November! One of my favorite months, when sweater weather is in full swing and Chicago starts trading pumpkins for holiday sparkle. The Halloween cobwebs are barely down before the twinkle lights go up, festive windows appear, the Great Tree at Macy’s has gone up and the party invitations start rolling in. And, as always, our social calendar is bursting with charitable galas, fabulous restaurant openings, cultural happenings and plenty of reasons to dress up and get out. So, pull on your favorite sparkle top, dust off those party shoes and get ready for a little holiday magic. You can always find plenty of fun, fabulousness and festive cheer right here in Candid Candace!
Fashion, philanthropy and a whole lot of Chicago flair came together Oct. 2 in the Walnut Room for The Chicago Lighthouse’s 2026 FLAIR “Eye on Style” fashion show and luncheon. Nearly 300 of the city’s top fashionistas helped raise over $219,000 for this much-loved nonprofit.
The annual fundraiser, chaired by Candace Jordan (moi) and Kathy Piccone, celebrated The Chicago Lighthouse’s 120th anniversary while putting some of Chicago’s most stylish designers and retailers in the spotlight. More than just a fashion show, FLAIR supports the Lighthouse’s programs and services for people who are blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veterans.
This year’s event also marked an important step forward in making the runway experience even more inclusive. For the first time, FLAIR offered audio description for guests who are blind or visually impaired, with headsets available during the show.
Tracey Tarantino DiBuono, who has been part of FLAIR since its beginning 13 years ago, returned as producer, working with the designers and models to bring the show to life. The runway lineup included Anne Fontaine, Maria Pinto, Contessa Bottega, JMcLaughlin, Nina, Menotti Couture, Sylwia, Lauren Lein, Mira Couture and Macy’s, with separate presentations from Macy’s Teens, Macy’s Men and Macy’s Women.
After the runway, guests moved into the Walnut Room for lunch and a program honoring Georgiann Pangere, a longtime Chicago Lighthouse supporter and philanthropist. Presenting the award were The Chicago Lighthouse President and CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk and 2025 FLAIR honoree Dr. Stacie McLane.
Pangere’s connection to the Lighthouse runs deep. Szlyk recognized Georgiann and her husband, Steve Pangere, who is visually impaired and president and CEO of Gary-based construction firm The Pangere Corp., for their longtime support of the organization’s vision services programs. She also praised Georgiann as empathetic, caring, down-to-earth and deeply committed to making a difference.
Pangere is also a jazz singer who performs under the name Nikki George, and she added her own musical touch to the afternoon with a song as part of her remarks.
The recognition was particularly meaningful as Pangere’s family has played an important role in the Lighthouse’s work. The Pangere Center’s clinical services and research focus on inherited retinal diseases, with the center seeing 125 patients with inherited retinal diseases each year and more than 750 patients since 2020.
The event also highlighted the broader reach of The Chicago Lighthouse, which has been serving Chicago for 120 years through vision, employment, education and independent living programs. Julie Stark, the organization’s new Board of Trustees chair, spoke about the growing need for low-vision services and the Lighthouse’s commitment to providing care regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
Dr. Szlyk recognized seven past honorees who were in attendance: Susan Gohl, Dr. Stacie McClane, Candace Jordan, Shauna Montgomery, Tracey Tarantino DiBuono, Sherry Lea Holson and Cheryl Coleman.
A Fund-A-Need led by auctioneer Molly Morse Limmer gave guests the opportunity to direct their support toward specific Lighthouse programs, from general low-vision services and the Pangere Center to in-home therapy for infants and toddlers, youth transition job coaching, Birth-to-Three enrichment programming, Meta smart glasses and driving rehabilitation.
The fundraising appeal put some very tangible numbers behind the Lighthouse’s mission. The organization provides more than $2 million in charitable low-vision care each year and serves more than 3,100 patients annually, with more than 7,000 patient and client interactions across its services.
There were plenty of other memorable touches, too, including a beautiful Frango Mint cake created and donated by Eli’s Cheesecake. The cake was presented by Elana Schulman, VP Eli’s Cheesecake, and made a festive centerpiece before guests settled in for lunch, followed by dessert, coffee, raffle drawings and the final check of silent-auction winnings. Another special treat were iconic Marshall Field’s plastic totes that were filled with goodies for every guest to take home.
Sponsors included presenting sponsors Steve and Georgiann Pangere; fashion sponsor Paula Borg and Tom Stemwedel; style sponsors Dr. Andrew Barrer, Lee Blackwell Baur, Sherry Lea Holson and Shauna Montgomery; and runway sponsors Julie Barrish, Beena Joseph and Kathy Piccone. Chicago Star served as the event’s media sponsor.
