Tag Archives: Pamela Pohl

February 4, 2013 · 10:30 am

CHICAGO BEARS ISRAEL IDONIJE AND JERRY AZUMAH “LAUGH OUT LOUD” FOR CHARITY

…PLUS RICHARD DENT SHARES A SECRET, NORTHWESTERN STUDENTS’ EARTH SAVING PROJECT, CRYSTAL’S BIG HEART, NICOLE’S BRIDAL TIPS, A HOMETOWN DESSERT FIT FOR A PRESIDENT, PAMELLA AND DAN MAKE SOME PLANS, A SECRET PARTY (WELL, NOT ANYMORE!), THE LYRIC TAKES YOU TO PARIS, WOMEN DRIVING EXCELLENCE AND SO MUCH MORE!

A cold and rainy night didn’t keep the crowds from packing the house at the hot River North nightclub, Untitled, for the second annual Laugh Out Loud comedy show on January 29th. Chicago Bear Israel Idonije and former all-pro Chicago Bear Jerry Azumah teamed up to benefit their respective charities for a night that included some of the top comedic talent around. Jerry’s charity, the Azumah Student Assistance Program (ASAP) Foundation, develops innovative and unique programs and charity events designed to raise funds for disadvantaged students. Israel’s charity, the Israel Idonije Foundation, inspires underserved communities by providing programs focused on social and emotional life skills. Together, these great superstars created an evening that all those in attendance won’t soon forget. By the end of the night, my sides hurt from laughing so much at the show’s co-hosts WGCI’s Leon Rogers and Brian Babylon, along with featured comedians Damon Williams (of BET’s "Comic View" who also served as the opening act for the legendary Kings of Hollywood Comedy Tour), Adrienne Irmer (Perri’s darling daughter), Ali Clayton, Tony Scolfied, Ron Baker, Jr. (handsome brother of Ryan), Mitch Hurley, Erica Clark and Willie Lynch. The fun-filled night began with a VIP reception in the club’s exclusive bar area behind the main stage. Here, guests got a chance to meet the hosts and mingle with the comedians as well as enjoy a fabulous buffet. I covered the event for Candid Candace Chicago (on Watch312.com) so stay tuned for all of the evening’s fun captured on video as well as great interviews with the hosts and the many sports stars in attendance. Seen on the scene were Antoine Walker, Trista Phillips, Jason McKee, Kelley Speck, Erica Clark, Nina Chantelle, Les Coney, Alayna and DC Crenshaw, KISS-FM’s Angi Taylor and Saran Dunmore to name a few. To learn more about these wonderful charities, please visit www.israelidonije.org and www.theasapfoundation.org. Congrats Izzy and Jerry and thanks for all you do to make the world a better place. 🙂 (To see more pics from this fun-filled evening, please click here!)

Legendary Chicago Bear, 1985 Super Bowl MVP and Class of 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Richard Dent was the featured guest speaker at the Union League Club reception and luncheon held on January 29th. Richard was there to discuss his book, "Blood, Sweat & Bears," written with veteran Chicago Tribune sportswriter Fred Mitchell. After lunch, Fred interviewed Richard as he recounted stories in the book and playing football for the fiercest, most dominant defense in NFL history AND playing the game before violent helmet-to-helmet tackles were forbidden. He spoke about growing up in a family with nine kids and having a mother who did whatever it took to make ends meet. Richard asked the audience, “How many of you have seen the movie, ‘The Help’? That was my mom and she made the best biscuits around.” Fred fielded questions from the crowd and as the luncheon came to a close, Richard shared this with the audience, “You are the first to know I will be carrying the Vince Lombardi trophy onto the field at Sunday’s Super Bowl game!” Two guests at the luncheon who sat with Richard and Fred at the Author’s table were Sheila Dorman (Sr. VP and COO of Northern Trust) and Margaret O’Connor (the producer of Richard’s pre-induction Hall of Fame celebration at Carnivale for 450 people). Sheila and Margaret also traveled to Canton, Ohio, for Richard’s induction into the Hall of Fame in August 2011. (Our beloved photog Steve Starr also made the trip and would be so pleased to know that his photograph of Richard’s children RJ and Shiloh and long-time girlfriend DeEtta Jones is in the book). To purchase "Blood, Sweat & Bears!", please click here!

