JOFFREY GALA KICK-OFF PARTY AT PARK 52

The Joffrey Gala is right around the corner – April 23rd to be exact! – and to celebrate the co-chairs put together an incredible Kick-Off Party at Park 52 Restaurant in Hyde Park. Yolanda and Jason Tyler and Anne and Burt Kaplan are the co-chairs for this year’s Gala which is being held in Union Station for the first time. Park 52 was an amazing experience after we finally found our way there…no fault of the restaurant, we just had bad directions. When you see it for the first time, it looks like a charming inn in historic Harper Court. Along with Jerry Kleiner, owner Marc Brooks has made this Hyde Park restaurant the go-to place, not only for its ambience but for the awesome food and service as well. On this particular evening, the restaurant had been reserved for the Joffrey. The place was packed, as everyone wanted to see this exciting hotspot. The creative co-chairs had even hired Gentlemen of Leisure to perform and entertain and they really rocked the house. They had the crowd, including the Joffrey dancers, up on their feet and dancing to every song. They even formed a conga line that snaked around the restaurant and everyone joined in. The dancers raved about the orchestra and they certainly are in the know about things like this! The food, prepared by master Chef Alan Njike, is contemporary American bistro fare and they have an open kitchen with a special chef’s table that allows diners to view the careful preparation that goes into each dining experience. Happy partygoers included Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, Executive Director Christopher Conway, Harriet and Irwin Ross, Frances Elliot, Lisa Malkin, Marisa Bryce, Sarah and Ted Tetzlaff, Marilyn Slattery, Millie Cruzat, Helen Melchior, Julie Johnson, Grace Barry, Liza Brooks, WB President Christine Ott, Wendy Ellis Somes (Cinderella Director and Supervisor), Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Linda O’Bannon, Chris Long, dancers April Daley, Mauro Villanueva, Jonathan Dummar, Valerie Robin and Brian Gephart among many others. The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Vettel had this to say: “This buzz-worthy restaurant should be on your to-do list.” Just like the Joffrey Gala on April 23rd! Click here for more photos!
 
This weekend 40th birthday parties ruled! Two friends celebrated their big 4-0 in grand style. Dr.
Stacie McClane’s birthday party was held at the LaSalle Power Company. Her longtime friend, Kate Covington, created a Southern atmosphere complete with Spanish moss hanging from the ceiling to celebrate and honor Stacie’s roots. The invite was darling as well…at the top, there were two quotes: Stacie – “We are NOT having a party.” Kate – “Oh YES we are!” All of her many friends turned out to celebrate with her.  Spotted in the crowd were Cindy and Marty Burns, Felicia and Kurt Winiecki, Peggy and Bill Martay, Tina and Jeff Weller, Bonnie and Jack Ricard, Sheryl Dyer, Jean Antoniou, Sherrill and John Bodine, Honorable Mary Pat Burns, Toni and Rick Canada, Alexander and Colleen Coxe, Yvette Cusack, Tracy DiBuono, Elizabeth and Tom Ging, Terry and Susan Grimm, Simona and Dennis Garcia, Sherry and Rick Holson, Sharyl and Mike Mackey, Honorable Allen and Linda Masters, Pat and Edward Maxwell, Dr. Kurt Olsen, Vonita Reescer and Dick Miller, Connie and Katherine Saville, Dr. Diane Gerber and Howard Siegel, Lynda Silverman, Dr. Shari Goldman Snow, Linda and Bill Varney, Dr. Florence Mussat, Laura Wallace, Martha and Tom Wallace, Ellen Wesley and Marc Well among others. The cutest part of the evening came when seven friends (Tracey DiBuono, Sheryl Dyer, Cindy Burns, Yvette Cusack, Peggy Martay, Jean Antoniou and Laura Wallace) “sang” to Stacie wearing lab coats, gloves, syringes and boas! What a fun tribute to a wonderful lady! Happy birthday Stacie! (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville here!)
 
My next party was at the Victoria’s Secret store for NBC’s Julee White’s 40th, “Bringing Sexy Back.” I don’t think sexy ever left in Julee’s case though. She was stunning in red, as the invite requested and even had her mom and dad there. Around 200 people celebrated this milestone amid the sexy lingerie. It was a lot of fun and everyone was there: Brenda Sexton, Kristina and Mike McGrath, Jon and Andrew Landan, Jim Friedman, Charlene Gorzela, Paul Iacono, Rhonda Sanderson, Alan Sax,  Garrett Popcorn’s Scott Schroeder, Julie Darling, Ben Soldinger, Grace Yum, Lisa Aprati, Brenda Arelano, D.C. Crenshaw, Bull’s Linton Johnson, Mike Foster, Heather Brazil, Ben Randle, Corinne Melchior, Garcy Kumar, Mora Girgis, John Shannon, Lucinda Hahn, Kevin and Kimberly Kline, Anastasia Yanyuchen
ko, Joel Barnes, Deborah Chapman and Tony Robinson, Andrea Schwartz, NBC’s Marion Brooks, Connie, Katherine and Caitlin Saville and Carolyn Chambless among many others. The after party was at Underground. I didn’t make it… :( View more images here!
 