With fashion taking center stage and the Lighthouse’s mission woven throughout the afternoon, FLAIR once again proved that looking good and doing good can make a very stylish pair. (To donate and for more info, click here: The Chicago Lighthouse) CONGRATS TO ALL!
Everyone I know loves and adores Julie Barrish and for her 70th birthday, she and her darling husband Bryan hosted a soiree to beat all soirees in the early fall. Held at their spectacular, Architectural Digest-worthy home in Lincolnshire, the party featured lavish decor by Julie’s dear friend, Tom Kehoe. Imagine chandeliers mounted on tree limbs, bountiful bouquets, dramatic lighting that rivaled the moonlight and so much more. It was a curated list of friends with mentalist Sidney Friedman and a private chef. Take a look at this beautiful party below!
Chicago’s restaurant scene is about to get another heavyweight addition. Gibsons Restaurant Group is bringing its signature hospitality and a fresh interpretation of the American tavern to Fulton Market with the debut of Gibsons Tavern, a sprawling 15,000-square-foot restaurant at 925 W. Fulton Market. A press preview earlier offered a first look inside the highly anticipated new destination ahead of its November 17 opening.
The new restaurant combines two distinct dining experiences under one roof, offering something for both casual gatherings and more sophisticated nights out. And while the Gibsons name is synonymous with prime steaks and classic Chicago steakhouses, this latest venture takes the concept in a slightly different direction.
“We’re standing in our new restaurant at 925 West Fulton Market,” partner John Colletti of Gibsons Restaurant Group told Chicago Star. “The main dining room you’re looking at right now is a little bit more upscale than the bar area.”
The idea, he explained, is to bring together some of the group’s most popular offerings while introducing a dining room that celebrates the kind of traditional tableside service that has become increasingly rare.
The more relaxed Tavern Bar draws inspiration from the group’s established restaurants, including Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar, LuxBar and Quartino. Its menu will feature elevated comfort food, tavern favorites, signature steaks, fresh fish and desserts, along with Prohibition-inspired cocktails.
The separate Dining Room will offer a more polished experience, with a menu developed with acclaimed Chicago chef Rick Tramonto. Expect a return to some beloved steakhouse traditions, including Steak Diane, bananas Foster and tableside preparations.
Executive Chef Kyle Kazniak said the goal was to create a menu that feels familiar but has enough personality to make the restaurant its own.
“We’re bringing Chef Rick Tramonto to help work on the menu with us,” he said, pointing to dishes such as foie gras with French toast, a beautifully prepared chicken pot pie, tableside salads and cherries jubilee prepared in front of guests.
One of Kazniak’s personal favorites is the steak tips, featuring filet medallions, Asian mushrooms and a teriyaki marinade.
The restaurant’s design is another attraction. Cathedral-vaulted ceilings and turn-of-the-century-inspired details give the expansive space a sense of old Chicago glamour, while the two dining areas create distinctly different atmospheres.
Private dining is also a significant part of the new venture. Multiple rooms can accommodate everything from an intimate dinner for 10 to larger celebrations and private events for up to 150 guests.
With its combination of familiar Gibsons favorites, more elaborate dining-room offerings and a lively tavern atmosphere, the group is betting that Fulton Market is ready for a new neighborhood gathering place with a decidedly Chicago point of view.
Founded in 1989 with the opening of the original Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse on Rush Street, Gibsons Restaurant Group has built a reputation around quality, consistency and hospitality. Gibsons Tavern represents another chapter in that Chicago story, bringing the group’s signature style to one of the city’s busiest dining and entertainment neighborhoods.
Chicago’s holiday season will get a spectacular start on November 19 when 900 North Michigan Shops celebrates the 10th anniversary of Illuminate 900, its annual tree lighting extravaganza benefiting Make-A-Wish Illinois
Billed as Chicago’s tallest indoor Christmas tree, the magnificent 54-foot evergreen will take center stage during the two-hour celebration, transforming all six levels of the luxury shopping destination into a festive winter wonderland. The evening’s most meaningful moment will come when Santa and a Make-A-Wish child join forces to flip the switch, illuminating the towering tree and officially kicking off the holiday season along Michigan Avenue.
The Nov. 19 celebration, taking place from 6 to 8 p.m., promises an impressive lineup of holiday entertainment, seasonal treats, cocktails and family-friendly activities. Among the highlights will be excerpts from the holiday ballet The Nutcracker, a special appearance by a real-life Elf on the Shelf, and a professionally trained, opera-singing angel performing beloved holiday classics.
A contemporary dance company will perform to one of the season’s top holiday dance tunes, while an urban drum corps brings its energetic marching and musical performances throughout the venue. Guests can also look forward to toy soldiers, fantastical holiday characters, a festive appearance by Santa and a sugar cookie decorating station for younger visitors.
