Tag Archives: art and culture

August 29, 2025 · 11:24 am

FROM COUTURE TO CANINES: CHICAGO’S SOCIAL SCENE UNLEASHED

Well, friends, the dog days of summer officially tapped out and somehow, I blinked and missed the whole thing. One minute we were dreaming of patio brunches and beach days, and the next? Poof. Gone. I didn’t even make it to my beloved farm stands or farmers markets this year. And let’s not even talk about the vacation that didn’t happen. Ouch. But this is Chicago, we don’t just sit around pouting into our iced coffee. We find the sparkle. Case in point: the fabulous, over-the-top Service Club of Chicago “Day on the Terrace” fashion show/fundraiser. It’s so big now that co-chairs Jean Antoniou, Sharyl Mackey and Tracey DiBuono might have to swap out the Peninsula catwalk for the United Center (and I’m only half kidding). And don’t get me started on the PAWS Chicago Beach Party, where fur babies reign supreme, tails wag like there’s no tomorrow and the Offshore Rooftop becomes a little slice of puppy paradise. So, buckle up, we’re diving into all the moments, causes and celebrations that make Chicago a city like no other.

The Farm stand in Westmont. (Photo by Candace Jordan)

________________________________________________________________PAWS Chicago welcomed more than 500 guests and their canine companions to the Offshore Rooftop at Navy Pier for its 22nd annual Beach Party. The tropical-themed event on July 17 raised over $400,000 to support the

The Cannings with new PAWS pup Manny!

organization’s no kill mission and other life-saving initiatives. Dressed in vibrant Hawaiian shirts, floral sundresses and colorful leis, guests and their pups embraced the tropical vibe as they enjoyed an evening of cocktails, buffet-style dining, dancing and a lively auction. The

Co-chairs Janet Mandell and Heather Zimmerman.

night featured hand-crafted ice cream from Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream, gourmet dog treats from Koko’s Kitchen, custom pet portraits, a themed photo booth and a pup-approved dinner spread by Kismet. Live auction

PAWS Chicago co-founders Paula Fasseas and Alexis Fasseas.

highlights included luxury trips to Montana and Hawaii and a VIP Smashing Pumpkins experience donated by Billy Corgan and his wife Chloé Mendel, complete with opera tickets, a signed poster, FEW Spirits × Smashing Pumpkins signature bourbon, a styling session with co-chair Janet Mandell and a custom dinner jacket from Lake Forest Custom Clothiers. The night was emceed by media personalities Lisa Dent of WGN Radio 720 and Jake Hamilton of WFLD TV/Channel 32, with event co-chairs Mandell and HeatherZimmerman guiding an evening that blended celebration with purpose. Community Engagement Awards were

Kyle and Melinda Benbow with Unice and Suge.

Bonnie Spurlock, Suzanne Falk and Andrea Stryker.

presented to supporters Carl Allegretti, who was honored for setting a fundraising record with Team PAWS during his 70th marathon. Dan “Big Cat” Katz of Barstool Sports, a sports and pop culture blog, was recognized for launching Stella Blue Coffee in tribute to his adopted dog Stella and donating proceeds to PAWS. One of the evening’s most heartwarming moments was the adoptable pet showcase. Among the featured animals were Ritz, an 8-year-old Shih Tzu mix who had been abandoned, and Manny, a 4-month-old Chihuahua mix rescued from a

Michelle White with Henry.

hoarding situation. Both found loving homes that night; Manny was adopted on the spot by PAWS board member Melissa Canning. Funds raised will support PAWS Chicago’s programs,

Emcees Lisa Dent of WGN Radio & Jake Hamilton of FOX 32. (Photo by Claire Demos)

including its 360@CACC initiative in partnership with Chicago Animal Care & Control, the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic and the Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, a 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing medical care for homeless pets. In addition to its Chicago programs, PAWS Chicago’s Disaster Relief Team responded to the recent catastrophic flash floods in the Texas Hill Country by partnering with Wings of Rescue, Concho Valley PAWS and Austin Pets Alive! to relocate dozens of pets previously housed in shelters overwhelmed by the disaster. More than just a festive summer soirée, PAWS Chicago’s Beach Party shined a spotlight on the city’s homeless pet population and the organization’s life-saving work. In 2024, PAWS served 23,842 homeless animals through spay/neuter surgeries, adoptions, fostering, medical care and community outreach programs.

PAWS volunteers Pat Detrie (dog Ritz), Shannon McDavid (dog Oro), Matt Smith (Manny), Heather Lyman (Eugene), Russ Hunt (Aspen) and Cristal Powell (Bagel).

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SC President Bobbi Panter with event co-chairs Sharyl Mackey, Jean Antoniou and Tracey DiBuono. (Violetta Photography)

The Service Club of Chicago just hosted its annual “Day on the Terrace” fashion show/fundraiser, this year themed “A Royal Garden Party.” For the past several years, this popular event has been a sellout, and this year was no

Karen Peters, Kathy Piccone and Kathy Mondelli. (Violetta Photography)

different. Returning co-chairs Jean Antoniou, Sharyl Mackey and Tracey DiBuono (who was also show producer) thrilled the crowd with major retailers and designers filling the runway with the hottest and latest fashions. This show is but one of many fundraisers this

Elyse Kenard, Belvon Walker, Jackie Houzz and Deborah Carter. (Violetta Photography)

nonprofit hosts to raise funds for its unique Philanthropic Grant Program. Other events include the gala, auxiliary board events, movie nights, cultural get-togethers and so much more. Established in 1890, the Service Club of Chicago is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest women’s charitable

Laura Washington, , Candace Jordan, Maria Pappas, Joy Cunningham and Elizabeth Bertucci.

organization in the city. Setting this f
un fact aside, their fundraising goal is unlike any other and exclusive to this organization. The Service Club members raise all the money that directly supports its Philanthropic Grant Fund, which in turn,

My beautiful sequin and silk evening jacket by Elda de la Rosa.

supports other nonprofits in the city and this is how they do it. The Philanthropic Committee reviews grant requests from dozens of local area nonprofits annually. The committee then determines where the SC funds will make the biggest impact. Staffed entirely by volunteer members who vet every single grant,

Micah Materre, Kristine Kinder, Helena Kogiones, Lezley Hodes and Joanna Slusky. (Violetta Photography)

the committee ensures the organizations are stable and viable before they receive the support requested. Once an organization is fully vetted and awarded a grant, cash payments are NOT directly distributed to the grantee. This is what makes them different and able to make a difference among many nonprofits instead of just one. Payment is then made directly to the vendor for the allocated item and then that item is delivered to the organization to fulfill that specific, requested need. So, even though the Service Club’s “Day on the Terrace” was a fashionista’s dream, it also made dreams come true for those less fortunate.

Designer Sylwia Wilczynska, Karen Peters, Yvonne Fitzgibbon, Suzette Gilchrist and Manshi Shah. (Violetta Photography)

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Fox 32’s Natalie Bomke with Chef Ken Polk – winners of the Silver Avocado! Natalie won LAST year too!

Holy guacamole! Mariano’s Bucktown attracted some of the city’s brightest media personalities and tastemaker chefs on Aug. 20 for the most delicious showdown of the summer:

Chef Dominique Leach, Candace and Chef Sarah Stegner.

The 2nd Annual Guacamole Challenge. Armed with bowls, smashers and piles of creamy Avocados from Peru, competitors sliced, diced and mashed their way toward glory. Each team was allowed a secret ingredient to take their guac from good to guac-tacular — Competing Teams: Natalie Bomke (FOX News) and Ken Polk (Batter & Berries); this author and Dominique Leach (Lexington

Michael Marx, President Mariano’s and Amanda Puck, VP of Development Marianos/Roundys.

Betty BBQ); Curtis Granderson (MLB All-Star) and Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno); Lili Mendoza (LA LEY) and Chef TBD; Dina Bair (WGN News) and Bill Kim (Urban Belly, Table at Crate, Dimmi Dimmi); Monica Eng (AXIOS) and Lamar Moore (etc.); Liz Grossman (Freelance) and Chef

Chuck and me with Chef Art Smith, who served as a judge at the event.

TBD. Meet the Judges: Belinda Chang (The James Beard Award-winning sommelier whose palate is so refined, she can probably taste the difference between “mild” and “extra mild” salsa); Sarah Stegner (The Prairie Grass Café powerhouse whose cooking chops are so legendary, even avocados feel honored to be diced by her). Chef Art Smith lent his considerable expertise too and needs no intro. Thanks to Avocados from Peru, 60,000 avocados will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Northern Illinois Food Bank. That’s a whole lotta guac doing a whole lotta good. Congrats to Natalie Bomke and Chef Polk for the WIN! (Photos by Tim Musho)

Mariano’s and Avocados from Peru’s 2nd annual Guac Challenge to benefit local food banks. (Tim Musho photo)

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Meredith Erickson, Ravinia President-CEO Jeff Haydon and Audrey Weaver. (Kyle Dunleavy photo- Ravinia Festival)

The Ravinia Women’s Board hosted its 59^th annual Gala, themed “One Night Only: An Evening with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara” at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. The July 13 event featured a special performance by

Katherine Haydon, Kelli O’Hara, Sutton Foster and Traci Fenton. (Kyle Dunleavy photo- Ravinia Festival)

Broadway stars O’Hara and Foster, accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop. This performance marked the first time Ravinia, North America’s oldest outdoor music festival, hosted a performance by these two acclaimed artists. The evening also introduced the Gala’s first-ever

Kiki Katz, Shelbi Sheinkop, Andrea Colianni and Molly Selsby. (Photo by Kyle Dunleavy-Ravinia Festival)

Fund-A-Need paddle raise conducted by Freeman’s | Hindman CEO Alyssa Quinlan, which contributed significantly to the event’s success. With over 525 guests in attendance, the Gala raised more than $1.1 million to support Ravinia’s mission of providing music education and access to the arts for students across Lake and Cook Counties. The funds raised will directly benefit Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play programs which serve over

Kiki Katz, Shelbi Sheinkop, Andrea Colianni and Molly Selsby. (Photo by Kyle Dunleavy-Ravinia Festival)

20,000 students annually. Cocktails began at 4:30 p.m. on the scenic North Lawn, followed by a 6:00 p.m. concert. Foster and O’Hara dazzled as Broadway luminaries making their Ravinia and Chicago Symphony Orchestra debuts.

Kelli O’Hara and Sutton Foster are presented with flowers by Reach Teach Play Program students. (Kyle Dunleavy photo- Ravinia Festival)

Foster brought her trademark charisma, comedic flair and powerhouse vocal delivery; O’Hara impressed with her soprano and refined presence. The program opened with George Gershwin’s overture to “Girl Crazy” and included selections like Jeanine Tesori’s “Great Adventure,” Stephen Sondheim’s “What More Do I Need?,” David Yazbek’s “Answer Me,” Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” and more. The duo incorporated lighthearted

Sutton Foster performs in gala tent before Pavilion concert. (Kyle Dunleavy photo- Ravinia Festival)

funwith a spirited 1990s medley that featured hits from Mariah Carey, TLC and even a lively nod to“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana during their stage banter. O’Hara charmed the audience with Kelli O’Hara’s “They Don’t Let You in the Opera (If You’re a Country Star)” while Foster offered a tender version of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.” The popular medley and their duets earned frequent standing ovations. The concert finale was a moving performance of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” featuring percussionist Wanye Williams, an alum of Reach Teach Play, on vibraphone, reinforcing the gala’s educational mission through music. Reach Teach Play scholars also performed earlier during cocktails and again during dinner in the Gala Tent, where Foster and O’Hara mingled warmly with guests and students alike before the evening concluded.

Kelli O’Hara performs in gala tent before Pavilion concert. (Kyle Dunleavy photo- Ravinia Festival)

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Not to be missed! Music of the Baroque’s Chicago Water Music Cruise!

The Chicago River will metamorphose into an open-air concert hall, as Music of the Baroque presents The Chicago Water Music on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Under the guidance of Dame Jane Glover, the ensemble will grace the “Bright Star” boat, gliding from the Riverwalk East

Tickets will go fast for this unique experience.

End to Merchandise Mart and back, bringing the grandeur of Handel’s Water Music, selections from Theodora, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Music for the Royal Fireworks to life against a backdrop of Chicago’s illuminated skyline. The Chicago River will metamorphose into an open-air concert hall, as Music of the Baroque presents The Chicago

Magnificent views and glorious music.

Water Music on Wednesday, Sept. 10 under the guidance of Dame Jane Glover. As the music unfolds, the “Strong Voices” student chorus will join in, weaving youthful energy into the baroque tapestry. The performance

Dame Jane Glover will return to conduct the 2nd Music of the Baroque Chicago Water Music Cruise.

reaches its peak in a citywide chorus: “Hallelujah,Chicago!” invites the public to join a communal singalong of Handel’s famed “Hallelujah” Chorus from Messiah, a moment designed to unite voices along the Riverwalk, on bridges and throughout the city. Spectators can experience the performance for free from the Riverwalk, bridges and river-adjacent vantage points. But for those seeking an immersive experience on the water, limited Audience Boat tickets are available for $150 each, including access to a complimentary bar. Single ticket presales for Music of the Baroque 2025-26 subscribers began on July 25, 2025, with general public sales opening on August 4, 2025, at 10 AM. Event Details: The Chicago Water Music will take place Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, sweeping from the Riverwalk East End to Merchandise Mart, with a reprise between LaSalle and Clark before returning downstream.

Music of the Baroque Chicago Water Music on Sept. 10.

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With co-chairs Sherry Lea Holson, Sheree Schimmer, Sherrill Bodine and co-host/fashion show producer Tracey DiBuono.

The Chicago Lighthouse will host FLAIR: Fun. Fashion. Philanthropy. at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, bringing together high-style and heartfelt purpose under one roof on Friday, Sept. 12. The day begins at 11:00 a.m. with a reception, followed by an inclusive fashion show and luncheon at 11:45 a.m. whose proceeds benefit the Lighthouse’s Children & Youth Programs. At the center of

2025 FLAIR honoree Dr. Stacie McClane.

this year’s event is 2025 honoree Dr. Stacie D. McClane, MD, FACS, a Chicago-based double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon renowned for her surgical excellence and commitment to mentorship and outreach. Dr. McClane will be honored for her deep-rooted civic engagement and advocacy for inclusive healthcare, alongside her professional achievements. Guiding the vision behind FLAIR 2025 are returning co-chairs Sherry Lea Holson, Sheree Schimmer and Sherrill Bodine and long-time program hosts Tracey Tarantino DiBuono (who is also show producer) and this author. Since its inception in 2014, FLAIR has been celebrated as Chicago’s most inclusive fashion showcase, inviting models of varying abilities to share the spotlight in couture settings. The show brings together local designers, retailers, business leaders and supporters to help raise funds for more than 40 Lighthouse services ranging from early intervention and low-vision exams to vocational training and youth education. The FLAIR 2025 event will raise funds for the children’s programs at The Chicago Lighthouse. Through ticket sales, sponsorships and community engagement, FLAIR directly sustains Children & Youth Programs that serve vision-impaired and multi-disabled youth across Chicago. For tickets, sponsorships, or inquiries, click here or contact Karoline Kijowski at (312) 447-3447 or events@chicagolighthouse.org. (Chicago Star Media is proud to be the official media sponsor of FLAIR 2025)

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Kelly Kramer (Hope Award Recipient), Courtney Krupa, Kathleen Casey.

The 32nd Annual Bear Tie Ball, themed “Luau for Life” was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on May 30. The event brought together more than 200 guests and raised over $460,000 to support pediatric cancer patients

Greg Kosinski, Kathleen Casey (Founder), Tom & Jean Carey (Hope Award Recipients)

and their families. Emceed by FOX 32’s Sylvia Perez, the evening featured heartfelt tributes, including the presentation of the William J. Casey Hope Award to Kelly Kramer and Jean and Tom Carey, honoring their dedication to Bear Necessities’ mission. Attendees were also moved by Jozlynn Logan’s powerful story of her son Antonio’s battle with pediatric cancer and the support they received

Kendra Castelloni (Board member), Courtney Moore (board member), Melissa Delia, Courtney Krupa.

from Bear Necessities. Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, founded in 1992 by Kathleen A. Casey in memory of her son Barrett “Bear” Krupa, is dedicated to eliminating pediatric cancer and providing hope and support to those affected. The foundation operates two

Kendra Castelloni (Board member), Courtney Moore (board member), Melissa Delia, Courtney Krupa.

main programs: Bear Hugs, which offers customized experiences for children, and Bear Discoveries, which funds pediatric cancer research. Since its inception, Bear Necessities has touched the lives of more than 8,000 children and their families, investing over $1,000,000 in pediatric cancer research. The success of the 32nd Annual Bear Tie Ball underscores the community’s commitment to supporting families affected by pediatric cancer and advancing research toward a cure.The funds raised will continue to empower Bear Necessities in its mission to provide hope and support to those touched by pediatric cancer. _______________________________________________________________________________

Photo by Lisa Fielding.

As many of you know by now, my Playboy memorabilia has been acquired by the Chicago History Museum. In my wildest dreams, I would’ve never thought I would land in a museum exhibit. Can you imagine a small-town girl, just seeking more excitement, would find herself in the

Photo by Troy Mairs.

Chicago History Museum? My goal, when I was invited to come to Chicago with Playboy, was to find adventure- something more interesting than what I found in my own backyard. As I climbed the ranks through Playboy-from Bunny to Centerfold to Covergirl – I collected a treasure trove of

Key club sales poster that was in all PB Clubs, acquired by the Chicago History Museum.

memorabilia that formed the backdrop and memories of my life. This collection includes, among other items: Bunny of the Year trophies, Playboy Bunny handbooks (how to do the Bunny dip!), a rule book for Playmates/ Bunnies living in the Chicago Playboy Mansion, my silver lamé Bunny of the Year costume, the invitation to Hef’s funeral in L.A., my union membership, a Playboy Covid-19 facemask with

Part of my Playboy memorabilia collection.

my 1979 cover on it, a 1976 Playboy Bunny of the Year Pageant program, a large poster advertisement with my image on it for key club sales and hundreds of images. How did this all come about? My Playboy memorabilia was featured on a segment of the PBS’ Antiques Roadshow. (See Roadshow segment here)

Winning Chicago Playboy Bunny of the Year contest in 1976.