Water is one of the most important elements on earth and an exciting new documentary, “Water Pressures,” a film that features Northwestern University students and desert villagers in water-distressed Rajasthan, India, will premiere on March 20th at the Wilmette Theater (1122 Central Ave). Produced by Artistic Circles’ Ann Feldman, the film is hosted by "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier and directed by Bill Natale (executive producer for Illinois Centers for Broadcasting and Watch312.com), who also served as the associate producer of the doc. The story demonstrates how understanding, education and collaboration can lead to sustainable solutions, particularly between developing and developed countries. Based on the relationships created by the documentary, Northwestern is now setting up a research site in the desert at the Jal Bhagirathi Foundation to study and assist with desalination and water-related diseases. “Water Pressures” premiered at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, winning merit awards for a video for social change. It has been translated into Hindi with plans to be broadcast in India as well as on public TV stations nationwide beginning March 20. “Water Pressures” is presented by WTTW Chicago and will be nationally distributed by American Public Television. Enjoy this three-minute trailer and congrats to all involved for creating this eye-opening film!

I don’t know how many of you consult an astrologer from time to time but I have a wonderful woman who even gives readings over the phone based on your info! Jolie Evans has been in the business for a long, long time and her reading for me from last year was so precise that I just had to share her info with you! Anyone interested, please email jolieevans@live.com and tell her Candid Candace sent you! 🙂

Huge congrats to one of my very favorite makeup artists, Nicole Jacob Delehanty! She is featured in this month’s issue of Town & Country Weddings, which showcases hair and makeup pros who travel to destination weddings. Anyone lucky enough to nab Nicole will certainly look her very best on her special day! Congrats to this gorgeous, talented new mom who looks more beautiful than ever! Here are her five top tips for wedding makeup: 1.) Wear individual fake lashes, they draw attention to the eye 2.) Add shimmer to foundation for a natural luminous healthy glow, 3.) Enhance your features but don't mask your face with makeup, 4.) Bronzer is super important all the time – heathy color, and 5.) Light pink see through lip gloss is feminine and beautiful! (Unless of course you prefer Candid Candace Coral from CAMP Cosmetics, LOL!) For wedding makeup inquiries, please call Cathy at 312-961-6588 and to book appointments for makeup or brows, contact the Paul Rehder Salon at 312-943-7404.

Hef’s leading lady, Crystal Harris Hefner, is auctioning off her wedding dress from their nuptials in honor of Hef’s longtime and much-loved assistant, Mary O’Connor, who recently passed away. Given that Mary was responsible for helping H
ef and Crystal reconcile and eventually marry, Crystal has decided to put her pink, strapless, mermaid-style Romona Keveza gown up for auction along with her Aruna Seth pumps to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (This is the disease that recently claimed Mary’s life.) The auction ends February 11th. Click here to bid! What a loving gesture Crystal!

Stylish fashion designer Pamella Roland – who has been the featured designer for The Joffrey Ballet’s Couture & Cocktails – will be spending more time in Chicago and wants her husband Dan to stay busy! Daniel DeVos, son of billionaire Richard DeVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan, just opened a Ford Dealership west of McCormick Place at 2401 S. Michigan Ave. Since buying a home downtown, Pamella hopes to spend more time in the Windy City and we couldn't be happier to hear this good news! Welcome to Chicago, Pamella and Dan!!

More Chicagoans making a national impact include the delightful owners of Eli’s Cheesecake, Maureen and Marc Schulman: This year marks the fourth inaugural cake that Eli’s has been invited to create! Both of former President Bill Clinton’s inaugurals and President Obama’s 2009 Commander-in-Chief Ball all had giant Eli’s cheesecakes! This year’s 500-pound creation was served at the Staff Ball after Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga performed. The President, First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady were also in attendance. Maureen says, “It was a cheesecake frenzy!” The cake also appeared on the Jumbotron much to the delight of the Schulmans! Also in attendance were Eli’s executive pastry chef Laurel Boger (who decorated the big cake in the kitchen of the Washington Convention Center), Schulman daughters Haley, Kori and Elana (who all wore glam dresses and exquisite jewelry from LuLu’s at the Belle Kay, no doubt styled by its chic owner Laurie Davis). What a thrilling opportunity for this Chicago institution, Eli’s Cheesecake!! Congrats to Maureen, Marc and all the little Schulmans!

