…PLUS CHICAGO’S NY FASHION WEEK PRESENCE; THE PAYTON FAMILY SERVES COCKTAILS FOR CHARITY; GIRLS IN THE GAME; ART’S BIG GAY ICE CREAM SOCIAL; COSTUME BALL FEATURES 50 YEARS OF EBONY FASHION FAIR; “FEDORAS, FLAPPERS & ALL THAT JAZZ”; LEAH’S NEW VIP SPOT; RAP'S NEW BAD BOY AND SO MUCH MORE!
There were so many Oscar parties around town that it was a hard decision to choose just one. But the event hosted at PUBLIC by GlossedandFound.com’s
Graham Kostic and Monika Dixon was not to be missed! The red carpet snaked from the lobby into the library where these two party pros had prepped the room to perfection. A towering cake
by Jacob Neminarz (of the family-owned Sugar Hills Bakery) had created an Oscar-worthy delight that included edible film reels! Besides Dixon and Kostic, glam host committee
members included Alexis Cozzini, Jessie Kalin and Darnell Robinson. I love the library space at this hotel and think it’s so intimate and chic and the back viewing room served as THE
perfect place to watch the 85th Academy Awards in style! I saw so many friends there like Leah Chavie, Jared Hatch, Lonnie Rodriguez, Eva Pawlus, Yana Nirshberg, Paul Iacono, Geoffrey Dixon, Kasia Konair, Mary Kostic, Drew
Doleski, Victoria Olivares, William Heard, Ricardo Sebastian, JuJu LaCour, Eva Daiburl, Amelia Canham Eaton, Samantha Voss, Gregory Fear, Greg Dillard, Monika Gabal, Eva Starzomski, Suzan Faber,
Anthony Berg, Thai Tyler, Darnell Robinson, Amy DiTomasso, Jessi Sheehan, Anna Majewski, Morgan Byrne, Marisa Ruis and Laura Modica among many others
(around 120 in all). Guests enjoyed two large viewing screens and DJ Kamil Bartoszcze kept the crowd swaying to the music. Partygoers received mini bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne and, besides the Sugar Hills Bakery cake, the sweets table also included treats from Amy DiTomasso’s Sugar Chic Designs. All of the guests came dressed to
impress but the Best Dressed Award winners were Amelia Eaton (The Chicago Life Blog) and
Darnell Robinson (of Christian Louboutin). And my highlight of the Oscars? Seeing Charlize Theron’s stunning new close-cropped haircut! This woman could look fabulous in a garbage bag but her new short do made her look exceptionally stunning. Hope you enjoyed your Oscar party, too!
Another top Oscar party was a more intimate affair but no less delightful! Hostess with the mostest Helen Melchior hosted her own get-together at her fabulous Nate Berkus-designed
apartment on Lake Shore Drive – even her hall statue was draped in a red feather boa, alerting to the surprises within. Helen had her own red carpet which flowed down her hallway and into her home theatre (aka her cozy den). As we all enjoyed the show, the food never stopped
coming…delightful treats from Helen’s favorite, Benchmark (located at 1510 N. Wells), included sliders, chicken roll-ups, lamb chops, quesadillas and more. Helen prepared her specialty, homemade guacamole, along with tasty Italian meatballs and roasted shrimp and sinful apple tarts came courtesy of
George Jewell. Guests included Leslie Hindman, George Jewell, John Walcher, Joan Colmar, Ken Norgan, Cammie Britton, Tara Klecka, Phil Lumpkin and Bill Tadford, Beth Silverman and Christopher Clinton Conway. We were all given ballots to vote for our choices but in the end, Joan Colmar walked away the winner. A fun night with friends…what more could you ask?
Now in its fifth season, EMERGE! A Fashion Runway Show created and produced by Dionne Williams of D. Williams Public Relations Group, featured an eclectic
ensemble of artists during New York Fashion Week 2013. These aspiring fashion designers from around the world showcased their artistic genius with amazing collections that powered down the runway. Highlights
included celebrity stylist and lifestyle guru Phillip Bloch honoring fellow style guru Mikki Taylor, a woman who has given birth to a culture of glamour, sophistication and innovation, with the Fashion Innovator Award.
This invite-only affair played host to retail buyers, fashion influencers, top fashion editors, tastemakers, socialites and an amazing array of celebrities who included honoree Mikki Taylor (fashion icon), Phillip Bloch (brand ambassador), Regina Taylor (actress), J. Alexander (“America's Next Top Model”), Dwight Eubanks (“Real Housewives of Atlanta”), Carissa
Davis (“Boardwalk Empire”), Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (actress) and many more. The Broad Street Ballroom came to life with the thrilling fashions from EMERGE! designers. They included:
Bishme Cromartie – Bishme Cromartie’s collection is edgy sophistication with well-constructed pieces. His collection was cohesive and yet unafraid to take risks.