Appraiser Laura Woolley was very, very kind to me and my collection (calling it the “most complete she’s ever seen”), so I came away from the experience on cloud nine. As it happened, this popular segment went viral, playing around the world! It caught the attention of Jessica Pushor, Chicago History Museum curator, who reached out to me, along with Michael Anderson (VP for External Engagement & Development), asking if I would be willing

Lifesize poster promoting Club events was in all PB Clubs.

to part with it for the museum. We went back and forth for over a year before I decided. Remember, this was a big part of my life and who I am, so I wasn’t anxious to part with it. But, after accepting that I can’t “take it with me,” I realized the significance of this opportunity – for many reasons. Of course, I’m honored and deeply flattered—and

The invite to Hef’s funeral in Holmby Hills. (Acquired by the Chicago History Museum). I was the only Playmate to attend both funeral services – in L.A. and Chicago.

truly, what better place for these treasures than Chicago, where Playboy was born? Also, the museum’s current Playboy collection could definitely use a boost. My donation not only makes the Chicago History Museum the only museum in the world with this caliber of Playboy pieces, but it also marks the first time a Bunny/Playmate is featured in a major

First photo as a Playboy Bunny, 1973, at St. Louis Playboy Club- where it all began.

museum exhibition. I can’t help but think Hef would be very proud, especially since it’s in Chicago where he
was born. When this exhibit finally opens, I hope it will be embraced with open arms—just as I was made to feel special by Hugh Hefner himself. He had a remarkable way of making the Bunnies and Playmates feel cherished—as if we were part of his grand vision, not just figures in a magazine. That feeling—a flash of pride, excitement and belonging—will stay with me always, with or without the physical items. What truly matters is that moment in time, forever etched in my heart. And I haven’t given EVERYTHING away- so, there’s that. 😊 Below is a video produced by Troy and Elizabeth Mairs about the collection, while I still had it. Lol.

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And, it’s been a busy season as far as media. Special thanks to the legendary newsman Rick Kogan for having me on his show as his ONLY contributor! “After Hours with Rick Kogan” airs every Sunday from 5-7 on WGN Radio 720. Here’s a couple of recent shows with lots of fun news from the Chi. (Listen here and here)

Also, special thanks to Sylvia Perez for having me on Fox 32 to chat about Playboy. (Watch below). And also, love and thanks to Lisa Fielding (WBBM Newsradio host) for our fun-filled chat! (Listen here). And, last but not least, WGN Radio’s Lisa Dent had me on for a little interview too. So many thanks to all these top Chicago media stars for the press!

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My friend Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is the hardest working pol I know. She is in every community, sharing property tax refunds, on WVON radio giving info and advice on how to get money you’re owed and she is a huge champion of our city. I hope you can join us on Monday, Sept. 15 at the Kinzie Chophouse to support her! Details below!

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In other news, The Joffrey Ballet will celebrate its 70th season with the U.S. premiere of Liam Scarlett’s “Carmen” starting Sept. 18- 28 at the Lyric. (All details here). _______________________________________________________________________

The one and only Nick Pullia.

Congrats to dear friend Nick Pullia, PR super-guru by day and screenplay writer by night. His fabulous script, “Losing Light” has been nominated as Best Screenplay by Indie Film & Screenplay! The ceremony will be held in Vienna on Dec. 4. (Crossing fingers and toes!)

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, I am proud to be part of the “Women Who Rock” panelists! Moderated by Melissa

Women Who Rock invite.

Forman, Morning Host LITE FM, the other panelists include Sylvia Perez (Fox 32) and Wendy Baum (partner Infinity Strategic Partners). The event will be presented by the North Shore Breakfast Club and held at 28 Mile Distilling Co. in Highwood, 6:30 networking, 7:30 panel begins. For tickets and more info, please click here)

The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum will

Chicago Men’s Fashion Awards–Sept. 17.

present the 10th annual Men’s Fashion Awards! The event will be held in Macy’s Walnut Room on Sept. 17 (from 6-9) For tickets/more info, click here!)

And last, but not least, my “Candid Candace – The Podcast“ co-host/producer John St. Augustine just celebrated the 400th edition of his Life 2.0 podcast! He’s a true voice that matters. Follow him here. And, check out our latest podcast here, sharing all the news that’s fit to print with a lot of laughs thrown in.

Upcoming art fests and markets? Don’t miss Randolph Street Market’s Highland Park Shindig will be at the Community House (1991 Sheridan Rd) on Sept. 13/14. Click here for a full schedule!

Amdur Productions‘ final fests of the season will be: Arts, Crafts, Drafts (Sept. 13/14 in Highwood); Woodstock Art Fair on the Square (Sept. 20/21) and more. For complete schedule, check here!

Cute attendees at Dance for Life with co-chair Pierre Desy (front left)- Frank Jeffery, Todd Hatoff, Michel Desjardins, Emanuel Nony and a photo bomber.

Dance for Life was held at the Auditorium Theatre on Aug. 16. This dance love-fest brought together ten dance companies, all working together for one goal- to raise funds for critical health problems among the dance community.

Thank you again for taking a look at my labor of love. I was recently notified that the Typepad platform will be

First blog post, Aug. 25, 2008.

taken down. This platform has 15 years of my work but I will figure it out. My Candid Candace blog will always be a part of my life and, hopefully, yours too! And who knows, this might be a blessing in disguise. A new look with exciting content might be just what we need!

Have a great end of summer and thanks again for taking a look at all the excitement happening in and around Chicago. It’s not all about crime and bad news as you can see! I will always share the magic that makes this city great — love, as always, Candace 🙂

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May 21, 2025 · 9:50 am

MASS APPEAL: FROM THE POPE TO PARTIES, CHICAGO HAS IT ALL

No one captures our city better than photographer Barry Butler! Follow him on Insta @barrybutler9.

Hot, cold, hot again—and now rain. Welcome to Chicago, where the weather has more mood swings than a Cubs fan in extra innings. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way. Living in the Windy City is like strapping yourself into the front car of a roller
coaster that never stops—one minute you're soaking in the sunshine on the beach and the next, you're dodging sideways sleet with a grin on your face. But that’s

Even lightning looks cool in the lens of Barry Butler!

the magic of Chicago: we don’t just survive the chaos—we thrive in it. This city doesn’t coddle you. It toughens you up, teaches you to laugh in the face of forecasts and trains you to turn every weather curve ball into a reason to celebrate. Ten inches of snow? Perfect sledding weather. Thunderstorms brewing over the skyline? We can't wait to see Barry Butler's lightning photos. Rain in the forecast? We’re chasing rainbows, not running from them. This is what it means to love the Chi—leaning into the madness, finding beauty in the extremes and stirring up something sweet, no matter what the skies throw our way. Life here isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re in, you’re all in—and there’s no better ride.

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Co-chairs Kathleen Haines-Finley, Sherry Lea Holson and Paula Borg with SC president Bobbi Panter (2nd from L).

The recent Service Club of Chicago Spring Hat Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton was one for the ages! Every single guest brought their A-game as far as hats and style. It was a sold-out event (410 tickets sold!), that looked like it stepped right out of the pages of Bazaar magazine. And, speaking of Bazaar, the keynote speaker figured prominently in this publication having had one of her

Val Warner, who served as emcee, with her friend Dr. Marlyn Hirsch.

dramatic chapeaux featured on the cover, no less! Famed milliner Kat Cole, founder and designer for Kat & Clarese Luxury Accessories, participated in an informative Q&A with beloved Windy City Live co-host Val Warner. They discussed the finer points of hat-making and how she gets inspired. During the

Longtime SC supporters Paul Iacono and Mark Olley.

convo, some of her designs were worn by models in fashions provided by Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue in a mini-fashion show. The afternoon kicked off with a reception where guests mixed, mingled, admired each other’s hats and shopped a silent auction. A beautiful floral backdrop provided the perfect photo opportunity for the chic crowd. The event was expertly co-chaired by Paula Borg, Kathleen Haines-Findley and Sherry Lea Holson. All three looked stunning – Sherry wore a high spray of white feathers on a headband; Paula

With Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bunny Frum.

was in a delightful polka dot headband with a huge pink bow that matched her dress, and Kathleen was a vision in fuschia from head t

o toe. All head turners! A live auction was conducted by our friend Molly Limmer from Freeman's|Hindman. She did a great job keeping the rather noisy crowd engaged all the while raising record funds. (There

Milliner and guest speaker Kat Cole and Tina Koegel.

are still donations coming in but, right now, the event has
raised record numbers!) One of the surprise live auction items was dinner and cocktails with the Golden Bachelors, Pascal Ibgui, Jordan Heller and Michael Stevens. Denise Tomasello and Peggy DeVorse were the lucky winners! (They sold the package twice at $4600) The event had so many moving parts, there was hardly time to eat lunch! Next up, was the announcement of the winners of the hat contest. There were five categories: Royal Ascot (won by Belvon Walker); Best Chapeau (won by Greg Hyder); Custom Creation (won by Cheryl Coleman); Chic Fascinator (won by Deonna Melton) and Flower Crown (Samantha Borland). (Photos by Mila Samokhina & moi)

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Judy Tullman, Janet and Howard Ecker and Howard Tullman.

Morgan Manufacturing was buzzing with energy earlier this month as more than 600 animal lovers — and their four-legged friends — came together for PAWS Chicago’s Animal Magnetism fundraiser. Held on April 4, the event

raised an incredible $300,000, setting new records for

Natalie Bomke with daughter Olive, Ronnie Fox and Jake Hamilton.

both attendance and funds raised. Presented by Becker’s Healthcare and hosted by the PAWS Professional Board, the evening offered a feast of fun (and food!) from top Chicago restaurants like Gene & Georgetti, The Bandit, Formento’s, and Bombay Eats.

Melissa Canning, Pres. PAWS Development Board, and friends.

VIP guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner from Avli, while lucky pups were spoiled with a dog buffet, custom portraits, engraved pet tags, and on-site doggy daycare. Co-chairs Alyssa Gregory, Danielle Kroloff, and Ritu Shah led the charge, with FOX 32’s Jake Hamilton and 103.5 KISS FM’s Fred Frederick keeping the energy high as emcees. Auctioneer Chris Hensley fueled the excitement with once-in-a-lifetime auction prizes, including a six-night

Blake Gifford.

Aspen getaway and a signed Taylor Swift guitar! One of the night’s sweetest moments? Meeting adoptable pets like Gecko, a brave pup who recovered from parasites and eye surgery, and Mykonos, a puppy who survived parvovirus treatment. The celebration also honored outstanding volunteers with PAWS Chicago’s Animal Welfare Leadership Awards, recognizing their incredible contributions to animal rescue, transport, and adoption support. Since 1997, PAWS Chicago has helped over 86,000 homeless pets find loving homes — and through efforts like the 360@CACC program, boosted adoptions at Chicago Animal Care and Control by nearly 29% last year. Here’s to more wagging tails, lifesaving work, and unforgettable nights like this!

PAWS Chicago CEO Susanna Wickham (2nd from L) with her dog Gus, and PAWS volunteers Pat Detrie, Heather Lynam and Manu Puri with adoptable dogs. (Evan Cobb Photography)

Cortney Hall Matt Rodrigues Sidney Roti & Maria Pinto

Cortney Hall, Matt Rodrigues, Sidney Roti and Maria Pinto

On Earth Day 2025 (April 22) the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry became the epicenter of innovation and environmental advocacy as it hosted The Blue

Curio's Ian Gerard, top left.

Paradox Sustainable Fashion
Show, sponsored
by SC
Johnson. This exclusive even celebrated sustainable fashion design while raising awareness about the fashion industry’s role in plastic pollution and climate change. Curated by Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago and The Curio, the runway show, produced by ZZAZZ Productions, featured 20 visionary designers—all emerging talents and recent graduates from leading Chicago fashion schools, including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Columbia College Chicago, College of DuPage, Dominican University, and Harper College. Each designer’s work explored the intersection of sustainability and fashion, showcasing garments crafted from upcycled materials, recycled textiles and biodegradable fabrics. The show was hosted by Cortney Hall, Emmy-

Kristin Mariani, Maggie Gillette, Nigel Barker & Macaila Britton.

nominated co-host of NBC’s Chicago Today, and included a powerful fashion sustainability panel led by internationally recognized fashion photographer and environmental advocate Nigel Barker, along with SAIC faculty member Kristin Mariani. Nigel Barker shared a heartfelt statement about the night’s significance: “Fashion hasplayed a huge role in my life, and I love the creativity and storytelling it exudes. However, plastic waste is a massive global issue, and the fashion industry unfortunately has a stark role in it. That’s why The Blue Paradox Sustainable Fashion Show was such an important event to

Hanako Greensmith- Chicago Fire and Chicago Med actress.

demonstrate how making simple changes with our fashion choices – from the materials we choose to where we buy from – can have a lasting impact.” Judged and curated by industry leaders including Macaila Britton (founder of Sustainable Fashion Week Chicago), Maggie Gillette (co-founder of Chicago Fashion Week), and Mariani, the event served as a platform for young
talent to engage in meaningful fashion activism. The designers

Chevy Humphreys, president/CEO Griffin MSI.

explored concepts like slow fashion, circular fashion and zero- waste pattern making, bringing tangible solutions to the forefront of the industry conversation. Designers such as YOYO Zheng, Presley Baldwin, and Cesar Benavente Oblitas (SAIC), Ro Bradford and Kelsey Gibson (Columbia College Chicago), and Elizabeth Herwaldt (College of DuPage) impressed with collections rooted in ecological awareness. Their work stood as a powerful reminder of the growing

Sustainable design by Yoyo Zheng.

movement among Gen Z designers toward eco-conscious fashion design and the desire to reshape the future of the industry through ethical fashion practices. The night attracted a crowd of celebrities and style influencers, including Chicago P.D. stars Marina Squerciati, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, and Toya Turner; Chicago Fire’s Jake Lockett and Hanako Greensmith; and Chicago

Panel discussion with Nigel Barker and Kristin Mariani led by Cortney Hall.

Med’s Nick Gehlfuss. Notable attendees also included fashion icons Maria Pinto, Christina Karin, Sheila Rashid, and digital fashion creator Brenda Levesque, along with Matt Rodriguez from NBC Chicago.The show took place inside the Blue Paradox Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, a dynamic installation designed to educate visitors on the dangers of ocean plastic pollution. The immersive space provided a fitting and inspiring backdrop for garments built with sustainable production methods in mind. Backed by SC Johnson’s environmental initiatives, the evening was more than a fashion show—it was a call to action for both consumers and creators to consider how the choices they make affect the planet. As more people seek ways to support eco-friendly fashion brands and reduce their carbon footprint, events like The Blue Paradox offer a tangible glimpse into a more responsible and beautiful future.

Blue Paradox is a must-see exhibit at the Griffin MSI.

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Kareem Bandealy, Kiran Advani and Alok Jhamnani.

Lookingglass Theatre Company threw its fifth annual unGALA: DREAM on March 20 at the swanky Casino Club in Chicago’s Gold Coast, selling out with over 200 guests

David Schwimmer Lookingglass UNGala at Casino 2025

With David Schwimmer, a founder and ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company.

decked out in dreamy sleepwear. During cocktail hour, guests wandered through live bedtime stories, performed by Lookingglass ensemble artists across the venue, setting a whimsical, intimate vibe. Managing Director Jamey Lundblad and Artistic Director Kasey Foster celebrated the year's big wins: four new ensemble
members, four new board members, the appointment of Rich Chapman as board chair, and the grand reopening of the theater after a major renovation. They also cheered the world premiere of Circus Quixote. Foster gave a heartfelt shoutout to Aurelia Fisher Cohen, Director of Development and Special Events, for her tireless dedication. The night hit a high note when David

David Schwimmer, Judy Loutfy, Sandy and Richard Chapman.

Schwimmer — actor, co-founder, and ensemble member — made a surprise appearance. The event was co-chaired by Rick and Deann Bayless, Richard Chapman, Luis Gutierrez, and Adrienne Lange. In a moving speech, Deann Bayless thanked the event committee, staff, and board, giving special props to sponsors Joan and Paul

Jamey Lundblad, Lookingglass Theatre managing director, and Kasey Foster (artistic director) (In the Black Photography)

Rubschlager and Richard Chapman of Chapman Associates. One crowd-pleaser? A lively auction run by ensemble members Joey Slotnick and Philip Smith, with a show-stopping donation from the Baylesses: a week-long stay at their Mexico City condo. Founded in 1988 by Schwimmer

Erin Harkey, Americans for the Arts CEO, and Chris Brown, CPL commissioner. (In the Black Photography)

and fellow Northwestern University grads, Lookingglass
Theatre has earned national acclaim for its inventive productions — even winning the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 2011. To date, the company has staged over 65 world premieres. This year’s gala raised nearly $550,000 to fuel Lookingglass’ operations, youth outreach to Chicago Public Schools, and the Young Ensemble program. Up next: the highly anticipated Iraq, But Funny, opening May 29.

The sold-out Lookingglass Theatre Company unGALA DREAM at the Casino Club. (Photo by In the Black Photographhy)

The sold-out Lookingglass Theatre Company unGALA DREAM at the Casino Club. (Photo by In the Black Photography)

Titanique co-creator/director Tye Blue and his mom.

“Titanique,” a campy, irreverent musical comedy that opened on March 25, and has already been extended to July 13! We didn’t know what to expect when we attended the 100-minute (no intermission) production at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, but let’s just say it is a one-of-a-kind, nostalgic voyage that will

With Whitney Lasky, a show producer, and my Chuck Jordan.

have you clapping and standing in the aisle. It was packed at the intimate, charming, jewel-box theatre at 175 E. Chestnut. The room was buzzing with excitement when we sat down so I knew it would be a very special experience, and I was so right. The story begins when Céline Dion, (brilliantly played by Clare Kennedy McLaughlin) hijacks a Titanic Museum tour. What follows is a crazy, whirlwind of fun, laughter and great music, all

Titanique, an insanely joyful and creative musical comedy that's sweeping the globe.

played by some of the most capable performers I’ve seen in a long time. The musical includes hits such as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself” and “To Love You More” – backed by the energy of a full live band. The production features powerhouse voices and numbers that you never want to end. Pair that with a nod to contemporary pop culture and specially curated Chicago-based innuendos and you have a surefire winner. In fact, the production just won the prestigious

With Chuck Tye Blue, Whitney Lasky and Jim Karas.