I’m so excited to be a featured speaker for Women Driving Excellence, an inaugural event at the Chicago Auto Show on February 12th. In celebration of "women who start, accelerate
, fuel and steer others to strive for excellence," MJ Tam and Beth Rosen (ChicagonistaLIVE social talk show), Monika Dixon, Debi Lilly, Elisa All, Jill Saltzman, Saya Hillman along with the Chicago Tribune, Red Eye and Cars.com will partner to co-host this exciting event. Featured speakers/honorees include Corri McFadden (eDrop-Off founder), Genevieve Thiers (founder of Sittercity.com), Luvvie Ajayi (AwesomelyLuvvie.com), Anupa Singla (Chicago Now blogger and former CLTV news broadcaster), Karen Weigert (City of Chicago Chief Sustainability Officer) and ME! 🙂 Giveaways will be offered throughout the event and will include iPad Minis, spa services, hotel stays and many more! The day’s thrilling activities will begin at 10 a.m. – to see all details and to RSVP, please click here! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

With Sargent McCormick (2nd from R) with friends at Pump Room

I received a very unusual invite for the 108th Twelfth Night Masquerade. What the hell is this, you ask? I know, I asked myself the same question so I googled it: It turns out this is a very exclusive party (by invite only and, by this I mean only you and not your spouse or a plus-one which irritated me to no end). However, my natural curiosity got the best of me so I just had to go. From what I discovered, this event was founded in 1905 by Bill Gamble (of Procter & Gamble fame) and his high-society cohorts, who banded together to break up the doldrums of winter in Chicago by inaugurating the Widow & Widowers Ball. From the start, it was a party with an irreverent twist: Gamble and company drew up a list of all the couples in their social circles, decided which member of each couple they deemed the most fun and invited that person alone to attend the ball. By 1920, this rule was relaxed – no doubt because of the outrage from the other partner – and the name was changed to The Twelfth Night Masquerade. Billy Gamble died in 1921 but the party continues as his lasting legacy to Chicago social life. Twelfth Night has been a fixture on the Chicago social calendar for more than a century and for many remains a family tradition with current guests, their parents and even their grandparents in attendance. In order to receive an invite, you must be known to the Committee of Twelve. Oh, and the evening was also a celebration of charming Sargent McCormick’s 30th birthday. 🙂 I could only attend the pre-party cocktail get-together at the Pump Room but the party hit its zenith later with 600 guests in costume in the Gold Coast Room of the Drake Hotel. No press allowed…oops, there goes next year’s invite! 😉 Their motto: Let good taste prevail to no avail. Their rule: No equestrians or mounted pedestrians.

I love this event that benefits Atia’s Project Ladybug. On March 23rd, HGTV host and “hottie-with-a-heart” Dina Manzo will host the third annual Ladybug Bash to benefit Comer Children’s Hospital at the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 78 E. Washington St. Tickets begin at $65 and will help raise awareness for this non-profit which aims to ease the struggles of childhood cancer. Please come out for the fun and be inspired by this great cause!

The Lyric Opera wants to take you to Paris! On February 9th, the Lyric will present the Fantasy of the Opera: Midnight in Paris. The Civic Opera house will be transformed into 1920’s Paris with the lower-level Opera Club morphing into the Moulin Rouge, the foyer and mezzanine levels will become the “Streets of Paris” with French gourmet samplings and spectacles, the Cabaret will showcase stars of the Lyric’s winter productions performing non-opera repertoire and will include singers Jamie Barton, David Cangelosi, Elizabeth Futral, Amanda Majeski, Ana Maria Martinez, Lucas Meachem, Albina Shagimuratova and Andrea Silvestrilli. Event chairman Courtney Rosen (who will be wearing a chic gown by Atelier Azza) promises this will be a very unique experience! Dance music will be provided by big band Rendezvous! For tickets, beginning at $275 and more info, please click here! Ooh la la!

Congrats to beloved cabaret star Lynne Jordan and her hot band, The Shivers! Her sell-out show, which channeled Nina Simone, was a huge hit at City Winery last month and her recent show at Davenport’s, a tribute to Janis Joplin, was also a sell-out! There's nothing this woman can’t sing and Roger Ebert said so in a recent tweet to his almost 800,000 followers! Don’t miss another show from this Chicago treasure!

