Tag Archives: Chef Michael Kornick

February 18, 2013 · 1:01 pm

MCA’S ARTEDGE: A WONDERFUL CASE OF SENSORY OVERLOAD

…PLUS HAMBURG BALLET; CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR; A BIBLIOPHILE’S DREAM; GUESS WHO WON A TELLY?; LEGENDARY LANDMARKS; WOMEN’S DAY AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW; MISERICORDIA’S GOLD MEDAL WINNER; CRYSTAL HEART BALL; EVENING IN BLOOM; QATAR COMES TO CHICAGO; BUNKY SEES RED AND FUCHSIA; WATCH312.COM VIDEOS AND SO MUCH MORE!

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) hosted its annual artEdge fundraising benefit on February 2nd with more than 500 guests in attendance at this never-to-be-forgotten, over-the-top with creativity
event. Chicago’s art lovers, performance enthusiasts and philanthropists gathered at the MCA Warehouse for an evening of factory flair and unique performances, raising $900,000 for MCA
programming. Known for its unfettered imagination and thought-provoking events, this year’s artEdge was no exception as the MCA presented an interactive and full-sensory experience where guests were taken on
a journey and transported into a revolutionary, working factory. Notable Chicago attendees included Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule, MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn, Tom Shapiro, MCA Board Chair King Harris and wife Caryn, MCA Trustees Marilyn and Larry
Fields, MCA Trustee Cari Sacks, MCA Trustee Mary Ittelson, MCA Trustees Lois and Steve Eisen, MCA Deputy Director Janet Alberti, MCA Trustees Stefan Edlis and Gael
Neeson, artists Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Dawoud Bay and Kara Walker, Chef Michael Kornick and wife Lisa, EXPO Chicago’s Tony Karman and wife Sondra, Sylvie Leger and Todd Ricketts, Neil Bluhm and Johnson
Publishing CEO Linda Johnson Rice. On a chilly Chicago evening, attendees began their journey by entering through the back alley of the MCA Warehouse, arriving at the destination’s loading dock. Upon
entering, patrons traveled upstairs to the second floor, where chain link walls and mechanical sounds guided guests into the factory. Awash with rich lighting of yellow, red and orange, the fantastic factory featured graffiti walls by Chicago
artist Hebru Brantley. artEdge co-chairs Anne Kaplan, Anita Blanchard and Martin Nesbitt and Susan and Michael Canmann greeted guests and playfully draped them with “caution” tape, preparing them for the evening of factory fun as they punched in timecards for entry. The space
featured three different rooms and each held a distinctive dining experience for guests. Throughout the evening, guests dined buffet-style and enjoyed a variety of delicacies from Jewell Events Catering served by factory workers wearing gloves and navy
blue factory coats. The first room guests arrived in – the Chain Link Room – featured scrumptious hors d’oeuvres of onion rings, fried mushrooms, pub chips and popcorn cleverly attached to chain-linked walls. Patrons were treated to an ensemble of performers, hanging high above on
chains and entertaining guests with their impressive theatrics. Jyldo and Peter Taub, MCA Director of Performance Programs, curated all performances for the evening and they were awe-inspiring with a touch of the risqué which had many guests popping out
their cell phones to record the incredible imagery. The show-stopping crowd, dressed uniquely in industrial chic cocktail attire, entered the Cafeteria Room, which featured a spinning “turn table,” where guests could sit while dining on tins of
macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes with chipped beef and tuna casserole. The highlight of the room was the “dry cleaning rack,” which featured an oscillating rack of assorted meats and cheeses hanging from hooks that guests were able to both admire and eat.
After experiencing the Cafeteria Room, guests continued the adventure, arriving in the Corrugated Room where performance troupes amused guests with sporadic, spirited performances on an illuminated stage. The Corrugated Room included a
buffet wall with an assortment of salads including cumin and carrot salad, Mediterranean faro salad and kale and Brussels sprout salad as well as a variety of soups served in trashcan-inspired containers. Following the dining hours, groups traveled downstairs to the first floor, for a special concert performance from indie pop and soul group, Fitz and The Tantrums.
Before the performance, MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn gathered the co-chairs on stage for welcoming remarks, thanking them for
their dedication and support to the museum. An extravagant lighting display and distinct guitar chords signaled the arrival of Fitz and The Tantrums to the stage. The lively performance featured the band’s signature tunes and had guests dancing, Dancing, DANCING! During the concert performance, guests enjoyed
a Rubber Bar and dessert reception, featuring a special “donut wall” that had to be seen to be believed: Created cleverly with pegboards, the “donut wall” was a favorite among attendees and included four different types of donuts. The VIP Rubber Bar doubled as an apothecary, with
oversized jars filled to the brim with gummy bears, peach rings and different flavors of licorice. It was an evening I’ll never forget and was one of the best parties I’ve ever attended. Gala co-chairs, MCA staff and Heffernan Morgan’s Bill
Heffernan collaborated to create this magical evening and were inspired by the fact that this venue was indeed at one time a factory, so they brought it back to its original roots in grand style! Kudos to the co-chairs and to the MCA –
they always kick it up a notch for each and every event. All proceeds from this hugely successful factory-inspired fete will support MCA programming. Don’t miss any of their events, check out their website here! (Additional photos by Mila Samokhina.)

The internationally-acclaimed Hamburg Ballet made its highly-anticipated Chicago debut at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance performing the full-length ballet, “Nijinsky.” Created
by John Neumeier, the company’s director and chief choreographer for the past 40 years, this touching ballet had the sellout crowd enthralled. Before opening night, the Harris Theater Board of Trustees held a
special pre-performance reception to welcome the company to town as it launched its 2013 U.S. Tour. The visit was a homecoming for the Milwaukee-born Neumeier, who spent time in Chicago learning about dance as a young student. Dance supporter Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in attendance to join in the
welcoming festivities with theater board members, theater president and managing director Michael Tiknis, as well as dignitaries, Consul Generals and officials representing six countries. The opening night performance received a standing ovation from the audience and rave reviews from critics. (Photos by Mila Samokhina.)

I loved seeing the Chicago Children’s Choir perform in the blockbuster theater production of “Sita Ram” recently at the Harris Theater. And now, under the direction of president and artistic director Josephine Lee, they
participated in a 10-day tour of India, with stops in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Chennai and Bangalore for concerts presented by the Jaipur Literature Festival and the U.S. Embassy. “Chicago Children’s Choir is proud to serve as global ambassadors of our great city and the country,” said Lee. “These children are truly the Voice of Chicago and this tour gave them the opportunity to experience the rich
culture of India while exhibiting the power of music to unite people through our performances and exchanges.” Throughout India, 45 singers from the world-renowned Concert Choir showcased music from “Sita Ram,” the organization’s world musical based on the ancient Hindu epic “Ramayana,” and performed selections from their diverse
repertoire spanning classical, world, gospel and popular music. In addition to scheduled performances, the Choir conducted workshops with children from The Salaam Baalak Trust, a non-profit that provides support for street and working children in inner cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. The Concert Choir is the most advanced Chicago Children’s Choir ensemble, with children ages 12-18 selected from thousands in Chicago Children’s Choir Programs throughout the city. (For more info, please visit www.ccchoir.org.)

