HEARTS WILL BE BLUHM-ing ALONG MICHIGAN AVENUE SOON!

Last Monday night was really hopping at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab as 300 Chicagoans joined together for a private VIP-studded event to support the launch of the much-anticipated “Hearts a Bluhm” campaign, raising awareness for heart health designed around February’s National Heart Month. “This campaign comes at a time when millions of Americans are affected daily by cardiovascular disease, including thousands here in Chicago alone,” said Dr. Patrick McCarthy, chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery for Northwestern Memorial and director of its Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (the campaign’s presenting sponsor). “Our intent with this bold public art display is to encourage conversations about this disease and its prevention and to celebrate the people whose lives have been saved through proper diagnosis and treatment.” The display will include 100 oversized acrylic hearts, which will “bloom” on public sidewalk planters and thoroughfares. They will be creatively embellished and painted by a sponsoring organization or company and will be accompanied by a heart health education tip. Columbia College Chicago will serve as the exhibit’s artistic partner with students, faculty, staff and alumni expected to decorate a number of the hearts. Columbia College President Warrick Carter said, “This campaign is a wonderful opportunity for our community of artists to stretch their creativity and build their body of work through a public forum and for a very important cause.” At the event, “Women With Heart” honorees were acknowledged by Hearts-a-Bluhm co-creators Julee White of Testarossa Entertainment and Kathleen Henson of Henson Consulting for their incredible achievements and heartfelt stories including: Carrie Birkel, Janet Wood Diederichs, Chaz Ebert, Nancy Glick, Sonya Jackson, Kristina McGrath (who was represented by her twin sis Korinna Isselhardt), Carol “Mickey” Norton, Andrea Schwartz, Laura Schwartz, Brenda Sexton and moi. The who’s who of Chicago were spotted mixing and mingling including Democratic Senate hopeful, Alexi Giannoulias (who ordered up a pound and a half of Joe’s fresh Alaskan king crab legs to go!), Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises founder Rich Melman, Tim and Mary Smithe (Walter E. Smithe), Chilli Pepper, NBC’s Larry Wert, Allison Rosati, Rob Stafford, Sugar Rautbord, Hazel Barr, Mark Gill, Lisa Marie McComb, Sheila O’Grady, Ben Soldinger, Catie Keogh, Suzie and Ross Glickman, Paul Iacono, Joli Burrell, Trevian Kutti, Kay and John Volk, Cole Stolman, Ed Howlett, Mike Wilkie, Lauren Berny, Charley Jordan, LeeAnn Trotter, Marcus Riley, Nicole Townsend and Natasha and Sanjay Sharma among many others. Executive Chef Gary Baca served up heart healthy appetizers including fresh king crab, shrimp, mini-salmon and turkey burgers, mini-crabcakes and chicken spring rolls. Meanwhile, Joe’s dining room was packed with A-listers too including Hollywood funnyman and Chicago native Vince Vaughn and wife Kyla Weber who were enjoying a double date with Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen and his wife Kara. Vince and company enjoyed Alaskan king crab legs, jumbo stone crab claws and newly added dry-aged bone-in ribeye. In another private space at Joe’s this same night was a room full of our very own Chicago Bears led by Brian Urlacher who ordered a champion-worthy spread including bone-in steaks, stone crab and fried chicken. What an action packed night at Joe’s! Whew! For more info on the Hearts a Bluhm campaign, please visit www.heartsabluhm.org and to view ALL event photos by Caitlin Saville, please click here.