Saturday night was the end of an era, the last dance, the last call for the Pump Room. I learned about it through a Facebook friend, Maralyn Owen; if it weren't for her, I wouldn’t have even known about it. Quite frankly, I think a lot more people would’ve shown up if it had been more widely publicized. In any case, it was still crowded with friends and well wishers who all came out to share memories and stories of times past in this historic space. Nan Mason was in her glory on stage with her handsome husband, Terry Higgins, singing for the last time. The chandeliers twinkled as brightly as they always have since its beginning in 1938. I’ve heard that the bar will remain open and the dining room will be available for special events. Last June, Crain’s had reported that NY hotelier, Ian Schrager, was in talks about purchasing the hotel but there hasn’t been any word to confirm or deny this. I do know that Nan Mason won’t be there anymore so this will really be the end of the Pump Room as we know it! She has legions of fans just waiting for her next move…maybe it will be to The Drake? Who knows??? For more photos, click here! 
 
About this time of the year, we all start yearning for some fun in the sun. I just happened to have lunch with a fellow Joffrey friend, Dana Hokins and when the conversation got around to, “So what do you do for a living?” her answer surprised me. She said very humbly, “Oh, I’m just an innkeeper.” As it turned out her grandparents, Bernice and Myron Hokins, found this little spot in the British Virgin Islands in the summer of 1964 and wound up buying it in 1973. It is now a world class resort called the Bitter End Yacht Club. It is located on the island of Virgin Gorda and situated on 75 acres of land 12 miles from Tortola, 30 miles from St. Thomas and 75 miles from Puerto Rico. The property is only accessible by water and is the last island outpost before the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Top of the line sailboats, skiffs, windsurfers and other equipment, along with room excursion boats and exciting day trips have been added over the years to make Bitter End an experience that visitors won’t soon forget. All of the activities that Dana participated in with her family when she was young are offered to this day—snorkeling, beach combing, sailing, scuba diving, fishing and many others. The villas and bungalows are decorated in beautiful island style and there is a fresh water pool and spa among many other amenities…I wish I were there right now! Venture further into paradise here!
 
I want to congratulate my longtime friend Robert Gonzales on his incredible new opportunity in the world of fashion! Robert is the go-to florist around town and has been ever since Oprah picked him for her floral needs several years ago. After this, many celebs followed suit including Jennifer Hudson, Shania Twain, President Obama and Barbara Walters to name a few. I came to know about his amazing floral design skills when Chilli Pepper had ordered a birthday arrangement from him for me a few years ago. When it had to be brought into Gibson’s by TWO men, I knew this guy could definitely do DRAMA! But besides being so grand, it was also the most gorgeous and creative floral arrangement I had ever seen. And when I finally got to meet him, forget about it! Besides his obvious skills, he is also a longtime body builder and one of the cutest guys you’ll ever see. I am not a bit surprised that his talents are now in demand on the fashion scene. World-renowned photographer, Mike Ruiz, tapped him for this photo shoot with Vanessa Williams for the cover of Rouge magazine. As you can see from the pics, Robert was more than up to the task. Now he is on the wish list of every art director, designer and photographer who want to create exciting new images using exotic flowers for their ad campaigns and runway shows. I am so proud and happy for this big dreamer from Venezuela who at the age of 14 knew exactly what he wanted!! We will be hearing a LOT more from Robert Gonzalez! Congrats RG! We’re all rooting for you!!! (Pics by Mike Ruiz and hair and makeup by Roberto Morelli) See more of Robert's amazing creations here and on his web site, www.robertogchicago.com. He can also be reached at robertogchicago@gmailcom.
 
Didn’t you love the Grammy Awards? I thought it was the best I’ve seen in a long time…you couldn’t beat the opening performance featuring Lady Gaga and Elton John…OMG! And a special congrats to the Kings of Leon for winning Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Record of the Year! My girlfriend Laura Lyons Aldridge’s daughter, Lily Aldridge, is dating the band’s lead singer, Caleb Folowill. She was the gorgeous girl in the white gown he kissed upon winning! I am so proud and happy for them all!!! 
 
Well, I am running out of room but not out of news so stay tuned for next week’s Candid Candace! 
 
Love always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
 
P.S. Don’t forget the “Chefs and the City: A Stroll Through the Gallery” event on Tuesday, February 9th! This event benefits Vital Bridges and helps provide nourishing food to low-income people with AIDS. The party will be a
t Primitive (located at 130 N. Jefferson) from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be cocktails and hors d’oeuvres prepared by the West Loop’s finest restaurants and chefs including Blackbird, Avec, Meiji, Sepia and Province. Sponsors include Effen and RL Restaurant. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at www.vitalbridges.org. Hope you can join me! 🙂

P.S. #2 Get well wishes to Alan Carley and Happy 10th Anniversary to Beth Silverman!!!