Olivier Award for “Best Entertainment and Comedy Show” at London’s Royal Albert Hall! The production was cast perfectly (all Chicago actors!) with everyone being a standout in their roles. On the night we attended, McLaughlin played Céline; Adam Fane (Jack);

Tye surrounded by adoring fans at the opening in Chicago.

Maya Rowe (Rose); Jackson Evans (Victor Garber/Luigi) and Rob Lindley (Cal). Two of our favorites were Eric Lewis (The Seaman/Iceberg) and Abby C. Smith (Molly Brown). There was more talent in this show than you could shake a stick at. We were lucky to meet the co-creator/director Tye Blue, thanks to friend Whitney Lasky, who loved the show so much the first time she saw it that she is now a producer! (The book is by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Blue.) (Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, broadwayinchicago.com)

Tye Blue, sittin' on top of the world with 'Titanique,' a runaway blockbuster. See it before it leaves Chicago on July 13.

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I'm so happy to see Rick Kogan is back on WGN-Radio 720! And I'm proud to continue as his loving sidekick for "After Hours with Rick Kogan." We chat about anything and everything happening in the Chi, so if you want to fill your social calendar or catch the latest adventures, you won't want to miss it! Listen here , here and here for our latest segments!

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In this week's podcast, we interview White Sox legend Ron Kittle.

I also hope you're checking out my "Candid Candace – The Podcast"! I just celebrated my 50th episode with my dynamic co-host/producer, John St. Augustine. This week, we take you on a whirlwind tour through Chicago's most dazzling events and an exclusive conversation you won't want to miss. First, we step behind the scenes at Steppenwolf Theatre's 50th Anniversary Gala, don our finest attire for Brookfield Zoo's 44th annual Whirl Gala and share insights about the Service Club of Chicago's fabulous Spring Hat Luncheon at the Ritz, where philanthropy met fashion in a vibrant display of community spirit. But the highlight of this episode is our exclusive interview with Chicago White Sox legend Ron Kittle! Ron shares candid insights into his career, thoughts on Jerry Reinsdorf and the current Sox team and even a surprising story involving a certain magazine appearance. His passion for the game and community shines through, making this a conversation you won't want to miss. Listen here!

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Now, please check out some of my top upcoming events:

Common Threads' 'Beyond the Plate' June 2.

Driehaus Fashion Awards, Thursday, May 22, 21c Museum Hotel; The Chicago Lighthouse "Seeing What's Possible Gala" with Shelley MacArthur on Friday, June 3 at Gannon Concert Hall; Randolph Street Market, May 24/25; Bear Necessities' Bear Tie Ball on Friday, May 30 at the Four Seasons; The Joffrey Celebration Gala will honor Anne Kaplan and Fred Eychaner on Sat. May 31 at Cinespace; Common Threads will celebrate its 20th anniversary at "Beyond the Table", Monday, June 2 at the Chicago Athletic Association; PAWS Chicago Beach Party at Offshore July 17; Strides for Peace's "Race Against Gun Violence," June 5, Grant Park; Randolph Street Market, May 24/25, 1341 W. Randolph St; Fleurs de Villes at The 900 Shops through May 25.

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And, kudos to Chef Art Smith who is always in the right place at the right time! He and his friends had the honor of attending the Pope's inaugural mass and coronation! He attended with husband Jesus Salgueiro, Manolis Alpogianis, Eric Kircherer, Maria Schriver, Gayle King, Chef Hector Guerrero and others. Art reported that the Pope loves his Goat Cheese Biscuits! Amen to that!

Chef Art Smith with friends Maribeth Bisienere, Father Manuel Dorantes, Gayle King, Oprah and Maria Shriver. (Follow Chef Art Smith on Insta @thechefartsmith)

I hope you've enjoyed this latest edition of Candid Candace, packed with love and appreciation for all who read it!

Candace,

Candace@CandidCandace.com

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March 10, 2025 · 5:52 pm

Celebrating 17 years of Candid Candace!

This is a very special blog post as it celebrates 17 years of bringing you the first and longest running lifestyle blog in Chicago! It’s been a delightful labor of love since 2008 and I’ve met so very many fabulous people along the way. I first began the blog on the Today’s Chicago Woman website, thanks to the urging of its founder Sherren Leigh. I would love to be able to share you that first entry, but sadly and suddenly, Sherren deleted the entire website causing me and a load of great writers to lose all of their content there. It wasn’t a nice thing to do without warning but that was her decision. On a brighter note, I DO have my very first independent blog which I am sharing with you here now! In it, you will see many familiar faces, events and organizations. Some of these local notables are, sadly, no longer with us, which makes it even more poignant. They are certainly with us in spirit. Thanks to all of you for sticking with me throughout the years and here’s to 100 more just like it! Enjoy!

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Welcome to my first blog as an independent! I’ve left TCW to pursue other interests but my interest in blogging remains the same. I hope you’ll like it! Summer is nearing an end and quite the summer it was…so many events and happenings in so little time! Here are some highlights:

THE SERVICE CLUB OF CHICAGO'S DAY ON THE TERRACE EVENT

The annual Day on the Terrace fashion show was held on August 1st at the Peninsula Hotel benefiting the Service Club of Chicago, one of the city's oldest philanthropic organizations. It was organized, as always, by the Queen Bee of Chicago – Hazel Barr. She outdid herself this time with an over-the-top show, including circus performers on unicycles displaying the store signs, acrobats and everything else you could think of. It was a sold-out event with over 330 gorgeous ladies in attendance. The fashion show consisted of top-of-the-line retailers including a new designer to the show, Quinton d'Alexander. I was lucky enough to wear his unique creations – top hat, cane, white gloves and an outfit right from the racetrack in My Fair Lady – and it was so much fun! Other participating stores included Luca Luca (we LOVE Simona!), Dismero, Escada(we LOVE Ann!), Macy's 28 Shoppe, Ultimo, Maria Pinto (who will also be showing her awesome fall fashions for the Joffrey's Couture & Cocktails on Monday, September 15th), Hana K and Neiman Marcus (we missed Tina, who was on vacation). Photos: top left, Hazel Barr with Service Club member and model Cookie Cohen; right, designer Quinton d'Alexander; bottom left, Service Club members and models Sheryl Dyer and Jean Antoniou.

HINCKLEY BOATS AT THE CHICAGO YACHT CLUB

Another fabulous event was organized by our dear friend, Kate Gaynor, on behalf of Marsh and Hinckley boats. It was held at the Chicago Yacht Club on a perfect summer evening. There were hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and then the BOATS! I don't think we can simply call these masterpieces boats because they were all handmade and priced in the millions. Breathtaking!

A big thank you to Kate for arranging such a lovely and unique event. For more info, please contact 1-866-HINCKLEY or visit

www.hinckleyyachts.com. Photos: top right, a Hinckley yacht; left, Helen Melchior, Chris Long, my husband Chuck Jordan and I; bottom right, Kate Gaynor and I.

LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUE OPENING CELEBRATION AT TABLE 52

On July 10th, we attended a party at Table 52 celebrating the opening of the Louis Vuitton Boutique in Nordstrom – Chicago is the only city to have this arrangement 🙂 – a very intimate affair with only about 24 guests upstairs in the restaurant. We were greeted by the infinitely talented chef Art Smith with champagne at the foot of the stairs and when we walked into the upstairs dining area, it took our breath away! The space was designed by our very own Jonathan Ryan and Debi Lilly from A Perfect Event, in conjunction with the LV creative team. All of Jonathan's projects are masterpieces but I think he outdid himself with this one! The room was a sea of candlelight from burgundy tapers that were highlighted by beautiful matching floral arrangements in silver bowls; even the tablecloths had delicate LV logos etched in gold. There was a photo of Pete Nordstrom's grandfather tucked into an antique cupboard surrounded by vintage Louis Vuitton pieces, original shoes from Nordstrom's first shoe department and old books.

The meal was unbelievable, starting with Art’s signature parmesan cheese and buttermilk biscuits and ending with his famous hummingbird cake; Art even signed all of our menus in silver to commemorate the event.

Among the event’s lucky guests were darling artist Francine Turk and her husband, Steve; Sven Asmus; Les Coney; great Bears defensive tackle and all around cute guy, Tommie Harris; handsome Bulls guard, Ben Gordon; and Lauren and Brian Rosen. Pete Nordstrom and Daniel LaLonde, president and CEO of LV North America, gave charming speeches, as did Art Smith. The evening was capped off with a chauffeured ride back home. It was one of the best evenings with the most incredible attention to detail. Everyone received a signed cookbook from Art AND a Louis Vuitton wallet!! Unbelievable…a truly a perfect event. Photos: top left, the gorgeous designs of A Perfect Event and signed menua from Art Smith; top right, Heather Vandenberghe, me and artist Francine Turk; bottom left, Art Smith and LV North America CEO Daniel LaLonde; bottom right, Pete Nordstrom, Francine Turk, me and Daniel LaLonde.

OUR DAY AT COMMON THREADS

In the first week of June, I took a group of friends including Dori Wilson, Bernice Pink, Hedwig Golant and Jan Bail for a very unique and worthwhile experience: cooking at the Common Threads after-school program with Art Smith and his students. If you haven’t heard of Common Threads, it was started by our wonderful Art and his life partner, Jesus Salgueiro, in October 2001, a month after planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers. Art and Jesus traveled to New York on a mission of healing where Art had been asked to cook dinner for a mother and her three school-aged children after their father had disappeared in the collapse of Tower Two. Art and Jesus were so touched by this experience that when they came back to Chicago, Art penned these impactful and fateful words: “For our world is a quilt, its people the fabric, all joined together by common threads.” From this quote, Art and Jesus’ organization grew. Their executive director and my friend, Linda Novick-O’Keefe, drew out their business plan and Common Threads – a non-profit teaching children age 8 to 12 valuable lessons about nutrition and food preparation in a number of cultures – was born. Today, Common Threads has a presence in 17 schools across the country and has served over 1,000 kids this year alone. Believe me, this is one organization that makes a difference at the level we need it most: our children. For more information on this worthy effort, please contact Linda Novick-O’Keefe at 312-752-2692 or visit

www.commonthreads.com. Photo: top left, Hedwig Golant, Common Threads executive director Linda Novick-O'Keefe and Common Threads students; right, Dori Wilson and a Common Threads student; bottom left, Bernice Pink and Common Threads students.

JOFFREY BALLET PRESS KICKOFF PARTY AND C-HOUSE OPENING

Also in June – on a beautiful sparkling night, to be exact – the Joffrey Ballet held their press kickoff party at the hot new Affinia Hotel for the upcoming Couture & Cocktails event scheduled for Monday, September 15th, as mentioned above. It also was the official opening of New York chef Marcus Samuelson’s first foray into the Chicago restaurant scene with C-House. The crowd was hot but the 29th floor C-View Lounge was even hotter. The rooftop deck and secluded sexy bar has become THE place to be this summer; check it out at 166 E. Superior! For C-House reservations, please call 312-523-0923. Photo: left, CEO Brooke Barrett, C-House chef Marcus Samuelson, me and CEO Patrick Denihan; right, Shawn Moskalak, Shauna Montgomery and Gregg Zgonena.

MORE JOFFREY NEWS!

Here is some wonderful Joffrey Ballet news for all of you fans and friends: On September 11th in Millennium Park, the Joffrey Ballet will headline a program entitled An Evening of Remembrances–A Salute to the Victims and Families of 9/11. Helen Melchior will serve as the chairman of the entire weekend of events including the official opening night in the Black Box Theatre on Friday, September 12th, a black tie dinner followed by the first performance in the Joffrey's new home. Tickets are $1,000 and it will be an event not to be missed; history in the making, I tell you! The whole city will be celebrating with banners along Randolph Street, pointe shoes and costumes with congratulatory signs in windows along Oak Street and Michigan Avenue, even the old Esquire Theater marquee is carrying our message as I type! There will be a public open house with tours on Saturday, September 13th and the opening events will close with the must-attend party of the season, Couture & Cocktails, on Monday, September 15th. This party will feature the dazzling fall fashions of designer to the stars (and possibly first lady), Maria Pinto, a live auction including Van Cleef and Arpels diamond earrings valued at over $25,000, two tickets (plus airfare) to Wimbledon for the men's semi-finals and finals in 2009 and an original Joffrey Ballet charcoal portrait by Francine Turk. For information, please contact Nicole Patrick at 312-386-8921. Photo: left, Joffrey Ballet logo; right, Joffrey artistic director Ashley Wheater and opening events chairman Helen Melchior.

BRUSHES WITH FAME

Now, on a personal note, what gorgeous goddaughter of mine got up close and personal with Vogue magazine’s editor-at-large, Andre Leon Talley? Samantha Amato, of course! She should be a model but she won’t listen to her aunt. Her mother and my dear friend, Rhonda Sanderson, were recently guests of Nordstrom in New York for a designer shopping experience where they met Carolina Herrera, Phillip Lim, Peter Som, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour who “was the size of a pencil.” Photo: left, Samantha Amato and Andre Leon Talley.

FAST FORWARD TO FALL

This fall will be a classic and clean-line lover’s delight. The clothes are chic and cut to a turn. I think Michael Kors has nailed the looks this year; he has designed some incredible fur collars that you just slap around your neck with any outfit and it’s instantly chic. For this matter, if you have an old fur coat that’s out of style and you don’t know what to do with it, have it made into a cool collar or a giant muff – this is what I’ll be doing! I also love the simple classic colors: black, camel and gray. These colors are also so great to travel with because they all mix so well. I’m leaving for Cape Cod for the first time soon so I will let you know how I did with my packing! It’s Sandy Deromedi’s 50th birthday party and we’re all going. I’ll have photos for you in my next blog. Photo: right, a fur collar designed by Michael Kors.

This is all for now. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Stay tuned for more coming soon!

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May 9, 2023 · 12:31 pm

SPRING IN CHICAGO: WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

Susanna Wickham, Alexis and Paula Fasseas and Suzanne LeMignot.

It was a night of tail-wagging fun for the nearly 700 guests at PAWS Chicago's 17^th annual Animal Magnetism party at Morgan Manufacturing. Partygoers, many with pups in tow, arrived at this popular venue in the West Loop to raise

Sylvia Perez and daughter Magali Blasdell.

funds for PAWS Chicago, the Midwest's largest no-kill shelter. Held on April 28, the event was hosted by PAWS Chicago's Professional Board and presented by Becker’s Healthcare. Co-chairs were Sarah Atkinson, Brittany Keegan and Paige Krueger. Many guests arrived with their dogs dressed in full party mode wearing frilly dresses, sunglasses,

Susanna Wickham, PAWS Chicago CEO, with adoptable dog.

tuxes and more to enjoy an evening that included a VIP dinner sponsored by Avli (Chef Nikolaos Kapernaros), dancing, a silent auction and raffle, and an award presentation. A lavish buffet was served by some of the city’s top chefs, including Cristiano Bassani (Gene & Georgetti), and so many others. Partygoers could have some fun posing on the

Avli (VIP dinner sponsor) Chef Nikolaos Kapernaros.

“glambot pup-parazzi” pedestal (hosted by PetCon and The Dog Agency) and get an illustration of their pets from well-known artists onsite. Canine guests relaxed in doggie daycare and the “pampered pooch” station and enjoyed custom buffets. Jake Hamilton (of Fox-32) and Fred (Kiss-FM) served as the evening’s emcees. CEO Susanna Wickham welcomed guests and announced the presentation of the adoptable dogs showcase and

Chuck Jordan, Chris Wickham and Gus!

the Animal Welfare Leadership Awards, a special recognition for members of the community who have gone above and beyond for animals in need. Susanna, along with co-founders Paula and Alexis Fasseas, presented the awards as the emcees shared the recipients’ remarkable stories. Suzanne LeMignot (CBS-2

Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk) was an honoree.

weekend morning anchor) was the first award recipient. She has been involved with PAWS Chicago since the very beginning, going door-to-door with Paula helping start the first humane education program in the Chicago Public School system. She would take her pit bull mix, Pixie, to school assemblies to show kids that dogs are not violent, as they might have previously learned from experiencing dog fights in their neighborhood. She now sits on PAWS Chicago’s Board of Directors

Emcees Jake Hamilton and Fred (KISS-FM).

and continues to help homeless dogs and cats each week through the PAWS Pet of the Week segment, which started in the 1990s, and still airs on CBS 2 to this day. The next award recipient, Phil Brooks, aka CM Punk (professional wrestler, actor, and author), adopted his first PAWS dog in 2015 with his

Co-chairs Paige Krueger and Sarah Atkinson.

wife AJ Mendez. Larry was a misfit dog with a scruffy look, tough underbite and a personality that required a special adopter willing to work through his challenges. In 2017, Phil brought national attention to the cause by choosing PAWS Chicago as his charity when he was a contestant on MTV’s “The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros, “ and in 2021, he partnered

Co-chair Brittany Keegan.

with PAWS to tell his story about the transformation possible once a misunderstood dog finds the right home. He and Larry became the face of the “Underdog to Wonderdog” campaign to bring much-needed awareness to forgotten dogs and inspire people to consider adopting an overlooked pet. Dr. Aaron Jackson, a

Dr. Aaron Johnson Dr. Paula Zdziarski-West Phil Brooks (CM Punk) Suzanne Le Mignot Eileen Johnson

Honorees Dr. Aaron Johnson, Dr. Paula Zdziarski-West, Phil Brooks (CM Punk), Suzanne Le Mignot, and Eileen Johnson.

veterinarian surgeon who focuses on orthopedic cases, was the next honoree. He was the very first Medical Director of MedVet and has performed more than 15,000 surgeries over the course of his career. He volunteers his time to perform these types of surgeries at the PAWS Medical Center, providing care for some of the most difficult cases that come through their doors. Dr. Jackson has also established an orthopedic program at PAWS, while mentoring future generations of surgeons to continue this important work. He advanced

Judy and Howard Tullman, longtime supporters/board members.

surgical care to animals that would never have had the

PAWS dog anyone?

opportunity to recover. The next award recipient was Dr. Paula Zdziarski-West, also a veterinary surgeon who has helped so many PAWS pets get their second chance at life. She finds surgery to be a rewarding specialty because she can literally fix problems, returning function to animals who would otherwise be disabled, or save an animal with a life-threatening illness or injury. Since starting her volunteer work in 2022, providing orthopedic surgeries to PAWS Chicago, Dr. West has performed and saved PAWS more than $60,000. Last, but not least, the final award recipient was

Cute partygoers.

