“WORLD OF CHOCOLATE” IS A SWEET TREAT!

The annual “World of Chocolate” was held at the Chicago Hilton this year and attracted over 1,500 chocolate lovers. This fun and tasty event benefits the Aids Foundation of Chicago. Twenty-eight of the city’s finest chocolatiers, restaurants, hotels and caterers participated. There was live entertainment, an open bar, a light buffet, an amazing raffle and a wonderful Holiday Bazaar that featured Christopher Radko ornaments as well as exclusive gifts from Batsiranai, a women’s handicraft group in Zimbabwe supporting mothers of disabled children, many who are living with HIV/AIDS. There was something for EVERYONE! The décor alone imbued you with holiday spirit—all donated by the various participants. There were Christmas trees everywhere you looked and cozy seating arrangements with twinkling candlelight and white leather furniture. I was dee-lited to be a judge this year along with ABC-7 news anchor Kathy Brock (who had brought along her darling son Matthew), dynamic emcee Darryll King of Soul 102.3, WGN entertainment reporter and critic Dean Richards, Miss Foozie (director of entertainment for GoPride.com), Billy Dec and Valerie Beck (who runs the Chicago Chocolate Tours) among others. Some of the participants at this year’s festive party included the Blommer Chocolate Store, The Cupcake Counter, Ghiradelli’s, Hilton Chicago, Mrs. Prindables, the Palmer House Hilton, RL Restaurant, Terry’s Toffee (winner of the Hot Chocolate Award for overall tastiest treat), Thyme, Truffle Truffle, University Club of Chicago (winner of the Chocoholic’s Dream Award for most visually enticing dish) and the Confection Diva among many others. One of my favorites was the charming display presented by the Palmer House. It was almost an exact duplicate of the world famous Paris patisserie, Laduree, with multiple crystal chandeliers and even identical twins dressed in French aprons serving their famous mulled wine as well as awesome macaroons. My other favorite was the Peninsula’s offering. Situated in the opposite corner from the Palmer House, it was a standout with giant lollipops and balloons against the backdrop of seemingly hundreds of votive candles. They won so many awards, I lost count…Loco Cocoa Award for the most creative use of chocolate as an ingredient (their chocolate soup was the bomb—Greg Hyder was up all night after downing 19 cups of it!). Their ginger bread flavored marshmallows as well as their famous peanut butter and jelly macaroons had the crowd swooning so it was no surprise that they won the People’s Choice Award too. They won the Sweetbooth Award for best presentation as well. All of the contestants really deserved an award—just by being there to support this wonderful cause made them winners in my book and there really were so many unique and creative uses of chocolate—Chef of Prep served a delicious chocolate Panini and there were even chocolate turkey burgers (don’t ask). Heaven’s Best Flavored Butters created (you guessed it!), butter made with dark and white chocolate. Terry’s Toffee was using a recipe that co-owner Michael Frountier’s grandmother had given him. This year’s event raised over $200,000 thanks, in large part, to the efforts of the co-chairs for this wonderful fundraiser—Jim Perry, Glen Pietrandoni, Tina Pittman and Ben Stringfellow! Great job everyone! I will go into training now so I can return next year to this fun party! Click here for more photos! (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville and Steve Starr)

