PLUS GRAND CHEFS GALA; LADIES IN RED HONOR BUNKY; BUCCELLATI AND COSTUME COUNCIL'S LUX AFTERNOON; FIRST COUPLE HONORED AT STANLEY PAUL BENEFIT; BLACK CREATIVITY GALA; TOP OSCAR PARTY PICKS; DANCING WITH CHICAGO CELEBS; GLITZ AND GLAMOUR FOR A SILVER LINING; ART FOR ALL GALA; BLOHAUTE COMES TO YOU!; CARRIE'S NEW GIG; MILA SHOOTS ERNIE; GIRLS IN THE GAME GALA CELEBRATES 20; HEART-WARMING VIDEOS AND SO MUCH MORE!
The 65th annual Physician's Ball honored the best of the best at a black-tie event hosted by the Polish-American Medical Society (PAMS) at the Ritz-Carlton recently with more than 750 guests in attendance. Even the new Governor, Bruce Rauner, was on hand to accept the Amicus Poloniae (Friend of Poland) Award from the Consul General for the Republic of Poland in Chicago, Paulina Kapuscinska, (on behalf of the Ambassador of Poland). The elegant affair was expertly chaired by
PAMS President, Dr. Kornelia Krol, who presented Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski (the guest of honor) with an award for his extraordinary contributions in the field of medicine and beyond. Matyjaszewski has an impressive list of achievements as a Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon.
He's the founder/director at the Center for Macromolecular Engineering at Pittsburgh; a recipient of over 20 prestigious awards in 7 countries including the Polish Nobel Prize and the Wolf Award; the author of 18 books and the recipient of 7 Honoris Causa degrees from universities in 5 countries! He's a
remarkably humble man for all these achievements and offered a humorous acceptance speech. Since this WAS a party, he jokingly commented on a study that found "the best tasting vodka needs to be between 40 and 45% alcohol, no more, no less." Lol!
Dr. Izabela Roman was honored with the Bene Merito Prize for her outstanding community and charity work in the U.S. and Poland. Four honorary memberships to PAMS were awarded at the Gala: Dr. Ewa Ellenberg;
Dr. Kazimierz Nowak; Dr. Miroslaw Wielgos and Dr. Michael Hibner. The crowd came alive for an exhilerating performance by Wici Song and Dance Company. Their exotic costumes and intricate dance moves had the audience entranced. Choreographed by
Magdalena Solarz, the dancers engaged the audience in their most beautiful Polish dance, the Polonaise. Following a dinner of braised short ribs, poached lobster, truffled asparagus and Brussels sprouts with Riesling sauce, a sensational rock group from Warsaw, Golec u'Orkiestra, performed a high energy concert. The dance floor filled with people
snapping pics from every corner of the room as the group played tirelessly and flawlessly with multiple instruments. It was an honor to co-host this elegant, high-powered event with ABC 7's Alan Krashesky. He was a
sheer delight to share the podium with and I was grateful for his Polish heritage as he whizzed through the difficult sounding names with ease! The Polish American Medical Society is the world's largest organization of Polish doctors outside of Poland
and has been in existence since 1946. Funds from the event benefited medical, veterinary and dental students of Polish descent as well as a $5000 grant to the Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois. Congrats to all!
It was culinary overload at the Grand Chefs Gala on January 30th when dozens of our town's top chefs, restaurants, mixologists and sommeliers were honored with Jean Banchet Awards! More than 900
guests were in attendance at this 18th annual Oscars-style event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Chicago Classic Award, which went
to Gene & Georgetti restaurant. Dominic DiFrisco (beloved dad of Nina Mariano) presented the award to family members Michelle, Marion and Tony Durpetti and Richard Ciota. He said, "This family has created a safe harbor for generations of Chicagoans and around-the-world visitors. The restaurant gives you
prime meats, old world service and a warm nook to escape the harsh realities of a stressed out society." Michelle shared, "My grandfather and founder of G &
G, Gene Michelotti, thought the more he did, the better life became. I think that applies to work and to giving back to your community." And they certainly do this in spades! Congrats G & G! Other big wins that night included the Boka Boys (Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm) who
won for Rising Pastry Chef (Genie Kwon, Boka/GT Fish & Oyster); Chef of the Year (Lee Wolen, Boka) and Restaurant of the Year (Boka). Windy City Live's Ji Suk Yi and Grace Restaurant's Michael Muser co-emceed the evening that also included entertainment by Matt Lewis
and the Union. I was also thrilled to share the podium as a presenter with Sun-Times' Susanna Negovan. We presented Momotaro with a win for Best Restaurant Design. Other highlights included the People's Choice Award that went to
Prime and Provisions; Best New Restaurant to Parachute and Best Neighborhood Restaurant to La Sirena Clandestina. (To see ALL the award winners, click here!) Congrats to ALL! Chicago is the King of Culinary! (And to see my coverage in the Chicago Tribune, click here!)
