…PLUS ZOO-OLOGIE; SAMANTHA “POPS UP”; JOHN’S “FILTHY WORLD”; GEORGE KICKS OFF BEETHOVEN FEST 2013; THE CRYSTAL BALL; COCKTAILS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE; KERRY AND SARAH HONOR GABY; STEVE HARVEY HOSTS “RUN HOME CHICAGO”; PSY JEWELRY?; “INTO THE WILD” FOR PRENTICE; MY FAVORITE GARDEN TOUR AND SO MUCH MORE!
What a whirlwind week it’s been! I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We had big plans for a BBQ that quickly turned into something much more low key after I had an emergency appendectomy earlier in the
week. (A word of warning: Symptoms aren’t always what you find on Google but fortunately, we went to the ER anyway.) On a lighter, more nostalgic note, I wrote an ode to my hometown of Dupo, Illinois, on Chicago Now as a tribute to the holiday. Here’s an excerpt, I hope you enjoy it and I hope it reminds you of your own youthful memories: I love living in Chicago but I get very nostalgic around
the holidays for my hometown of Dupo, Illinois. It’s the summer celebrations, like Memorial
Day, that really make me wistful for days gone by in this small railroad town of 3,000 people set near the banks of the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois. And although I appreciate the great parades in Chicago and its
multiple street festivals, nothing can compare with the homespun touches that only a small town can offer. The parades in Dupo are a little bit different than anywhere else I’ve ever been. For
what they lack in size, they make up for with heart. The fire trucks (both of them) are polished for weeks leading up to the celebration and by the time they’re spritzed and
our church for a ceremony. I recall it being very solemn and an honor to be the flag bearers. We got to wear white gloves.” The American Legion Hall and the VFW are the top two hangouts in town and, during this festive
time, little plastic American flags dot the tables and bars brightening up the dark wood. Veterans pin their medals on their shirts and walk a little taller. The pool tables in town are crowded with new faces, many who
have returned home just for the holiday. Besides the parade, THE highlight of Memorial Day for me has always been the Dupo Park picnic. The whole town shows up for this must-attend affair where you get to see all of your old
friends and classmates. You can smell the fish frying from inside the little stands as families stake their claims on strategically placed picnic tables. The beer stands have the longest lines and, being close to Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis,
everyone is loyal to their hometown brands. Since you can reach out and touch the cornfields, the corn-on-the-cob is always a best seller, too. There are small carnival rides, live entertainment and sometimes even mouse races! (And before you ask, “Straight track, 6 lanes, you
bet on a mouse and, if he wins, you win money depending on the odds.”) And don’t even get me started about the rooster
crowing contests. I still miss my friends there, the wonderful pace of the town and the beautiful scenery. The village, founded in 1750, was originally a French colonial settlement named Prairie du Pont. I remember scouring the bluffs for arrow heads that were left in abundance by the Cahokia Indians. Town history states that at one time, between 3,000 and
7,000 Indian dwellings were on the ridge where Dupo Park is located. So, on this Memorial Day weekend, not only will I be giving thanks for the veterans but I will also be giving thanks for growing up in a small town, where life’s little pleasures become lasting memories. 🙂
More than 1,000 guests got wild at “Zoo-ologie: Sumus Animalia,” the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo’s signature annual fundraiser. The sold-out event raised nearly $200,000 to help
keep the zoo free and open to everyone 365 days a year. This year’s theme featured an ancient Roman feel, thanks to decor by Flower Firm. The big cats were on
the prowl and roared their approval as guests checked in near the Kovlar Lion House. Lucky raffle winners took home prizes that included three-day passes to sold-out Lollapalooza, two round-trip
tickets to Europe (courtesy of United Airlines) and a Ridley Phaeton Tri-bike. Nibbles included Frontier’s smoked wild boar sausage and stone ground cheese grits, Green Zebra’s chilled poached shitake mushrooms with grilled asparagus and so much more. Dancing lasted into the wee hours to the band Hey Jimmy and DJ Rock City. Many guests capped off the evening with a spin on the carousel and notable
attendees included LP Zoo president Kevin Bell, Zoo-ologie
co-chairs Chris Cook, Lindsay Humphreys and Jennifer Statler and LP Zoo Auxiliary Board president Annessa Staab. (Mark your calendars for their next big event – the Zoo Ball – on July 12th.)