Parul Aneja – Parul Aneja’s collection adorned the runway with vibrant colors inspired by her hometown of New Delhi. She
specializes in wedding gowns, cocktail dresses, prom and eveningwear.
Deidre Jefferies, ESPION Atelier – ‘ESPION’ (French
for the English word ‘spy’) Jefferies defines her design aesthetic as “the future of classic clothing.” Her strong, yet sexy collection embodied a sleek sophistication combining male and female elements into a luxury line committed
to quality.
Bernice Morgan, Designersberg – A full line of beautiful custom-made
African dresses in a variety of materials including cotton prints, damask, lace and linens came down the runway with a fresh take on modern ethnic wear.
Butterfli Tia – Butterfli Tia's swimwear collection, 2-A-T, came down the runway making a bold statement
with sexy embellishments, well-crafted pieces and bold color choices.
EMERGE! A Fashion Runway Show has become one of the top emerging designer platforms during New York Fashion Week and has been consistent
in providing a national outlet for emerging designers to showcase their work. Hundreds of designer submissions are reviewed by an elite designer committee, which selects some of the top designers from around the world. For more info, please visit www.dwilliamspr.com. (All photos by www.timefrozen.com…you may view more pics from this fantastic event here!)
Glen Ellyn’s Glen Prairie restaurant will host a Celebrity Bartending Event to benefit the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation on April 24th at 1250 Roosevelt Road. With Brittney, Jarrett and Connie Payton all in attendance as well as many Chicago Bears, this night is sure to be fun-filled! Glen Prairie GM Steve Lapino said, “Glen Prairie is proud to be a part of this great event. We look forward to hosting the Payton family and their friends for this fun filled night here in Glen Ellyn.” The event will start at 7:00 p.m. with members of the Payton family bartending during the night. All tips and
gratuities made at the bar that evening will benefit the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. Silent auction items and raffles will take place with all proceeds of these items benefiting the foundation, which is dedicated to the emotional healing of neglected, abused, and underprivileged children in Illinois by providing tools and opportunities to build self-esteem and give them a reason that tomorrow can be different, that tomorrow can be better. For more information, please visit www.payton34.com.
The Chicago Sky’s Swin Cash’s involvement in Girls in the Game (GITG) is more than just as an honored champion at the gala event. In September 2012, one
month after receiving her second Olympic gold medal, Swin launched The Sport-It Girl Initiative. Her vision was to develop a mentoring program for middle-school aged girls to honor the 40th anniversary of Title IX (the landmark legislation banning sex discrimination in schools, whether it be in academics or athletics) which had a significant
impact on her own life. She partnered with Girls in the Game and works with 40
girls from the Chicago Public Schools system who are involved in sports and collaborated with the Chicago Sky, Sky Cares Foundation and Nike to make the launch a memorable experience for the girls. The initiative provides in-depth mentoring and programming
focused on sports, leadership, health and community service. Sport-It-Girl is off to a great start and Swin regularly interacts with her girls through social media. One week later, Swin
was at McCormick Place as one of a handful of elite athletes who had been invited to participate alongside First Lady Michele Obama for the launch of Let’s Move Active Schools, the newest
program in the Let’s Move! initiative. Adam Fox, CEO of the Chicago Sky said, “We are happy to be a sponsor for Girls in the Game. Through our Sky Cares Foundation, we are able to provide tickets to our games and work with GITG on other initiatives.” Every
year, Girls in the Game empowers more than 3,000 girls to make healthier choices and develop the confidence and leadership skills they need to succeed on and off the field. They are one of the only organizations in the Chicago
area dedicated to year-round, multi-sport and wellness programs for girls and young women. For more info on GITG, please click here and for more info on the Chicago Sky – whose season begins May 27th! – click here. (Photos by SUMPHOTO Photography.)
More than 400 people recently attended Chef Art Smith’s Big Gay Ice Cream Social at the James Royal Palm Hotel in Miami Beach. Eating handmade ice cream poolside by Real Sorbet of Miami and floats created by the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, attendees came together to help raise awareness for
marriage equality in Florida. (Recently, Chef Art and his life partner Jesus Salgueiro also co-hosted the Equality Illinois Justice for All Gala in Chicago.) Celebrity chefs and a famous female impersonator brought some noise to support marriage equality in the middle of the SOBE Food and Wine Fest.
Chef Art said, “For a place known as the sunshine state, it’s in the darkness over LGBT rights. My Florida will see the sunshine. It’s the place where I was born and it’s the place where I found Jesus on South Beach. LOL! It’s the place we will return to my family’s historic farm
but, we will return as a recognized legally married couple.” Guests in attendance included Andrew Zimmeren (Discovery Channel), Duff Goldman (Food Network), Johnny Luzzini (“Ace of Cakes”), Spike Mendelsohn (“Top Chef”), Anne Burrell (“Top Chef”), Sunny Anderson (Food Network), Lorena Garcia (“Top Chef Masters”), JM Hirsh (AP Food Editor) and famed gay icon Chi Chi Larue.
