GLAMORAMA 2010 WAS THE SHOW OF SHOWS!

Angels were flying, glitter was raining down, children were dancing, Macy and Eric were singing, visuals were exploding, fashion was all around us and then there was Max! Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama 2010 was the show of shows and little Max Herrick and parents were the ambassador family for this extravaganza of fashion, fantasy, music and magic, which was this year’s theme. Max was born with heart troubles which eventually led to a transplant at age 2. After surgery, due to his suppressed immune system as a result of the anti-rejection medication he was taking, Max developed non- Hodgkin lymphoma. During his extensive time in and out of the hospital, his family was able to stay close to him thanks to the Ronald McDonald House. Even though he is still undergoing surgeries and treatments, he and his family continue to keep a positive attitude and a smile on their faces. This is the second year that the proceeds from Glamorama will benefit the Ronald McDonald Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and, specifically, the building of the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House in Streeterville. I hope this will be a long lasting partnership!! And as for the show: The fashions and the way they were presented were so dramatic with incredible music, exciting visuals, glamorous models (who were chosen from L.A., NYC and Chicago and who travel to all four cities with the show), beautiful makeup courtesy of Alex Sanchez for Lancôme and creative hair makeovers provided and created by Joseph Michael’s Salon. I particularly loved the fluffy balls on the sides of the girls’ heads for the Sonia Rykiel segment…tres French! There were also collections by Jean Paul Gaultier, Sportmax, Hugo Boss (my favorite was the men’s ¾ velvet tuxedo jacket!!!), Just Cavalli (who showed the fashions against a visual with the same models in a field flowing across the screen to “Strawberry Fields Forever”), Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Marc Jacobs (where the models came out of a massive “wooden” door with the initials M and J on each side), Felina (who presented the models in very sexy undergarments) and 2(X)IST, who proved that angels do exist! Madonna and her daughter Lourdes designed the clothes for the Material Girl segment which was presented, of course, to a great Madonna video/soundtrack. I attended the rehearsal, which was just as good as the original, so I got to see the show twice and each time, it gave me goose bumps! As I entered the theatre for the first time, the backstage area was packed wall-to-wall with gorgeous fall fashions filled with marvelous textures, fur and deep colors on amazing fabrics. The helpers were dressed all in black and the room was buzzing…there were so many people/press at the rehearsal that it looked like the real show for a minute! All of the entertainers sang their numbers as if it was show time and the models and dancers gave it their all, too. When the show began that evening, the theatre was packed with fun-loving fashionistas eager to see the latest trends and, of course, Macy Gray and Eric Hutchinson. Eric was so likeable and, with his debut album, I predict a big success! He said, “This is a little intimidating for me with all of the good looking models – male and female – backstage. I feel like I should’ve worn heels.” He couldn’t have been cuter and I loved his song, “All Right With Me,” which was about a real lost love named Bernadette. I loved  most of of the fashions in the show and particularly loved the Material Girl presentation which was choreographed by Brian Friedman of “So You Think You Can Dance?” The after-party on the seventh floor of Macy’s perfectly captured their theme of “Fashion, Fantasy, Music and Magic.” Picture yourself entering the room under a canopy of butterflies filled with illuminated elements and interactive entertainment. Glow-in-the-dark hula hoops spiraled and spun on dancers’ bodies throughout the evening as DJ Rex played the hottest hits and dance club mixes. There were also one-of-a-kind work and fashion designs resulting from the collaboration of the Chicago Fashion Incubator designers with sponsor OfficeMax that introduced the blending of style with function. The VIP pre-party was held on the second level of the theatre and guests enjoyed posing in front of the step-and-repeat while sipping champagne and watching the guests enter the theatre. The event raised over $200,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. A special congrats to the following people who made this event the success that it was: Ken Norgan, Andrea Schwartz, Kamal Bosamia, Christina Thomas, Jamie Haberkorn, Katharine Grieve, Mike Gansmoe and Andy Wiersma among many, many others. I was honored to be the Chair of the Host Committee and I thank everyone who supported this wonderful and worthy cause. (Pics by Caitlin Saville and moi.) Click here for more photos and to see ALL images, visit www.ChicagoNow.com/CandidCandace. Also, a special thanks to Tribeca Flashpoint’s Howard Tullman for covering the event.

When Factio Magazine throws a party, EVERYONE comes! The recent “Islands of the World Fashion Tour ‘10” was held at the cool industrial space, Loft on Lake. Publisher Henrique Kerch welcomed the packed house and introduced the creative styles from the island nations of Madagascar (Eric Raisina), Bahamas (Harl Taylor BAG), Jamaica (K.Bobby), Bali (Nadya) and newcomer Raang Designs from Trinidad and Tobago. Chicago is the second city of the tour, which began at the El Paseo Fashion Week in Palm Springs, Calif. President of Mode Isles, Owen Bethel, was thrilled to present these amazing fashions to Chicago along with Factio. The gorgeous models, from Factor, sashayed down the runway to the island sounds of DJ Megan Taylor of Fig Deejay and sporting dramatic makeup by Artists by Timothy Priano. Hosts for the event included Barbara Samuels, Saira Mohan, Melissa Maynard, Corri McFadden, Ashley Drapes, Kristen Skordilis and moi. The next stop will be in Miami in October as the journey continues. (Photos by Steve Starr and moi...see more pics here!)
 