If you love books, you should know of this wonderful international bookseller, Books Tell You Why. Established in South Carolina in 2002, this company is one of the leading sources for rare and autographed books. I was honored when they asked to interview me for their book blog. (Read here!) I never get tired of reading and talking about rare books and love the wonderful stories surrounding great finds: A copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s first book, “Tamarlane,”
was found in a Goodwill shop and recently, a young man cleaning out his deceased grandfather’s library came across a signed copy of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, whose signature is rarer than hen’s teeth! It’s a fun hobby and this is the website to check out to get started yourself!

I hope you are all fans and followers of my Watch312.com show, “Candid Candace Chicago.” Our most recent video covers a hilarious night of comedy at “Laugh Out Loud” with Chicago Bear Israel Idonije and darling former Bear Jerry Azumah! Their famous friends came out to support them and it’s all captured
here on my show! I'm also very excited to report that one of my show segments won a TELLY AWARD (Tellys honor the very best film and video productions, groundbreaking online video content, and outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs!!) (See the award winning segment here!) Congrats to my Watch312.com editor Josh Orr (check out his scary Vanishing Point films here!), Watch312.com executive producer Bill Natale and crack cameramen Alonzo Stallings, Fred Jackson and Abe Pina! More to come!!!

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The 2013 Legendary Landmarks Celebration will honor Leslie Hindman, John W. McCarter and Target at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 7th. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, a live auction and an awards ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. in the Ballroom. Honoree Leslie Hindman founded Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
in 1982 and for the past three decades, she has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions. My personal friendship with Leslie began when she discovered a Van Gogh painting in an attic; I attended the auction (did NOT buy the Van Gogh) and we've been friends ever since. She is not only an amazing businesswoman but she is loved by all who know her. (Leslie will be presented by John H. Bryan.) As president of the Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, honoree John W.
McCarter has served the museum for the last 16 years. He is a fellow of the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences and serves on many high-profile boards. McCarter graduated from Princeton University, has an
MBA from Harvard Business School and also attended the London School of Economics. (John will be presented by Kim White.) Minneapolis-based Target Corporation opened its first store in 1962 and today serves guests at nearly 1,800 trend-forward discount retail stores and at Target.com. Target entered the Chicago market almost 20 years ago and today has 11 stores within the city limits and more than 50 in the metropolitan area. (Target will
be presented by Marty Stern.) The Chicago Sun-Times' Bill Zwecker will serve as emcee and the event will be co-chaired by Joseph Antunovich and Janet Rotner and the celebration committee includes Madeline Gelis, Shelley Gorson and Karen Prieur. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Landmarks Illinois Preservation Heritage Grant Fund, which has made more than 80 grants providing essential assistance for the revitalization of historically and architecturally significant properties. Hope to see YOU there! For tickets and more info, please click here or call 312.553.2000.

Congrats to Oak Park native and Misericordia Heart of Mercy Home resident Patrick McCarthy: He recently won a gold medal for speed skating in the Special Olympics! His gold came in the 777m speed skating category and he also
won a bronze medal in the 500m and finished fourth in the 333m, while attending the Special Olympics World Games from January 29th through February 5th in South Korea. On February 2nd, Patrick was seeded fifth out of sixth in the 777m races. In the semi-final he skated 11 seconds faster than his personal best, finishing in first place and advancing to the finals.
While competing against speed skaters from Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Austria and Hong Kong, Patrick was able to shave off an additional four seconds for a personal best finishing in first place to win a gold medal! Olympic gold medal-winning American speed skaters Apolo Ohno and Dan Jansen were both on hand to congratulate Patrick’s Team USA and skate a unified relay race. The 23-year-old has been a resident at Misericordia Heart of
Mercy Home since 2010. The Home, located on the north side of Chicago, supports more than 600 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Patrick, who has Down syndrome, has been an active participant in Special Olympics since he was eight years old and is a member of the Misericordia Special Olympics team in aquatics,
athletics, golf, basketball, and power lifting. His career on the ice began in August of 2000 with the Tomahawks, a special needs hockey team sanctioned by Amateur Hockey Association Illinois. Patrick began speed skating to improve his hockey skills but soon discovered his love of the sport and began competing one year later. (He currently trains with the Evanston Speed Skating Club.) Huge congrats Patrick and to learn more about Misericordia Heart of Mercy, please click here!)

The Chicago Auto Show was THE place to be this year for Women’s Day on February 12th. Hundreds of women came out to peruse the latest auto trends and attend the inaugural Women Driving Excellence event.
This first-time networking event was hosted by Debi Lilly, Elisa All, Jill Salzman, Barbara Rozgonyi, Saya Hillman, MJ Tam and Beth Rosen and presented by Broadway in Chicago, Cars.com,
RedEye, Chicago Tribune and Monika Dixon PR. It was a chance to mix and mingle, sample spa and wellness services and enjoy the show. I was honored to be included as one of the speakers for its Women Driving Excellence presentation that also included
Anupy Singla (celebrity author and entrepreneur and Chicago Now blogger), Corri McFadden (E-DropOff founder), Genevieve Thiers (Sittercity founder/serial entrepreneur), Karen Weigert (the Mayor’s Chief Sustainability Officer) and Luvvie Ajayi (The Red Pump Project co-founder). Every
speaker was inspiring and had incredible stories to share about how they “start, accelerate, fuel and steer others to excellence.” The event also included a Broadway in Chicago “I Love Lucy” stage performance. I will treasure my award and this special day shared with inspiring women – congrats to all! Darling reporter LeeAnn Trotter summed up the event perfectly here in her NBC coverage below…thanks for being there, LeeAnn!

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Little Company of Mary Hospital’s Foundation hosted its 23rd annual Crystal Heart Ball on February 2nd at the Field Museum featuring the Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts exhibit. The emcee was Little Company of Mary’s very own Patrick Elwood
(Fox 32 Chicago). More than 830 guests danced the night away to the music of the Indigo Orchestra while perusing more than 200 rare, sparkling artifacts including elaborate jewelry, ornate weaponry, royal costumes, and stunning artwork of the “great king,” the Maharaja. This premiere gala raised more than $467,000 for “Values, Vision, Innovation: the
Campaign for Little Company of Mary Hospital.” The Mary Potter Humanitarian Award was presented to Harmony, Hope & Healing (HHH) and accepted by its founder, Marge Nykaza. (HHH is a non-profit organization that provides creative, therapeutic and educational music programs, offering spiritual and emotional support to
homeless and underserved women, children and men in the Chicago area.) The Sister Nancy Boyle Award for Excellence was presented to The Cancer Center’s Integrative Therapy Department of Little Company of Mary Hospital. Susan Arnold, R.N., B.S.N., M.S., Director of Patient Care Services, accepted this honor on behalf of the Integrated Therapy team. Dr. Irving and Shirley Fuld chaired the
fundraising event along with their co-chairs, Mr. Matt and Mrs. Mary Ellen Filosa. They presented four cash raffle prizes as well as a raffle prize of an 18-karat gold agate yellow sapphires and white diamonds bracelet won by Matt Kavanaugh. The grand prize cash raffle of $15,000 went to Francis J. O’Donovan. For more information on Little Company of Mary’s Foundation Department or to learn how you can donate, please visit www.LCMH.org/foundation.