The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum, in conjunction with Johnson Publishing Company, will host the Costume Ball on March 15th beginning at 6 p.m. with cocktails and an exhibition preview of “50 Years of the Ebony Fashion Fair.” This one-of-a-kind exhibition will explore the 50 year history of Eunice W. Johnson’s ground-breaking fashion show, which brought
couture fashions to African American communities, while raising millions of dollars for charity. More than 60 garments, including works by Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Stephen Burrows and Yves St. Laurent, will be on display. This black-tie event is chaired by Linda Johnson Rice. (For more info, please click here.)
I hope you can join me on March 12th for a special screening of “Girl Rising,” a documentary that tells the stories of nine remarkable girls from around the globe, each striving beyond circumstances. Directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins (who will be in attendance), the film demonstrates the urgent importance of educating some 66 million girls from around the world who today, can only dream of going to school. Hosted by Daphne Ortiz, Gina Marotta and Molly Rudberg-Leshnock, the event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. screening. Tickets are only $10 each, with a portion of the sales helping to fund girls’ programs through the 10X10 campaign. For tickets and more info, please click here.
A big thank you shout-out to my friend Bonnie Spurlock, editor-and-chief of Sophisticate’s Hairstyle Guide, for including my Candid Candace lipstick from CAMP Cosmetics in her April issue! This magazine is the number one best-selling hair and beauty magazine in the world and features hundreds of new styles, celebrity interviews, product news and more – a must-read for the stylish set!
Congrats are in order for Leah Chavie of Leah Chavie Skin Care Boutique! She has opened a new, exclusive VIP facility located at 2500 N. Halsted, directly across the street from her original location in Lincoln Park. This new spot was designed to be ultra private to cater
to celebrity and VIP clients; in fact, all services here will be performed by Leah Chavie herself. To book an appointment, please call 773.360.1714 and for more info, visit www.leahchavie.com. Congrats, Leah!
Opulence, decadence, glamour! Evoking the spirit of the 1920’s when fashions liberated and jazz exploded, the Face the Future Foundation will have you dancing the night away at its Roaring Twenties-inspired gala, “Fedoras, Flappers and All That
Jazz,” on March 9th at the Four Seasons. So grab your beaded headbands and top hats, slip into your silk stockings and spats and shimmy on over where you’ll join Honorary Chair and all-around great guy Chicago Bear Israel Idonije, along with event co-chairs Mary Genet and Michael Judge. The night will include dancing to the Stanley Paul Orchestra and a live auction that includes a week at a Tuscan Villa, a trip on the Orient Express and a week at the Bitter End Yacht Club. (For tickets and more info, please visit www.facethefuturefoundation.org/)
Urban Gateways’ annual “Arts for All Gala” will be held on March 8th, at City Winery Chicago (located at 1200 W. Randolph St.) from 6 to 9 p.m. This always exciting and inspiring event will include performances by Urban Gateways students from South Chicago, a film on violence in North Lawndale presented by a Chicago high school student who lives there and a gallery of student artwork. Honorary co-chairs are Kay and Jim Mabie and advisory committee members include Susan and Nick Pritzker, Cheryl and Eric McKissack and Dawoud Bey. (For tickets and more info, please visit www.urbangateways.org.) Check out this video from last year's event!
The Red Moon Theater Company is one of my favorites and its major fundraiser, Red Moon’s Spectacle Lunatique, always puts me and everyone else who attends on sensory overload! The sights, the sounds, phones ringing, fires blazing, confetti falling, people giving, candles winking…it’s a creative
wonderland of unimaginable delights! And this year’s event will be held in its new home, a 50,000-square-foot warehouse located at 2120 S. Jefferson in Pilsen! With more space, one can only imagine what will be in store for this year’s gala! So save March 9th for Red Moon! For tickets and more info, please click here! (Photos by Mila Samokhina.)
That’s the news for this week! There’s so much to do and see around town in March! Wowza! I hope I get to see you at one or more of these fabulous events soon! Until next time…
Love, as always,
Candace 🙂
Candace@CandidCandace.com
P.S. Congrats to the dynamic team from Siena Tavern – Lucas Stoioff and David Rekhson (Dineamic Group) and Chef Fabio Viviani (“Top Chef All-Stars”) – on their grand opening! Can’t wait to stop in at 51 W. Kinzie and congratulate you all in person!
P.P.S. More congrats are in order for rapper sensation Trinidad James. Coming off the success of his smash radio single and video for “All Gold Everything,” James is now on an 11-city tour that will highlight tracks from his debut project, “Don’t Be S.A.F.E.” and also serve as the launch for his second single, “Females Welcomed.” Check him out here!!