The Black History Month Innovation Panel will be hosted by the Women’s Innovation Network on February 19th at the International House at the University of Chicago. Panelists will include beloved PR queen Dori Wilson (Dori Wilson Public Relations), Jetta Bates (award-winning marketing expert and creator of JettaSetting), Makeba Kedem-Dubose (artist, curator and art educator) and Dawgelene Sangster (author and founder of Think Royally Inc.). Moderator, and another Chicago treasure, will be NBC’s LeeAnn Trotter. For tickets and more info, please click here.

Dancing with Chicago Celebrities is an annual star-studded charity ball presented by Arthur Murray to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. Over the last seven years, the ball has raised more than $800K which has been donated to deserving charities who champion this cause. The 8th Annual Dancing with Chicago Celebrities will take place March 8th at the Hyatt Regency and will include beloved WGN’s Dina Bair (I’ve seen this woman dance at Newsapalooza and I hope the other competitors are rehearsing NOW!), WBBM-TV’s Pam Jones, ’06 champion Chef Rick Bayless, ’12 MVP Kim Vatis (NBC5) and ’12 champion and former Chicago Bear Desmond Clark, NBC’s Stefan Holt, WGN’s Frank Holland, ABC’s Michelle Gallardo, Miss Illinois Megan Ervin, former Chicago Bear Anthony Adams and Christina Filiaggi (WLS-AM Radio 890). For tickets and more info, please click here!

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) will celebrate its 24th annual Awards Show on February 9th at the Muvico Theaters in Rosemont, located at 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave. Nadine Velazquez and Joe Perillo will emcee and award-winning actress Jane Lynch will receive the Comedia Extraordinaire Award at 7:30 p.m. at the theater. Net proceeds will support the 2013 Emerging Film Makers Award for Columbia College Chicago film students. For tickets and more info, please click here!

I love it that Playboy glamour girl and perpetually fit Jenny McCarthy (40!), loves Chicago’s delicious Giordano’s pizza…and stuffed pie at that! In a recent cover story article in Shape Magazine, she says she gets her Windy City fix by having it shipped to LA when she craves a taste from home. She said, “There’s this place in Chicago called Giordano’s which has the best deep-dish pizza in the world. It’s my therapist, my best friend and my boyfriend on Friday nights.” I doubt that she’s ever very lonely but nice to know she loves one of Chicago’s many legendary institutions!

The Adler Planetarium will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a reception hosted by new president Dr. Michelle Larson and chairman of the board, John Estey, on February 7th. The night under the stars will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Adler’s Sky Pavilion followed by a program honoring featured speaker and New York Times best-selling author of “Galileo’s Daughter” Dava Sobel. Cynthia Ballew is event chair with co-chairs Nancy Temple (WB President), Linda Celesia, Caroline Becker Joss, Lisa Lewis, Erika Bartelstein, Pamela Pohl, Mihra Seta and Linda Gerstman. (For tickets and more info, please visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.)

Special thanks to the Sun-Times Splash editor, and all-around great peep, Susanna Negovan for including my CAMP Cosmetics Candid Candace lipstick in Sunday’s fab section! This color is a great cure for the winter doldrums – hope you agree and buy it here!!! (Wink wink!)

I’m so happy that Chicago’s social whirl has picked up! There's so much to do and so many great events planned! Tune into "Windy City Live" on February 25th, when I’ll share my top picks for March! 🙂

Love, as always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com

THE JOFFREY BALLET’S CELEBRATION GALA RAISES $1.336 MILLION

…PLUS AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S DISCOVERY BALL, ADLER PLANETARIUM HONORS DYNAMO, CHEFS NIGHT OUT FOR COMMON THREADS, A NIGHT IN BLUE & WHITE WITH CARDINAL FRANCIS GEORGE, DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM CELEBRATION, WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT, FASHION COLUMBIA 2012, STELLA FOSTER HONOR, PLAYBOY SAYS GOODBYE AND MORE!