held its annual Holiday Luncheon recently at the Elysian. Members and guests were encouraged to bring a gift basket to be donated to the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Organized by Hazel Barr, it was a sell out crowd with a waiting list no less! The Elysian’s gorgeous ballroom was filled to capacity with 180 guests being treated to songs of the season presented by the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. Lots of local vendors participated in the Holiday Bazaar but the busiest table was LuLu’s At the Belle-Kay (owned by Laurie Davis) whose vintage jewelry selections had many of the ladies oohing, aahing and buying! Established in 1890, the Service Club of Chicago is one of the city’s oldest charitable organizations with 100 percent of the funds raised going to those in need around the city. Seen in the crowd were Sherrill Bodine (whose next book, A Black Tie Affair, will be out Jan. 1st), Dusty Stemer, Dori Wilson, Cindy Burns, Sharyl Mackey, Cheryl Bollinger, Sally Jo Morris, Rebecca Besser, Michaela Parillo, Marci Holzer, Laurie Davis, Belvon Walker, Vonita Reescer, Whitney Lasky, Susanna Negovan, Mary Lasky, Shauna Montogomery, Bonni Gross, Hazel Barr, Kathy Bell, Myra Reilly, Sheryl Dyer, Jean Antoniou, Katherine and Connie Saville, Terri Lee Ryan, Kate Gaynor, Lynda Silverman, Maria Zec, Pat Maxwell, Natel Gouletas (who has recently generously donated free office space to the organization), Shirley Michels, Sherry Valukas, Bonnie Ricard, Kathy Crane, Peggy Martay, Stacie McClane, Laura and Martha Wallace, Marg Castelan, Heather Farley, Susan Grimm, Rochelle Smith, Simona Groza, Eileen Weinberg, Cathy Smith, Susan Leonard, Heather Johnston, Toni Canada, Evie Glieberman, Cookie Cohen,  and Sherry Holson among others. I must say though that the best news of the day came from gorgeous Sharyl Mackey who announced at the table that she and her darling hubby, Michael, are expecting twins in May! Huge kudos to this happy pair! For more photos, click here!  
 
If you haven’t seen Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” at the IMAX Theater yet, RUN, don’t walk to see this classic Dickens tale retold in 3D by Academy Award- winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (who also brought us “The Polar Express”). The special effects are amazing and you’ll feel like you’re flying over the 19th century streets of London right along with Scrooge (played by Jim Carrey who also portrays about six other
characters). I don’t recommend this for young children though—quite a few scenes scared us right out of our seats! We also saw previews for two other must-see 3D films: “Avatar” opens on Dec. 18th and the tickets for opening night are already sold out! James Cameron, the director of “Titanic,” produced this action-adventure fantasy and I can’t wait to see it! Tim Burton produced the upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” which opens on March 5th and stars Johnny Depp as (who else?) the Mad Hatter!

Recently, David Leonardis and Sarah Cooley came to my home and we had a lively discussion for their pilot show for CAN-TV, “Chit Chat.” They are both dynamic hosts and I hope their show plans are a great success! Special thanks also goes out to Debi Ford for her makeup expertise! 
 
I visited the Fine Arts Building on Friday night during its holiday open house. It was just like stepping back in time to Hogwart’s at 410 S. Michigan Ave. and, in fact, this building has been an historic artist’s colony since 1885. There was music, visual artists, paintings, drawings, demonstrations of magic, jewelry, dance, photography, yoga and energy healing among many other activities. I was interviewed by Bob Berger and Pamela Patinkin for a podcast presented on artsentertainment.com. If you haven’t visited the Fine Arts Building, you are missing a very unique local treasure: It is the heartbeat of the arts community in Chicago with over 250 artists located in its remarkable space.

You never know who you’re going to bump into around town: “Photog to the Stars” Steve Starr ran into John Travolta having lunch with his sisters at the Drake Hotel Sunday. Steve said he was very kind and shook hands with people who came to his table. Palm Court manager Shaun Rajah then gave him a tour. I’m so glad to hear he was a nice guy!
 
The holidays are upon us and I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of year! It is clearly the time to count our blessings. Next week, I will let you know what some local celebs have to be grateful for….some of the answers will surprise you! In the meantime, enjoy this Christmas video and be thankful they’re not YOUR neighbors!
 
Love,
Candace 🙂
Candace@CandidCandace.com 

P.S. Hope you can join me at the Snow Ball this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Hotel, located at 163 E. Walton, for some holiday cocktails, shopping, fashion shows and mingling with friends. No charge but space is limited. RSVP to www.aredcarpetevent.com.