It was my first time at the Bear Tie Ball benefitting the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation but it sure won’t be my last! This year’s theme was “Tropicure” and over 500 guests were encouraged to wear black tie with an island flair for their 18th annual ball. Not sure what this meant but 
everyone was dressed to the teeth. One guest, who was a cancer survivor, took the suggestion literally and came dressed in a scuba diving outfit complete with fins and mask. He was adorable! Bear Necessities traces its beginnings to a little boy named Barrett “Bear” Krupa. While undergoing 
treatment for Wilms Tumor, a pediatric cancer, Bear and his family witnessed firsthand the needs of other patients and their families. More often than not, Bear expressed more concern for other patients than he did for himself. It was through these experiences that he 
and his mother, Kathleen Casey, decided to form a foundation aimed at helping others. Sadly, Bear lost his battle in 1993 but his spirit lives on through this organization that bears his name. Saturday night’s event was 
not only a fundraiser for this worthy cause but also a wonderful celebration of the too-short life of this courageous child, Bear. Kathleen and her staff organized one of the biggest and best live and silent 
auctions I’ve ever attended. The neoclassical Union Station was transformed into an island paradise under the 110-foot ceilings of this magnificent space. The dramatic uplighting and table décor transported you to another time and (fortunately warmer) place! There were so many amazing auction ideas but my favorite was the live auction of a large black 
stuffed bear named “Barrett the Bear.” An inspiring video showed Barrett in an array of exotic spots with our brave armed forces carrying him on planes, in helicopters and 
out into the desert in Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place for this package, called “Barrett Bear and his Middle East Travels.” It brought $5,200! The auction planning committee did a most incredible job coming up with unique, thoughtful packages that appealed to 
the entire audience. Auctioneers were Jennifer Weigel and Kathy Hart and they were fantastic! Jennifer is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and Kathy is the famous partner of the popular “Eric & Kathy Show” on WTMX. Other packages included a darling little Pennzoil go-cart 
that brought $9,000 while a Blackhawks package, which consisted of a Zamboni ride, two tickets and signed Keith Magnuson and Patrick Sharp jerseys, went for $4,300 and a dinner with former Chicago Bear Gary Fencik sold for $2,500. He was also a past recipient of the William J. Casey Hope Award. This year’s recipients 
were Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Miller, Jr. The 2011 Hope for the Future Award went to Cubs owner Todd Ricketts, who was there with his wife Sylvie and brother Tom. The Ricketts family donated 
a “Dream Day Cubs” package which was so popular, they offered three of them at $6,700 each! This year’s “Bear Hugs Ambassador” was 15-year-old Luke Strotman who delivered a heart felt speech to the rapt audience about his arduous battle 
with cancer and his happy ending as a cancer-free honor roll student. We were seated with “Chicagoan of the Year” honoree and renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Dan Ivankovich, his friend Carla Carwile, founder Kathleen Casey Kosinski and 
her husband Greg, daughter Courtney Krupa and Kathleen’s best friend of 16 years, Emmy Award-winning Demetria Kalodimos, who served as the emcee. The room was filled with joy for this beloved organization and the crowd raised over $450,000 to show their support. After dancing into the night in this majestic space, 
the party continued in the Conservatory of the Four Seasons. For more information on how you can support Bear Necessities as well as news of their upcoming events, visit their website. (Pics by Mila Samokhina. To view ALL event pics, please click here!)
The Center on Halsted hosted its annual Oscar party with a huge crowd of more than 300 fun-loving film buffs. The “Red Carpet Girls” welcomed guests in their towering sparkling headdresses while 
photographers captured every moment. There was even a clever photo booth where you could hold your own Oscar for a photo op. Chuck won the Best Supporting Husband award!! I saw lots of familiar faces grazing around the cute food stations which each had a theme of one of the 
nominated films. There was one laden with British treats in honor of Best Picture winner “The King’s Speech” as well as a candy filled table in honor of “Toy Story 3,” a Best Picture nominee and winner of Best Animated Feature. There was an 
extensive silent auction table that included trips to Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. as well as theater and performance packages, assorted Blackhawks and 
Cubs paraphernalia, wine collections and more. Presenting sponsor was The Nielsen Company represented by Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Sr. VP of Public Affairs and Government Relations. 