The Joffrey Ballet’s Celebration Gala honored the 10th anniversary of its Women’s Board at the legendary Palmer House Hilton on Sunday, May 6th. The grand affair began at the Auditorium Theatre with a special performance created by artistic director Ashley Wheater. Beginning with George Balanchines’ “Stars & Stripes,” this segment included a uniformed Ashley dancing and then stepping out of the line to deliver his opening remarks to a surprised and appreciative crowd. It was one of my favorite performances so far, maybe because the evening was so special to me personally since this was my fifth Joffrey event co-chairing with Helen Melchior. We started planning this benefit two months or so before. Our co-chairs were chosen for their dynamism and willingness to work hard to bring this vision to light. They included Donna LaPietra, designer Pamella Roland DeVos, Victoria Holdren, Mary Pat Burns, Liz Sharp, Joan Colmar, Kate Bensen, Leslie Hindman, Jan Melk, Anne Kaplan, Nancy Gottlieb Bauer and Mary Jo Basler. Maureen Dwyer Smith served as 10th Anniversary Chair. Donna LaPietra (Kurtis Productions) created a remarkable tribute video which was shown during the Gala dinner. It contained archival photos as well as taped comments from Nate Berkus (who had hosted the first two Couture & Cocktails), Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ashley Wheater, executive director Christopher Clinton Conway, the Joffrey dancers and dancers from the Bridge and Exelon Strobel Step Up programs. There were also photos and video clips from past Women’s Board events as well as member photos. In short, it was a collection of treasured memories from the past 10 years of the Women’s Board. There were many firsts for this event starting with the fact that it was held on a Sunday. This date happened to coincide with the closing performance of the season and, typically, the Junior Auxiliary Board hosts an event to celebrate this occasion. Because of this fact and because we felt it would be a great idea to combine forces, we partnered with the JAB (for the first time) for the Grande Finale party in the Empire Room. From beginning to end, the night was a true celebration in the style the Joffrey is known for. With exquisite décor by Tom Kehoe Designs, the room literally glowed with white orchids and lilies filling lighted crystal vases throughout the Grand Ballroom. Mayor Emanuel welcomed the crowd and mentioned his brief moment in time as a Joffrey dancer. Then Helen and I thanked our co-chairs, committee, sponsors, Women’s Board and, of course, the dancers who inspire us every day. Una Jackman, a producer of the film “Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance,” was the recipient of the Arpino Angel Award. This event was the Joffrey's second largest fundraiser, after the 50th anniversary gala in 2006, raising more than $1.336 million!!!! (Special thanks to Pomellato jewels (41 E. Oak St.), Alayna Washington Crenshaw and Women’s Board member Christina Gilberti for making me feel like a fairy princess! I wore a rose gold bracelet recently worn by J. Lo, from their Tango line consisting of 30 carats of brown diamonds worth $101K with matching earrings ($22K). Also thanks to Bill Zwecker for the great write-up about the event and my jewels in his Sun-Times column! My black dress, which, coincidentally, slightly resembled a tutu, was from STRUT Boutique at 2549 N. Clark St. (owner Niala Conte has fabulous style and chooses beautiful pieces with budget friendly prices) and my elegant co-chair, Helen Hall Melchior, wore Jason Wu (from Nordstrom) to perfection! (Thanks to Mila Samokhina and Bob Carl for these great pics; to see more photos on Chicago Now, please click here!)