“Evening in Bloom,” an exclusive first-look preview event of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show opens on March 8th. The event is from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Festival Hall at Chicago’s Navy Pier and heralds the arrival of spring in the city. The theme of
the 2013 Chicago Flower & Garden Show is The Art of Gardening. The show opens to the public at 10 a.m. on March 9 and runs daily through March 17th. A portion of the proceeds from “Evening in Bloom” benefit Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit
organization dedicated to greening and beautifying Chicago’s neighborhoods, gateways and expressways; Peterson Garden Project, a volunteer non-profit organization committed to teaching people how to grow their own food; the Kendall College Charitable Trust, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing support for students of need enrolled full time in the school’s culinary, hospitality, business and education programs; and Special Olympics Chicago, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The preview event
will showcase nearly two dozen stunning display gardens, as well as original artworks in a variety of forms. Guests will have an opportunity to meet several artists, whose works will be shown during the event. As they mingle in the garden “gallery,” guests will sample fine wines and a variety of hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants as well as enjoy a garden-themed regional cake competition on the closing day. For tickets ($125 each) and more info, please visit www.chicagoflower.com.

Drum roll please: And the Chicago Interior Design Firm of the Year issssssssss…CANNON FRANK! In a contest sponsored by Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine and the Design Center at the Merchandise Mart, Cary Frank and John Cannon’s creative company won top honors! Congrats on your wonderful partnership, both professionally and personally! 🙂

Bunky Cushing did it again! For his 20th annual Valentine’s Day Tea held in the Greenhouse at the Ritz-Carlton, more than 100 of our town’s movers and shakers turned out in force to celebrate with this beloved Chicago
icon. For the first time, the invite offered guests the option of dressing in either fuchsia, pink or red as opposed to the previous “Ladies Please Wear Red” request. This annual tea – now privately known as the “Red Heart 100” – has been called “one of Chicago’s most sought-after-invitations” by Harper’s Bazaar. Attendees included Mary Pat Burns, Sharyl Mackey, Sherry Lea Holson, Lynda Silverman, Robin Segesta, Laurie
Davis, Nina Mariano, Toni Canada, Myra Reilly, Hazel Barr, Jean Antoniou, Stacie Mickelson, Eileen Weinberg, Felicia Winiecki, Diane Edelman, Greg Hyder, Dan Uslan, JP Anderson, Sherrill
Bodine, Megan McKinney, Rochelle Trotter, Mary Ann Rose, Darby Hills, Tina Weller, Cathy Bell (newly engaged!), Sheree Valukas, Amalie Drury, Rebecca Besser, Martha Wallace, Ann Wallace and Heather Farley Ingram among others. Bunky has been a fixture on the city’s philanthropic
scene for as long as I can remember. He hosts annual fundraisers that benefit the Howard Brown Clinic as well as the Jane Addams Senior Caucus. The Chicago Tribune has called Bunky “an arbiter of style for the
crème de la crème of Chicago society,” and Vogue has called him “Chicago’s social tugboat.” He has been associated with Ralph Lauren for more than 25 years as a consultant, his time with the company taking him to
New York, Miami, and finally settling in Chicago in 1990. His weekly column, “Squire of Society,” is not to be missed! Thanks for all you do Bunky! (To see ALL pics from this always amazing event, please click here!)

On April 10th, Qatar Airways will officially honor Chicago as its newest gateway! A VIP host committee met recently at the Waldorf for a luncheon to learn more about this five-star airline and what their plans are for our fair city. I was happy to learn that they plan on becoming involved in the communities, spreading some love to our local
charities while increasing their visibility. Qatar’s Rebecca Jelfo welcomed the group and said, “This partnership with Chicago will bring an estimated $250 million and thousands of jobs to the community.” I was honored to
be a part of this committee who also included Israel Idonije, Christopher Clinton Conway, Linda Johnson Rice, Les Coney, Alexi Giannoulias, Lindsay Avner, Sheila King, Tracy Schmidt, Wendy Krimins, Greg Hyder, Kedzie Schotters, Dan Uslan, Nina and Bob Mariano, Jon and Andrew Landan, Neal Zucker, Julie Latsko, Shawn Baldwin, Keene Addington, Angela Schoenhard, Justin Jacobson, JP Anderson, Katherine and Abigail Tarbox and Laurie Davis among others. Welcome to Chicago, Qatar…this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

A Drink With Chicago is hosting a charity comedy event on February 19, at The Laugh Factory, located at 3175 N. Broadway. Co-founder Kelly Kane and Hillary Sawchuk will be interviewing the comedians on stage as well as over a drink, of course! Proceeds will benefit Rescue Our Angels which raises funds for families in need to receive autism treatment. Jenny McCarthy's Generation Rescue Foundation will then distribute the funds raised through their grant program. For tickets and more info, please click here!

“Night of the Matador” will be held on February 23rd from 9 p.m. to midnight at Tavernita, located at 151 W. Erie. This event – themed “Old Spain” – will benefit the Equestrian Connection, which is one of the largest therapeutic riding centers in the country. Treating more than 300 children and adults with disabilities, this charity improves the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing by providing equine therapeutic programs. For tickets, $40, and more info, please click here!

Get your poker face on! The Little City Foundation and Spex – Chicago’s favorite stop for luxury eyewear – will co-host “Seeing Hope Together” on March 9th at the Hard Rock Hotel. This exciting poker tournament and casino night will support children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities and include an eyewear trunk show, all-night lavish buffet, open bar and swag bags! Spex Director of Marketing Michael Caputo and Little City Executive Director Shawn Jeffers hope to see YOU there! For tickets ($150), and more info, please click here!

“Cameron Rocks On!” will be held at Rockit Bar & Grill, located at 22 W. Hubbard on March 14th. Join honorary co-chair Antonio Romanucci and The Friends of Cameron for a night of fun and heart-felt giving to help kids with disabilities as they raise funds to provide care for Declan Keddy, whose Irish heritage inspired the event. The night will also support the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Patient Emergency Fund as well as the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. For tickets ($125), and more info, please click here!

I know there are a lot of Oscar parties planned but the one I’ll be attending will be at PUBLIC Hotel (located at 1300 N. State Pkwy.) hosted by GlossedandFound.com’s Graham Kostic, Monika Dixon, Alexis Cozzini, Jessie Kalin and Darnell Robinson. From 6:30 to 10 p.m., enjoy the Academy Awards in style with champagne and hors d’oeuvres plus a chance to win a Best Dressed Award! Tickets ($50) are available at the door or online here!

That’s it for this week! Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Candid Candace and I hope you’ll follow me on Twitter (@CandidCandace) and Facebook (Candid Candace)! And don’t miss my Candid Candace column every week in the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine!

Love, as always!
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. Congrats to Chicago entrepreneurs and dynamic chef duo, Marc J. Sievers and Ryan L. Sievers, who competed on – and won – the Chicago episode of “Bobby’s Dinner Battle” on the Food Network! Woot woot!

THE STELLABRATION CONTINUES AT GENE & GEORGETTI’S!

…PLUS EXPO CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTS, DEBI LILLY "LET'S THEM EAT CAKE", THE SKY IS FALLING AT HERITAGE AUCTIONS, SARAH’S RED MOON PARTY, FCACC’S FURRY FUN, LUNA NEGRA’S NOCHE DE LUNA GALA, MITCH CANOFF’S BIG NIGHT, CAMP COSMETICS, MICH MAG AND VS CHICAGO MAG PHOTO SHOOTS, NEWCITY STYLE, WRIST WISHES FOR CHARITY AND SO MUCH MORE!