Adding to the storybook atmosphere will be an array of theatrical holiday visuals and seasonal activations, with entertainment and surprises spread across all six levels of the shopping destination. Seasonal food and drinks will also be part of the festivities, with Four Seasons Hotel Chicago providing catering and Bacardi USA showcasing its portfolio of premium brands through an elevated cocktail experience.
The tree lighting is expected to take place at approximately 7:30 p.m., when Santa and a Make-A-Wish child will flip the switch to illuminate the towering tree, creating a memorable finale to the evening.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Illuminate 900 has become a beloved Chicago holiday tradition and the organization’s largest holiday fundraising event in the city. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois, helping grant life-changing wishes for children facing critical health challenges.
Tickets range from $5 to $35, with three levels of admission offering different guest experiences. The event takes place throughout 900 North Michigan Shops, the seven-level retail destination anchored by Bloomingdale’s and home to more than 70 retailers, along with the chef-driven Aster Hall food hall. (For tickets and additional information, visit shop900.com.)
Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise will share an inspiring evening of conversation on Monday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. The evening will feature Sinise discussing his book, Graceful Warrior, and his longstanding commitment to supporting America’s veterans. Proceeds will benefit the West Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans, making this a meaningful opportunity to hear from a celebrated actor whose dedication to those who serve extends far beyond the screen.(Tickets and information: McAninch Arts Center)
The 25th annual PAWS Chicago Fur Ball returns to the Drake Hotel Friday, Nov. 13. Presented by Nan and Wayne Kocourek and co-chaired by Stephanie Bryan and Hsing Chen, this pet-friendly event is the biggest and best in the city. The black-tie evening will include lavish buffets, doggie daycare, auctions, raffle, dancing and more! Please click here for tickets and more info!
I swear I could smell the pine trees the moment I walked into the Walnut Room at Macy’s State Street for its 119th Great Tree Lighting on the morning of Nov. 7. The historic dining room was packed with diners and onlookers, all eager to catch a glimpse of one of Chicago’s most beloved holiday traditions and the first major tree lighting of the season.
Standing 45 feet tall, this year’s tree was nothing short of majestic. The theme, “There’s Magic in Being Together,” brought together the best of both Macy’s and Marshall Field’s holiday traditions, with two familiar characters sharing the spotlight. Freddie Field Mouse, who moved into Marshall Field’s Cozy Cloud Cottage in 1973 alongside Uncle Mistletoe, was joined by Macy’s newest character, Billy Brightpaw. The bear represents the wonder within all of us, along with kindness, joy and the spirit of giving.
True to the season, Macy’s also put the spotlight on three charitable organizations: Ronald McDonald House, Blue Star Families and Foster Love. Shoppers can support all three through Macy’s in-store round-up program.
The festivities began with carolers, followed by remarks from Matt Sarosy, Macy’s State Street store manager, and Lauren Biedron, Ronald McDonald House global chief philanthropy officer. This year’s ambassadors, the Klenda family, joined Santa onstage to illuminate the tree. Their appearance carried special meaning: young Bennett Klenda had battled a brain tumor, and his family found comfort, support and care at a nearby Ronald McDonald House.
Inside the Walnut Room, the holiday magic extended to every table, with fairy godmothers and festive characters delighting the younger guests while their parents enjoyed some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including Mrs. Hering’s Original Chicken Pot Pie, peach nest basket salad, Mandarin chicken salad, classic meatloaf and Frango Mint chocolate cheesecake.
Paul Anthony (Lopacinski), Macy’s senior manager of special productions, and his team once again delivered a memorable celebration. Anthony told Chicago Star that this year’s theme was inspired by the beauty of snowflakes and the idea that, while each is unique, they come together to create something beautiful. Diversity, individuality and togetherness were at the heart of the presentation.
For Anthony, the annual tradition is especially personal. A South Side Chicago native, he remembers coming downtown with his family for the tree lighting and holiday festivities as a child. Although he no longer lives in Chicago, returning for the event gives him a wonderful sense of being home and officially ushers in his favorite time of year.
The holiday spirit continued throughout the store, where shoppers were serenaded by live piano music in the 28 Shop, treated to complimentary Frango chocolates and surrounded by holiday music on every floor. The Christmas Shop was positively sparkling, with an abundance of new decorations and gifts carrying both Macy’s and Marshall Field’s branding.
All in all, this was one of my favorite Macy’s tree lightings, although I’ve loved them all. I have to admit, seeing Macy’s embrace more of its Marshall Field’s legacy makes me smile from ear to ear. I love them both, and I’m delighted to see these two Chicago holiday traditions under the same roof.
Here’s to the holidays! The Great Tree will remain on display through Jan. 17 in the Walnut Room.
