stage — food. The two then pulled
out sub sandwiches, took hefty bites and began unintelligibly singing the Northwestern fight song. Emcee Colbert, who normally uses the opening monologue on his TV show to skewer President Trump, told the crowd he only wanted to talk about one president – Northwestern President Morton Schapiro, who was seated near the stage. “Everyone loves Morty,” Colbert said during his opening remarks. “Morty wears purple. Morty breathes purple. Morty is
purple.” There was plenty of Purple Pride throughout the evening — and plenty of laughter. “Morty’s done so much for this University,” Colbert continued. “He took something great and made it better. He’s like the guy who put cheese in a pizza crust.” The show also paid tribute to the late Garry Marshall ’56, a lifelong supporter of Northwestern and its students — and to other Northwestern-bred actors, directors, teachers and producers who formed the backbone of Chicago theater throughout the years. More than 300 students helped bring the show to life, including performers, producers, stagehands and others. Broadway star and Drama Desk Award winner Richard Kind ’78 talked about having drinks in an Evanston bar the night before rehearsals, where he
spoke with theater professor Rives Collins about what students need to survive and thrive in the world of entertainment. He said it boiled down to one word: resilience. As he prepared to perform the song “Bounce” from the Stephen Sondheim musical “Road Show,” he turned to the students on stage with him to explain the importance of resilience – and enduring the inevitable ups and downs of their budding careers. He said that although he was facing the audience, he was really singing the song to the students. The variety show included a rousing duet, “Comin’ Together,” with alums Ana Gasteyer ’89 and Stephanie D’Abruzzo ’93, and a powerful medley by three of Broadway’s leading men: Gregg Edelman ’80 singing “Double Talk” from “City of Angels;” Brian d’Arcy James ’90, singing “You’ll Be Back” from the hit musical “Hamilton;” and Kind singing “I Wan’na Be Like You,” from “The Jungle Book.” Edelman and James joined Kind at the end of his number for a spirited finale by the trio. The show stopper was a performance by Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley ’97 whose rendition of “Home” from
“The Wiz” brought the crowd to its feet. The show was set inside the recently opened Ryan Fieldhouse which was transformed by the installation of a sprawling, sparkling stage that was designed by students in the MFA stage design program. The fieldhouse was bathed in purple with lights twinkling behind the performers mimicking a night sky. In his remarks, President Schapiro underscored the importance of both science and the humanities in making Northwestern a great university. “The magic happens in the labs. The teaching that happens in those labs changes the world,” the President said. “But without art, without literature, a person isn’t a full human being.” He paid tribute to the School of Communication’s past and present, and he saluted the school for what he said will be an even “more brilliant future.” (Photos by Jim Prisching)
I know not everyone is a Royal Wedding geek like me but, I have to say, I enjoyed each and every moment of Meghan and Harry's nuptials (twice). I even Tivo'd it in case I missed anything the first time around. I love seeing unbridled love and joy like this and think it's
sorely needed in these trying times. She, of course, made a beautiful bride although I was sad to see that she didn't wear the tiara that Princess Diana wore. But, they did pay homage to her in other ways--Prince
Harry hand-picked flowers from their garden for her bouquet that included his late mom's favorite, forget-me-knots; Diana's sister Lady Jane Fellowes offered a reading; The hymn, "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer", was played during Diana's funeral; All three of
Diana's siblings were in attendance; And, of course, her engagement ring included some of Diana's stones. I thought it was just beautiful from beginning to end. I'm happy to see Diana's boys so happy--I believe she saved the Royal Family for sure with these two handsome, respectful, smart, giving sons. (See a clip of my favorite part of the wedding here!)
Chicago House, the first organization in the Midwest to provide housing and support for people living with HIV and AIDS, celebrated its 32nd Annual Spring Brunch and Fashion Show at the Harold Washington Library on Sunday, May 6. “REVIVE! Rally on the Runway,” produced by Quenten Schumacher and sponsored by The Chris and Derek Bagley Family Foundation, featured designs from local Chicago boutiques and design studios and nationally recognized designers in an exciting runway presentation coordinated by ZZAZZ Productions. Over 360 guests enjoyed a three-course gourmet brunch from Inspired
Catering, champagne and signature cocktails, and a live auction with items that included a stay in a Tuscan Villa. NBC Chicago's Chris Hush emceed the event which also included a one-of-a-kind "Flower Market" that featured a variety
of over 60+ fresh floral arrangements from different local floral designers. More than $170,000 was raised for Chicago House which was founded in 1985 at the height of the AIDS crisis. It has repeatedly demonstrated innovation and expansion to serve community members impacted by HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ marginalization.