Eileen Johnson, a PAWS volunteer since 2015. To date, she has put in nearly 3,800 hours. As a volunteer, Eileen has washed

Gene & Georgetti executive chef Cristiano Bassani.

thousands of dishes, done hundreds of loads of laundry, and of course, given love and enrichment to the dogs and cats. Over the last three years, she has driven over 36,000 miles traveling with the PAWS Chicago intake team, driving multiple trips to disaster areas to clear shelters, allowing lost animals an opportunity to be found by their owners, and saving thousands of those lives who were already up from adoption. Following the program, guests enjoyed dancing, dessert tasting stations, a glow bar and a photo booth. Since PAWS Chicago’s founding in 1998, over 76,000 pets have found forever homes. (pawschicago.org)

Stephanie Andre Melissa Canning Helan Kalantzis Lori Paris Shanna Nikolic

Glam partygoers Stephanie Andre, Melissa Canning (PAWS Board Development Board Chair), Helan Kalantzis, Lori Paris and Shanna Nikolic.

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Game show fun with Chicago White Sox players at the Beyond the Diamond fundraiser.

The Chicago White Sox hosted its signature fundraiser, Beyond the Diamond, presented by Peoples Gas and Wintrust, in Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom on April 19. Fans and friends of the organization came together for a gala evening of entertainment benefiting Chicago White Sox Charities (CWSC). White Sox players, coaches,

White Sox Charities ED Christine O'Reilly.

broadcasters and alumni attended the evening celebration to raise funds for youth baseball initiatives supported by CWSC. The evening began with an hour-long First Pitch Reception, presented by Modelo, followed by remarks from White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and White Sox Charities executive director Christine O’Reilly. Attendees enjoyed guest

ACE athlete Sir Jamison Jones.

appearances from fan-favorite White Sox stars and a Family Feud-style game show with players from the 2023 roster hosted by play-by-play broadcaster Jason Benetti. The game included the “Cease Family” – Dylan Cease, Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi, Gavin Sheets and Romy Gonzalez. And the “Giolito Family” – Lucas Giolito, Seby Zavala, Jimmy Lambert, Eloy

Young athletes in White Sox ACE initiatives.

Jimenez and Jake Burger. Additional highlights included a Q&A with athletes from the CWSC-supported White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program and Team Teflon, a Black-owned travel youth softball program, and a conversation with White Sox ACE athlete Raised in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, catcher Sir Jamison Jones has been a member of the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program since 2017. The St. Rita High School junior is committed to Illinois State and has attended top MLB events, including the Breakthrough and Dream Series, Hank Aaron Invitational, MLB States Play and Area Code Team, where he was selected to compete by the White Sox scouting department. Jones had breakout performances at both the “A Dream Fulfilled” game at the MLB at Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, as well as the RBI Junior World Series, where he helped the organization win its fifth championship in Vero Beach, Fla. The gala concluded with attendees enjoying an Extra Inning Celebration, presented by NBC Sports Chicago. (whitesoxcharities.org)

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Nick Pullia Candace Jordan Greg Cameron (The Joffrey Ballet president- CEO- and Chuck Jordan. (Photo by Sean@PurplePhoto.com)

With Nick Pullia, Greg Cameron (The Joffrey Ballet president- CEO) and Chuck Jordan. (Photo by Sean@PurplePhoto.com)

Stormy skies and traffic jams didn’t keep The Joffrey Ballet’s supporters away from opening night of “The Little Mermaid.” In fact, it was a full house, filled with anticipation before the 2.5 hour performance of

10_The Little Mermaid_Victoria Jaiani_Anais Bueno_Dylan Gutierrez_Stefan Goncalvez_Photo by Cheryl Mann

Victoria Jaiani as The Little Mermaid, Anais Bueno, Dylan Gutierrez and Stefan Goncalvez. (Photo by Cheryl Mann)

this hauntingly beautiful ballet that combined breathtaking dance with the heart-breaking story by Hans Christian Anderson. John Neumeier, longtime director and choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet, brought this story

Ken Norgan with choreographer John Neumeier.

to life through exuberant contemporary choreography, stark but effective scenery and unique costuming. And, although “The Little Mermaid” is probably better known from Disney’s 1989 animated version, do not expect any similarities. Neumeier’s production is more in keeping with the original dark fairytale from 1837. The ballet is

Young ballerina/fans before the performance.

the story of a mermaid who longs for love and desires to be human but, just as in life, we don't always get what we want. The Mermaid's story is one of pain and loss superbly performed by Victoria Jaiani, dancing the role of a lifetime. Her moves,

Artistic Director Ashley Wheater with Nichelle and William Mayberry.

mostly done while trailing voluminous material behind her as fins, was riveting to watch. She is as much a great actor as she is a superb dancer. This difficult performance calls on skills we’ve not seen before and that seem appropriately, almost inhuman. She completely inhabits the role of the Little Mermaid and

The Joffrey Ballet's Brian Smith with Pam Crutchfield and Dawn Stanislaw.

loses herself in the character before our very eyes. She’s onstage for nearly the entire ballet, demonstrating yet again, her extraordinary endurance and other-worldly capabilities. The musical

03_The Little Mermaid_Victoria Jaiani_Photo by Cheryl Mann

Victoria Jaiani, in the role of a lifetime. (Photo by Cheryl Mann)

score, composed by Lera Auerbach and performed live by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, brought the production and the audience to another level, perfectly matching the intensity of what we see onstage. The addition of the theremin, an electronic instrument invented in 1928, depicts the Mermaid’s voice and her ethereal, mystical side. People may recognize the eerie sound of this

The Joffrey Ballet president/CEO Greg Cameron with Jean de St. Aubin.

instrument from sci-fi films of the 1950s. It is controlled without physical contact- the musician (thereminist) waves their hands near two antennas to create sounds associated with ominous situations, of which there were many throughout the performance. The entire cast was outstanding. Yoshihisa Arai, retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season, played the menacing Sea Witch and Dylan Guiterrez expertly performed the role of the Prince, also requiring as much acting skills as dance and succeeding wildly at both. A heart-warming tender moment occurred when the dancers were taking their many curtain calls. Jaiani’s 9-year-old son and husband, former Joffrey dancer Temur Suluashvili, both presented their shining star with flowers. The production was entrancing, unsettling and danced with skills beyond imagining. During intermission, VIP guests enjoyed mixing and mingling in the Graham Room. If you missed this production this time around, make sure to see it when it returns!

The Joffrey Ballet and Company.

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And in more The Joffrey News ! Join this amazing dance company for a weekend of surrealism and dance, celebrating President and CEO Greg Cameron on the occasion of his 10th anniversary with the organization. Unleash your imagination and unlock your subconscious at the Joffrey’s fantastical bash, "Sir Real." Expect to be mesmerized into an all-consuming surreal dreamland for the senses. With bizarre surprises and dazzling curiosities around every corner, dare to dress in your most avant-garde fashions and join the party, taking place in the Old Post Office on Friday, June 23. This event will support Joffrey for All initiatives.The Friday night gala will be followed by a free performance in Millennium Park on Sunday, June 25. The free public performances will take place in the heart of downtown Chicago in Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Created as a gift to all Chicagoans, and the first event of its kind, The Joffrey Ballet’s Joffrey for All Celebration will feature dance workshops on the lawn and performances by Joffrey Company Artists, the Joffrey Academy of Dance, and students from the Joffrey Community Engagement programs.

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Service Club Day on the Terrace co-chairs Tracey Tarantino DiBuono, Sharyl Mackey and Jean Antoniou.

Now that the Service Club of Chicago has its successful Spring (Hat) Luncheon under its belt (watch for complete coverage in next post), I want to share their next exciting event coming up Monday, August 7, at the Peninsula. Co-chaired by Jean Antoniou, Tracey Tarantino DiBuono and Sharyl Mackey, the event will feature a spectacular fashion show and luncheon. Top retailers and designers from around town will showcase their most eye-catching looks, that will be available for purchase, on the catwalk. This event always sells out so be sure to get your tickets when they become available here! (Returning exclusive hair stylist is the Charles Ifergan Salon– thank you Philippe!)

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Houndstooth ball host Elliott Bambrough with Heather Owen, One Tail at a Time executive director.

The 15^th annual Houndstooth Ball attracted more than 500 animal-loving supporters, many with their pups, to Morgan Manufacturing on March 18. Benefiting One Tail at a Time (OTAT), a no-kill animal rescue organization, the event celebrated 15 years of supporting ongoing and new

Partygoers and pup.

initiatives such as its ISO House, a quarantine location in Logan Square that creates a safe, transitional space for sick or injured dogs from Chicago shelters. During the lively evening, that celebrated a decade of lifesaving, partygoers enjoyed a whiskey tasting presented by Green Briar and made memories in a variety of animal-related photo ops. Professional doodlers created hand-drawn portraits of pets and an onsite SPAW helped them relax. The silent and live auctions featured over 100 items, including a unique OTAT “patchwork” quilt. The program was emceed by Elliott Bambrough (of Chicago’s Best), who was joined by Heather Owen, OTAT executive director. Bambrough spoke about being inspired by the dedication of the organization's volunteers and how well it functioned as a family. Owen thanked the crowd and sponsors and shared the nonprofit's ongoing success story. An all-vegan buffet was served and, on every table, were photos with short stories of OTAT's adoption successes. The event raised over $300,000 which will fund the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of dogs, kittens, and bunnies in need. The funds will also help support adopters and grow community outreach, including humane education and assistance for disadvantaged and low-income families. Rescued animals are housed in both foster homes and at OTAT's Bucktown adoption center location. (Photos by Jeremy Lawson, onetail.org)

Pooped-out pup at Houndstooth Ball (those lil' shoes tho').

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2024 Guy Adkins Award recipient Roberta Duchak speaks at the event.

Porchlight Music Theatre’s annual signature fundraising event, Chicago Sings, returned with Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, at the House of Blues Chicago recently. The production was directed by Porchlight’s Artistic

The company performs at Chicago Sing Broadway Pop II at the House of Blues.

Director Michael Weber and Producing Artistic Associate Frankie Leo Bennett with music direction by David Fiorello and choreography by Clayton Cross. The presentation of the 2023 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago went to Roberta Duchak. A Chicago cast of Porchlight favorites and students from Porchlight’s summer camps and classes delighting the audience with songs that have appeared on Broadway. The event raised over $175,000. ______________________________________________________________________

Chicago Lights Executive Director Stacy Jackson (l) and Fourth Presbyterian Church Pastor Shannon Kershner.

Chicago Lights held its annual Gala of Hope benefit at the Ritz-Carlton recently. The event attracted over 350 guests and is the organization’s biggest fundraiser. The night included an evening of dinner, dancing, live and silent

Gala Co-Chairs Pete Shannon (l) and Bill Patterson.

auctions, and so much more. Chicago Lights Executive Director Stacy Jackson welcomed guests before Shannon Kershner, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, offered a blessing. The nonprofit was founded by the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, launching its tutoring program in 1964. Since its inception, the nonprofit has served more than 60,000 people. _______________________________________________________________________

DJ Casper and ABC-7 Samantha Chatman.

After School Matters celebrated its 3rd annual Sneaker Ball April 29 at the Chicago Sports Museum. More than

Adorable Sneaker Ball guests.

230 guests enjoyed performances and exhibitions by After School Matters teens, a live performance by DJ Casper—the creator of the famed Cha-Cha slide—as well as live music, food and drink, and more. The event raised over $175,000 for After School Matters fund which pays teens for their participation in their programs.

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"Chicago Chefs Cook" did it again! This time they came together to celebrate the much loved Ina Pinkney, "The Breakfast Queen of Chicago," on the occasion of her 80th birthday! The party was held at The Geraghty on April 26. The event featured tasting stations from more than 60 of the city’s most celebrated chefs and benefited the nonprofits Green City Market and Pilot Light. (Photo by George Burns)

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Big thanks to Rick Kogan for having me back on WGN Radio! We chatted for a whole hour about everything you can imagine! Please listen to the show, “The candid life of Candid Candace,” (LOL) here.

Speaking of shows, we are now on “Candid Candace: The Podcast” number TWO! As always, a big, big thanks to my steadfast co-host and producer, the one and only John St. Augustine! I’m so lucky to have this ultimate pro on my team as well as the amazing intro by Jenniffer Weigel, another a media legend. In this latest episode, I take you behind the scenes to all the best parties, share the events you need to put on your calendars and talk with one of my besties, August of 1982 Playboy Playmate, the fabulous Cathy St. George. We chat about our shared experiences, what we loved about Hugh Hefner, celebs we’ve met along the way, what life was really like at the Playboy Mansion and what Frank Sinatra shared with Cathy in confidence! John couldn’t help slipping in a little "Harry Caray" tribute on the side! Holy Cow! (Listen here!)

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2023 Annual Gala - Rob & Lara Kozak Adeline Kozak

Rob and Lara Kozak with Adeline Kozak.

The Ronald McDonald House Gala, we held at the Geraghty recently with over 650 guests. This year’s event featured the Kozak family whose lives were forever changed when their daughter Adeline, now three-years-old, was diagnosed with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome

RMHC-CNI 2023 Annual Gala - Molly Gilbride Jane & Scott Billish Holly & Kraig Buckendahl

Molly Gilbride, Jane and Scott Billish and Holly and Kraig Buckendahl.

at birth. The Gala offered a look into the Kozak family’s journey and how the Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Children’s Hospital allowed Adeline’s parents to stay just moments away from their daughter for over 200 nights while she recovered in the hospital. More than 650 guests were in attendance raising $1.3 million in critical funds to help connect thousands of families with sick children with high-quality medical care and resources. (Photos by Hilary Higgins/Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana)

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Norman and Shirley Baugher.

On April 23, we celebrated the beautiful life of Shirley Baugher, also known as the Mayor of Old Town, at the Old Town Triangle Center. Chuck and I were lucky to know her and her artist husband Norman during the years that we

The late, great Shirley Baugher.

lived there. She was a force of nature and involved in all good deeds in the neighborhood. She was also a source for advice and inspiration if you were feeling low. She knew

this part of Chicago better than anyone else and was its biggest cheerleader. Her book, “Hidden History of Old Town” was/is a must-have in every home. She was an incredible cook, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, and upon her passing, had amassed over 2000 cookbooks. I loved her for her honesty, among many other reasons. You could always expect the truth from Shirley. She had a heart as big as all outdoors and she never knew a stranger. She was welcoming, funny, kind and wickedly smart. Chuck and I will always treasure our memories of her and Norman. But then, no one ever really dies. She will always live in our hearts.

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Amdur Productions gives artists, young and young-at-heart, the opportunity to showcase their original work across multiple platforms. This summer, they are inviting creative kids and teens this opportunity at the following festivals: Port Clinton Art Festival (Aug. 26-27); Deerfield Art Festival (June 3-4) and Bayshore Spring Makers Market (May 20-21). For only a $50 entry fee, kids can show and sell their works. Scholarships are also available on a need basis. (They are also looking for interns!) To enter and for more information, call 847-926-4300 or email info@amdurproductions.com

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Chicago Lighthouse 2023 FLAIR co-chairs Sheree Schimmer, Sherry Lea Fox and Sherrill Bodine.

It’s never too early to mark your calendars for a big event! On Friday, September 22, The Chicago Lighthouse will present FLAIR: An Eye on Fashion, its annual fashion show fundraiser at

Tracey Tarantino DiBuono–2023 FLAIR honoree.

the Ritz-Carlton. The afternoon event, celebrating a decade on the runway, will honor Tracey Tarantino DiBuono and feature fall looks from Chicago’s top designers and retailers. Returning co-chairs are Sherrill Bodine, Sherry Lea Holson and Sheree Schimmer. I will return as event host along with Tracey. I hope you can join us to help support the Lighthouse’s many programs for the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran communities. (For info, click here!)

The Chicago Lighthouse 2023 FLAIR Planning Committee.

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CPLF Associate Board members.

After a three year-hiatus, the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Board brought back Night in the Stacks, a special party for library supporters, in Harold Washington Library Center’s iconic Winter Garden. The

The B Sisters, Adiat Baker and Iya Bakare.

event, which was held April 14, celebrated the Library’s 150th birthday and raised more than $125,000 for its programs. In celebration of this historic milestone, the Library transformed after dark with neon bright décor, dance floor, live music from DJ Rex Balcita, and an open bar. Nearly 400 attendees saw the Maker Lab’s 21st-century technologies in action, took a spin in a 360-photo booth, and joined the raffle for chances to win amazing prizes.

CPLF's Night in the Stacks 2023

“What a comeback for Night in the Stacks! We are so grateful to our dedicated Associate Board for creating an event that is unique, memorable and brings our community of Library supporters together,” says Brenda Langstraat Bui, President & CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Since 2014, Night in the Stacks has raised funds for free library programs such as homework help with Teacher in the Library, one-on-one digital literacy support lessons for adults, creative spaces for teens, preservation of Chicago’s history through archival collections, among many others. The evening’s Platinum Sponsors were BMO, For Good Advisory and In Memory of Barbara Lewis.

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Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE 2023 at The 900 Shops.