Whenever Navy Pier hosts a party, everybody comes! That was the case for this year’s ExPIERience Gala held on Oct. 15 in the former Crystal Gardens space. More than 700 guests came out to celebrate this year’s honorees retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and philanthropist Jennifer Steans, former Navy Pier board chair.
The celebration began with a cocktail reception in the Family Pavilion featuring performances by the Soul Children of Chicago and musicians from Ravinia’s Steans Institute.
Local artists and entrepreneurs also had a presence throughout the evening. Artwork and gift items from Local Soul, Navy Pier’s rotating retail concept, were incorporated into the centerpieces and guest gifts, bringing the work of Chicago creatives into the celebration.
The evening concluded with a lakefront fireworks display and drone finale over Lake Michigan in Pier Park, produced by Pyrotecnico.
The event raised over $1.8 million to support free public programming, underwritten tickets for Chicago nonprofits and schools and opportunities for local performing artists and small retailers. Navy Pier welcomed 8.5 million visitors in 2025.
The Joffrey Ballet’s beloved holiday tradition returns December 4–27 at the Lyric Opera House with Christopher Wheeldon’s spectacular reimagining of The Nutcracker. Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, this magical production features dazzling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and plenty of holiday enchantment- plus new projections! A Chicago Christmas must-see! For tickets, performance dates and more information, visit The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
The Randolph Street Market Holiday Market returns to Chicago’s West Loop for two festive weekends, Nov. 14-15 and Dec. 12-13, at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Featuring more than 125 curated vendors and boutiques, this popular shopping destination offers everything from vintage fashion, estate jewelry and antique furnishings to holiday collectibles, handcrafted gifts and one-of-a-kind home décor. Guests can also enjoy seasonal cocktails, gourmet food, DJs, live entertainment and holiday activities, including a Little Elves Workshop. General admission is $19 online or $20 at the door, with tickets good for both days of the selected weekend. Saturday Early Buy admission is $35 online or $40 at the door. Children under 12 are free. For tickets and details, click here!
Amdur Productions’ Handmade Holiday Market returns to the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 11 am to 5 pm, bringing together approximately 80 talented artists and makers offering unique jewelry, fashion accessories, home décor and one-of-a-kind gifts. Guests can enjoy a festive afternoon of shopping, a cocktail bar and special activities while supporting independent artists and WINGS Program, Inc., which benefits from $2 of every $10 admission ticket. Shoppers are also encouraged to donate new or gently used winter coats and accessories for those in need. It’s a perfect opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping, discover something special and give back at the same time. More info here!
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas held a book signing at G-Man Tavern on Nov. 8. The perfect day brought out friends and fans to get signed copies of her book- “Maria the Pappas Memoir,” an amazing 270-page account of her life with lots of fun photos co-written by Mark Eleveld. A Q&A followed the signing.
And now, on the podcast front! So many exciting events to chat about. I am thrilled to return as legendary newsman Rick Kogan’s only correspondent (this time on his new WGN podcast, “After Hours with Rick Kogan.” Listen to our latest pod here! AND, on my own podcast, “Candid Candace- The Podcast” with my co-host/producer John St. Augustine. Listen here! I am so lucky to be sharing podcasts and airtime with these two authors and legends of radio, TV, journalism and more.
View the Christkindlmarket before the crowds! Holiday cheer arrives a day early at ‘Twas the Night Before Christkindlmarket, the exclusive preview party celebrating the market’s 30th anniversary on Nov. 19 at Daley Plaza. Guests will enjoy first dibs on holiday shopping, festive food and drinks, live entertainment, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the chance to meet the Christkind. The evening also includes the coveted 2026 commemorative souvenir mug. It’s a special way to experience one of Chicago’s favorite holiday traditions before the market opens to the public on November 20. (Tickets and info: Click here.)
There are always so many reasons to celebrate all that makes Chicago the BEST I hope you found a few new places to explore, events to add to your calendar and plenty of inspiration to get out and enjoy it all. As Candid Candace celebrates its 18th year, having launched in 2008 as Chicago’s first and longest-running lifestyle blog, I’m feeling especially grateful. What began as a passion for sharing the people, places and happenings that make Chicago special has grown into a wonderful community, and I couldn’t have done it without you, of course. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting and coming along for the ride!
And please don’t be a stranger! Bookmark the blog, subscribe so you never miss an update and come visit often. Let’s stay connected on Instagram, Facebook (Candace Jordan personal page), Facebook (Candid Candace fan page), X and LinkedIn, too. I share even more Chicago happenings, behind-the-scenes moments and a little extra Candid Candace fun across these platforms. Your support means the world to me, and I love having you as part of this journey. Here’s to many more years of celebrating Chicago together. Until next time, keep smiling and keep celebrating!
Love, as always,
Candace ❤️
Candace@CandidCandace.com