Special Olympics Illinois hosted its 11th annual "Inspire Greatness" gala at the Hilton Chicago on April 20. The event welcomed over 800 guests and raised $1.2 million for the athletes of Special Olympics
Illinois. Bree Bogucki, the featured athlete, co-emceed the program with Rob Johnson (CBS-2). Guests enjoyed an 8 minute mini-documentary about her life that was
followed by her powerful performance of "This Is Me" from the film, "The Greatest Showman." The event was co-chaired by Pat Canning and Frank T. Libby. Advocate Health Care and its medical staff were recognized for their dedication to healthy communities, Special Olympics Illinois and people with intellectual disabilities. The evening concluded with the athletes in attendance flooding the dance floor in united support. (This event precedes the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary being held here in Chicago-- the birthplace of Special Olympics-- this July 17-21).
The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s 20th annual Butterfly Ball on May 4 was a tremendous success, with over 650 guests attending this record-breaker that raised more than $2.3 million in support of the Nature
Museum’s science education initiatives that impact thousands of Chicago students and teachers. “Your support tonight leads to transformative programs for children, provides support
for teachers, and makes science come alive in Chicago’s schools," said Deborah Lahey, Nature Museum president/CEO. During the cocktail hour guests
explored the Museum and experienced the ways the institution engages the community through education initiatives, conservation work, citizen science projects, and immersive exhibits. Highlights included meeting endangered Blanding’s turtles and touring the new exhibits Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution and the self-curated live bird showcase, The Bird House. Co-chaired by Catherine and
Patrick Dowd, Holly and Matt Maloney and Trish Rooney, the event honored Annie and Greg Jones (Edgewater Funds) with its 5th annual Leadership in Science and Education Award. Judy Istock and Cathy Osborn were presented with the 2018 Butterfly Award, which celebrated their support and advocacy since the founding of the Nature Museum.
I would like to spread the news about a brand new fitness gym and instructor! Many of you probably know renowned makeup artist Nicole Jacob Delahanty, but what you might not know is that she has an equally accomplished brother, Matt Jacob, who is making waves in the world of fitness! Here is his description of his new gym and mission, "We are a small
group class, functional fitness facility with the goal of making everyone I meet to feel the way I do! Happy, healthy and fit! I train everyone here the same as I would (and do) train professional athletes which is way less extreme then it sounds. An athlete doesn't have to be the strongest
person in the gym, often times they are not, but they also don’t have to be the fittest person on the planet either. These attributes are achieved through great care and thoughtful progressions. In a nutshell we work the ass and abs hard! Our preferred tools are kettlebells and body weight. In my opinion they are the safest and most effective," he said. Join the crowd and get fit at Revolution 1 Fitness located at 2248 W Irving Park RD ( [email protected]).
Hands of Peace (HOP) enjoyed a magical evening at the Chicago Botanic Garden on May 6 to celebrate 15 years of developing peace-building and leadership skills in Israeli, Palestinian and American youth. The event raised over $150,000 and included moving talks from teens (now adults) whose lives were changed by
HOP. Featured speakers included Samar Hawila of Israel (a program alum); Rick Rosenfeld (Hands of Peace executive director), Gretchen Grad (Hands of Peace founder), Adam Heffez (a program alum) and Shira Gemer of Israel (a program alum). This
interfaith organization empowers young people to raise their voices as leaders of change. The nonprofit was created in the Chicago suburbs in 2002 by three women--one Christian, one Jewish, and one Muslim—who shared the conviction
that peace could be nurtured, person-by-person. Hands of Peace is unique in that Middle East teens are hosted by local families — providing a meaningful opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. They have also embarked on an alumni program to the Middle
East, where American teens have the opportunity to spend time in Israel/Palestine, hosted by local HOP families there. "HOP is a program that gives you something to hold on to. It gives you friends that you never thought you would have and it teaches you about yourself and how to listen, feel compassion, and how to disagree but still create such a caring friendship," said Adi, a Jewish Israeli youth member.
