ZOO BALL’S “HOLLYWOOD & VINES” – LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!

The theme for this year’s 2011 Zoo Ball, “Hollywood & Vines,” described the atmosphere perfectly as the guests and the animals became one with the night. The gorillas slept peacefully during the VIP Reception in the Regenstein Center for African Apes. And even though all of the major sponsors attended, the primates didn’t seem to be too nervous. It was indeed an evening where the lush environment of Lincoln Park Zoo intersected with the glamour of old Hollywood as the two tents filled with 980 guests nestled between the animal habitats. You could even hear the Siberian tigers roaring nearby as the glamorous guests took to the dance floor serenaded by the Ken Arlen Orchestra. I had never been to the Zoo Ball before and was looking forward to the evening. I met friends Gale and Jay Gottlieb at the VIP reception and was introduced to Kevin Bell, the charming President and CEO of the zoo. The next day, he had this to say about the event, “I am sure that last night’s event raised significant support for the zoo, but equally important the Ball reminds all who attended, how fortunate we are as Chicagoans to have a world class free zoo in our great city. I cannot thank our Women’s Board enough for their hard work and dedication this past year to make this evening a huge success. We are also so fortunate to have wonderful friends at Guggenheim and BMW. Their support goes a long way to keeping the zoo free for all to enjoy.” (The zoo is open 365 days a year and is the nation’s only free, privately managed zoo.) The baroque, Old Hollywood décor, by Heffernan Morgan/Ronsley, created an atmosphere of enchantment with 6-foot-tall palms and lilies dotting some of the tables while others were topped with twinkling, crystal candelabra and lamps with oversized shades in black and white. Even the dance floor was black and white with massive two-tiered lamps hanging above. Ladies wore both long and short gowns on this warm summer evening and looked so elegant alongside their tuxedo-clad partners. Emcee Bill Kurtis, forever the consummate host, was attired perfectly in a jungle inspired safari vest and pith helmet as he auctioned off four packages that included a ski week in Aspen ($10K), a six-night golf trip to Scotland ($12K) and two BMW driving experiences ($25K). This year’s ball was a record breaker raising $1 million towards the $2 million goal of building Nature Boardwalk. Co-chairs Susan Erler, Rosemary Jones and Kirsten Rider did an outstanding job and thanked their 90-strong Women’s Board as well as their many supporters including Presenting Sponsor Guggenheim, Gold Sponsor Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana BMW Centers and Silver Sponsor Pritzker Military Library/Tawani Foundation among others. The “Oscar” went to corporate co-chair extraordinaire Anne Pramaggiore who encouraged friends to buy 19 tables for the Ball, which was 20 percent of the evening’s proceeds!! I’ll say she deserved an Oscar!!! The delicious menu, created by Food for Thought, began with Grey Goose cured salmon with Fantome Farm Chevre Pizette and Galena dill, kalamata olive “Dirty Martini”, heirloom tomato “Bloody Mary” gazpacho, sweet water prawn cocktail with heirloom tomato, avocado, celery and lemon verbena, roasted garlic and parmesan monkey bread with artisanal flatbreads, surf and turf Barramundi “Oscar” and grilled bistro medallion with jumbo asparagus, tarragon potato puree with Dixie gold tomato béarnaise. Dessert included a chocolate decadence gateaux and summer melon mélange with raspberry Grey Goose glace and brown butter roasted peach, chocolate amaretto crust, orange-blossom honey sabayon and macerated local strawberries with a vanilla “star.” Whew! What a feast! Throughout the evening, guests could take a ride on the delightful merry-go- round. And even though it’s only 11 years old, it’s made to look and feel like one from the turn of the century. What a thrill this was! It made everyone feel like kids again and it was so cool to see the riders dressed in all of their finery on the beautifully painted carousel animals. There was also a vast silent auction table along with dessert stations. Seen in the crowd were designer Borris Powell, MaryKay and Jeff Silverman, Lance and Loretta Rosenmyer, Debra Kerr and Steve Thompson, Kate Covington, Women’s Board President Abby Zanarini, Michael Guevra, Joyce and Ross Hemphill, Christine Zrinsky and Randy Patterson, Rhonda Buss, Mike Harrington, Gloria Castillo, Sherren Leigh, Ken Norgan, Frauke and Kevin Coon, Heather and Bill Blackwell, Brian and Sari Vallow, Jannie and Elliot Pearlman, Laura and Howard Sims, Kimbra and Mark Walter, Donna LaPietra, Alderman Michelle Smith, Pat Hanrahan, Wendy Krimins, Cynthia Holbrook, Tina Koegel and Kathy Nowlin among many others. Even the goody bags, provided by Guggenheim, were spectacular: a men’s large nylon duffle and a woman’s big, beautiful black leather tote filled with More cupcakes!! I loved being at a party in the zoo. What is more delightful than cocktails with cockatoos, big cats and fat cats? Congrats on another great year, LP Zoo! To see ALL event pics (by Caitlin Saville Collins and moi), please click here.  