Gene & Georgetti’s, one of my favorite restaurants in town, hosted a party for one of my favorite people in town, Stella Foster. Held upstairs in the Fireplace Room (which is so cozy, it makes you cry), more than 30 close friends came together to celebrate this Chicago icon. The cocktails flowed along with the most delicious food that included sausage and peppers, chicken, lamb chops, beef tenderloin, shrimp cocktail, cake, their world famous spumoni and so much more. Guests took turns sharing their thoughts. Warner Saunders said, “I’m going to quote Shakespeare when I say it is the summer of our discontent to have Stella leaving. There has been no one in this city who has done it quite like her – a combination of news and kindness and whenever she shoots an arrow of criticism, she makes sure the tip is coated in honey.” The always eloquent Dominic DiFrisco said, “Stella, as you know, means star and you have illuminated our city and we love and honor you. What you do is prove that America is not so much a melting pot but more a beautiful mosaic. We are not homogenized; in fact, we make up that mosaic with our different cultures and religions and we come together and celebrate that standing together.” NBC5’s Alison Rosati said, “Thank you for being so kind, authentic and genuine and for really knowing the people that you write about. I pray that God will bring you whatever is meant for you and thank you for having such a beautiful heart. You are Stellalicious!” Stella spoke last and her memory amazed me. She went around the room and spoke lovingly about each and every guest – she even knew their kids’ names and grandkids! Friends included Dori Wilson, Marion and Tony Durpetti, Michelle Durpetti, Abe and Angela Thompson, Dominic and Carole DiFrisco, Sadako and Warner Saunders, Nina Mariano, Celeste and Bill Van Dahm, Susan Wexler-Mazzoni and Don Mazzoni, Channel 2’s Suzanne LeMignot, Joann Serpico, Tony Romanucci, Dr. Maria Ashley, Lou Rago, Merri Dee, Vince SanFillipo, Shell Reyes, Regina Daniels, Michael Foster, Vera Chitty, Michelle Molise and Lynn and Richard Ciota among others. I sure hope she doesn’t stay “retired” for long! “I know I can be replaced, but I cannot be duplicated,” said Stella….amen to that!

EXPO Chicago brought its world-class art show back to town after an eight-year hiatus and more than 3,000 attendees couldn’t have been happier! I'd been to one at the Merchandise Mart in an earlier incarnation and agree with the event planners, that it wasn’t the place to be. Important art needs to be seen in a dramatic space and nothing could’ve been more exciting than being at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall for the opening night event, Vernissage. Benefitting the Museum of Contemporary Art, this night included art, sculpture, photographs, large-scale installations and so much more. Vernissage – a French term for art openings – means “varnishing day” and evokes the energy and excitement that surround the opening of this major art event. Vernissage first began in 1982 as the opening celebration for the Chicago Intl. Art Fair. Over the years (1982 – 2004), the MCA welcomed more than 40,000 guests who enjoyed what became one of Chicago’s most sought out and influential art events of the year. Co-chairs for opening night included MCA trustee Jennifer Aubrey and MCA Women’s Board member Marilyn Fields. Ms. Aubrey, known for her keen eye and exquisite taste, is the creative director for local jeweler, Sidney Garber. Ms. Fields is a long-time MCA supporter and is a notable collector of contemporary art. Tony Karman, president and director of EXPO Chicago, attracted more than 100 major dealers to the fair including Anthony Meier Fine Arts, Richard Gray Gallery, David Zwirner, Landau Fine Art Gallery, Kavi Gupta and Annely Juda Fine Art Gallery (where the Mayor was seen browsing). Top restaurants served up their tastiest fare with Marc Brooks’ Park 52 being a standout with its crawfish etouffee. The night raised more than $375K for the MCA and I can’t wait to see it return next year! Seen on the scene were Mayor Rahm Emanuel (honorary chair) and wife Amy Rule, MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn, critic and Chi
cago native Jerry Saltz, actor Billy Zane, artists Theaster Gates and Dawoud Bay, M.K. Pritzker, MCA Trustees including Sara Albrecht, Liz and Eric Lefkofsky, Liza and Marc Brooks, Lois and Steve Eisen, Larry Fields, King Harris, Penny Pritzker, Cari Sacks, Helen and Sam Zell, Sven Asmus, Elysabeth Alfano (“The Dinner Party”), Martha and Rich Melman, Chef Michael Kornick, Grant DePorter, Randy Zweiban, Carol Prins and John Hart, Gregg Zgonena and Chicago Look’s Isa Giallorenzo among others. (To view more pics from this amazing evening, please click here!)

Debi Lilly is a nationally-renowned event planning expert based in Chicago. She is the founder and president of A Perfect Event – one of Chicago's most successful special event companies with a faithful (and famous) following, including Oprah Winfrey! She regularly appears on “The Nate Berkus Show” with delightful party planning tips and now, for her own eMag Launch Party recently, her jewel box of a store (located at 3050 N. Lincoln) was transformed into Versailles' 18th century France with the theme “Marie Antoinette Champagne and Let Them Eat Cake Fete”! Imagine vanilla pink champagne cakes paired with vanilla moscato cakes filled with luscious champagne sabayon and this was just for starters! There was even a real-life Marie Antoinette perched atop the elaborate sweets table saying “Let them eat cake”…and everyone happily obeyed! Even the cocktails were reminiscent of something Louis XVI would serve! The visuals were astounding (as only Debi Lilly and her team can do) and what a perfect Launch Party for her latest creation, A Perfect Event eMagazine! We were happily transported to an elegant and most stylish place in time! Congrats to my Francophile friend, who continues to amaze us ALL!! (Additional photos by Steve Starr…and to see ALL party pics, please click here!)

I’m a great lover of antiques – my husband says I collect so many things that the only thing left that he can afford to collect are toothpicks…LOL! Sadly, things are so expensive nowadays that my collecting efforts are nonexistent but I do love to keep abreast of the auctions and see what’s going on out there. Of course, my favorite auction house in the world is Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, but sometimes I receive catalogs from places I’ve never done business with but which are still very interesting. On October 14th, in New York at the Fletcher Sinclair Mansion, Heritage Auctions will host the largest meteorite auction ever! Some 125 meteorites will be offered. You can buy the largest piece of the moon – four pounds – ever offered to the public (estimated to sell for $340K+); a large slice from the most famous meteorite in the world, the Williamette, which is housed at the Rose Planetarium/American Museum of Natural History (est. $85K-$110K) or a small meteorite that fell in 1492 and was later chained up in a church so it couldn’t fly back into the sky (estimate $4K-$5K). A number of these rarities and novelties are from the Macovich Collection, which is curated by NY’s own “meteorite man” Darryl Pitt and is considered one of the largest and most important private collections in the world. This auction also coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the Peekskill fireball – the most videotaped meteorite descent of all time – which burnished its legacy by puncturing a Chevy Malibu in its final act just 30 miles outside of Manhattan (estimated to sell for $45K). A special highlight of the auction will be a meteorite from a piece of the planet Mars that legendary recording artist Herbie Hancock had in his pocket during a gala performance at The Kennedy Center last fall for the Thelonious Monk Institute. This bit of Mars, along with Hancock, were “gazed upon” by the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Aretha Franklin, among others. (One hundred percent of the auction proceeds of this lot go to The Monk Institute, which is devoted to nurturing musical excellence. For more info on this fascinating event, please click here!