Fleurs de Villes, the exhibit featuring custom, floral couture made of thousands of fresh blooms (thanks the floral donations from Kennicott Brothers), returned to 900 North Michigan Shops. This year's theme, "Voyage,” took guests on a fragrant and visually arresting journey to

The 900 Shops' Alicia Skruba and Taylor Stucker.

some of the world's most iconic travel destinations. Floral exhibit standouts spotlighted the Honduras (from Bloome Floral Design, which won for Best in Show); Marrakech (created by Lucalessa Floral Design); London Guard Mannequin (also a winner, by The Roof Crop); Peru (by Vision in Bloom); Egypt Mannequin (by Dilly Lily) and many others. The preview party, held May 3, featured signature cocktails, light bites and DJ Megan Taylor. Dancers from ZZAZZ Productions entertained guests before the judging results were announced. The Honduras, Best in Show exhibit/mannequin by Bloome, was created in honor of exchange student Christi Carol Garcia Orellana, who studied here for her college degree before heading back to her home in Honduras. In addition to the exhibit, there were daily, floral workshops and a pop-up, fresh flower market.

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Artwork by Thomas O'Gorman.

Skyline columnist extraordinaire Thomas O'Gorman will be hosting an exhibit of his colorful artwork on May 13-15. The exhibit will take place at 1059 N. Winchester (corner house at Winchester and Thomas) from 11 to 3 pm. (See his Instagram page for full collection, @thomasogormanart)

Another packed edition of Candid Candace and I hope you've enjoyed every bit of it. I want to share with you how this whole concept actually

With my much loved Mom, Elsa Mae Stott.

came about. I'm an only child, as some of you know, and my mom was as much my sister as she was my mother. We were thick as thieves and did everything together–traveled, shopped, talked into the wee hours- no one knew me better than my mom Elsa Stott. When I moved to Chicago, I wanted her to see everything I saw through my eyes so I began writing very detailed letters about any event, party, dinner, etc. that I attended so she would feel like she was there. I think this style, and the reason for it, has served me well. Now, I get to take all of you around town with me –so basically, you're family too. 🙂

Have a happy Spring, until next time,

Love Candace

Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. For animal lovers only.

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June 29, 2021 · 8:11 am

WELCOME BACK CHICAGO: WE’RE READY TO PARTY!

Plus: Haute hats for the Service Club; Sable hotel's GRAND opening at Offshore; Chicago Star/Mariano's Streeterville Week kick-off party; Digestive Health Foundation's "Together on the Terrace"; "Random Acts of Kindness" with Maria and Fresh Farms; Steppenwolf's exciting plans, and a new live show; Good and bad news for Randolph Street Market; Ronald McDonald House Charities Gala; Pride done right; Gone too soon, Holocaust Survivor Fritzie Fritzshall; Adalina, chic, sexy and delish; Safety tips and tricks from a cop who knows; Chicago Children's Choir's "Red Jacket Optional"; Auditorium Theatre's devilish "Devil's Ball; Hef and the History Channel; The Chicago Lighthouse FLAIR event will honor ? (see who below!); Black Tie and Sneaker Ball; Apparel Industry Foundation's REV UP! is BACK!; Ravinia Festival Gala debuts a real winner; Navy Seal Foundation's "Evening of Tribute" with a surprise keynote speaker; Publicity Club of Chicago celebrates the best of the best; Cute videos and SOOOO much more!

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Barry Butler photo.

It's thrilling to watch Chicago's return, which I'm gauging on the strength of my events calendar. There are an enormous number of events and activities coming back bigger and better than ever and I couldn't be happier! Our streets are full, restaurants are busy, the boat tours have all returned and things are getting really exciting around here. I think after all the "you can't do thats", that people are rejoicing like it's Mardi Gras now just because they CAN! I feel like a great weight has been lifted off our shoulders. It's an honor to share some of these parties, activities and more below. I hope you have wonderful plans for summer….maybe you'll get some ideas here!

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Spring Luncheon co-chairs Cathy Bartholomay, Michelle Baker and Annette Findling.

First up, the irrepressible Service Club of Chicago hasn't missed a beat during the pandemic. In fact, most of their events have raised even more money than before. That's because their members put their money where their hearts are and it's a joy to see. Their latest

SC members Bethany Florek, SC pres Sherrill Bodine and Lauren Lein Cavanaugh.

big fundraiser was the Spring Luncheon, lovingly referred to as the Hat Luncheon. Co-chairs Cathy Bartholomay, Michelle Baker and Annette Findling, put together an exciting event that was spread across two rooms at the venerable Woman's Athletic Club (WAC).

Myra Reilly and Cheryl Coleman.

Over 200 ladies donned their finest millinery attire to attend. SC president Sherrill Bodine said, "We have all walked through a dark storm together and now here we are with our heads held high, and wearing beautiful hats, ready to take on the world again. And what a new beginning!" The guest speaker, Sandy Schreier, is the famed fashion curator and historian whose designer collections have been exhibited around the world. Sandy discussed her collection, design career, TV appearances, books and famous friendships to a rapt audience. (A VIP reception was hosted the night before at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue). Auctioneer Andy Baker and I conducted an open call for donations and a live auction that featured a

Peg Lombardo, Tracey DiBuono and Vonita Reescer.

package donated by Brunello Cucinelli that included a trip to Casa Cucinelli in New York, hotel and airfare, lunch and dinner, a tour and fashion presentation. At the end of the day, the event raised over $190,000 which will support the organization's Philanthropic Fund. The SC is an all-volunteer woman's organization that was founded in 1890. All proceeds raised are distributed to Chicago's worthiest nonprofits. This year that amount was over $500K! (To learn more about the SC, click here!)

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With Mariano's Amanda Puck (love the background subject!) (Cool photo prop by Kehoe Designs).

A pat on the back to Chicago Star, who hosted its first big event at Mariano's Lakeshore East (May 21) on their beautiful rooftop patio. Special thanks to Amanda Puck,

Jim Smith Chille Pepper and names coming.

Jim Smith, Chilli Pepper, Jay Frankovich and Jeremy Plummer.

Mariano's Director of Strategic Brand Development, who helped coordinate this fun effort that celebrated the kick-off of Streeterville Week, a Chicago Star initiative supporting local business. The night couldn't have been more perfect for this outdoor party–a gentle breeze, warm temps–and those jaw-droppingly beautiful views of Lake Shore East Park. The

Supporters Judy and Howard Tullman (board member), with Bonnie (board member) and Jim Spurlock.

party was for Chicago Star's supporters, friends, sponsors, board members and advertisers and, at 60+ guests, we were at capacity since the city hadn't fully opened yet. The

Giovanna Krozel and Almira Yllana with Doorstep Divas Molly Callinan and Caitlin Simone.

Giovanna Krozel and Almira Yllana (Sugar & Spice) with Doorstep Divas (Molly Callinan and Caitlin Simone).

fun-filled night featured entertainment provided by The Doorstep Divas (Molly Callinan and Caitlin Simone) and DJ World; delicious desserts from Eli's Cheesecake; cool photo props from Kehoe Designs; the awe-inspiring Magic by Keelan Wendorf; custom florals from Luxe Bloom and even a cool Marilyn Monroe impersonator courtesy of ZZAZZ Productions,

The Landan Twins (Jonathan and Andrew) with Billy Rairigh, Paul Iacono, Amanda Puck and friend.

who added a lot of pizzazz to this party. Delicious bites

Michael Kutza, Maggie Baczkowski and Curt Rose.

from Mariano's included mini fried chicken sandwiches, Oki sushi, Oki veggie rolls, individual shrimp cocktails, smoked salmon on toast and crackers, mini cheeseboards, Murray's Lemon Cheese Bites, plus wine and beer. Friends, this WAS a PARTEE UNTIL….We had decided earlier to try to shoot a cover shot for the paper and include everyone in attendance. Kristan

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas with Chuck.

Lieb was our photog and she had clambered onto a ladder for an overview shot. The guests were grabbing copies of the paper to

Fabulous Eli's Cheesecakes and floral design by Luxe Bloom.

hold and moving into position near the railing with the park as our backdrop. Everything looked so perfect except for one annoying cast-iron garbage receptacle. Soooooo, as always, I wanted to get the perfect photo so I tried moving it (VERY BAD IDEA)…as I grabbed it, a very heavy piece pulled away and slammed directly onto my foot. Well, it swelled up as big as a football but I still gamely limped into the photo (LOL!)…Afterwards, I sat down and watched it get bigger. So many wonderful people brought ice, including Chicago Star

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Elaine Hyde, Chicago Star founder, with the Landan Twins.

founder Elaine Hyde's sweet husband Joey. I was so

With Chicago Star Team: Nuria Mathog, Elaine Hyde, Angela Gagnon and Jay Kopp.

disgusted with myself. We had been planning this party for weeks and weeks and now to have this happen. Anyway, I thought I could stay and just sit in a chair but I wasn't sure if I'd broken anything so a trip to the emergency room was in order. Thank goodness I went to Thorek, at the suggestion of a friend, because they took care of me like no one before. (Special shout-out here to staff and especially Dr. Rachel Goldstein, who was a saint!) Anyway, thanks to all our friends who came and know that I was so very sorry to have to leave half-way through! Streeterville Week was

Doorstep Diva Molly Callinan and DJ World.

created by Chicago Star in November 2020 as an initiative designed to lift community spirits, boost morale and encourage residents and visitors to shop locally during the pandemic. More

WBBM's Lisa Fielding, she's a fan.

than two dozen local businesses took part in the inaugural event, with some participants, such as Pinstripes, seeing over 40% increases in revenue. Guests in attendance included Manolis Alpogianis, Bonnie and Jim Spurlock, Howard and Judy Tullman, Jim Sharp, Sarah Tuohy, Curt Rose, Maggie Baczkowski, Greg Hyder, Jim Smith, Chilli Pepper and friends Jeremy Plummer and Jay Frankovich, Cee and Vince Reyes, Michael Caputo, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Peter

Jim Smith, Marilyn, Michael Caputo and Tom Kehoe.

Cee Reyes Greg Hyder Vince Reyes and Jay Kopp.

Cee Reyes, Greg Hyder, Vince Reyes and CSM's Jay Kopp.

Kambreros, Andrew and Jon Landan, Giovanna Krozel and Almira Yllana, Tom Kehoe, Shelley Rosen, Tina Koegel, Paul Iacono, Tracey Tarantino, Michael Kutza, Richard Ward, Marc Schulman, Will Nifong, Sherren Leigh, Mario Hollemans, Dr. Valerie Mayuga, Geno Suarez, Lisa Fielding, Joyce Winnecke and George Houlihan, Kathleen Jenkins, Lindsay Forman, Tom Claxton and so many more! Can't wait to plan another fun event, this time at FULL CAPACITY! (Love you so much Amanda Puck!) (Video below by Kairos & Co. Film) (First published in Chicago Star)

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Rachel Holl, Phoebe Sacks and Jodi Block

The Digestive Health Foundation at Northwestern Medicine hosted its first live event in over a year at the MCA on June 5. With in-person attendance of 220 and additional supporters participating virtually via livestream, the DHF’s

Tom Swimmermaker, Nancy Payne, Karen Mandel, Zack Karmin

Together on the Terrace: An Evening of Art, Appetizers and Spirits, Al Fresco raised a whopping $1.3 million, bringing the total sum raised by DHF since its inception in 2015 to nearly $15 million! Held outdoors in the museum’s Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden, the event featured mixology demonstrations, wine tasting, light bites, live music by the TVK Orchestra, museum tours, silent and live auctions and raffle prizes. Auction highlights included Ryder Cup tickets, a trip to New York City with VIP tickets to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and dinner prepared by

Michael Baum (Digestive Health Foundation Board Member and Ambassador Board Champion)

Jake Dockser and Olivia Kleinman

Michelin-starred chef Soo Ahn, who helms the kitchen at the fabulous Italian restaurant Adalina in the Gold Coast. FOX 32 Chicago’s Sylvia Perez kicked off the event as well as the livestream. Event proceeds will benefit digestive disease research as well as supporting the DHF Ambassador Board’s commitment to promoting greater equity in access to medical care and education through two projects that include the new Digestive Health Foundation MCAT Prep Program created in partnership with the I Am Abel Foundation to provide funding, resources and mentoring to help under-

Dr. Leila Kia, MD

represented students prepare for medical school, and the Elizabeth Blackwell Fund for

Eric Corwin and Julie Kaviar (DHF Ambassador Board and MCA Overall Event Lead)

independent female GI researchers in honor of the first U.S. woman to earn a medical degree. Since inception six years ago, DHF has funded 67 crucial annual grants as well as ongoing research studies including the DHF BioRepository, a blood and tissue bank used for digestive disease research that is one of the few databases of its kind in the world. (For more info on DHF, click here)

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Opening party host Israel Idonije and da' Mayor.

Sable at Navy Pier hosted a grand opening party June 9. The by-invite-only affair was held on Offshore's magnificent rooftop and included notables such as American Idol's Grace

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Offshore, supposedly the world's largest rooftop bar.

Kinstler and the Mayor, who delivered a powerful, inspiring speech about the city's return. The program was hosted by the much loved Israel Idonije. Another fan favorite, David Rothstein Music, performed throughout the night against a backdrop of heart-stopping skyline views. Greeters dressed in nautical attire directed guests to the party from the check-in in Sable's lobby. Enroute, partygoers could partake of popcorn and champagne carts. Magnificent, over-sized floral

197602889_4059109437477376_6044779910690160470_n

American Idol's Grace Kinstler.

arrangements and candles were scattered throughout the space. Owners of the Sable had flown in from Switzerland and Sable's dapper GM, Laurent Boisdron, was on hand to present the hotel's very first

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Sable GM Laurent Boisdron presents bouquet to the hotel's first guest.

guest with a beautiful bouquet. The Mayor introduced Izzy as the "personification of what a good public servant is all about." She continued, "We have the lowest unemployment rate of any city in the

Darling, nautically attired greeters.

country, our buying power is second to none and our economy is already roaring back." The Sable is the only hotel in Chicago where every room has a breathtaking lake view. The hotel also features Lirica restaurant (with Latin and Iberian-inspired cuisine) and a beautiful outdoor patio. It's a perfect spot for a staycation or out-of-town visitors–friendly staff, beautiful, sleekly designed rooms and, of course, those views. (Details here)

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Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood star in the Tracy Letts play "Bug" at Steppenwolf Theatre. (Michael Brosilow Photo)

Steppenwolf Theater Company will come roaring back on November 11 when its first live show will be the remount of BUG by Tracy Letts, starring ensemble members Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood. Previews will begin November 11 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater where you will see a whole new lobby plus a new wine bar on the second floor in the existing theater building! Steppenwolf will welcome back theater-goers to a brand new, 50,000-sq.-ft. building and education center at 1650 N. Halsted. As the world came to a pause in 2020, the walls of the state-of-the-art arts facility continued to rise, symbolizing hope for

Rendering of the new Shakespeare Theatre Company.

the entire Chicago arts community. Designed by world-renowned architect Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) with theater design and acoustics

Rendering of Steppenwolf's wine bar/lobby area.

by Charcoalblue, the transformed Steppenwolf Theatre Company campus will change the way Chicagoans and visitors experience the company’s cutting-edge theater. In Fall 2021, Steppenwolf builds on the global reach and acclaim of its virtual stage (currently streaming in all 50 states and more than 20 countries) with a lineup of new virtual works by ensemble members Tina Landau, Tracy Letts and Tarell Alvin McCraney. (See full schedules and more details here).

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The Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC) celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the Golden Trumpet Awards, the most prestigious awards program in the Midwest, honoring distinguished individual achievement in public relations, marketing and communications. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, June 17 and was PCC’s second virtual Golden Trumpet Awards ceremony. I was honored to present Cramer-

Today the 2021 Publicity Club of Chicago Trumpet Awards took place and I was thrilled to be one of the hosts along with @CandidCandace & Payal Patal.

Presenters and hosts for the 2021 Golden Trumpet Awards

Krasselt with the event's top honors, the 'Best of Show' award, for their 'Navigating Coronavirus with the Brand Name Corona’ campaign as well as deliver a tribute to the

Delivering my tribute to the late Dori Wilson.

late, great Dori Wilson who passed away earlier this year in February. Over 200 guests joined an online platform that included virtual meeting rooms and a livestream presentation emceed by WGN-9’s Ben Bradley and Lourdes Duarte, Comcast’s Maria Castro, PCC Board Members Jim O’Reilly and Payal Patel and me. In partnership with the PCC, the production was put together by Video Parachute. Other winners included: Jasculca Terman Strategic

Navy Pier's Strategic Communications Leader Payal Patel was a host.

Communications, who won the 'Edwin J. Shaughnessy Quality of Life Award' for the ‘Lakeview Pantry COVID-19 Response’ campaign; L.C. Williams & Associates won the 'Buell Patterson Technology Award'

Maria Castro, Comcast Regional Affairs Manager, presented awards.

for the 'AASM – Student Sleep Health Week' and MWW, who won the 'Elynore Dolkart Meserow Creativity Award’ for the ‘Bridging Remote Learning During COVID-19’ campaign. PCC Board Member and Metropolitan Family Services’ Bridget Hatch (love her) received PCC’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Established in 1941, the Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC) is a network of inspired Chicago- area public relations professionals and counselors who work at every type of organization and, together, compose the nation's largest independent public relations membership organization.

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Adalina, newly opened at 912 N. State.

Adalina hosted "Friends & Family" dining this week in advance of its opening at its Gold Coast location, 912 N. State. The restaurant was buzzing with activity as servers flew around the elegant space with dishes created by its talented Michelin-starred Chef Soo Ahn. Against a backdrop of midnight blue walls, plush velvet banquettes, large scale artwork and a dramatic chandelier, diners enjoyed dishes that included handmade pastas such as rigatoni with Maine lobster, Red King crab and Calabrian chile and scallions; ravioli with summer truffles, corn, ricotta, pearl onions and aged balsamic and carved tableside porterhouses and Dover sole; salmon vesuvio; veal chop parmigiana, roasted chicken, a Wagyu strip steak and so much more. Starters included charred octopus, gnocco fritto, truffled caesar (prepared tableside) and a delicious fried green tomato caprese, among others. Opening Monday, June 21, hours will be 3pm to 1 pm, Monday through Sunday, with lunch and brunch service coming soon. Partners Phil Siudak, Miles Muslin, Matt Deichl and Jonathan Gillespie, along with general manager Tee Efendija, must be very excited about their bright future here. Among the familiar faces seen on the scene were Peter and Cynthia Au, Kasia and Greg Kay, Jay and Albrey Kopp, Michael Kutza, Ryan Chiaverini and Pasquale Gianni, among others. Welcome to the 'hood Adalina! (First published in Chicago Star)

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With Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Dino Svigo (Fresh Farms) passing out boxes of candy to Chicago's dads.

