LATINO FASHION BALL ROLLS OUT TOP TALENT!

The 4th Annual Latino Fashion Week held its Fashion Ball 2010 at the Mercedes-Benz of Chicago dealership to cap off this week long celebration of Latino fashion in grand style! This event, the only one of its kind in the country, was produced by Arabel Rosales and Cesar Rolon and included collections by designers Jaer Caban, Hector MonArrez, Carlos Campos, John Dunn, Alexandre Chandona, Jose Jhan, Magaly Tiburcio, Gutierrez-Marcano and exquisite wedding gowns by Lazaro Perez. The event was hosted by Zoraida Sambolin. There were also inventive and creative dresses made in construction textures by some of the top architecture and engineering firms as well as pieces from the estate of Celia Cruz. It seemed there was a visual delight in every corner! After the exciting fashion show, there was live entertainment and dancing featuring a performance by salsa recording artist Brian Michaels as well as post-party dancing to the hot mixes by DJ Lugo. Celebrity guests included actress/model Patricia de Leon, multimedia producer Carlos Anaya, Pivot Point founder Leo Passage and actor/model Paulo Quevedo. Tracey Tarantino, my favorite producer from ZZazz Productions, produced the show beautifully, as always. I’ve been to a lot of fashion shows and I think this group of designers created some of the most unique and dramatic pieces I’ve seen in a while. I can’t wait to see what they will do next! (Check out these cool pics by Caitlin Saville, Milo Samokhina and Steve Starr on my Chicago Now site!) 
 
I am so happy for my hard working friend Marcus Riley! I first met him when I became a blogger for the NBC Street Team (he oversaw the bloggers and directed content for their website) and through the years, he added videos and goodness knows what else to his already extensive repertoire. The next thing you know, I find out he has won an EMMY for a project he did surrounding a photography book called “Light: On the South Side.” Photographer Michael Abramson took 5,000 photos in South Side clubs when he was in school at IIT in the mid-70s, and they just now became published by a local company called Numero Group. Marcus said, “I don’t think I wanted to win an Emmy as badly as this one. This was my passion project, because I’ve always had an affinity for the ‘70s from a style, musical and cultural aesthetic.” Marcus, no one deserves this award more than you…congratulations! Check out this link for more info and to purchase Michael Abramson’s incredible book, please click here!     
 
Steve Starr seems to be all over the press these days! He was recently interviewed by Janet Davies for a segment on Channel 7, appeared at the Drake for another book signing and will also be featured at Authorama at Karyn’s on Green (130 S. Green St.) on Tuesday, December 7th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Other authors appearing include Marlys A. Beider (“Continuum”), Sherrill Bodine (“A Black Tie Affair”), Mary Edsey (“The Best Christmas Decorations in Chicagoland”), Jill Egizzi (“Look of Love”), Michele Lowrance (“The Good Karma Divorce”), Delphine Pontvieux (“ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest”), Terri Lee Ryan (“Life is One Big To-Do List: A Woman’s Life After 40”) and Steve with his recent book (“STARRLIGHT: Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywood”). What a wealth of talent we have in Chicago! Hope you can all come out, get your books signed and support our local authors! And besides this, you can pick up some lovely Christmas gifts! :) Love, Santa. Also, check out this video of the event by Ch. 3 Media’s Joel Burton and more pics here.
 
Sadly, I had to miss this year’s Glamorama in Long Beach and from what I’ve heard, it was so much fun! Over 65 Playmates participated and Hef even made an appearance, his first since 2005. Fans lined up since 5 a.m. to get the “golden ticket” voucher which would allow them to meet Hef and have him sign one item. He brought along his girlfriend, Crystal Harris (Miss December 2009), who also signed autographs at his table. This 50th celebration brought out Playmates Jeana Tomasino (who was a former cast member on “The Real Housewives of Orange County), Victoria Cooke (8/80), Liz Glazowski (4/80), Janet Lupo (who is celebrating her 35th year as a PM, 11/75), Lee Ann Michelle (famous Page 3 girl of “The Sun” and Miss February 1979), Stacy Sanches (Playmate of the Year 1996) and Tiffany Taylor (11/98) to name a few. Glamourcon is defined as a marketplace of the glamour arts. The event is celebrity driven and features dozens of Playmates from five decades as well as many past and present glamour and pinup models. It is tons of fun and I always love seeing my fellow Playmates! I hated missing it this year but will return!
 