To announce her arrival in Chicago, designer Samantha Sleeper hosted a preview party for her pop-up shop on May 20th at 46 E. Oak. With the help
of 100 exclusively invited guests, Sleeper celebrated her first ever brick and mortar location. Upping the significance of the pop-up,
which features Sleeper’s namesake chic women’s collection, is the fact that it brought her home again: As a Chicago-area native, Sleeper chose to return from
her current home in New York City (also where her atelier is located) to showcase her first Resort line as well as her Fall/Winter 2013 and Couture collections. Designs
featured classic pieces in incredible fabrications, including rich textures and an array of eye-catching colors and patterns. Over lemon-infused drinks
provided by Willa Vodka, Chicago’s fashion lovers celebrated the return of a true talent and delighted in making the legendary Oak Street that much more stylish. We hope Samantha
plans a return very, very soon! For those of you not familiar with Samantha, she is an award-winning, New York-based designer and her
work has been featured in publications such as Surface, InStyle, Lucky, Refinery29 and on the cover of Women’s Wear Daily’s “Globe Runners” issue. She is a favorite among celebrities including Katy
Perry, Tina Fey, Giuliana Rancic, Ciara and Cyndi Lauper. “Sleeper’s work consists of precision cut, elevated basics combined with ethereal, diaphanous couture pieces. Her collections feature future classics infused with
luxurious detailing and quirky finishes.” Sleeper has partnered with various brands including Swarovski, Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, Solstiss, Monster Cable,
MAC Cosmetics, QuestLove, The Pierre New York and the W Hotel in Chicago. This talented designer holds a BFA from Parsons The New School for Design, where she currently works as an instructor. Catch her while you can!
“The Pope of Trash” John Waters left the audience at the Harris Theater in hysterics after performing his one-man show, “This Filthy World,” which included stories of his childhood and sharp-witted
commentary on current events and celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Chaz Bono. Waters also took questions from inquisitive audience members. Immediately following the performance and Q&A session, the director/writer/actor and originator of the “Hairspray” dynasty joined more than 100 guests on The Elizabeth Morse Genius Stage for an after-party reception benefiting the
Harris Theater’s artistic and community engagement programs. The gracious Waters greeted excited fans, posed for pics and signed autographs. Guests
included Judith Neisser (who provided leadership support of the John Waters performance and after-party), Abby McCormick O’Neil, James Alexander, Phil Lumpkin, Judith and
Jules Kirshner, Lewis Manilow and Michael Tiknis. Waters and guests enjoyed a tasty buffet by Calihan Catering, cocktails specially created for the evening by Angel’s Envy (the exclusive spirits sponsor of the benefit party) and
lovely flowers courtesy of Bukiety. Whimsical drinks were named after Waters’ movies “A Dirty Shame,” “Female Trouble” and “Pink Flamingos.” (Photos by Kyle Flubacker.)
Led by president and artistic director George Lepauw, the International Beethoven Project (IBP) welcomed cultural, civic and corporate leaders to Open Secret Studios at 401 N. Racine recently for a kick-off celebration for Beethoven Festival 2013.