I've been so excited to partner with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas dispensing "Random Acts of Kindness" around the city. It was the Treasurer's

Shelley Rosen (Luxe Bloom)–Mother's Day

idea to do this to help lift people's spirits following the pandemic and also to help beautify the city. Our first event was held in collaboration with Shelley Rosen (founder of Luxe Bloom). Shelley's company put together a partnership with JC Decaux North America to install, a two-sided fresh floral display on the NW corner of Michigan and Chicago for Mother's Day and throughout the month. On

With Jay Kopp, Maria Pappas, Dino Svigos and friend on Father's Day.

May 9, we gave away more than 500 Ecuadorian roses to honor the mothers and women of Chicago, promote the beautification of the Mag Mile and support local business. We

Paul Iacono, Chuck and Bonnie Spurlock on Mother's Day.

even handed out Luxe Bloom roses to bus drivers and one under-appreciated mom who broke down in tears. It's amazing (and heart-warming) to see how a small, random act of kindness can make such a difference. So proud to be a small part of this big community effort! Love and thanks to all who came out to support us like Paul Iacono, Maria Mancuso, Suzie Glickman, Joey Majumdar, Jonathan Tam, Humberto Jimenez (Consul General

With Real Men Charities founder Yvette Moyo and Maria Pappas at Real Men Cook event, 2425 E. 75th St.

of Ecuador), Kenichi Okada (Consul General of Japan), Yvette Moyo (Chairman/CEO Real Men Charities), Marco Polo Valladolid (President Mexican Civic Society of Illinoi), Sam Ma (Honorary Chair of the

Marta Farion.

American-Asian Association), Marta Farion (President Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America), Kina Bagovska, (Director Magura Bulgarian Cultural Center), Nanta Buranakanchana (Asian American Coalition of Chicago) and Vandana Jhingan (Midwest Bureau Chief TV Asia) and Marta Farion. We repeated these "Random Acts of Gifting" on Father's Day at another corner on Michigan Avenue giving out boxes of truffle candies, courtesy of Fresh Farms (Dino Svigos and his sons Niko, Dean and Alex. Following this event, Maria and I went to the 32nd Real Men Cook celebration benefiting Real Men Charities (founded by Yvette Moyo) and handed out more candy! (ALL of the good photos are by Barb Levant)

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RSM debut market in Three Oaks with Sally Schwartz (R), D. Graham Kostic (2nd from R) and family.

First, the good news–Randolph Street Market's first day back after the pandemic was a slam dunk. Held for the first time in Three Oaks, Michigan, on Memorial Day Weekend (29/30), RSM founder Sally Schwartz and 40 dealers from across the country welcomed guests

Chuck congratulating Sally on her first market in Three Oaks.

back after a long, hard year. Shuttle buses were flying back and forth and police, with lights flashing, helped direct traffic. It was so good to see this award-winning and much loved market return. Sally welcomed guests who traveled from near and far to peruse the large selection of goods, socialize and

Randolph Street Market's first day in Three Oaks.

enjoy snacks from the Pigs by Pigs food truck stationed on the grounds. A portion of the ticket sales ($5 for adults with children under 12 free) supported Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles-Buchanan. Now the bad news, Due to continuing adverse weather conditions, the Randolph Street Market in Three Oaks has canceled the rest of its summer

RSM is always an Aladdin's Cave of finds.

schedule. Here's a message from founder Sally Schwartz: "For the first time in Randolph Street Market’s 18-year history, we have to close the balance of our summer festival due to severe weather

I wish I would've bought these.

and venue conditions. Refunds will be promptly sent out this week. Most of you know our super huge antique market festival venue in Chicago’s West Loop is currently under construction, which prompted us to create a mini “taste” of Randolph with the original concept of bringing a select group of 40+ dealers on a road trip this summer. We landed in Three Oaks, Michigan, an artsy, cultural community with boutique-style retail that complemented our Antique and Vintage vibe. The show would be a fun day-trip for our Chicago customers and offer our clientele with homes up there a fun way to reconnect with us…With heavy rain happening now and predicted through next week, and our indoor venue space having size and A/C limitations, our inability to accommodate more dealers, sponsors, and entertainment make expansion and operations impossible. Unfortunately, these issues can’t be resolved for the balance of our summer program which now has forced us to shut down." We anxiously await your return dear RSM!

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The late Fritzie Fritzshall in front of her hologram in Illinois Holocaust Museum's Survivor Stories exhibit.

The late Fritzie Fritzshall in front of her hologram in the Illinois Holocaust Museum's Survivor Stories exhibit.

The world has lost a hero. As a Survivor of the Holocaust and the President of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Fritzie Fritzshall devoted her life to combating hatred and prejudice, inspiring people to become Upstanders instead of bystanders, and speaking out to make our world a better place. Everywhere she spoke, she changed people's lives and the way they see the world. I know because I am a witness. She passed away recently at age 91, and during her lifetime, she influenced all who met her or heard her words. During the Holocaust,

Fritzie revisits a concentration camp where she and her family were held.

Nazis occupied Fritzie's hometown of Klucharky, Czechoslovakia, and deported her, her mother and two brothers to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp when Fritzie was just a young teenager. Her mother, two younger brothers and other family members were murdered. “There is no way to describe what it was like to be in the rail car hungry, cold, without food, without water, watching pregnant women begging for water, watching different people dying in front of you from lack of food, air, and water,” Fritzie said. “My own grandfather died in this car going to Auschwitz. In 1946, After surviving these atrocities, Fritzie came to Skokie, Illinois, and reunited with her father, who worked for Vienna Beef and had come to America before the Holocaust to provide his family with money from abroad. Fritzie, in a 2019 interview, said, “I want the world to remember and to know to never, ever, ever, ever forget about the Holocaust. We say ‘never again,’ but we don't often mean ‘never again.’ ‘Never again’ must be ‘never again.’ It must stop.”

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Chase Garrett (R) a retired 32-year vet of the Chicago PD with friend.

Chase Garret, a retired 32-year vet with the Chicago Police Dept. and friend.

With all the crime in the city now, I felt it would be helpful to share some tips from retired policemen, Chase Garrett. Actually, his tips are part of a larger feature article I wrote for Chicago Star's July issue called "What the Pros Know". (Read all pro tips here) In it, there are tips from famed interior

Interior designer author and TV star Nate Berkus.

Interior designer Nate Berkus offers tips on designing for a small space in the next issue of Chicago Star.

designer Nate Berkus (how to decorate a small space); Chef Art Smith (how to cook the perfect fried chicken); Robert Garvey (Robert's Pizza, tips for creating the perfect pizza at home); Jason Kollar (my IT guy–KCS Computer Technology— who knows EVERYTHING about computers, gives us tips for what we should

Chef Art Smith shares his secrets for the best fried chicken.

buy); Colin Collette (Mangels Florist), gives advice on creating the perfect floral arrangement; Debi Lilly (A Perfect Event) tells us how to plan a summer party; Sugar & Spice (aka Gio Krozel and Almira Yllana) are experts on all things Disney and they share secret tips and tricks for planning that perfect trip to Disney World; Jerry Torpy, our handyman and founder of Appliance Rescue Service, shares advice for keeping cool this summer; David Lampert (Lester Lampert Jewelers); Rob Morhaim (president Morhaim Media Consulting), offers expert advice on delivering slam-dunk business presentations; and Monika Dixon (Monika Dixon PR) offers great suggestions on social media and branding).

Here's Chase's tips for keeping safe in the city. I wanted to share them in their entirety because I feel they are so important. In the paper's article, they are edited but I'm happy to be able to share his complete, very thoughtful suggestions here, for keeping safe in these difficult times. My Citizen's app is going off constantly now with reports of crime in every part of the city. Sort of feels like a war zone right now. Anyway, I hope these will be helpful for you. (And remember, to see the complete list of tips from the pros, click here!) (Published first in Chicago Star)

1) DON'T BE AN EASY TARGET–Criminals usually target easy prey. They look for those that are not paying attention to their surroundings. They know you aren't paying attention when they see you on your phone. They know you are distracted by a conversation, or listening to music, especially with your earplugs in. They usually attack you from behind, take your possessions and disappear, before you even realize what happened. This is to their advantage, because if you never see them coming, even if the police caught them, you wouldn't be able to identify them. This is why being alert is so important! If you stay alert and aware of your surroundings, you can notice when people are watching you. You can notice the same car, possibly with tinted windows, circling the block as you walk down the street. Use your phone to call a friend, or loved one and tell them where you are and what's happening. Give them the license plate number of the car, or take a picture of it. Discreetly take a photo of someone you feel is suspicious and send it to a friend. If you can't take any pictures, remember as much about that person(s), as you can, in case you have to notify "911".

2) KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME–If you get attacked, threatened, or robbed, you want to immediately contact "911". "911" is for emergencies and "311" is for making non emergency reports. When you call "911", you will speak with a Call Taker. That person will ask you several questions. The more of those questions that you can answer, the better. They will ask you for your name, location and what happened. They will ask when it happened, how many offenders were there, if any vehicles were involved and a description of the vehicle. They will ask you to describe your assailant. Their race, approximate age, height and weight. They will ask about the color of their eyes and hair and to describe any clothing. All of this information is then relayed to a Dispatcher, who notifies the patrol cars in the area. Several cars will immediately begin looking for the offender(s) and other vehicles will come to you. If you were able to give out a relatively good description of the assailant(s), the police may locate someone near the address of occurrence and bring them back to the scene, for a "Show Up". If you identify the person(s), they will be arrested and taken to the district. If you do not identify them, they are released and the search continues.The police will search for witnesses and video surveillance to assist in locating any offenders. Remembering as much information as possible, is vital to the arrest and prosecution of any and all offenders. If your wallet or identification is taken, or stolen, immediately contact one of the major credit reporting agencies. Trans Union, Equifax, or Experian. Give them your police report number and ask for a 7 year Fraud Alert on your credit. This means that no one can open credit in your name, without contacting the phone number that you give them. All that is needed is a police report, stating that your personal information was taken.

3) WHAT TO DO, IF YOU GET PHYSICALLY ATTACKED–If someone physically attacks you, you have no choice but to defend yourself. I suggest always keeping a weapon, such as pepper spray, in your hand while walking in isolated areas. Pepper spray is legal and its easy to hold in your hand, discreetly. It does you no good, if it's in the bottom of your purse and someone takes your purse. If you have no weapons and you're being physically assaulted, try to scratch your assailant in the face. This makes them easily identifiable, when the police begin their search. Bloody scratch marks in one's face, is usually a good clue that they were involved in something nefarious! If you scratch them on the arms, or body, you can get their DNA under your nails. Everything goes of course, if you're fighting for your life. Bite them, gouge them in the eyes, use your weapon, do whatever you can to get away and scream. Screaming will alert others, that you're being attacked and hopefully they will help you, or call the police. Don't scream fire, because you will only confuse people. Scream for help and scream to have someone call for the police!

CHASE'S TIPS FOR AVOIDING A CAR JACKING: 1) Keep your doors locked at all times, when you're in or out of vehicle; 2) Remove the keys from the ignition, when pumping gas; 3) Don't leave your purse, or other valuables in plain view when exiting the vehicle; 4) Leave plenty of space in front of you when pulling up to stop signs, or red lights, in case you have to make an evasive action.; 5) If you pull up to an intersection and someone starts approaching your vehicle and you feel threatened, run the red light, after making sure no traffic is coming. It's better to risk getting a traffic ticket, than to stay in an unsafe position.; 6) Know that most car jackings occur when you're parking and exiting the vehicle. This can be in a gas station, garage, or on the street. Be extra alert at these times.; 7) If you're surrounded, or someone approaches with a weapon and demands your car, do not resist. Give them your car and immediately contact 911, as soon as possible. Your car is insured and can always be replaced. Your life can't. (First published in Chicago Star).

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Chicago Pride Month is always filled with fun-filled celebrations to honor the LGBTQ community. One of my favorites is hosted by Tom Kehoe is his Old Town neighborhood. You never know who will show up, last year Governor Pritzker and his First Lady MK, were guests. This year, his magical home showed off the design skills that he and his companies are known for. Spray painted, Pride-colored, over-sized palm fronds filled every container throughout the space. Colorful, oversized Pride banners out front directed party-goers to the main event. In the beautifully landscaped backyard, Pride banners were used as sun shields and were draped from the roof to the back fence. A DJ standing behind a Pride-colored table kept the beats alive as servers presented tasty treats on, you guessed it, Pride colored dishes and cups. It was such a colorful day spent with colorful friends. Love you Tom.

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The Chicago Children's Choir's "Red Jacket Optional" event returns on Saturday, October 16. It hasn't been determined whether or not it will be in-person, virtual or a hybrid. Live music and exceptional dining are always hallmarks of this evening which celebrates 65 years of bringing youth and communities together for a stronger future. (Check here for details)

The Auditorium Theatre Auxiliary Board will host its annual Devil’s Ball on Friday, August 27. It's the first public event at the theatre since its temporary closure in March of 2020. All proceeds will benefit the restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. This year's event, themed Roaring Back, will be held on the theatre's stage and feature Gatsby-themed cocktails, fabulous nosh, live jazzy tunes, a photo booth, silent auction, wine raffle, behind-the-scenes tours, a surprise pop-up performance and dancing beneath the architectural brilliance of the theatre! (Tickets/details here)

Ronald McDonald House Charities will host its annual gala Saturday, August 7. Presented by HAVI and Wintrust, the nonprofit's premier fundraising event will feature gourmet cuisine, live entertainment, live and silent auctions and a one-of-a-kind experience, all to support programs that enable families with sick or injured children (worldwide) stay together and near leading hospitals and healthcare services. (More details will be announced here soon)

The Service Club of Chicago will present its annual "Day on the Terrace' fashion show/fundraiser, this year themed "Here Comes the Sun," Monday, Aug. 2, 11am at The Geraghty. The event will be chaired by SC vets Jean Antoniou, Tracey Tarantino DiBuono and Sharyl Mackey. The show, produced by ZZAZZ productions, will offer a first look at fall fashion from some of the city's top retailers and local designers. Funds raised will support its Philanthropic Grant Program, which recently donated over $500K worth of grants to deserving nonprofits. (Details/tickets here!) (Chicago Star is the proud media sponsor!)

I'm so excited the Apparel Industry Foundation will be hosting REV UP! this year on Thursday, October 21 at Joe Perillo's Bentley Gold Coast (834 N. Rush)! The event may be a combination of in-person and virtual but you can bet it will be as exciting as ever, with the in-person element at the dealership! The show will be produced by ZZAZZ Productions and will feature looks from some of Chicago's top local designers. All emerging designers, fashion students and high school hopefuls are encouraged to sign up here for the organization's Scholarship Competition! (I'm thrilled to return as host and excited that Chicago Star will be the media sponsor). (All details here!)

The Chicago Lighthouse will host its much loved FLAIR fashion show/fundraiser on Friday, October 1 at the Drake Hotel.

Jonathan Grabill and Susan Gohl at Derby.

Chicago Lighthouse FLAIR 2021 honoree Susan Gohl with Johnathan Grabill at this year's Derby.

The event will showcase the best in fall fashion produced by ZZAZZ Productions. AND, drum roll please…..This year's honoree is the much deserving SUSAN GOHL! I'm excited to return as a co-host for this event with the one and only Tracey Tarantino DiBuono. (Check here for all the details coming soon!)

The Navy Seal Foundation's 2021 Midwest Evening of Tribute will be held on Tuesday, September 14. Greg Brown, CEO Motorola Solutions) and Anna Brown will serve as co-chairs for this patriotic salute and support for our warriors. The Navy Seal Foundation provides a comprehensive set of programs specifically designed to reduce the stressors associated with life in Naval Special Warfare to both the special warfare operators and their families. This year's event will also honor David Herro (Chief Investment Officer International Equities at Harris Associates LP.) To discover who the keynote speaker is and for more details, click here).

Maryville Academy will host its second Wine Tasting and Garden Tour, to benefit Maryville's Jen School, on Saturday, August 7, at the Des Plaines campus on 1150 N. River Road. Each guest will pay $35 to sample wines, enjoy appetizers, tour the Jen School garden and more. Maryville Jen School, founded in 2007, was selected by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) as a NASET School of Excellence for eight years in a row. It is the only school in the country that offers vocational education for young children with special learning needs. It works with young people ages 10 to 21 with academic, emotional, behavioral or intellectual challenges. (Learn more here)

The American Writers Museum (AWM) is hosting its annual OnWord benefit dinner in-person for the first time since 2019 on August 31, from 6:00 pm to 9pm.The event will be hosted by award winning novelist and short story writer Rebecca Makkai at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. The AWM Cultural and Civic Leadership Award will honor Dr. Malcolm O'Hagan. Since 2019, AWM has hosted the annual OnWord benefit dinner to provide important support, allowing the museum to continue to present educational exhibits and programming that celebrate freedom of thought, diversity, connection and understanding. (All details here)

The Art of Giving Foundation will host its “BLACK TIE & SNEAKER BALL” at Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood, on July 9. The Foundation, founded by Autumn Pippenburg, is dedicated to funding local art programs and artists in need of seed funding to launch or maintain social initiative programs that benefit their communities. Included in the evening’s festivities will be a live auction, a sneaker and accessory fashion show, as well as a “Best Sneaker Design” competition. Chicago fashion designer Borris J Powell will be presenting a “Best Dressed” award for the most stylish guest. General admission tickets are $175 and there are four levels of VIP sponsorships available that include various amounts of VIP tickets, table reservations, champagne and private artist meet n’ greets. (Details here!)