Speaking of the moon (how ‘bout that segue?), Luna Negra Dance Theater’s Board of Directors and Gala Host Committee including co-chairs Kristin Conley and Jennifer Edgcomb, Executive Director Joanna Naftali and handsome Artistic Director Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, kicked off their
2012-2013 season and saluted Hispanic Heritage Month with the annual Noche de Luna Gala on September 13th. More than 400 attendees helped raise over $234K to support the on-going work of Luna Negra as a springboard for Latino contemporary choreographers. At the Gala, the company presented its Luna de Honor Award to Pamela Crutchfield, who has been a tremendous advocate for the company for many years. Chicago Community Trust was also presented with a Luna de Honor Award for its ongoing support. The evening, which took place at Venue SIX10, began with a cocktail reception where guests could admire the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and enjoy improvised performances by the LN dancers throughout the space. The crowd then entered the Feinberg Theater to enjoy a performance of LN repertory excerpts, including work by Sansano, Argentinian choreographer Asun Noales and Brazilian choreographer Fernando Melo. Following a dinner by Wolfgang Puck Catering, guests enjoyed dancing to the sounds of Latin band Son de la Habana in the delightful Kehoe designed space. For more info about the fantastic dance company, please visit www.lunanegra.org. (Photos by Cheryl Mann…to view more pics, please click here!)

I’ve been to quite a few birthday celebrations in my day but none quite as interesting and creative as Sarah Beardsley’s which was held at the Red Moon Theater Company warehouse! I’d never been to this Wonka-esque spot before but I sure won’t ever forget it! As we wound our way around the large building to the back entrance, whimsical characters directed us to the entrance which was lit by two spotlights. Once you entered the space, there was a riot of activity – lights flashing, bubble-blowing DJs, cranes lit with Christmas lighting, spiral moss-covered spinning cones, mountains of food as art, a huge bar, a large space cleared for dancing and lots and lots of Sarah’s friends. No one really knew what to expect since the invite had no mention of a birthday but I ferreted out this info at the party. I should’ve known something like this was afoot when she climbed onstage to happily belt out tunes with the band The Breakfast Club with girlfriend Kate Murray! Attendees included Dr. Lauren Streicher and husband Jason Brett, Becky and Scott Etzler, Dr. Chris Randolph, Susan and Joe Credle, her lifelong friends Mary Jo Fasan and Cindy Lucaccioni, Helen Melchior, Christopher Clinton Conway, Ashley Wheater and Brian Johnson, Jan Melk, Gale and Jay Gottlieb, Chris Long, Lyn McKeaney, Magda Krance, Rebecca Besser, Andreas Zafiridis, Janet Owen and Brian Smith among many others. Congrats and Happy Birthday Sarah! (Additional pics by Glenn Kaupert…click here to view more fun pics!)

I love events that benefit our four-legged friends and the amazing Big Night Celebrity Chefs Benefit, hosted by Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control, did just that on an exciting evening on September 19th. Guests mixed and mingled under the fabulous Tiffany Dome of Preston Bradley Hall in the Cultural Center while renowned Chef Jackie Shen, along with a dozen of her well-known celebrity chef friends, prepared delicious dishes. As the Geof Bradfield Trio played, guests enjoyed specialty drinks such as the Cosmopoodlitan and the Muttini! A live auction included diamond jewelry from Sidney Garber and a dinner in-home prepared by Chef Shen. For the past 11 years, FCACC has been dedicated to caring for animals from babies who have to be bottle-fed, to animals with injuries to elderly animals who just need someone to love and care for them. (To learn more, please visit www.fcass.org and check out more photos here!)

Mitchell Canoff is one helluva photographer and his friends want you to know it so we’re hosting a wonderful, love-filled exhibition of his work at Paris Club on Monday, October 8th from 5 to 8 p.m. Host committee members include the Melman family, Judy and Howard Tullman, Suzie and Ross Glickman, Sugar Rautbord, Cheryl Sloan and Chris “Hambone” Cameron among others. A percentage of photography sales will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The night, which will also be Mitch’s 70th birthday party, will include a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres and music by Lilianna Wosko. (RSVP to mitchellcanoff@comcast.net and visit www.mitchellcanoffphotography.com for more info.)

A reminder! Friends of Conservation (FOC) will celebrate its 30th anniversary, on Friday, October 12th with “Chicago Celebrates the Whole Wild World.” The Conservation Ball, founded by Reute Butler and her family, will feature silent and live auctions, dinner, and a thrilling wildlife exposition. Paul Iacono is super-sizing this event (it will be at Harold Washington Library Winter Garden, located 400 S. State St.) so you won’t want to miss it! Tickets are $350 for general admission and $250 for guests 35 or younger. Hope to see you there!

So many thanks to CAMP Cosmetics and founder Michael Perich, who I mentioned in an earlier posting as honoring me with my very own lipstick, “Candid Candace Coral.” We shot the campaign this week with photographer Amie Hana at her beautiful home in Lindenhurst – she has her very own lake right outside her doorstep and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful! I was even more honored that Michigan Avenue Magazine sent OnAirr videographer Peter Lambrinatos to capture the session for its “behind the scenes” online content. Congrats to Michael on his wonderful cosmetics line which is botanically-extract based. He launched his career working for some of the biggest makeup and skin care names in the business while living in Chicago. As his clientele portfolio grew so did his recognition: He’s been seen on FOX, WGN and CBS to name a few. In 2003, he decided to embark on his own unique business venture and CAMP COSMETICS – whose slogan is “Women are beautiful…We make them pretty” – was created. On May 1, 2004, Michael officially opened CAMP COSMETICS with his first store location in Glen Ellyn; with its mixture of modern minimalistic décor and stainless steel, the store has a chic vibe that attracts women from all over Chicago. I’m thrilled to be the face of this fabulous cosmetics company and hope you get a chance to try it for yourselves! 🙂

I was also honored to be included as the cover feature story for VS Chicago Magazine, the premier Russian language luxury lifestyle magazine in the United States. Based in Chicago, they are the go-to source covering a variety of topics for all Eastern European communities. I had a delightful interview with marketing and advertising manager Olga Ruda and journalist Natalie Berezovska and I hope you’ll enjoy it in the October issue. Pierre Burnaugh shot the cover with wardrobe courtesy of Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue (thank you, Tina Koegel and Cynthia Holbrook!!!) and Adelaide on Wells Street. I’m lusting after the black J. Mendel dress from Neiman’s!

More big thanks go out to fashion blogger Isa Giallorenzo for featuring me in her NewCity style column. If you aren’t aware of her blog, “Chicago Looks,” then you’re missing out on some great street style fashions! Congrats Isa and keep up the good work!