The Discovery Ball at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel attracted a crowd of more than 700 guests and 200 dedicated volunteers to benefit the American Cancer Society on Saturday, April 28th. The evening began with co-chairs Anna and Greg Brown (chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions) welcoming guests to a VIP reception. Brown introduced the evening’s emcee, CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo, who is the first reporter to ever broadcast live from the floor of the NY Stock Exchange. After the reception, guests perused more than 200 silent auction items before moving into the ballroom with a Hamptons theme. Heffernan Morgan’s décor was inspired by the Browns’ home in Cape Cod. Anna wanted a clean elegant look to the event which featured blue hydrangeas and candles inside hurricane vases – it was gorgeous! In 2006, the first Discovery Ball was co-chaired by Motorola CEO Ed Zander and his wife, Mona, and last year, the Zanders were the honorees when the event hit the $10 million mark. Comedian Kevin Nealon was the featured entertainment and he had the crowd in stitches. At one point, he helped sell a Tiffany diamond cocktail ring, modeled by gorgeous Veronica Zepeda, for $30K to a lucky bidder! Iron Chef Bobby Flay flew in from NY to participate in a live auction package that included a dinner for 14 prepared in the winner’s home. This popular live auction package was the hit of the night, selling to three bidders for a total of $218K! Another “live” auction package – a darling silver Labrador puppy – sold to co-chair Greg Brown for $35K. Other packages included a trip to Australia ($22K), a Phil Mickelson golf package ($16K) and a trip for two to the 2012 Olympic Games in London ($24K). Notables seen on the scene included Bill Daley, Kim Duchossois, Kristina and Mike McGrath (who donated a 2013 Acura RDX for the event), Ramona and Dan Ustian, Victoria and Gary Holdren, Ashley Bond and Matthew Pritzker, Blackhawks’ Coach Joel Quenneville with wife Elizabeth, Oracio Marquez, Nancy and Michael Reinsdorf, Sonya Jackson and Kathleen and Mike Henson. Approximately $2.7 million was raised on this night to support the American Cancer Society, aka “The Official Sponsor of Birthdays.” For more info, please visit www.cancer.org. (Fab photos by Mila Samokhina…click here to view more!)

For the 10th year, the Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium held its Women in Space Science Award Celebration luncheon at the Union League Club recently. The event honors women’s accomplishments in the fields of science and technology and, this year, honored Dr. France A. Cordova, president of Purdue University and the first woman to lead the institution. Dr. Cordova is a former NASA chief scientist, a Senate-confirmed member of the National Science Board and also a member of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents! Following the luncheon, this inspiring woman met with 250 middle school girls from Chicago Public Schools at the Adler. Chairs for this 2012 WISS celebration were Teri Monte and Lisa Jozwiak; committee members included Nancy Temple, Cynthia Ballew, Elaine Cottey, Courtney Pitt, Pamela Pohl, Meg Prendergast, Donna Beering, Linda Celesia, Sarah Fritz, Caroline Becker and Lisa Lewis. The Adler Planetarium – America’s FIRST Planetarium – was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. For more than 80 years, the Adler has inspired the next generation of explorers by sharing the personal stories of space exploration and America’s space heroes.

Common Threads' Annual Black Tie Gala was held at the River West hotspot, Nellcote. Culinary rock stars for the evening included chefs Jose Garces (smoked oyster soup), Paul Kahan (Dungeness crab salad), Michael Laiskonis (black sesame panna cotta), Bill Telepan (Normandy duck with foie gras custard), Jared Van Kamp (rib eye with Perigueux sauce) and Marc Vetri (ravioli with fava beans). One hundred twenty elegant guests attended this $1,000-per-person event and enjoyed a six-course seated dinner with wine pairings plus a performance by JC Brooks & Uptown Sound. Hosted by Gwen Farinella, Anne Hokin, Sonya Jackson, Brook Jay and Linda Levine, the evening raised more than $140K for Common Threads! (To view more pics from this event, please click here!)

"A Night in Blue and White" began with a beautiful solemn high mass said by Cardinal Francis George at St. Ferdinand's on the Northwest Side Tuesday, May 8th. “I always love coming back to the NW side where I grew up,” said Cardinal George. “Founded 75 years ago at the end of the Great Depression, it took a great deal of hope for the sisters to come here when there wasn't much hope around. My father always had
a job but he didn't always get paid.” Established in 1937 by the order founded by St. Julie Billiart (the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur), Notre Dame High School for Girls is a small (81 students), all-girls college prep high school. They boast a 16 to 1 student-teacher ratio with 65 percent of the faculty and staff holding master’s degrees or higher. The Class of 2011 earned more than $1.1 million in scholarships and awards towards higher education. On this night, the celebration continued after mass in the auditorium with Cardinal George being surprised by Chair Emeritus Dia Weil with a birthday cake and students singing “Happy Birthday.” (Even though his birthday was in January, they still celebrated their 75th year together.) Ariel Reboyras, Alderman of the 30th Ward, was on hand to offer congratulations along with past alums…some from as far back as the Class of 1943. Avanti Gourmet Catering and Oak Mill Bakery provided a delicious buffet for the evening. Molly Socha from ND's Development Office helped coordinate the event with help from students, faculty and staff along with Michelle Durpetti of Michelle Durpetti Events. It was truly a night of joyous celebration as the high school seniors excitedly spoke about the colleges they would be attending as well as how much they would miss “this fine school that has taught them so much.” Congrats to co-chairs, Noreen Musica and Susan Miller, for this delightful celebration! To learn more about this wonderful institution, please click here. I was honored to be included. 🙂