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Recently, I was contacted by the History Channel for a docu-series on Hugh Hefner, Playboy and other

Best--IMG_8432_Facetune_30-06-2021-17-51-46

With the Lucky 8 TV crew in NJ.

legendary visionaries filmed by Lucky 8 TV. Chuck and I were flown to New Jersey for a taping. You all know how much I love chatting about Hef and all-things Playboy so I just can't wait! I'll share the details when it happens.

That's it for this week! As you can see, a lot of our event's are coming back in full force and I couldn't be happier. It's tough being a "social scribe" when you have nothing to write about! But all that is changing now! Special thanks to Fox 32's Sylvia Perez for welcoming me back to talk about all of our reopening excitement, see video below for more fun events and things to do. And I will see you again soon! Thanks for checking in!

Love, as always,

Candace

Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. Lil' Snafu's rags to riches story….

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Tagged as Adaline, Almira Yllana, Amanda Puck, Andy Baker, Angela Gagnon, Anna Brown, Annette Findling, Apparel Industry Foundation, around town, art and culture, Auditorium Theatre, Ben Bradley, Bentley Gold Coast, Bridget Hatch, Bridget McGuire, Bug, Caitlin Simone, Carrie Coon, Cathy Bartholomay, celebrities, Chase Garrett, Chef Art Smith, Chef Soo Ahn, Chicago, Chicago Children's Choir, chicago restaurants, Chicago Star, Chicago Star Media, Colin Collette, Culture, Current Affairs, David Herro, David Lampert, David Rothstein Music, Day on the Terrace, Debi Lilly, Devils' Ball, Digestive Health Foundation at Northwestern Medicine, dining, dog video, Dr. Rachel Goldstein, Elaine Hyde, Eli's Cheesecake, Evening of Tribute, events, Food and Drink, Fox-32, Fresh Farms, fundraisers, Giovanna Krozel, Grace Kinster, Greg Brown, Hef, History Channel, Hugh Hefner, human interest, Israel Idonije, Jason Kollar, Jay Kopp, Joe Perillo, Jonathan Gillespie, KCS Computer Technology, Keelan Wendorf, Kehoe Designs, Kristan Lieb, Lauren Boisdron, Lester Lampert Fine Jewelry, Lourdes Duarte, Luxe Bloom, Mangels Florist, Maria Castro, Maria Farion, Maria Pappas, Mariano's, Mariano's Lakeshore East, Marie Castro, Matt Deichl, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Michelle Baker, Miles Muslin, Molly Callinan, Monika Dixon, Nate Berkus, Navy Seal Foundation, Nuria Mathog, Offshore, Payal Patel, pet videos, Phil Siudak, photos, Playboy, Publicity Club of Chicago, Randolph Street Market, Ravinia Festival, Real Men Charities, Real Men Cook, Red Jacket Optional, restaurants, Rev Up, Rob Morhaim, Robert Garvey, Robert's Pizza, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Sable Navy Pier, Sally Schwartz, Service Club of Chicago, Shelley Rosen, Sherrill Bodine, Steppenwolf, Sugar and Spice, Susan Gohl, Sylvia Perez, The Chicago Lighthouse, The Doorstep Divas, things to do, Thorek Hospital, Tom Kehoe, Tracy Letts, Travel, videos, where to go, Will Nifong, Yvette Moyo, ZZAZZ Productions

May 27, 2021 · 1:05 pm

IN-PERSON EVENTS ARE BACK: THE JOFFREY BALLET AND NEIMAN MARCUS CELEBRATE “FASHION FOR A PASSION”

Plus: Brookfield Zoo's "Whirl"; Hard Rock Casino's grand opening party; Tina's FAB Fumee Claire candles; A tribute to Bernie; Blooms on the Mag Mile; Deborah's "Journey to Joshua"; What's happening in Chicago NOW?; "Wonders of the Park" auction for Lincoln Park; Banksy art fans on pins and needles; Schulman Felix Mag; AVLI on the Park; Chicago Pride Fest; Pendry Chicago's, Chicago Star releases June issue!; elegant, grand opening; Birthday joy at La Scarola; Northalsted Market Days; Randolph Street Market updates; Imerman Angels' Angels Spirit Week; Maria Pappas, why we need her; Sweet video, and SOOO much more!

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Neiman Marcus Michigan Ave. GM Wendy Krimins, Joffrey pres/CEO Greg Cameron and Joffrey WB member Noren Ungaretti.

Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, Northbrook and Oakbrook joined in partnership to support The Joffrey Ballet for their FIRST in-person event following the Covid outbreak, "Fashion for a Passion." The event combined an in-person luncheon with a video-taped fashion show

Beautiful decor for this first in-person event!

featuring spring trends. Guests were welcomed by the GMs at each store, Wendy Krimins (Michigan Ave.), Linda Piepho (Northbrook) and Michelle Distasio-Flinn (Oakbrook). Around 70 guests were in attendance at all three

Valeria Gerber, Casey Carey, Geeta Nagpal, WB pres. Sandi Hartstein and Farissa Knox.

locations with over 30 more zooming in for viewing. Tina Koegel, Brand Experience manager at the Neiman Marcus Chicago location, said, "I’m proud of our longstanding support [a 12 year partnership] of the Joffrey Ballet and our wonderful relationship with their incredibly

Noren Ungaretti holding a beautiful gift box courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

successful Women’s Board. The three Chicago Metro stores donated 10% of all eligible sales over the course of 5 days from April 15^th through the 19^th." I was thrilled to attend this first in-person event for these two Chicago icons and I can tell you, it was so

With Neiman's Tina Koegel.

refreshing to see people in real time as opposed to yet another zoom call. Everyone was dressed in their finest and the table decor took my breath away. All the colors of spring with bright yellow tablescapes, florals of yellow roses and snapdragons and exquisitely boxed lunches (pink and white striped boxes tied with yellow ribbons). Lunch, catered from Food for Thought, consisted of roasted chicken salad tea sandwiches, a spring greens salad and strawberry panna cotta with berries for dessert. Each guest was also treated to a custom-made gift box that included a darling

Melissa Babcock and Leslie Logsdon.

toe-shoe shaped cookie, a notebook and product samplings. The virtual fashion

Even a toe shoe-shaped cookie in the goodie bag!

show was presented by contemporary buyer Lori Caplin from the company's Northpark Mall in Dallas. Four fabulous models showcased 20 looks ranging from casual to daytime and concluded with glamorous evening looks. Some highlights of the show included a stunning Oscar de la Renta red satin dress and a Dries van Noten metallic foil jacket. One of the things I loved most was how so many of the looks were paired with tennis shoes, a

Even the Joffrey WB members are fans of Chicago Star! Lol! (Wink! Wink!)

nod to our pandemic past, no doubt! Following the show, Greg Cameron, Joffrey president/CEO, addressed the crowd. He commented on the 12 year-long partnership between The Joffrey Ballet, its Women's Board and Neiman

Overview of the beautiful space at Neiman Marcus Michigan Ave.

Marcus and talked about the Joffrey's Crisis Stabilization Fund, created to ensure the Company's long term health with support going directly to support the Company artists, students and education programs during the pandemic. The group applauded when they heard that they reached $11 million dollars, towards their goal of $12 million. Greg also expressed excitement over returning to the Lyric stage in October for live performances. In attendance at the Michigan Avenue location were Joffrey Women’s Board President Sandi

Joffrey's Brian Smith Sandi Hartstein (JWB pres) and .

Joffrey's Brian Smith and Chris Jabin with WB president Sandi Hartstein.

Hartstein, Cameron, Farissa Knox (WB 2^nd Vice President), Melissa Babcock, Dana Treister, Casey Carey, Geeta Nagpal, Nancy Berman, Valerie Gerber, Bonnie Fong, Kelly Rosen LaGrange, Ellie Forman, Karen Zupko, Jennifer Fabian, Johanna Ferguson and Liz Sharp and others. The Michigan Avenue luncheon was hosted by Noren Ungaretti, immediate past WB President. The Oakbrook luncheon was hosted by Marcie Wright. In attendance at the Oakbrook location was Julia Doherty, Director of Principal Gifts at the Joffrey. The Northbrook event was hosted by Camille Rudy, Heather Martin, Joan Malliband and Jenelle Chalmers. (Shared first in Chicago Star's "City Seen" debut column!)

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Maria Pappas on her WVON radio show set.

WHY CHICAGO NEEDS MARIA PAPPAS: Maria Pappas is our Cook County Treasurer, has been since 1998. But oh, she is so much more. She has been a cheerleader for Chicago for as far back as I can remember and is a

Maria the Mayor and Amy rule with Lori's 92 year old mom.

Maria with Mayor Lightfoot, Lightfoot's mother and wife First Lady Amy Eshleman.

force in every community throughout the city. You can see her at a ceremony commemorating the Polish plane crash in Russia 11 years ago; singing Gregorian chants in her church; honoring and speaking for friends who have passed in the Filipino community; celebrating the first donors at the

Zooming with Telemundo for property tax issues.

Illinois Holocaust Museum; visiting friends and speaking at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village; celebrating Greek Independence Day; attending events at Univision Mexico; cooking in church halls; doing Serbian TV interviews; being the honored guest and

Maria being interviewed by the Serbian Times.

speaker at the Polish Museum; touring bakeries; being featured on zoom calls for R.A.G.E. (Resident Association of Greater Englewood); zooming with the

Maria at a Ukranian picnic.

Finance Ministry from Madrid (who asked her to teach them her methods); presenting her Christmas Trees Around the World exhibit at her Cook County Treasurer's offices (every year); zooming with Telemundo about property tax payments; zooming with the State Department about property tax collections for foreign countries; trying

Maria supporting the cops in Greektown.

her skills at an axe-throwing contest; saluting veterans at a variety of events around town; appearing at Bronzeville dedications; celebrating mass at Holy Trinity Church; appearing on Hispanic Talk Radio; appearing on the cover of the Filipino VIA Times, Korean Television, Chinese News, etc.; taping infomercials at Graham Methodist; writing a children's book, "Me and My Iguana," to help them cope during the pandemic; baking for St. Joseph's Day; celebrating Bulgarian Independence Day; honoring African American history in Englewood; playing a

Maria in the pulpit!

mean piano during office holidays and so much MORE!….I think you get the picture. Maria is

Maria saluting our vets.

on top of whatever is happening in the city and, more importantly, she's making appearances that matter in our communities. Besides being talented at writing, playing the piano and cooking, she clearly loves and cares about people. And they love her right back, connecting with her from every ethnicity. She has friends in high, low and everything-in-between places. We all want to be her best friend. Some of her latest triumphs include hosting her own show on WVON 1690 AM

Speaking at the Polish National Alliance.

radio, "Black Houses Matter." On the show, she lets viewers know the many ways they can collect property tax refunds that they might not be aware of. (Her Cook County Treasurer's website is in 24 different

Baking for St. Joseph's Day.

languages!) She expanded this property tax refund idea to a live phone bank telethon that's appeared on ABC-7 several times. To date, this telethon has generated nearly $13 million in refunds to Illinois property owners! Her "20 Year Tax Bill Study" rattled a lot of cages around town when she discovered and disclosed that the county's tax bills virtually doubled

Maria participating in an axe throwing contest.

over the past 20 years, an increase that is nearly triple the rise in the cost of living index. Her latest efforts involve a re-beautification of the Magnificent Mile which, as we all know, has suffered greatly following the rioting with many stores still boarded up. Her Instagram and Facebook posts ask

Maria on Hispanic Talk Radio.

Alderman Brian Hopkins, "What is magnificent about this?" as she shares photos of crumbling sidewalks, trash and other unsightly scenes. She clearly feels our pain. And I will admit, I'm also speaking as a friend. I've had the privilege of knowing her for many years now and I can tell you, what you see is what you get. There is not a phony bone in her body and her empathy for others knows no bounds. Personally, I think she would make a great mayor. I know she says no, but I think Mayor Maria has a great ring to it. (Follow her on Facebook and Instagram, www.cookcountytreasurer.com )

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Whirl raised over $1M for Brookfield Zoo and its programs.

I'm so excited for Brookfield Zoo! This year, the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) celebrated its 40^th anniversary of the Whirl, its largest annual fundraiser. The event, co-hosted by the Society’s Board of Trustees and Women’s Board, was held virtually on May 1. Hundreds of guests tuned in during the virtual

Michael and Melissa Canning, WHIRL co-chairs.

fundraiser, which grossed over $1.1 million for the animals at Brookfield Zoo as well as the Society’s conservation, education, and research programs. The evening featured welcoming

Dr. Stuart Strahl, president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society

comments from Dr. Stuart Strahl, president and CEO of CZS, who recognized the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the Chicago Zoological Society, the nonprofit organization that manages Brookfield Zoo. Additional remarks were given by Michael and Melissa Canning, Whirl co-chairs; Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County; John Grube, chairman of the Society’s Board

Sasha Gerritson, president of the Women’s Board of the Chicago Zoological Society

of Trustees; and Sasha Gerritson, president of the Women’s Board of CZS. Auctioneer Jonathan Kraft announced the fundraiser’s virtual paddle raise and live auction. Additionally, videos

The band Maggie Speaks performed via Zoom.

featuring many of Brookfield Zoo’s charismatic animals were highlighted throughout the evening and Maggie Speaks, one of Chicago’s most popular bands, entertained the viewing audience with several songs. During the event, attendees were able to bid on dozens of

John Grube, chairman of the Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees

amazing silent auction items that included a stunning piece of jewelry courtesy of A. Marek Fine Jewelry; a

Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County

Kate Spade exotic tote; sports memorabilia, including a signed football by Green Bay Packers legendary quarterback Bart Starr; an exquisite elephant brooch; an array of gift basket packages from local venues; and animal-themed opportunities from Brookfield Zoo such as VIP tours and naming one of the zoo’s Bennett’s wallaby joeys and a black-footed cat.

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Lezley Hodes Sherry Abrahams Heather Spyra host) Sherrill Bodine Bonnie Rickard and Lauren Lein Cavanaugh.

A day in the country was just what we all needed, especially when it was our first-time trip to Richardson's Adventure Farm. Arranged by Service Club of Chicago leader Heather Spyra, in Spring Grove, IL. (909 English Prairie Rd.), the event was an opportunity for a few Service Club members to experience this adventure that included a

Chuck got into the bloomin' spirit too!

delightful box lunch. Heather put her own touch on everything, including a tulip shaped cookie! This was the farm's first time Tulip Festival and the turnout, despite inclement weather, was terrific. The festival ended May 9, but, believe me, this place ALWAYS has something going on!

The SC gang is all here!

When we visited, there were 300,000 tulips popping up in 30 different varieties, with many guests picking their own bouquets in a specially designated area. The venue is on a private lakefront location with food trucks scattered here and there. There was plentiful free parking, dogs were welcome on leashes and, throughout the year, they also offer live music on

Tracey Tarantino DiBuono and Sapna Rathi.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons, a corn maze, a Christmas event with trees and lights, a Halloween Festival, a great gift shop with fresh donuts, kettle corn, etc. and so much more. I loved seeing so many familiar faces that day like Sherrill Bodine, Liz

They have a great gift shop there too!

Teasley, Kathy Mondelli, Tracey Tarantino DiBuono, Sherry Abrahams, Bonnie Rickard, Sapna Rathi, Lezley Hodes, Lauren Lein Cavanaugh and so many others. Since Lake Geneva is only 20 minutes away, Chuck and I decided to make a weekend of it. We stayed, for the first time, at the Geneva Inn. We tried to stay here previously

Such beauty there! Richardson's has something going on year-round so be sure and check it out!

but they don't accept pets, so I doubt we'll return, but it was a lovely spot situated right on the lake. The dining room has beautiful views of the sunset but, our top choice for dining is always Mars Resort–it has live piano music, a lively bar and a mean Friday night fish fry. We also love Anthony's Steakhouse and I always get a kick out of the grizzled old men doing the seating. They seem like they could care less if anyone was there or not but, even this was charming and I always love a good relish tray. Lake Geneva will never lose its charm for us. (On the way back, we stopped at a wonderful grocery store in Antioch, the Old Mill Creek Country Store–loaded with items we'd never seen before….wish it was closer!)

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Marlon and Tito Jackson accept plaque declaring "The Jackson Family Day" in Gary at the opening of the Hard Rock Casino.

It was a Windex-blue sky for the grand opening of The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana that opened with much fanfare and a guitar smash on Friday, May 14. An untold number of city officials were proudly in attendance as was Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and his wife, former Senator Earline Rogers (known as "the Queen of Gaming" as she's responsible for the legalization of gaming in Indiana), Tito and Marlon Jackson, Deniece Williams (4-time Grammy Award winner, "Let's Hear it for the Boy"), Kym Mazelle (the "First Lady of House Music"), Marshall Thompson (member of the Grammy Award-winning group,

Kym Mazelle, the "first lady of house music".

the Chi-Lites), Pete Wentz (Fallout Boy), Mark Sayers McGrath (lead singer for rock band Sugar Ray), Crystal Taliefero (singer/songwriter), Donald and Ken Kinsey (Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report), members of The Seminole Tribe of Florida (who own the HRI brand), and so

Rockers Pete Wentz and Mark McGrath.

many others. Mayor Prince welcomed the crowd, including dozens of press outlets, to the event. He proclaimed it "The Jackson Family Day" in the city and presented Marlon and Tito with a plaque. Dozens of pieces of memorabilia are on display from the Jackson family including Joe Jackson’s original guitar, that started it all (a 37-foot replica is the centerpiece of the complex located at the entrance), outfits worn on stage by the Jacksons, Michael’s famous Swarovski crystal

Lots of Jackson Family memorabilia at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.

glove and Florsheim Imperial shoes from his "Thriller" video, THE red leather jacket from the "Beat It" video, Janet Jackson’s suit from her "Velvet Rope" tour as well as objects from other artists that have connections to the Jacksons – including Elvis, Lady Gaga, Eddie Van Halen, Justin

Kym Mazelle, Mayor Justin Prince, Deniece Williams, and Regina Smith.