Other co-chairs included Douglas Sanborn and James Baptist. Jacob Kosior, Center on Halsted’s Director of Special Events, along with a marvelous host 
committee, who did a great job handling the details of this beloved party. This event raised over $50,000 for the many wonderful programs for Center on Halsted. For more info on COH, please click here! (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville.)
The Chicago Fashion Foundation and "Project Runway" contestant Peach Carr hosted their Fourth Annual Scholarship Event at the Chicago History Museum. The event, which showcased local fashion student’s 
original designs inspired by Chicago’s music scene, awarded $6,500 in scholarship money to the top three student competitors. Of the nine students competing, the top winner was the School of the Art Institute’s Ana Leon, who took home a $5,000 scholarship for her design inspired by Chicago’s jazz scene: Her pale blue bustier top and slim pencil skirt were hot and cool all at the same time. Other winners included K’Lynn Kennedy from the International Academy of 
Design and Technology, who came in second place for 
Lindell, O’Ron Manson and Jasmine Mitchell. Judges for the evening included local designer Lara Miller, 24/7 Chicago’s Catie Keogh, Amanda Monteiro of Georgio Armani and moi! What a great fashion filled evening! The crowd was as well dressed as the runway models. Peach 
also showed her delightful and fun-filled spring collection to wild applause. Congrats to CFF President Kristen Amato as well as her formidable Board, which includes Sandra Enimil, Elizabeth Engquist, Lauren Hutchison, Amanda Lea, Jennifer Lezan, Stacy Neier, Brooke Null, Ashleigh Timchenko, Shatisha Wilks 
and Abby Zupancic. For more info, please visit www.ChicagoFashionFoundation.org. (Additional pics by Caitlin Saville. To view ALL event pics, please click here!)
Red will be the color of the season come Saturday, April 16th , when the Second Annual Chicago Red Dress Party will be held at 525 Monroe from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. This event will be 
so much fun on SOOOO many levels! First of all, it is for a great cause: to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS with this year’s beneficiary being the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Equality Project. Next, the entertainment will be amazing! Gorgeous international recording 
artist Kristine W. will perform and Chicago’s own Miss Foozie will be working the Red Carpet. Everyone in attendance must wear their own version of a red dress…men included! This tradition began in the early 1990’s 
when two gentlemen who were dating both contracted HIV/AIDS. To show their love and dedication, they vowed when one of them passed away the other would attend their funeral adorned in a red 
dress. Currently, there are Red Dress Parties all over the U.S. from Seattle to Chicago. I will be co-hosting with one of my favorite men-about-town, NBC’s Emmy Award-winning reporter Marcus Riley
! Gotta get to my closet now…what to wear, what to wear??!!! General admission tickets are $80 and VIP tickets are $150…get them here!
One of my favorite bloggers, Amy Creyer, was feted recently at a party at the Cynthia Rowley boutique. Around 80 friends and fans showed up to support Amy and her Chicago Street Style Scene blog as well as to view the Spring 2011 runway samples. Guests sipped on champagne and Vosges chocolates as stylists from Salon Soca, Strange Beauty Show and Marianne Strokirk gave complimentary makeovers. Congrats on your blog, Amy! I love it!
Congrats to E-Drop Off founder Corri McFadden! Chicago might have its own reality show after all if her pilot for 44 Blue 
Productions takes off! There was a party to celebrate (and film, of course!) recently with lots of friends turning out for their close-ups! The “Shop, Spa, Sip Soiree” presented an evening of vintage jewelry shopping, complimentary facials, manicures, 
waxing, makeup and more. A portion of the proceeds from the jewelry sales benefitted “The Clothes Closet” at St. Joseph Hospital. Congrats Corri and we’ll be watching!!! (Pics by Caitlin Saville.)
It’s another full week in the BEST city in the world! BTW, I was so happy to see the article in the Tribune Sunday about Mayor-Elect Rahm Emanuel’s support of the arts. I particularly loved the fact that he hopes to make Chicago “an international destination for dance.” In the past, he actually danced for the Joffrey Ballet! Glad to know those fond leotard memories stuck with him!
Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