StyleChicago.com presented the Art of Fashion 2010 Show last week which introduced some amazing emerging and already-established designers to a packed tent in Millennium Park. Everyone came dressed to thrill in the crowd AND onstage as we watched designers Elda de la Rosa, Lauren Lein, Borris Powell, Kirk James, Lara Miller, Paul Sisti, Hector-Javier MonArrez, Fraley le and Lydia Wawrzyniak present their Spring 2011 collections. Elda’s collection showed fresh, vibrant colors with super structured gowns inspired by the '50s French couture. Lauren Lein’s collection was positive and upbeat (she even skipped down the runway at the end) and was inspired by a fusion of European and Asian cultures while Borris Powell’s line was very light and feminine but twisted with a dark side. I must admit not everything was to my liking but there was lots of creativity and enthusiasm which was wonderful to see. I predict big things for emerging designer Lydia Wawrzyniak whose collection was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before: It was structured yet feminine and flirty with exquisite shapes and unusual use of fabrics. Congrats to all of these designers who work so hard to put Chicago on the Fashion Map! The show was produced brilliantly, as always, by our own Tracey Tarantino of ZZazz Productions. (Click here to see ALL event pics by Caitlin Saville!) 

Common Threads’ Executive Director Linda Novick O’Keefe was honored recently as an ADL Rising Star along with Latoria Carroll (Associate Director, National Diversity and Corporate Responsibilities, KPMG), Sarah Kerr Severson (Partner Schiff Hardin LLP), Julie Parsons (VP Consumer Household, Allstate Corp.) and Michele Ilene Ruiz (Partner Sidley Austin LLP). I was proud to have nominated Linda and I was further honored to present her as a friend and member of Common Threads’ Board of Directors. The event was held at the Alhambra Palace on the “windiest day” in Chicago! They venue lost power and we all had to read our speeches by flashlight. When my friend Linda was in the middle of her speech and as her eyes welled up with tears when she mentioned her darling, proud hubby Nick, the lights magically came back on! Nick not only lights up her life but he can apparently be used as a power source, too! The emcee was one of my favorite and most beautiful friends, Ashley Bond (former Miss Illinois, Luvabull cheerleader and fellow Chicago Now blogger). What a GREAT job she did in the dark! All of the honorees gave very heartfelt speeches about the amazing lives they’ve all led. It was an inspiring day and Linda was surrounded by friends including Chef Art Smith, Jesus Salguiero, Greg Cameron, Greg Thompson, Linda Yu, Marilyn Vitale, Ken O’Keefe, Jason Stephens, Yvonne Cadiz-Kim, Amy Kurzawski, Hollis Turner, Alan Hawksley, Jennifer Newhouse, Peggy Lanigan, Katie Spring, Jane Humzy, Linda Levine, Gwen Farinella, Eleanor Lechenko, Stuart Ellifson, Naushab Ahmed, Helen Melchior, Ken Norgan and Charise Studesville among many others.

And speaking of Chef Art Smith, guess who cooked for the Dalai Lama?! None other than Chicago’s own! Art fulfilled a lifelong dream of cooking for His Holiness when he cooked at a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Tibetan Center in Toronto this weekend. Chef Art took husband artist Jesus Salguiero, Table 52 Executive Chef de Cuisine Rey Villalobos, Naushab Ahmed (Allen Brothers Special Events Exec and “At Home With Chef Art Smith” events), Connie Pikalus (Oprah Show stylist), Chef Tal Ronnen (famed vegan chef to Oprah) and Mrs. Bob “Mayari” Pritzker with him on this memorable trip. Art also served the Dalai Lama personally in his room. The dishes included southern fried vegan chicken with local greens and apple cobbler with a buttery short crust, whipped cream and candied spiced pecans. Art’s team bought all local vegetables and fruits for the luncheon. His Holiness spoke of friendship and that friends who are with you through troubling times are precious and rare. What an amazing opportunity, Art…we are so proud and happy for you!

On Wednesday, November 10th, Step Up Women’s Network will host their annual membership celebration at Enclave from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This worthy organization provides mentorship and counseling for underserved teen girls as they make their way in this world. I love their mission statement: “By bridging communities of professional women and underserved teen girls through mentorship, networking and advancement, we ensure women and girls have the opportunities they need to create a better future.” This event will also introduce other like-minded women at a cocktail reception and give them information on how Step Up connects and advances women and girls and how you can get involved. I hope you will join me and, if you’re not a member, will consider becoming one. The event is only $20 for members and $35 for non-members. For more event info, please contact Kristen at Kristen@suwn.org or by calling 312-235-3277.