There’s a new bar/restaurant in my ‘hood and I had to share the good news with you! Benchmark opened its doors last week at 1510 N. Wells and I absolutely love it! When the retractable roof opened up to the night sky, I almost lost it. Other restaurants in the area have outdoor patios but I haven’t seen anything like this! Benchmark is owned by the Four Corners Tavern Group, who also own Kirkwood, Schoolyard, WestEnd and Brownstone. The two-story building features a video wall, booths with built-in TVs and screens that rise up out of the back of banquettes. And the food is divine, too: Among favorites are Merkts cheddar-topped burgers, Cuban sandwiches, thin-crust pizzas and great salads. Hope to see you there under the stars!
 
There have been a couple of fun birthdays lately! My favorite judge for the Baton’s Miss Continental Pageant and long-time Tiffany’s superstar, Nadine Epstein, celebrated her big 5-0 with a fun-filled bash hosted by dear friends Jannie and Elliot Pearlman in their lovely home in Lincoln Park. Over 40 guests came together to congratulate this beloved woman-about-town. The delicious food, catered by George Jewell, included fabulous lamb chops and beef tenderloin. Near the end of the night, the karaoke began in earnest and we had a blast. Happy guests included Hedwig and Bob Golant, Alan Sax, Kasia and Greg Kay, Basia, Tonya and Adam Stevenson, Alan Sax, Sarinda Fulgoni, Kristina and Mike McGrath among many others. (Click here for more pics!) Sadly, I missed Brenda Sexton’s VIP-filled party at the Four Seasons on August 2nd but I heard it was a GREAT time, too! Brenda, as you know, was Illinois’ former managing director of the Illinois Film Office and founder of Chicago Link Productions. She has hosted many parties to celebrate fashion and film in Chicago. Seasons’ Executive Chef Kevin Hickey prepared a wonderful summer dinner that started with a crunchy spicy tuna roll, Maryland crab cakes, Vietnamese spring rolls, greens with Michigan peaches, grilled wild salmon with grain mustard and honey blossom glaze, fig and Bing cherry braised Wagyu shortribs and a goat cheese potato gratin. Some of Chicago’s most prominent couples and influential members of the media came out to celebrate the occasion including Sun-Times publisher John Barron and wife Maureen, CBS station manager Bruno Cohen and his wife Lydia, Bill Zwecker, Christie Hefner, Bill Marovitz, Kim and Kevin Cline, Adair Schwartz, Bill White and Suzie and Ross Glickman among others. Another, earlier celebration at the hotel, included guests Sylvia Perez, Linda Yu, Robin Robinson, Laura Schwartz, Andrea Schwartz, Deborah Chapman and Sue Leonis. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA…hope to be there for your next one!!! :) (Click here for more pics.)

If you’re wondering what happened to any of the many local ladies who tried out for Chicago’s Housewives, I know what happened to one of them! Registered nurse Leslie Forrester will be starring with her father, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Leon Forrester Tcheupdjian, in a reality-based series pilot called “Plastic Royalty.” Airing on Sunday, Sept. 5th at 12:30 a.m., this show takes you inside the “fabulous, outrageous, and often hilarious lives of Chicago’s self-proclaimed ‘King of Liposuction’ and his number one employee, his princess of a daughter.” Towers Productions casting director Becky Cattie, who discovered Leslie during the Housewives auditions, said, “Leslie was an open book right from the start. She’s an impressive business woman but doesn’t take herself too seriously. She maintains a very relatable quality while being immersed in the glamorous world of the Gold Coast.” BTW Becky, I’m still waiting for my close-up! ;) Good luck with this fun show!!! (To keep up-to-date on all of the nip-tuck action, visit the Plastic Royalty Facebook page and click here for a sneak peek of the show!
 
Long-time Chicago designer Jermikko has come up with a really cool idea for shoppers looking for a mate in the produce aisles of grocery stores all over town! I know a lot of my single friends always wonder if that cute guy/girl squeezing the melons is single or not. Now Jermikko has the answer for you: Her unique grocery bags allow you to wear your status on your arms and will include the phrases “Single Girl Groceries,” “Single Guy Groceries,” “Hitched” and “Connected.” Now why didn’t I think of this?? She is now in talks with HSN and QVC…and I can say I knew her when! Good luck Jermikko…you’re the hardest working woman in showbiz!!!
 
That’s all folks! Hope you’ve enjoyed it! Don’t forget to check out my blog on Chicago Now too! 
 
Love,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
 
P.S. I am so excited! The recent September issue of Playboy has TWO pics of me in it! Nice to see they don’t forget about us older wabbits! :)

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