Old St. Pat’s is hosting the 27th World’s Largest Block Party this Friday and Saturday, July 15th and 16th, in the parking lots across from the Church. And the entertainment will be crazy good! Look at this lineup: On the Friday main stage – Farraday at 5:40 PM; Cobra Starship at 7:40 PM; Plain White T’s at 9 PM. On the South Stage – Out for Hours at 5:30 PM and The Spazmatics at 7:30 PM. On Saturday’s main stage – No Love for Linus at 5:30 PM; Matt Nathanson at 7:05 PM and Barenaked Ladies at 8:50 PM. On the South Stage – South of 80 at 6:15 PM!!!! Nearly 20,000 people will enjoy two blocks of music, food and fun. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the gate with a two-night pass available for $75. The price of admission includes five FREE beverages (a choice of beer, wine, soda or bottled water). Entrance gates are at Madison and Des Plaines.I will be a celeb bartender for the night along with Amy Jacobson, Ryan Chiaverini, Ron Kittle, Ginger Zee, Anthony Ponce, Natalie Martinez and Dan Roan among others! Check out the video I taped for the event and I hope to see YOU there!!!

The Women’s Board of the American Cancer Society will present the 26th Annual Women’s Board Fashion Show on Wednesday, July 27th, at the Palmer House Hilton beginning at 6 PM. This unique show will feature designer shoes and handbags in a New York-style runway special presentation that will include Fall 2011 collections from Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, Christian Louboutin and more. Fashion show chair, Bonita Friedland, along with her committee, will offer some exciting auction packages too including a trip to NY Fashion Week with VIP status, an $800 Michael Kors handbag, $1,800 worth of designer jewelry, a shopping weekend for two in NY and $1,600 worth of spa services among many others. For tickets ($150), please call (312) 279-7265 or visit www.acsfashionshow.com. 

Dance for Life will hold their annual benefit on Saturday, August 20th at the Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Congress Parkway) beginning with a Gala Reception at 4:45 PM. This highly anticipated event, which will be hosted by WGN’s Dean Richards, is held annually to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. Five of Chicago’s most renowned and talented dance companies will come together for this spectacular, celebratory evening of dance on one stage including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Chicago Dance Company, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Ron De Jesus Dance and The Joffrey Ballet. Currently honoring a milestone 20th anniversary this year, Dance for Life is the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest and has raised nearly $4 million since 1992. Tickets are $50 and $75 for performance only or $175-$500 that will include the Gala Reception and premiere seating. For tix and more info, please call 312.922.5812 or visit www.danceforlifechicago.com. 

Caterer and man-about-town, George Jewell, will open his Three Oaks, Michigan, summer home, Burscott Park, for “A Barbeque Unlike Any Other” to benefit Common Threads on Saturday, August 13th, beginning at 4 PM. Featured chefs, to date, will include David Blonsky, Mark Chmeilewski, Jessie Oloroso, Ryan Poli and Patrick Sheerin with more to be announced. Event co-chairs Greg Cameron, Greg Thompson, Mary Cameron Frey and Karen and Marvin Herman have planned wonderful summertime fun for a great cause. Tickets begin at $150 with free shuttle service from Chicago. Space is limited so get your tix while they last!!! (For tix and more info, please email Adam Levy at alevy@commonthreads.org.) 

And for more summer fun, PAWS 9th Annual Beach Party is right around the corner, too!! On Thursday, July 14th, the pups will come out to play at the North Avenue Beach Boathouse! This super fun event to benefit PAWS Chicago will include dancing on deck, cool cocktails, a beachy dinner buffet, live music and some of the cutest little four-pawed creatures you’ve ever seen! This is always such a treat for a wonderful cause so I hope you can come out and join me! Co-chairs Nancy and Ron Officer, Dawn and Jim O’Neal, along with a wonderful host committee, have planned a great day on the beach with tickets beginning at $150 and pet tickets priced at $50. So don your best beach bonnet and we will howl all night long! (For tickets and more info, please call 773.890.5118 or visit www.pawschicago.org.)

Studio Paris, located at 59 W. Hubbard St., is quickly becoming THE hot spot for events! On Thursday, August 18th, from 5 – 8 PM the Women’s Auxiliary of the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children's will host an evening to benefit the development of the Rooftop Retreat on the World’s Largest Ronald McDonald House at 211 E. Grand. They will showcase the bricolage mosaic that will be included on the House’s rooftop plus the artists. This bricolage wall, which is a customized brick mural constructed from pieces of tile, mirrors, paintings and photographs, will be the city’s first skyline mosaic. You will also have an opportunity to put your name on a tile plus hands-on mosaic activity. Co-chairs Carol Beitler and Lesley Goodman have planned a wonderful evening that will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres plus tons of fun! For tickets, $150, please visit www.RonaldHouseChicago.org/rooftop. 

Famous and beloved diva around town, Lynne Jordan (of Shivers fame!), will be debuting in Steppenwolf’s Garage Theatre’s production of “Stations Lost” through July 24th. The play, by Tony Fitzpatrick, is being directed by Ann Filmer and will feature Stan Klein and John Rice as well as our darling Lynne. For tickets ($22) and more info, please call 312.335.1650. Break a leg, Lynne!! 🙂

And finally, I hope you all had a wonderful July 4th weekend! The weather was perfect and my neighborhood was loaded with backyard BBQs. Check out some of the cute holiday pics here.  

Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. Please email me if you know of friends who would like to be included on the “Alert List” which is a weekly reminder for Candid Candace or, if you would, sadly, like to be removed from the list. You can also find the blog on the web at anytime at www.CandidCandace.com.