I had the most delightful experience recently at the Illinois Center for Broadcasting! I appeared on “The Jarrett Payton Show” with Jarrett and his funny sidekick and program director, Ernie Scatton. They host live broadcasts weekdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at www.TheJarrettPaytonShow.com. Jarrett, as you probably know, is the son of Sweetness and a running back for the Chicago Slaughter. The show covers everything, not just sports, and I heard some of the funniest improv the day I was interviewed. Their guests who followed me were two of the adorable Guillen boys (sons of Ozzie) and the show was hysterical! Since 1986, the Centers for Broadcasting have taught all aspects of broadcasting through an intensive, hands-on program instructed by the industry’s top professionals. On the day I was there, Eli Clarke was teaching a class. He is a world renowned freelance photography director and cameraman who has been involved with “Chappelle’s Show,” Chris Rock specials and PBS specials for Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder at the White House to name a few. (There are six campuses for the Center for Broadcasting: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Lombard, Ill. and Chicago). Congrats to President Robert Mills and Executive Director Bill Natale for bringing us this exciting concept for learning! 
 
A great kickoff to the holiday season is the annual “Deck the Hall” Concert at Old St. Pat’s Church. This year was their 17th celebration and all three days were complete sell-outs! The church was gorgeous with red and white poinsettias as well as twinkle lights everywhere you looked. Their Concert Choir performed with the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and included soloists Catherine O’Connell, Terese Cullen, Laura Higgins, Michael Boschert and Shelley MacArthur Farley (among others), who sang a delightful rendition of “Christmastime is Here” with her long-time pianist Bradley Williams. Even Father Wall joined in the fun singing “Have Yourselves a Merry Little Christmas.” There was a reception following that included a “Twelve Days of Christmas” raffle. One of the top prizes included a round trip to Ireland on Aer Lingus.  
 
Joli Burrell is having a ball in Wellington, Florida and deservedly so! As you may or may not know, she is an avid horsewoman with many champions in her stables at her 20-acre spread known as Halcyon Farms located near Palm Beach. Her neighbors include other horse enthusiasts such as Mayor of NYC Michael Bloomberg, Glenn Close, Bruce Springsteen and Lou Dobbs. Besides being a gorgeous woman of the world with a megawatt smile, she is a dedicated philanthropist and has raised millions for La Rabida Children’s Hospital. There is a wing named in her honor as well as the Joli Burrell Children’s Advocacy Center in Park Forest. Here she is shown with her friends who include the gorgeous polo player and Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras, Johnny Robb (publicist), Brandon Phillips (high goal polo player), Tami Hoag (NY Times best-selling author) and Betsy Steiner (Intl. dressage trainer). So happy to see you so happy Joli! :) For more info on the Joli Burrell Children’s Advocacy Center, please click here!

There is still time to buy Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker tickets for the family dinner and performance on Saturday, December 11th! I love to see the joy on all of the little kids’ faces every year as they experience this magical Joffrey Ballet and then play in the “Land of Snow” at the Palmer House. This year’s co-chairs Suzette Bulley and Odele Hawkins have planned so many fun things that it makes me wish I were little again…but then being young at heart counts, too! Hope to see you all there! Call Julia Doherty for tickets at 312-386-8921 or visit www.Joffrey.org/nut. Also, congrats to the sweet Joffrey dancers who recently appeared on Oprah’s “Ultimate Favorite Things” show, Christine Rocas and John Mark Giragosian!
 
The day after Thanksgiving is always the day our Christmas décor goes up. I have a wonderful elf/friend Jeff Jonen who has helped me with this for over 10 years and he is terrific! This year though we opted for a 7-foot tree in the foyer as opposed to a 12-foot tree in the living room. This move saves on cost and labor and looks equally as charming I think/hope. My collection of antique Christmas toys, ornaments and trees have almost outgrown the table it is displayed on but still thrills me every time I put it up. Please send me pics of your décor and any holiday traditions you might have. I would love to use them in an article about our holidays and traditions in Chicago! (To reach Jeff, e-mail FreshorFaux@aol.com and click here to see more photos of our home.) 
 
What a wonderful time of the year! I hope you all had a memorable Thanksgiving and enjoyed your time with family and friends. I ordered a fried turkey this year, as you may recall, thanks to my friend Carlos Escabedo and I will definitely be doing this again as it was soooooo delicious! Much juicier than a regular turkey baked in the oven! If you are interested in one for Christmas, just call or e-mail Joe Japczyk at 773-474-3919 or jjapczyk@yahoo.com. The price is $75 which includes delivery and saves your own home from going up in flames from trying to do this yourself!
 
Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
 
P.S. I hope you can join designer Elda de la Rosa and me as she celebrates 10 YEARS in the world of couture! Please join us for a toast on Friday, December 10th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 5555 N. Sheridan Road. To RSVP, please e-mail jacky@jpriego.com. And don’t even ask about this dress on the invite…it’s MINE! Just kidding…I don’t mind sharing! 🙂