The dynamic Joffrey Auxiliary Board is hosting a fun event at the Wit Hotel’s Phoenix Lounge on Thursday, November 11th, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This party will introduce the Joffrey-tini, with $2 of each drink purchased benefitting the Joffrey Ballet. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. You can also join the Joffrey Auxiliary Board onsite for a special one-night only discount on membership! Please RSVP by Monday, November 8th to joffreyauxiliary@joffrey.org or by calling 312-386-8979.

The National Museum of Mexican Art will be hosting the “Revolucionarios Awards” on Thursday, November 18th, at the Millennium Stage of the Pritzker Pavilion located at 201 E. Randolph St. from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. These awards will honor exemplary contributions to Mexican art and culture by Alejandro Romero (visual artist), Tanya Saracho (playwright) and Victor Pichardo (musician). A $100 donation is requested which will also include a one-year membership to the NMMA. For tickets and more info, please visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

Chiara Lima, daughter of legendary Italian chef Mamma Agata, is launching her cookbook, “Mamma Agata,” and unveiling her family’s famous, traditional recipes at a reception at Spiaggia from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on November 8th. Mamma Agata and her family run the famous Hidden Treasure Cooking School on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and have hosted lots of Hollywood legends including Jacqueline Kennedy, Humphrey Bogart, Pierce Brosnan and Fred Astaire. Enjoy a cooking demonstration along with a four course lunch with selected wines. A perfect foodie event for $125 per person with $30 of each cookbook sold, benefitting Common Threads. For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit www.theamalfishop.com/tickets.php.

The 4th Annual Latino Fashion Week presents “Passport to Design Fashion Ball” on November 13th, at Mercedes-Benz of Chicago located at 1520 W. North Ave. with an awards reception beginning at 6 p.m. The program/runway show begins at 8 p.m. with dancing at 10 p.m. Co-executive producers Arabel Alva Rosales and Cesar Rolon promise an action packed night with internationally acclaimed designers, including men’s and women’s designer Carlos Campos. There will be items from the estate of Celia Cruz with a performance by Salsa recording artist, Brian Michaels. Most importantly, the benefactor for this event will be Urban Initiatives, Inc. which supports underserved neighborhoods in Chicago using soccer to motivate children and increase their potential in the areas of physical fitness, health education, academic performance and character development. Please join me in celebrating the Latino fashion industry and supporting Chicago’s youth! Tickets are $175, and can be purchased by visiting www.lfwfashionball.eventbrite.com.

How would you like to see an ADVANCE and private screening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part I)” AND support another terrific cause?! Well, Urban Prep is offering just this opportunity on November 18th, at the Navy Pier Imax Theater beginning at 5:30 p.m. (movie begins at 6 p.m.)! There will be a private reception immediately following the film at Harry Caray’s Tavern, too (also at Navy Pier). As a member of the Wizengamot Host Committee, I am delighted to offer you this opportunity—normally I would use post owls but I figured the blog might be faster to get the word out! For a donation of $77 (because 7 is the most powerfully magical number), you can enjoy all of this excitement AND benefit Urban Prep Academies. I will be there wearing my Harry Potter gear and I will force my husband to do the same. So bring your wands and make magic happen for Urban Prep whose academies provide a comprehensive high quality college preparatory education to inner city young men with remarkable success. As Dumbledore said to Harry, “Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” Urban Prep hears you, Albus! For tickets and more info, please click here. 

We have a lot of exciting events coming up, as you can see, so I hope to see you somewhere around town having fun and doing some good! Until next week…

Love,

Candace

Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. A huge thanks to Alexandra Briguglio of www.Chickagoan.com! She featured me on her fantastic website which encourages women to “feel healthy, live happy and love their city by connecting with and empowering fellow “chicks.” I loved her questions and was thrilled to be included! Enjoy it here. Thanks so much Alexandra for this great opportunity! 🙂