Save the date! On Saturday, July 14, we say goodbye to a Chicago icon, a living landmark, Michael Kutza, as he retires after 55 years as leader/founder of the Chicago International Film Festival. I know his next chapter will be as exciting as his first with a book
already in the works! The gala evening will be held at the Loews Hotel with proceeds supporting Cinema/Chicago's year-round programs including the CIFF, the Chicago
International Television Festival, free CineYouth Festival, free International Screenings Program and Education Program. The one and only Donna
LaPietra (Kurtis Productions) will produce the fun-filled evening that will be loaded with surprises and special guests. I'm honored to be a co-chair with Chaz Ebert and Maria Pappas so please join us to celebrate, thank and say goodbye/hello to Michael, the man who turned Chicago into the Hollywood of the Midwest! (For tickets and more info, click here!)
A big heartfelt congratulations to Polish war hero Bogdan "Mosquito" Horoszowski (husband of Mira Couture's Mira and father to Yvette Klobuchar).
Bogdan was awarded the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The event took place on May 19 during the 100th anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence celebration at Millennium Park. Daughter Yvette proudly sang both the Polish National Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner during the festivities. Congrats to all!
Many of you may remember BJ Murray, the man who controlled the VIP Rooms at some of Chicago's hottest clubs in the '70s, including the Limelight. He was in town recently for a fundraiser, "Limelight to Lyme-Fight," to help him raise awareness and funds in his fight against Lyme disease. On May 26, 2013, BJ entered NY's Lenox Hill Hospital almost dead on arrival. Over the
previous six months, he'd visited 8 ER rooms, where a total of 28 doctors had misdiagnosed him for everything from MS and Parkinson's to lupus, fibromyalgia, ALS, hepatitus C, meningitis and encephalitis. At the last hospital, he was asked if he'd ever been bitten by a tick and, with that, the truth started to emerge. The fundraiser featured 4 keynote Lyme disease experts and assorted musical guests. Good luck on this tough journey BJ! (If you would like to donate, click here).
Missy is BACK! Former co-host of WCIU's "You & Me", Melissa Forman has returned to her roots at 93.9 WLIT FM! Starting May 29, we will be able to hear her sweet voice every morning, Monday through Friday, from 6 -10 am as host of the popular morning show! Congrats with love Missy! (To read Robert Feder's article, click here!)
Beware of "Resting Squint Face"! Thanks to MyEyeDr., you might catch an ad during a binge-watching session or thumb through your social feed to notice there's a new "disorder" plaguing those with poor vision: Resting Squint Face! It's a perpetual look of anger and distrust that affects the relationships of millions of Americans! RSF can strike even the happiest of people causing unwarranted drama. You might feel the need to rush to a plastic surgeon, but fear not! You could just be near-sighted, far-sighted or screen-fatigued and are making the face in an attempt to see! MyEyeDr. has the cure: a professional eye exam and a great selection of stylish eyewear all in one place. Check out this cute campaign below that pokes fun at the misunderstandings brought on by RSF without poking fun at eye health! (For more info about MyEyeDr., click here!)
I had an amazing tour of the St. Jane Hotel recently and the wow factor, even at this stage was unmistakable. Located in the famed Carbide & Carbon Building at 230 N. Michigan, the plans are so chic with lots of surprises for lucky guests. I could easily make my home in the elegant room I toured that featured all matte black walls, deep crown moldings, an exquisite
chandelier over a sleek marble dining table and windows everywhere overlooking our magnificent city. Special thanks to Joe Aguilera (EVP of Sales +
Revenue Management), Emily Cornelious (Director of Sales & Marketing) and Bob Shelley (VP of Hotel Operations & General Manager) for the tour of your very special Aparium Hotel Group property! I can't wait to party in that gilded Tower! Opening in June!
The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago will honor Academy Award winner Ethan Hawke with its Renaissance Award on Thursday, June 7, at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. For tickets and more info, click here!
That's it! Another jam-packed edition of Candid Candace, reporting from the front lines so you don't have to! Lol! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I love writing about all the good stuff in Chicago and beyond! If you're not a subscriber, please click here and join in the fun!
Love, as always,
Candace
P.S. During the Royal Wedding, there were so many times I wished I were a lip-reader! Well, the BBC found someone to translate Meghan and Harry's more intimate moments during the ceremony! Watch!