Timberlake, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Pharrel, Shakira and Fergie. Marlon said, "I want to thank the Hard Rock Hotel for being the first to take a step and see Gary's vision and wanting to be a part of it, creating so many jobs. So, Gary, a diamond in the rough–you're ready to get polished baby!" He and Tito also thanked city officials for making

The Jackson Family Home, soon to be landmarked, at 2300 Jackson St.

the Jackson Family Home, at 2300 Jackson St., a historical landmark. "It was about a city called Gary, a school called Roosevelt, but most of all it was about a little house on a little street filled with noise and

Earline Rogers, known as the "Queen of Gaming" for her efforts at bringing gaming to Indiana.

music, and most of all, love, " Tito said. A customary Hard Rock guitar smash followed many speeches and signaled the opening of the Casino as all the dignitaries onstage smashed guitars emblazoned with the HR logo following a countdown. Fireworks went off

Michael's GLOVE on display at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.

behind the stand as the crowd rose for a standing ovation. A bank of press, stationed in the rear, captured every moment. The Casino is easily accessible from Chicago (just 45 minutes away) and is located on 29th Street just off Interstate 80/94 at the Burr Street exit in Gary. The $300 million, 200,000 square-foot entertainment complex has nearly 1,600

Members of The Seminole Tribe of Florida, who owns the HRI brand.

gaming tales, 5 restaurants, a theater and a 1,954 seat live performance venue. The new casino is the result of the relocation of the two Majestic Star Riverboat Casinos that are owned by The Seminole Tribe of Florida, into one land-based facility. Since the groundbreaking for the new facility in 2020, Gary officials hope it will provide the economic boost that the struggling Northwest Indiana city needs. (Open 24 hours daily, all details here) (First published in Chicago Star)

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Bernarda "Bernie" Wong, a champion for the Chinese American community and so many others.

The Chinese American Community has lost one of its biggest champions in Bernarda "Bernie" Wong who passed away at age 77 on April 27. She was beyond a dynamo and, when I first met her, I just couldn't believe how much love, spirit, laughter, caring and empathy for others she carried in that small frame of hers. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel joked that "no one ever says no to Bernie" and he was so right. She was always on a mission to improve her community and

Bernie Wong in her award-laden office at CASL.

mankind in general and it was an honor to know her and a pure joy to see her in action. I was invited to her Senior Center in Chinatown once to receive a little plaque and Bernie beamed from ear to ear the entire time and was so joyous introducing me to each and every one of the members,

With Bernie Wong and her beloved seniors.

acknowledging their families and relating all of their many histories, which she knew by heart. Her office was filled to over-flowing with every kind of award imaginable. She was such a beloved individual and I know, anyone who knew her or of her, will have a deep hole in their hearts with her passing. Please sign the Bernie Wong memorial page here and save-the-date for the next Chinese American Service League (CASL) Gala which will be held in her memory on October 21. Details here.

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184080983_10218819045244105_6298570246506868627_n

With Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Luxe Bloom's Shelley Rosen on Mother's Day.

Luxe Blooms' Shelley Rosen wanted to cheer up Chicago so she enlisted two of its biggest cheerleaders, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and me! On a

Paul Iacono, Chuck Jordan and Bonnie Spurlock.

rainy Sunday, we, along with loyal supporters, gathered around the JC Decaux bustop at the corner of Michigan and Chicago Avenues and handed out over 500 long-stemmed Ecuadorian roses. The bus stop had been bedecked with a spectacular floral wall, courtesy of Luxe Blooms, that will last until the end of May. This Mother's Day event was a celebration of all mothers and women of Chicago and intended to bring the community together as a reminder to take care of our city and neighborhoods. We jumped on buses to hand out roses and stopped people in the street. One woman broke

Marie Mancuso (R) and her goddaughter Judith Kenny.

down in tears after Bonnie Spurlock handed her a flower. Other do-gooders included Paul Iacono, Paul Kawa,

Luxe Bloom's Shelley Rosen, R, and friend in front of her JC Decaux floral wall.

Humberto Jimenez (Consul General of Ecuador), Kenichi Okada (Consul General of Japan), Sam Ma (Honorary Chair of the American-Asian Society), Kina Bagovska (Director Magura Bulgarian Cultural Center), Nanta Buranakanchana (Asian American Coalition of Chicago), Vandana Jhingan (Midwest Bureau Chief TV Asia), Suzie Glickman, Kate Murray, Joey Majumdar, Marie Mancuso (and friend) and others. It was a "Random Act of Kindness" that brightened peoples' day. We need more of this, right? (Check out Luxe Blooms' amazing (miracle) roses here and thanks for all you do in our communities Maria and Shelley!

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Deborah Farmer author of Journey to Joshua with her adopted son.

Deborah Farmer, author "My Journey With Joshua" w/ her adopted son.

Media veteran, communications agency owner and friend, Deborah Farmer, has written a new book, "My Journey with Joshua", which chronicles her experiences in adoption. She says, "Much of what people know about foster care and

Deborah Farmer and her son Joshua.

adoption turns out to be very little or they know misinformation." Farmer grew up in Chicago, where she worked in newsrooms for two decades before launching Brown Farmer Media Group, a full-service communications firm with nonprofit, small business, corporate and government clients. She adds, "Choosing to adopt is just as valid a route to having kids as is biological birth. I truly never understood the stigma it can have." Her book answers a lot of probing questions about the process as well as describes her joy with motherhood. (More details, purchase the book here!

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I'm so excited to see so many events and festivals coming back! Following Mayor Lightfoot and the Governor's comments about Chicago opening up by July, I decided to check to see exactly what was returning and when. Here's what I found: Riot Fest will return to the Douglas Park Golf Course, Sept. 17 thru Sun. Sept. 19. And the debut of the ARC Music Festival (electronic, dance and house music, etc.) is set for Sept 4/5 in Union Park, Chicago. The Gold Coast Art Fair returns August 21-22 to Grant Park, Butler Field with 200 juried artists and food. The Windy City Smokeout will kick off Chicago's summer festival season in July. The four-day event is scheduled to take place from July 8 through 11 in the parking lot

Pride Fest returns June 19/20.

by the United Center, featuring headlining sets from country artists Brett Eldredge, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley. Windy City Smokeout will also feature world-class Q provided by pit-masters from across the country, including Truth BBQ (Houston, Texas) and Peg Leg Porker (Nashville). Tickets, on sale now, range from $35 for a single-day ticket to $625 for a four-day VIP pass. The Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks is set for July 6-11, bringing more than 100 outdoor screenings of family-friendly films to neighborhood parks this summer. The series will kick off July 6 at Oakdale Park. Details here! And this is just a very few of the events that I've found! Looks like Chicago is coming back bigger and better than EVER! Woot! Woot!

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Situated in the former III Forks restaurant space in Lakeshore East, at the corner of Field Blvd. and Benton Place, Avli is far removed from the ghost of this old, dark restaurant. In fact, it's the polar opposite with everything artfully designed in sparkling shades of cream, beige and

With partners LouieAlexakis, designer Nike Demacopoulos and Lou Canellis.

white by the talented Nike (pronounced Nicki) Demacopoulos. The two-level, 13,000-square-foot restaurant, owned by Louie Alexakis, Bill Glastris and Lou Canellis (Fox-32 sports anchor), in partnership with the Magellan Development Group, is draw-droppingly beautiful from the moment you walk through the door. A birch-lined cocktail area, and I suspect a soon-to-be holding "pen," is on the right, before you reach the

The not-yet-complete roof deck will feature gauzy curtains, a long bar and a fire-pit lounge.

hostess station. Then, the room opens up with a direct view of the long, elegant U-shaped bar, a brightly lit wine cellar and wrap-around seating. An outdoor, rooftop deck will offer dazzling views of the city and Lake Shore East Park, a variety of seating options as well as a fireplace lounge. Every single server and worker there were all smiles as well as the principals, including GM Stefanos Lemonis, who table-hopped

Dazzling city views from Avli's soon-to-be-open roofdeck.

throughout the night. That's the way you win friends although with the high level of food service and a delicious menu by Chef Nikolaos Kapernaros, I think they already have it made. Chef Kapernaros has selected dishes for the menu that include his own family's recipes. This is the 4th restaurant in Avli's dining empire with locations in Lincoln Park, River North and suburban Winnetka. Avli on the Park, 180 N. Field Blvd., is open 7 days a week for dinner from 5-11 pm, with reservations via Tock. The restaurant seats 180 in the main dining room, 120 on the rooftop (when it opens), with party and event spaces for 8-100. The restaurant will soon launch a lunch service and a weekend brunch. The venue will also host live music on occasion (think popular Mykonos singers and more). (For more info/ reservations, click here) (First published in Chicago Star here)

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The Lincoln Park Conservancy will host a virtual auction, "Wonders of the Park," June 18-20 to benefit Lincoln Park and specifically, the restoration of North Pond. Last year, due to Covid, the Conservancy transformed its annual in-person gala to a virtual auction which raised more than $85,000. This year's virtual auction will offer one-of-a-kind park experiences; uniquely Lincoln Park and Chicago items; hospitality packages showcasing all our great city has to offer; opportunities to purchase benches, trees, gardening supplies, and so much more. Established in 1984 as a nonprofit partner of the Chicago Park District, the Lincoln Park Conservancy has supported Chicago’s largest and most visited park for over 35 years.Proceeds will support the Conservancy’s stewardship and programming across the Park and will help close the last remaining funding gap for the restoration of North Pond beginning this fall.

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Maureen and Marc Schulman and family celebrate the reopening of the Eli M. Schulman Playground.

Congrats to the much loved Schulman Family on the grand reopening of The Eli M. Schulman Playground & Seneca Park on May 18. Top political leaders, ranking members of the Chicago Fire Department, local notables, friends and family came together to honor the memory of

Alderman Brian Hopkins presided over the proceedings.

the late, great Eli Schulman in a ceremony at the park created in his honor. Located just east of Chicago's historic Water Tower, Seneca Park and the Schulman Playground provide a peaceful oasis and a welcome touch of green amid an increasingly concrete-heavy city. Not since 1990 has the playground been renovated, Now, updates to

A little superhero in attendance.

the play area include a 16% increase in space and softer surfaces for safety. One area mom, Sharyl Mackey, pointed out that it was nice to see some installations created for older children there too.

CFD Commissioner Annette Holt.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Alderman Brian Hopkins, whose young daughter presented the countdown. Other speakers included Maureen and Marc Schulman, son of Eli and Chair, Seneca Park & Eli M. Schulman Playground Advisory Council; Michael Kelly, CEO Chicago Park District; Annette Holt, Commissioner, Chicago Fire Department; Grant DePorter, Magnificent

Grant DePorter.

Mile Association and Harry Carays; Brian Butler, SOAR VP; Jack Guthman, attorney & trustee, MCA, and others. Recognition was given for Jim

The beautiful Eli M. Schulman Playground is now open!

Letchinger, CEO, JDL & developer, One Chicago. Notables seen in the crowd included Abra Prentice Wilkin and Jim Wilkin, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Mickey Siegel, Sharyl and Mike Mackey, Maria Smithburg, Kate Murray, Rick Kogan and Willa Lang, among others. The event concluded with a poem by Sally Park, read by Andy White of the Lookingglass Theatre. Alderman Hopkins said the playground will see more upgrades in the near future. (First published here in Chicago Star)

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Image of Flag Wall Room at _The Art of Banksy_ exhibition in Toronto. Courtesy of The Art of Banksy.

Image of Flag Wall Room at The Art of Banksy exhibit in Toronto.

Whoa! Check this out! $35 million worth of Banksy art is coming to Chicago's West Loop this summer, opening July 1! The world's largest collection of privately- owned Banksy art is coming to the Windy City and will feature prints, canvasses, screen-prints, sculptures and limited-edition pieces dated between 1997 and 2008, including his iconic works "Girl with Balloon (shown in image)," "Flower Thrower" and "Rude Copper.' The event will be held at a yet-to-be-disclosed location in the West Loop (btw, this is getting pretty old already). Tickets on sale here with prices starting at $40 for adults and $30 for children age 16 and younger.

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Northalsted Market Days, one of the Midwest's largest street festival, will return August 6-8, adding a Friday night edition, the first in its 38-year history, according to the Northalsted Business Alliance. First held in August 1982, Market Days has grown to a half-mile long, annual summer ritual on Chicago's north side, featuring all-day lineups of live music and international DJs on 5 stages, 300 vendors, arts, crafts, wares, summer food and drinks, dancing in the street, and more. Market Days, along with Chicago Pride Fest, was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

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With CSM publisher Elaine Hyde, Jay Kopp and Jon Cohn.

And, as a part of Chicago Star's many offerings to the community, we will be providing video updates of coming events on a regular basis. Here's our first effort, moderated by Elaine Hyde (publisher/editor) and my colleagues Jay Kopp (CSM Director of Brand Development) and columnist Jon Cohn. Watch here!

We're getting pretty excited about our road trip to Three Oaks, Michigan, to enjoy the new, temporary location for Randolph Street Market (while it's Chicago venue undergoes renovation), opening Memorial Day Weekend, May 29/30. Entrance fee is $5 per adult with children under 12 free. One dollar of every tickets purchased will support Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles-Buchanan, Michigan. Market dates: June 19/20; July 3/4; August 7/8; Sept. 4/5. Can't wait to see YOU Sally Schwartz! (All details here)

Jonny Imerman and his Imerman Angels will be hosting Angels Spirit Week, now through May 27. Each day will offer a different theme, all to benefit and celebrate this wonderful nonprofit that provides 24/7, 365 comfort and understanding for all cancer fighters, survivors, previvors and caregivers through a personalized, one-on-one connection with someone who has been there. (For all info, click here!)

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Fumee Claire Candles by Tina Weller.

Kudos to Tina Weller, besides being a glam-girl-around-town, she also is one of the most philanthropic people I know. Her most recent project, Fumee Claire Candles (clean smoke), came about following a health scare. Many candles give off a number of known toxins so I think her timing for this couldn't be better. Each product purchased will help contribute to a yearly philanthropy fund awarded to a variety of charities that make a difference to those in need. Tina and her team select agencies that provide services to women and children, the food insecure, the disabled, medically challenged, elderly, the arts, preservation and the homeless as well as education enrichment programs for the underprivileged. Not only are they beautiful and smell good but they're also good for your health and the environment. (For more info, click here!)

Tina Weller and her Fumee Claire Candle products, healthy for you and the environment.

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Thank you Felix Magazine!

Thank you so very much to Felix Magazine, for profiling

PAWS pups always make photos better 🙂

me in its cover feature! It's especially nice as I was given the opportunity to highlight one of my favorite nonprofits, PAWS Chicago. The feature was shot on location at the adoption center (1997 N. Clybourn), with a passel of adorable pups. It took all the will power I had not to go home with all of them! This luxury lifestyle magazine serves Chicago, NYC and LA covering the latest trends in fashion, fine dining, nightlife, arts and cultures. 100% of the net proceeds benefit The Aparecio Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for educational grants and programs for low-income, high potential women in public high schools. (Read article here and, to order/subscribe, click here).(Article by Courtney Simich, photos by Hope Sayre)

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Pendry Chicago opened May 26.

It's like comparing apples and oranges but there are a lot of similarities between the newly opened Greek restaurant Avli in

Venteaux restaurant inside Pendry Chicago.

Lakeshore East and the recently opened, May 26, Pendry Chicago. Located in the loop (230 N. Michigan), the Pendry is a re-imagination of the iconic 1920s era Carbide and Carbon Building. This hotel was formerly the St. James and the differences between then and now are stark. Where the St. James was dark, the Pendry is all light with sparkling brass touches. In its 364 guest rooms and suites, beautiful parquet floors were discovered under the old carpeting. In the grand ballroom, which seats 500+, an enormous window, that was previously covered over, was revealed with great views of Michigan Avenue. And on and on. As the world opens up following the pandemic, restaurants, hotels and bars seem to be following suit, offering guests a more airy feel after the heaviness of isolation. (Read full story here in Chicago Star!)

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Love and thanks to all my friends and supporters who

With La Scarola's Joey Mondelli.

reached out to me on my birthday on May 26! The messages and photos took me down memory lane and I'm so grateful. Thanks also to special friends Maria Pappas, Jennifer Sutton Brieva, Peter Kamberos, Paul Iacono, Michael Kutza who made my BD so perfect at La Scarola! And especially big, big love to Joey Mondelli. What a gift you all are!

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Chicago Star June 2021, with twins Giovanna Krozel and Almira Yllana (Sugar & Spice) and Landan Twins (Jon and Andrew).

I'm so very exciting to share the newly released June issue of Chicago Star! Read all the fun including my first CSM social column, "City Seen" (if you like what you see, please let my

The debut of "City Seen" with The Joffrey Ballet and Neiman Marcus.

publisher know at ainfo@chicagostarmedia.com. I want to make sure our nonprofit and event communities have an outlet here so please let them hear you!). Also, I hope you enjoy my Ask Candid Candace advice column, my feature about where Chicagoan's want to go next now that travel restrictions are being lessened, Cooking with Amanda Puck and so much more!. All the news you need to make you love where you live, work and play! (Read issue here and please join our family here!) (Don't we have the cutest cover stars too, twins Sugar & Spice (Giovanna Krozel and Almira Yllana) and the Landan Twins (Jon and Andrew)?!

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I know this is a lot to take in but I don't want to miss sharing with you! If you have an event, a happening, know of some inspiring person, or have info you would like to see here, please send it to candace@candidcandace.com. And don't forget to send any questions for my Chicago Star monthly Candid Candace Advice Column along too! I love hearing from you!

And, if I've forgotten to include anything you sent previously, please forgive me and give me another chance. With Chicago opening up again, events, restaurants, bars, cultural events and more are exploding with business, not enough yet to make up for their losses, but it's so good to see the buzz in the city again.

And, if not a blog subscriber, please do so now here and follow along with all the fun!

Love, as always,

Candace

Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. And, of course, something to leave you with a smile……