That’s it for this week! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it! As always, please send me any suggestions or comments (good or bad) and I will try to implement them. My goal is to keep you entertained, informed and grateful to live in this great city like me! 🙂

Love, as always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. I just love this “gift with heart” idea from Wrist Wishes! WW was created by Nicole LaCross as a way to combine her love of fashion with her love of charity and she succeeded on both counts. Built on the concept of shining little glimmers of hope into the lives of all who wrap them around their wrists, these organdy ribbons include charms representing Animal Abuse, Childhood Cancer Awareness, Heart Disease, Fashion For a Cure and many more. Aside from adding a pop of color and style to any outfit, WW donates $2 from every purchase ($10) directly to the charity represented by your bracelet. Congrats Nicole!!! (To buy YOURS, please click here!)

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Tagged as A Perfect Event, A Perfect Event eMagazine, Abe and Angela Thompson, Adelaide, Alison Rosati, Amie Hana, Amy Rule, Andreas Zafiridis, Annely Juda Fine Arts, Anthony Meier Fine Arts, Aretha Franklin, Ashley Wheater, Asun Noales, Becky Etzler, Big Night Celebrity Chefs Benefit, Bill Van Dahm, Billy Zane, Brian Johnson, Brian Smith, CAMP Cosmetics, Candace Jordan, Candid Candace Coral, Cari Sacks, Carol Prins, Celeste Van Dahm, Chef Michael Kornick, Cheryl Mann, Cheryl Sloan, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Looks, Chris “Hambone” Cameron, Chris Long, Christopher Clinton Conway, Cindy Lucaccioni, Colin Powell, Conservation Ball, Cynthia Holbrook, Darryl Pitt, David Zwirner, Dawoud Bay, Debi Lilly, Dominic DiFrisco, Don Mazzoni, Dori Wilson, Dr. Chris Randolph, Dr. Lauren Streicher, Dr. Maria Ashley, Elysabeth Alfano, Eric Lefkofsky, Expo Chicago, Fernando Melo, Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control, Friends of Conservation, Gale Gottlieb, Gene & Georgetti’s, Geof Bradfield Trio, Glenn Kaupert, Grant DePorter, Gregg Zgonena, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Harold Washington Library Winter Garden, Helen Melchior, Helen Zell, Herbie Hancock, Heritage Auctions, Howard Tullman, Isa Giallorenzo, J. Mendel, Jan Melk, Janet Owen, Jason Brett, Jay Gottlieb, Jennifer Aubrey, Jennifer Edgcomb, Jennifer Hudson, Jerry Saltz, Joann Serpico, Joanna Naftali, Joe Credle, John Hart, Judy Tullman, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Kate Murray, Kavi Gupta, Kehoe Designs, King Harris, Kristin Conley, Landau Fine Art Gallery, Larry Fields, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Lilianna Wosko, Liz Lefkofsky, Liza Brooks, Lois Eisen, Lou Rago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Lyn McKeaney, Lynn Ciota, M.K. Pritzker, Madeleine Albright, Madeleine Grynsztejn, Magda Krance, Marc Brook, Marc Brooks, Marie Antoinette Champagne and Let Them Eat Cake Fete, Marilyn Fields, Marion Durpetti, Martha Melman, Mary Jo Fasan, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Merri Dee, Michael Foster, Michael Perich, Michelle Durpetti, Michelle Molise, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Mitchell Canoff, Museum of Contemporary Art, Natalie Berezovska, NewCity, Nicole LaCross, Nieman Marcus, Nina Mariano, Noche de Luna Gala, Olga Ruda, OnAirr, Oprah Winfrey, Pamela Crutchfield, Paris Club, Park 52, Paul Iacono, Penny Pritzker, Peter Lambrinatos, Pierre Burnaugh, Randy Zweiban, Rebecca Besser, Red Moon Theater Company, Regina Daniels, Reute Butler, Rich Melman, Richard Ciota, Richard Gray Gallery, Ross Glickman, Sam Zell, Sara Albrecht, Sarah Beardsley, Scott Etzler, Shell Reyes, Sidney Garber, Son de la Habana, Stella Foster, Steve Eisen, Steve Starr, Sugar Rautbord, Susan Credle, Susan Wexler-Mazzoni, Suzanne LeMignot, Suzie Glickman, Sven Asmus, The Breakfast Club, The Dinner Party, The Nate Berkus Show, Theaster Gates, Thelonious Monk Institute, Tina Koegel, Tony Durpetti, Tony Karman, Tony Romanucci, Vera Chitty, Vernissage, Vince SanFillipo, VS Chicago Magazine, Warner Saunders, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Wrist Wishes

May 22, 2012 · 10:02 am

THE LADYBUG BASH’S “STARS & CARS” – HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO CELEBRATE WITH ATIA!

…PLUS ART INSTITUTE’S DOUBLE BLOW-OUTS, STEPPENWOLF’S STAR-STUDDED NIGHT, LINCOLN PARK ZOO’S PENTHOUSE PARTY, THE LOCAL TOURIST CELEBRATES 10, HUBBARD STREET DANCE'S SPOTLIGHT BALL, BRIAN ATWOOD, SMITHE FAMILY’S “RUN HOME CHICAGO” PARTY, WOMEN’S BOARD OF FIELD MUSEUM’S “SPARKLY” LUNCHEON AND SO MUCH MORE!

It was a night filled with celebration, hope and inspiration for the second Annual Ladybug Bash held this year at Grossinger City Autoplex on Thursday night. Host and organization founder Dina Manzo greeted each and every guest on the red carpet in a stunning champagne colored gown by Rivini. Dina, as I’m sure you know is filming the second season of HGTV’s “Dina’s Party,” which is about Dina’s many event planning adventures. She is also a former star of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” This one-woman powerhouse founded Project Ladybug in New Jersey in 2007 with the wish to bring financial and emotional support to children undergoing rigorous cancer treatments and their families. Atia Lutarewych, the four-year-old pint-size namesake for Atia’s Project Ladybug Fund, was there on this night, in full remission after battling cancer for two years beginning at the tender age of 17 months. WGN Morning News’ “Around Town” reporter Ana Belaval was one of the hosts for the evening that also included Alpana Singh, host of WTTW’s “Check, Please!” (BTW, Alpana will become a restaurateur this summer when she and her partners open The Boarding House restaurant at 720 N. Wells!) This year’s Ladybug Bash, themed “Stars & Cars,” also included Ms. Illinois 2012 Amber Podell, Miss Illinois 2012 Nancy To and Mrs. Illinois 2012 Jennifer Cruz. There were a lot of crowns and gowns in that room! The food stations were never ending with something delectable on all three floors from restaurants that included Bistronomic, Orso’s Italian, Sunda, Uncle Julio’s, Wildfire, Market, D’s Sweet Berries, D’Casa, Burger Bar, Currents on the River, Hubbard Inn, Le Chocolat, Paradise Cantina and Punky’s Pizza & Pasta. There were also dazzling vintage GM cars illustrating automobile luxury over the years that included a 1937, 1958 and 1973 Cadillac plus a 1927 Buick. Entertainer Angelo “Packy” Ciarvino performed “A Tribute to Dean Martin” that included funny impersonations of Jerry Lewis, too. All throughout the venue, Ford models showcased chic designs from AKIRA, one of Chicago’s premier fashion houses, while guests perused the extensive silent auction. Dan Colantone of Tone Productions DJ Services donated his musical talents as well as the Mike Jeffers Trio/Jazz Band and singer/songwriter Erica Iozzo. Celebrity impersonator Debborah Hopkins was stunning as Marilyn Monroe! Grace Melon, a young cancer survivor, gave a riveting account of her long and arduous journey with a Broadway-worthy performance following. Grace’s first round with leukemia began at the age of two. She was treated for two and a half years and was cancer free from age 5-12 when the cancer returned in July of 2008. She is now cancer-free, a freshman in high school and a professional actress, having signed on with Gray Talent Group at age 13. She has also initiated her own project to help kids with cancer. It was a wonderful night of fun for a great cause with proceeds benefitting the mission and ongoing programs offered by Atia’s Project Ladybug Fund at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. (To view more pics, please click here!)