At the event, the theme and headliners for the organization’s third annual Beethoven Festival were revealed and The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation announced it’s making a $100,000 challenge grant in support of the festival’s ambitious programming –
the largest matching grant the Driehaus Foundation has ever made to a performing arts organization. During the May 6th celebration, an initial $40,000 was raised towards this fundraising goal. “The International Beethoven Project has demonstrated its ability to
positively impact Chicago’s strong arts and cultural tradition,” said Driehaus, philanthropist and founder of Driehaus Capital Management, LLC. “In recognition of the IBP’s accomplishments, we hope The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation’s challenge grant inspires other philanthropists,
corporations, foundations and residents to join us in our support of this unique addition to Chicago’s rich artistic landscape.” The event committee for the kick-off party included co-chairs Aacia Hussain and Chris Buckler, host Evelyn Daitchman of Open Secret Studios, Christine Rosso, Thomas Oswald, Meriem Bahri, Erika Knierim and
Jeremy Rothschild. In addition to Richard H. Driehaus and his wife, Inese Driehaus, distinguished guests at the event included 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., Arts Alliance Illinois Executive Director Ra Joy, HAJ Designs Founder and Chief Creative Officer Elhadji “Haj” Gueye, gallerists Sven Asmus and Arica
Hilton, Paula and Timothy Friedman and blues artist Corky Siegel and Holly Siegel. Guests enjoyed an evening that began with a reception and cocktails, followed by remarks from George Lepauw and Richard Driehaus and a series of performances including violinists Eugene Kaler and Violetta Todorova, flutist Gaby Vargas and dancers from Ballet Chicago. The evening concluded with a dessert reception, jazz and
late-night DJ set. More than 100 events spanning classical and new music, visual art, fashion, literature and education will be presented during Beethoven Festival: LOVE 2013 – a festival inspired by the creativity and genius of Ludwig van Beethoven from September 7th through 15th. Highlights of LOVE
2013 will include the return of composer-conductor Matthias Pintscher for a weeklong residency; a new music commission series curated by Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche with the festival’s new music committee, performances by the acclaimed International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), a performance piece by Israeli artist-in-residence Rachel Monosov and a
student performance showcasing the IBP’s first summer camp. LOVE 2013 will be headquartered at Merit School of Music’s Joy Faith Knapp Music Center at 38 S. Peoria with substantial programming taking place throughout the surrounding West Loop neighborhood. Weeklong festival passes and individual tickets will go on sale in July and a full schedule of artists and programming for LOVE 2013 will be announced later this summer. For more information, visit www.internationalbeethovenproject.com.
Don’t miss “Cocktails for a Brighter Future,” a fundraiser benefitting Saturday Place (part of Rashied Davis Charities) on June 11th at Rockit Bar & Grill, located at 225 W. Hubbard. Special guests will include Rashied Davis, Earl Bennett, Lance Briggs, Johnny Knox, Jason McKie, Robbie Gould, Alex Brown and Anthony Adams, among others. Saturday Place is a charity that runs a program focusing on third and fourth grade inner-city children who are underperforming in math and English. Every Saturday during the school year, they transport approximately 30 students to Loyola University where they are tutored by specially trained teachers in these fields. The students are enrolled for two years and the first class graduated last year. The results have been dramatic, with test scores showing improvements of up to 85 percent! The charity pays for the transport/teachers and all of the supplies. I hope you can help them by attending their fundraiser. Good stuff for a great cause! (For tickets and more info, click here!)
It may be off-season for the Chicago Bears but providing services for Chicago’s homeless is a 365 day a year challenge that will be the focus at the second annual Run Home Chicago Run/Walk taking place at Soldier Field on June 9th. Chaired by award-winning talk show host Steve Harvey,
registration is now open for 5k Run/Walk and Kids’ Dash at www.runhomechicago.com. “My wife and I are proud to chair Run Home Chicago,” said Steve. “Bring the kids and let’s get involved to help end homelessness in Chicago. I look forward to seeing everyone at Soldier Field.” Mayor Rahm Emanuel – known as the fittest mayor in America – and First Lady Amy Rule will serve as Honorary Chairs of the annual race. “I am committed to ending
homelessness in Chicago. As part of the Plan 2.0 to end homelessness in Chicago we will create nearly 2,000 new units of permanent supportive housing and increase housing, job placement and education opportunities for homeless youth,” said Emanuel. “We look forward to Run Home Chicago, an exciting annual event.” Start time for the 5K timed-run/walk is 8:00 a.m. (with check-in at 7:00 a.m.) and a kids’ dash at 9:30 a.m. Hosted by Chicago’s Primo Center for Women & Children, Run Home Chicago benefits several local non-profit organizations that provide homeless Chicagoans with
shelter, sustenance and supportive services. Run Home Chicago aims to break the cycle of homelessness – an enormous mission because the numbers are rising: According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicagoans without a roof over their heads increased 5.5 percent to 93,799 individuals last year. To register and learn more, visit www.runhomechicago.com or call 312/446-3144.
