I just loved this patriotic weekend and all that it entails. Of course, I appreciate what it stands for (celebrating our independence) but I'm also moved by the charming, hometown feeling it evokes bringing to mind apple pie, red, white and blue decorations, veterans
standing a little taller with medals pinned to their lapels, small town parades, s'mores by a campfire with friends, hell, any party with friends and so much more. We were fortunate to do just that
with longtime pal Ken Norgan. The parties at his home are always a cause for celebration as his guests are always a joy to meet and re-greet. His beautiful lakefront
home was decorated top to bottom in red, white and blue and we were so honored to be included. It got me wondering what other friends/celebs/notables
might be doing for the weekend, so I asked!
Leslie Zemeckis, author, actress and award-winning documentarian, spent the holiday in Italy with her filmmaker/screenwriter husband
Robert Zemeckis. They shot off fireworks (big ones she said) from their vineyard in Tuscany and had veggie burgers, French fries and red, white and blue gelato. They've celebrated the last 12
holidays there. (Nice!) CNN superhero Dr. Dan Ivankovich and wife Karla had a busy weekend. Since warm weather means lots of emergency room visits, he attended to "sports injuries, broken bones and lotsa gunshots." But he did manage to squeeze in a lunch at Smoque with friends, do his WVON radio show and headline with his band, the Chicago Blues All-Stars at Kingston Mines.
Former fabulous alderman Bob Fioretti and his new bride Nicki Pecori pedaled their way through historic battlefield sites in Gettysburg. They even stood on Cemetery Hill where Abe Lincoln, four months later, would deliver his
famous address. She said it was one of the "most moving and educational trips they'd ever taken." Chief eventeur for A Perfect Event, Debi Lilly, was in Nantucket with her family but also managed to add a lobster boil photo shoot in Deer Isle to her busy schedule. Writer extraordinaire, Amalie Drury said,
"We're heading to Cleveland to visit my in-laws, show our toddler around his dad's hometown and bask in the afterglow of the Cavaliers' glory. We will decidedly not be waiting around for Trump to show up." ABC 7's Linda Yu and her darling Stuart Ellison
visited her two kids and his son in L.A. for the weekend. Comic genius and beloved opening act for Frank Sinatra, Tom Dreesen visited his country club in L.A. with his grandkids for BBQ and fireworks. Tom is a proud veteran of the United States Navy and continues to perform for US troops all over the world.
Film critic Bill Zwecker spent a lot of his weekend on the road driving over to Culver, Indiana to spend part of the weekend with his sister, Janet and her family, then back to Chicago before heading over to Ken Norgan's annual (awesome) party on Sunday in Michigan along with his pals/neighbors Vicki and Bill Hood among many others. Uber
real estate agent Emily Sachs Wong (@Properties) headed to her "own little version of the Hamptons, otherwise known as Lakeside, Michigan." There, she and her family paddle
boarded, jet skied, water skied and went bike riding to the farmer's market. She said, "I love the totally Americana parade that the town has, complete with a bicycle decorating contest for the kids in honor of America. Just good old fashioned fun, complete with
s'mores and fireworks. My kind of weekend!" Rumor has it Linda Novick O'Keefe (founding CEO of Common Threads) and her family joined the Wongs for this idyllic weekend too. The First Family of Steak, the Durpettis (Marion, Tony and Michelle) spent the weekend on Lake Michigan on their beautiful yacht, the
Andiamo, grilling G & G burgers, sausages and steaks, of course! Restaurateur RJ Melman spent the holiday with his family in Winnetka by the pool BBQing and "fireworking." Bronzeville gallerists Andre and Frances Guichard hung out on their buddy, Dr. Sam's, boat BBQing before attending the "Chosen Few Picnic." (Sounds very exclusive, my invite must be in the mail). Nina and Bob Mariano hung out with friends Joey Gonzalez and Jon Rollo by their pool in L.A.'s Hancock Park.