The Art Institute's Women's Board ALWAYS plans spectacular and creative events but on Friday, May 11th, they hosted TWO back-to-back parties at the Modern Wing! The night began with a gala for 600, co-chaired by Caryn Harris and Stephanie Field Harris, celebrating the opening of the largest exhibition of artist Roy Lichtenstein's works to date. The colorfully clad, creative, black-tie crowd had a first look at the 160 works in the exhibition that included never-before-seen drawings, paintings and sculpture. Stunning decor by Bill Heffernan transformed the place into a pop-art explosion with many guests dressing the part in polka dots to echo the Ben-Day dots in some of the artwork. Following dinner, guests moved upstairs to Terzo Piano where the Crash the Gala after-party was already in full swing with more than 400 guests taking advantage of the “after-party only” ticket pricing. Internationally renowned DJ Jesse De La Pena (who, coincidentally, played at Ikram's big 10th anniversary party at the Hudson Club last year) had everyone on the dance floor. Here, decadent decor by Tom Kehoe delighted the partygoers along with fun food from Bon Appetit that included hot dogs, popcorn, platters of bacon, pizza, ice cream and mo
re! Lucky guests were also treated to special performances by burlesque dancer Ray Ray Sunshine and cross-dressing entertainers Paul and Dan. (To see ALL photos by Bob Carl and Dan Rest, please click here! ("Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective" runs through September 3rd.)

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Stella Foster was honored by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans with the coveted Dante Award at Galleria Marchetti on May 17th. There were so many in attendance that the valet parkers had to close up shop for lack of space! Every year, the Human Relations Committee presents the Dante Award to a member of the local news media who fulfills Italian philosopher Dante Alighieri's call to be “no timid friend to truth.” And we sure know our Stella is NOT afraid of the truth! I love her column (who doesn't?) with her tagline “Yeah, I said it!” Past recipients include her old boss/mentor Irv Kupcinet, Walter Jacobson, John Madigan, Hugh Hill, Dick Kay, Joan Esposito, Emily Barr, Larry Wert, Joe Ahern, Merri Dee, Dominic Mancuso, Frank Mathie, Vince Gerasole, Janet Davies, George Caputo, Mark Giangreco, Allison Rosati and Ron Magers. JCCIA's illustrious members include Dominic DiFrisco (President Emeritus), Antonio Romanucci (President) and Jo Ann Serpico (Executive Director). Stella's column has been appearing in the Sun-Times since 2003 every Tuesday and Thursday and we just love her! Congrats on this much-deserved honor Stella! (To view ALL great pics by Steve Starr, please click here!)

The Women’s Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo recently held a Preview Party in the Hilton Chicago’s penthouse to celebrate its upcoming Zoo Ball, which is planned for July 13th. It was hosted by Zoo Ball co-chairs Suzanne Meder and Cynthia Ross Polayes. Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners (the presenting sponsor of Zoo Ball 2012) and new controlling owner of the LA Dodgers, was in attendance with his wife, Kimbra. Guests sipped on cocktails and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres while taking in the spectacular view and toasting to this year’s Zoo Ball, themed “The Great Gatsby.” Guests seen on the scene included John Alexander, Kevin Bell, John Fornengo, Gale Gottlieb, Michaela Parrillo, Gayle Anthony, Windy Krimins and Abby Zanarini. This is always a fabulous party with great people watching to benefit Lincoln Park Zoo, the oldest zoo in the country and one of the last free public institutions in America. (For more details, please visit www.lpzoo.org and to view more pics, please click here!)

To celebrate a decade online, The Local Tourist is inviting visitors and residents to tour Chicago like a Local Tourist with Passport To Chicago. On June 3, you can enjoy exclusive events and deals at destinations all over Chicago, getting your pages stamped at each place you visit. Each Passport comes complete with a CTA day pass and one free ride from Uber, the new car service that’s taking Chicago by storm. Those who purchase their Passports in advance will also get an “I’m A Local Tourist” sling bag for free! Passport To Chicago provides exclusive access to the Official After Party at local hot spot Public House but the celebration doesn’t end there: There are so many places to go and things to do that there's no way to do them all in one day – that's why the Passport To Chicago is good for a whole year! From June 4, 2012 to May 31, 2013, these businesses are offering even more special discounts. All of this exploring is for a good cause since The Local Tourist is donating a portion of every Passport to participating local charities! This all-inclusive package is just $35. For more information on TLTen and Passport To Chicago, including beneficiary charities and businesses, visit www.passporttochicago.com.

The 21st annual Facing History and Ourselves benefit dinner welcomed more than 750 civic and corporate leaders to the Hyatt Regency on May 1st. The event raised over $1.95 million in support of Facing History’s wide-reaching educational programs and marked the Chicago kick-off of the organization’s nationally acclaimed multimedia exhibition, Choosing to Participate, which will be mounted at the Harold Washington Public Library, located at 400 S. State, from August 27th to November 11th. Co-chairs for the initiative are AON President/CEO Greg Case and Loop Capital Markets CEO Jim Reynolds. Guests enjoyed an evening that began with a reception and cocktails, followed by dinner and a presentation by acclaimed novelist Erik Larson, author of “The Devil in the White City” and “In the Garden of Beasts.” The speaking program also included remarks from Facing History Director Bonnie Oberman and Loop Capital Markets Pres/co-founder, Albert R. Grace, Jr. Facing History and Ourselves, which was originally founded in Boston by Margot Stern Strom, established a Chicago office 21 years ago. Co-founded by Judy Wise and Karen Harrison, the Chicago office has trained more than 3,000 local educators through its programs since 1990. These teachers annually reach more than 300,000 middle and high school students in over 175 public, religious and independent Chicago schools. (For more info, visit www.facinghistory.org and for additional pics, click here.)

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago hosted its annual Spotlight Ball at the Hilton Chicago with more than 450 of Chicago’s movers and shakers, including the Mayor who served as Honorary Chair. Co-chaired by Craig Duchossois (CEO of the Duchossois Group) and Don Thompson (President/COO of McDonald’s Corp.), this event raised more than $700,000 to support the dance company’s education, community and artistic programming. Emceed by longtime supporter, ABC 7’s Ron Magers, the evening kicked off with cocktails and a silent auction that featured a seven-night trip to Brazil. Guests were also treated to a unique performance choreographed by some of Hubbard Street’s most prominent talents: resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo and Taryn Kaschock Russell, director of Hubbard Street 2, followed by a three-course dinner prepared by Hilton Executive Chef Mario Garcia. Don Thompson presented the Spotlight Award to Jeanne and John Rowe, who delivered a powerful speech about the importance of supporting the arts. Target Group VP Mary Farrell-Tarbox accepted a Spotlight Award for her company’s commitment to improving access to the arts. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under artistic director Glenn Edgerton, celebrates 34 years as one of the most original forces in contemporary dance. (Photos by Bob Carl.)