If you love jewelry and love Korean rapper Psy and his crazy “Gangnam Style” song and dance routine, then you’re gonna swoon over this! Psy’s signature move is a man riding a horse and one celebrity got so caught up in the craze that he commissioned Brilliance jewelry company to create a custom pendant as a unique tribute to the formerly unknown Korean rap artist who rose from humble beginnings to worldwide fame. Hung from a large yellow gold chain, this opulent piece is designed in 18K white and yellow gold and comprised of 6.25 ctw round and oval cut pave diamonds and a 3/4 ctw oval diamond as the belt buckle. The total diamond count for this pendant is 636. Two perfectly matched black diamonds provide the finishing touches on his sunglasses. AND for only $59,975, it can be yours! OMGoodness…
The Wood Family Foundation (WFF) and the University of Illinois at Chicago announced the first recipient of the Kerry and Sarah Wood Family Foundation Scholarship:
graduating senior Gabriella (Gaby) Santoyo! Santoyo was presented to WFF board members, supporters and friends at the recent Sky is the Limit Scholarship Breakfast at the Willis Tower. WGN’s Micah Materre emceed the event and highlighted the mission of WFF before introducing founders Kerry and Sarah Wood and representatives from UIC. Dr. Bette Bottoms (dean of the UIC Honors
College) gave details of the scholarship while Santoyo’s calculus teacher, Daniel Kim, commented on why she was most deserving. The program ended with a performance by the Chicago Children’s Choir. CONGRATS GABY and thanks to Kerry and Sarah for all the good they do in Chicago and beyond! (To find out more about WFF, please click here!)
My first outing since my surgery will be tonight, June 1st, for the Friends of Prentice’s 27th annual gala, themed “Into the Wild.” This volunteer fundraising board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Prentice Women’s Hospital will host its largest fundraiser in the
Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. Stealing the live auction spotlight will be a two-night stay at the New York St. Regis in its brand new Bentley Suite, including the chance to experience the hotel’s Bentley Mulsanne
during the visit. Additional experiences will include a trip to Peru and a family-friendly trip to Hawaii, courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. One particular showstopper will be a 36-stone Tiffany & Co.
Schlumberger diamond bracelet that I will help auction off with G-Man Greg Dellinger. (I also get to wear it until the lucky bidder claims her/his prize…IF they can pry it off my wrist!) I ran into Derrick Taylor – one of my fav event designers – recently and he described what’s he’s created for this event tonight and it was too exciting for words! I can’t wait to share the pics with you in my Chicago Tribune column on June 9th so stay tuned! To date, Friends of Prentice has raised nearly $17 million to support research, education and patient care programs at Prentice Women’s Hospital. (For tickets and more info, please click here!)
This has always been one of my favorite events! The annual Heartland Alliance Home & Garden Tour will be on June 8th beginning at 9 a.m. This splendid tour of professionally designed private homes and gardens in southwest Michigan’s Harbor Country always inspires me as we get a peek inside homes that showcase the handiwork of some of the top interior designers, architects and horticultural enthusiasts
from around the country. After the tour, there will be a lunch on the lawn at Chikaming Country Club in Lakeside. (Tickets for lunch are an additional $40 and all proceeds from this delightful day in the country benefits the Heartland Alliance.) For tickets and more info, please click here!)
I sure hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of Candid Candace! It’s been a real roller coaster week for me and I’m glad the ride is slowing down! I’m so happy to be back doing what I love best: bringing you all of the exciting news our city has to offer! I’m also thrilled to be returning to WCIU’s “You & Me This Morning” on June 10th so stay tuned for ALL of the hottest upcoming events!
I would like to close by thanking all of my friends for their uplifting get well and birthday wishes! I can’t believe how lucky I am and can’t thank you enough for thinking of me and for making my birthday the best one EVER!
Thanks again, with love, as always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