Chicago socialite Whitney Lasky attended the Aspen Ideas Festival, watching fireworks on top of Aspen Mountain, making home-made ice cream sandwiches and reading Candid Candace. (My kind of girl!) Rocket Ranch Productions founder Billy Dec hosted his
first ever Dec family reunion in Chicago with relatives he "barely ever sees from Cali, Colorado and Florida." He was also in the Wrigley Field Bleachers for a Cubs Game with pre- and post- parties across the street at
Rockit, natch! Renowned artist Francine Turk spent her 4th in Nashville doing research for her continued BADASS art series inspired by musicians such as Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. (Love her and her incredible talent!) Celebrity chef Jaime Laurita, fresh from a tour with the Queen of Pop (Madonna), took a
run on the 606 in his pride shirt and then headed to Hot Chocolate in Bucktown for brunch before flying off to Arlington Park for a day at the races and fireworks. Chicago Helicopter Experience Tours (CHE Tours) founder Trevor Heffernan worked his little butt off over the weekend making sure his visitors had a great experience flying over the
July 4th activities along the lakefront.
Tony Karman, president/director EXPO CHICAGO, was busy planning his September 25/26 big art event at Navy Pier before dinner with friends, a one-day drive to an event/dinner in Lakeside and a quiet (at
home) 4th with his wife Sondra. Media personality and 24/7 host Catie Keogh spent time at the family lake house by the Michigan/Indiana border partying
on the beach with fireworks and a little rose'. Beloved Chef Tony Priolo said he didn't have much time to celebrate since opening his latest restaurant Nonnina at 340 N. Clark, but he did have a chance to go to his house on Magician Lake in Michigan to spend time with his family. Personal
training guru Jim Karas went to "one of his favorite parties of the year" at the Pritzker farm. He said, "It's a throwback to the 1950s with swimming, BBQ, music, dancing and an amazing fireworks display…plus a lot of terrific people." Chicago Tonight Host Phil
Ponce said, "Son Anthony and his wife Maggie are hosting a 4th of July party at our house. Fortunately, my wife and I have been invited!" LOL! Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas cooked for twenty people at her home with fifteen different dishes! She said, "I invited people who love my food so that's why they got invited."
Michael Caputo, Spex/My Eye Doctor marketing director, said he strolled the WindyCity RibFest in the Uptown neighborhood and later danced the night away at SmartBar. Dear friend and fundraising powerhouse
Helen Melchior spent the weekend at her chic home on Powers Lake in Wisconsin watching fireworks and eating brats, burgers and corn with the family. Interior designer Marshall Erb and his boyfriend, Richard Strong, drove up to
Michigan in their "new" vintage navy blue Jaguar convertible for a weekend of "sunset boat cruises, aperol spritzes and making memories with 14 great friends." Architect Lucien LaGrange and Melinda
Jakovich, real estate sales pro, explored the North Shore this year enjoying the Winnetka parade and then heading to Lake Forest Beach for a family BBQ. Fabulous fundraiser and woman-about-town Tina Weller celebrated with her family in Beaver Creek, Colorado white water rafting, horseback riding and ATV-ing their way through Vail and Beaver Creek.
Abra Prentice Wilkin, socialite and daughter of John Rockefeller Prentice, spent the weekend in Lake Geneva; beautiful Lynn McMahan enjoyed the blue waters of the Turks & Caicos; PR expert Dori Wilson enjoyed the 4th at a
cool rooftop party in Wicker Park and Kathleen Henson served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her senior director for Henson Consulting, Anna Treiber, at the Ivy Room in River North. Eco-friendly
author and all-around cutie patootie Ashlee Piper hiked through Rock Cut State Park with her pup and dear friend Chris DeRose (WCIU "You
& Me" producer). Fete Lifestyle Magazine founder DC Crenshaw took a day trip to Lake Geneva with wife Alayna and the boys on a quest for BBQ!
Hope you've enjoyed this week's shortened edition from the July 4th festivities of Chicago (and beyond) notables and celebs. More fun to come next week!
Love, as always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
P.S. A sad, but funny, commentary….