Walter Smithe, son Tim Smithe and family recently hosted a Kick-Off party at their Lincoln Park showroom to launch the 30-day countdown for “Run Home Chicago,” a race to end homelessness, that will take place in Soldier Field on June 10th beginning at 7 a.m. Tim’s fabulous wife, Mary Astor Smithe, was on hand to offer her delicious Chicago Butter Cookies (with a chocolate fountain, no less!) to guests who included Chicago Bears Earl Bennett and Israel Idonije, Eda Davidman, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and his daughter Kyla, Quentin Primo III, Ravi Baichwal and Susanna Negovan, among many others. Everyone enjoyed lively music, food and drinks donated from local Chicago businesses including Tavern on Rush, Swirlz Cupcakes, Tito’s Vodka, Four Roses Bourbon and PRP Wine. “Run Home Chicago” is hosted by the Primo Center for Women and Children, a shelter on Chicago’s West Side that provides transitional housing, counseling and support services to homeless women and their children. The event will honor the Mayor and his wife, Amy Rule, as chairs of the race. Participating in the race will help to raise funds for facilities such as PCWC that provide essential social services to Chicagoans hardest hit by homelessness. (To see ALL fab fotos by Mila Samokhina, please click here and for more info, please visit www.runhomechicago.com.)

Steppenwolf Theatre Company hosted more than 500 guests for its annual star-studded gala on May 5th. The event kicked off with a showcase of scenes inspired by the world-premiere production of “The March,” based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, adapted for the stage and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati, and featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Ian Barford, Martha Lavey, Mariann Mayberry, James Vincent Meredith and Alan Wilder. Following the performance, the party moved two blocks south to Blackhawk on Halsted, a 15,000-square-foot space featuring theatrically-inspired décor by Event Creative and a breathtaking view of Chicago’s skyline. There, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, a gourmet dinner prepared by Food for Thought Catering and the awesome, annual live auction led by auctioneer Michael Davis of Hart Davis Wine Co. It featured once-in-a-lifetime adventures with Steppenwolf ensemble members and artists and included an on-set visit to the hit Starz original drama “Boss,” filmed here in Chicago starring Kelsey Grammer, plus autographed scripts as a memento of the day; exclusive dinner with comedian Jeff Garlin (star and executive producer of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) with dinner prepared by five-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Michael Kornick; four tickets to the NY opening of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (the 50th anniversary of the original Broadway production premiere) plus hotel and airfare; and an exclusive evening on the Steppenwolf stage with co-founder Gary Sinise and ensemble member Moira Harris with a gourmet dinner prepared by Chef Charlie Trotter! The evening wrapped up with dancing and live music by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. Gala 2012 co-chairs included Richard and Margery Feitler, Rita and Scott George and Carol and John Walter while Liz and Eric Lefkofsky were the Live Auction Sponsors. This year's Gala raised more than $1 million! (To view ALL event pics by Joan Hackett and Kyle Flubacker, please click here!)

The Women’s Board of The Field Museum is raising funds for its annual Women in Science Fellowship with a program and luncheon at the Museum on Wednesday, May 30th. To kick-off this event, members gathered in early April at Harry Winston in Chicago with its VP Diana Hall to view A.V. Shinde’s iconic designs. This year’s event, co-chaired by Liz Sharp and Susan Clark McBride, will showcase the remarkable designs of Shinde, renowned jewelry designer for Harry Winston from the 1960’s through the end of the century. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the James Simpson Theatre with the viewing of a variety of rarely seen Indian artifacts from the Museum’s collections. Program speakers include Reema Keswani (expert on Indian jewelry and the only authorized biographer of A.V. Shinde) and Anthony Ledru (Global VP of Sales at Harry Winston). An Indian-themed luncheon will follow in Stanley Field Hall. This year’s Women in Science Fellowship winner is Field Museum researcher Charlene “Charlie” McCord. (Photos by Steve Starr.) Individual tickets are $125, tables of 10 are $1,250. (For more info, please call 312.665.7135 or email womensboard@fieldmuseum.org.)

The Chicago Sinfonietta will kick off its 25th anniversary with an UnMasked Ball on Saturday, June 2nd, celebrating the Colors of Sounds at the Fairmont Chicago, located 200 N. Columbus Dr. The event will be co-chaired by civic leader Sandra Rand and Maria Green, V.P. General Counsel and Secretary of Ill. Tool Works. The evening will begin with cocktails and an array of one-of-a-kind masks from productions of other Chicago arts organizations including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, National Museum of Mexican Art, Red Moon Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Muntu Dance and more. The Ball will also feature a full performance of the Chicago Sinfonietta under the baton of Maestro Mei-Ann Chen; Eric Goldberg and Shuya Gong will join the orchestra as featured soloists. (Tickets begin at $400 and are available by calling 312.236.3681, ext. 1559 or by clicking here.)

Mark your calendars now for one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year – Glamorama! Coming on Friday, August 10th to the Chicago Theatre at 175 N. State St., this year’s theme is “British Invasion: The Music Then. The Fashion Now!” From the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, Macy’s Glamorama 2012 pays homage to some of the world’s most well-known and respected British pop icons from the past 50 years. Macy’s Glamorama is an hour-long, high end fashion show and musical production that unveils Macy’s latest fashions but also showcases heart-stopping dance, lush visuals, staging as well as exciting musical performances – I will let you know WHO shortly! The event will once again benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Be the first to get your tickets with the American Express Exclusive Pre-Sale from May 30th through June 7th. Ticket prices are $50 and $75 for show only; $175 and $285 for show and after-party; $1,000 for VIP show and after-party. BUT FIRST, join me and our dynamic Host Committee for another fabulous GLAM LAUNCH PARTY on Friday, June 8th at Greenhouse Loft, located at 2545 W. Diversey Ave. We will have a surprise musical guest, Rosemary Fanti illustrations, fun food, fashion presentations by Elda de la Rosa, Borris Powell, Anna Fong, M2F and Azeeza, photo booth, fabulous Glam guests and so much more!! Please purchase tickets here but to see what you missed at LAST year's Launch Party, please click here.

The Chicago International Film Festival presents CineYouth Festival beginning on May 31st and running through June 2nd. The opening night presentation will be at AMC River East 21, on Thursday, May 31st beginning at 7 p.m. and featuring director Jonathan Levine (“The Wackness,” “50/50”). There will be a screening of selected clips followed by a Q & A with a reception following at Lucky Strike Lanes. (For tickets and more info, please visit www.cinemachicago.org/cineyouth.)

This has been the busiest month I’ve ever seen on my calendar! From May 4th to May 12th alone, there were more than 15 gala events!! As you can see, I tried to bring the best pics and info from MOST of them to you this week! I hope you enjoyed it and I hope your gardens are flourishing! Our wisteria has never looked lovelier! Happy Spring!

Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com

P.S. Under the “It’s About Time!” category, proud mom Dusty (Yolanda) Stemer reports that her super handsome, hunky shoe designer son, Brian Atwood, will have his first stand-alone store coming to New York’s Madison Avenue in the fall. I can only imagine the lines! Congrats Brian – we all love you and hope Chicago is NEXT!!! 🙂

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