The DuPage Children’s Museum hosted its Champions for Children Benefit Ball at Hotel Arista in Naperville. Presented under the sparkling stars of a dramatic Venetian night, the black tie optional benefit was a glamorous night of live entertainment, unique auction items and special honorees, all to support educating young children. Emceed by ABC 7’s Judy Hsu, the evening honored the late Dorothy Carpenter, who co-founded DCM with Louise Beem. Last year’s Honorary Chairs, Tom and Brenda Harter, introduced this year’s 2012 Benefit Ball Honorary Chair, Amy Louis. The Museum impacts children’s lives by providing educational programs for 40,000 school children and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors per year. (To view additional pics from this event, please click here!)

A big thank you to Sheila Henley for including me in her W.IN.E (Women in Entertainment) Forum TV segment! Sheila created W.IN.E by asking one simple question: “Where are the women in entertainment and what do they have to say about the industry?” With that, Ms. Henley started the W.IN.E newsletter, which grew to become the W.IN.E magazine and now, W.IN.E TV. Sheila says, “W.IN.E TV has a commitment to be a platform for women who are visionaries and pioneers in their field of entertainment and to encourage and provide role models for women, as well as men. This platform will allow women to share their successes and failures of making it in this dynamic industry. W.IN.E TV will encourage and promote content that will be suitable for all ages. W.IN.E has been a voice for women in entertainment for almost 12 years.”(Visit W.IN.E TV on You Tube and check out my segment here!)

Congratulations to wonderful writer Margie Wilson-Mars for her beautiful and lovingly-written article for Gather News about Playboy leaving Chicago titled “Hugh Hefner and Playboy Say a Bittersweet Goodbye to Chicago.” She has known Hef since she was five years old having met him and Barbie Benton when they took a trip to Disneyland. Her father and mother used to have parties at their home in Miami and many of the Playmates would attend. Margie became a fan saying, “I would sneak out of the room in awe of these glamorous women, just to get a peek at the clothes, hair, etc.” Her article is a must-read for Playboy fans and I was honored to be included.

Our own Stella Foster, Sun-Times columnist extraordinaire, will be honored with the 2012 Dante Award at a luncheon hosted by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans at Galleria Marchetti, located at 825 W. Erie, on Thursday, May 17th, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased by calling 708.450.9050 or by emailing jcc@jccia.com. JCCIA’s illustrious members include Dominic DiFrisco (President Emeritus), Antonio Romanucci (President) and Jo Ann Serpico (Executive Director).

Join Desiree Rogers for Columbia College’s premiere spring fundraising event, Fashion Columbia 2012, on Friday, June 8th beginning at 7 p.m. This event will feature the work of students in the Fashion Studies program with net proceeds benefitting the newly established Eunice W. Johnson Scholarship Fashion Studies Fund. Jewelry designer Lana Bramlette (Class of ’97), will be honored with the Alumni Achievement in Fashion Design Award, as her Lana Jewelry line is worn by celebs and fashionistas around the globe. Host committee members include Trish Rooney Alden, Madele
ine Moore Burrell, Gwendolyn Butler, Nora Daley, Susan Downing, Ikram Goldman, MK Pritzker, Shawnelle Ritchie, Julie Latsko, Rich Gamble, Diane Primo, and Mellody Hobson among others. General admission tickets are $150 per person, VIP tickets are $250 and standing room only tickets are $75. For more info, please click here.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Candid Candace! Please send any information on events, parties or people YOU would like to see covered to Candace@CandidCandace.com! And, as always…

Love,
Candace 🙂

P.S. Congrats to beloved photographer, Amie Hana, on her recent feature in Marie Claire Magazine titled "Call Me a Professional." Her work is well known in Chicago and now the world will know of her incredible talents too! Check out one of her recent portfolio pics from "Red Riding Hood in Venice" – in a word: SPELLBINDING! Congrats, Amie!