The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum hosted a luxurious reception at Spiaggia restaurant on the Magnificent Mile to welcome the CEO of Milanese fine jewelry house, Buccellati, Alberto Milani. Nena Ivon, president of the Chicago Costume Council, welcomed the
crowd and introduced Mr. Milani who shared his extensive knowledge and experience (and humor) in a lecture called Buccellati: Timeless Beauty in Today’s Luxury Society. A video offered guests a peek inside the world-renowned house and its position in today’s jewelry industry. With success as a world-class
innovator and communicator of ideas within the luxury jewelry industry, Milani shared his insights. “The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum holds true the same value as that of Buccellati; the
preservation and interpretation of history. I am truly honored for this opportunity to share my knowledge and tenure of the luxury jewelry market and to allow those in attendance to discover Buccellati and its masterful designs." He was dressed
impeccably, of course, and was wearing the most beautiful watch I had ever seen. The presentation featured breathtaking images of some of Buccellati's iconic pieces. More than 75% of the handmade creations are one of a kind, according to Milani, which sets Buccellati apart from other jewelers. The
afternoon began with a reception at the newly redesigned Italian fine dining restaurant, Spiaggia, where attendees mixed and mingled amidst the dramatic decor. During the luncheon, Mr. Milani spoke about the unrivaled craftsmanship of Buccellati and how the brand fits in with the world’s most
legendary jewelry brands as a ‘Master of Dreams.’ The afternoon was co-hosted by Marit and Jacques Bohbot, the loving, delightful couple behind the Buccellati boutique at 108 E. Oak St., along with Noren Ungaretti, Susu Block, Melissa McNally, Stuart Mesires, Mel Muoio and Pauline Sheehan. Following the luncheon, the event moved to
the nearby boutique where a Prosecco and Petit Fours reception took place, allowing guests the opportunity to explore the brand's breathtaking jewelry and silver firsthand. If you haven't visited this jewel on Oak Street, you are really missing
something very special. Besides the exquisite inventory, the "Pharmacy" in the rear is from 18th century Venice and a sight to behold. You can even see watermarks near the bottom of the display cabinets from that city's notorious floods.
Bunky Cushing has been a fixture on the social scene of Chicago for as long as I can remember. His by-invite-only events raise funds for charities close to his heart and are much coveted. His annual Valentine's Day Teas and Handbags & Halos luncheons 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 creme de la creme of Chicago society,” and Vogue magazine has called him “Chicago’s social tugboat.” He
has been associated with Ralph Lauren for over 25 years as a consultant, his time with the company taking him to New York, Miami, and finally settling in Chicago in 1990. So it
was no surprise when a few of his dear friends turned the tables and honored him for all his good work. The snow was thick on the ground when around 30 women wended their way to the Tortoise Club, a cozy spot owned by Megan and Keene Addington at 350 N. State. Co-hosted by Myra Reilly and Zarada Gowenlock, the elegant luncheon was held in the fire
engine red dining room by a blazing fireplace. Gorgeous floral arrangements, donated by longtime Lady in Red and Bunky Bestie, Sherry Lea Holson, dotted every table and made the room look like something out of a magical fairytale. A menu placed at each table had a photo of
Bunky in a heart--so appropriate--and the food was out of this world! On this day, the menu consisted of wild mushroom and roasted asparagus soup, mixed green salad and your choice of a Maine lobster roll, roasted chicken salad or salmon. Myra thanked everyone for coming
in her delicate lady-like voice and then Bunky shared his thoughts, "I've always loved women and having women for friends. They're always there for me and have never judged me. This is the nicest treat and the best Valentine's present I could have." And we all love you right back Bunky! (His Squire of Society column, is not to be
missed!
I can't wait! The annual Stanley Paul-Raelene Mittelman Foundation Benefit, hosted in conjunction with the Apparel Industry Board, Inc., will honor one of our town's favorite couples, Myra and John Reilly, on Wednesday, April 22, at the Casino (195 E. Delaware). This dynamic duo will be the first couple so honored by the organization that raises funds for scholarships for students aspiring to careers in
the world of fashion. The Scholarship Fund was established in 1990 by Stanley in honor of his sister, Raelene Mittelman, who was a great lover of fashion and had a strong belief that we must aid the future by supporting the education of its students. Tickets will go fast, so get yours now here!
The Black Creativity Gala hosted 750 supporters at the Museum of Science and Industry on January 24. Co-chaired by Cheryl Harris (senior VP of Allstate Insurance) and Anne Pramaggiore (Pres/CEO ComEd), the event
paid tribute to black culture and heritage and raised more than $500,000 to support Black Creativity programming and events to motivate youth in the fields of math, science, technology, engineering and medicine (STEM). A highlight of this black-tie gala was a soul stirring performance by Dr. Walt Whitman and the
Soul Children of Chicago. I've never seen a more enthusiastic group of such talented kids! They had the crowd dancing all over the place with their toe-tapping performance of Pharrell Williams' hit song, "Happy." (To learn more, click here!)
The segment that I appeared in on The
Steve Harvey Show aired on February 3 and I just want to thank all my friends for the wonderful comments. As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was an experience I'll never forget! Everyone involved couldn't have been more professional or kind. If you missed it and would like to check out my " Class Act" segment, click here!
Lots of cool Oscar parties coming up! Are you attending any? If so, let me know so I can share them on my next WCIU "You & Me This Morning" segment on Friday, February
20. Here's a few of my top picks! State Street turns into a Red Carpet extravaganza on Sunday, February 22 when the Gene Siskel Film Center (GSFC) of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) hosts Chicago’s longest-running awards show viewing party, “Hollywood on State: A Red Carpet Celebration,” for the 87th Academy Awards. Guests are invited to dress in their finest Oscar garb, enjoy delicious food and festive drinks all while watching the star-studded event on the Film Center’s state-of-the-art BIG screens. Chicago filmmakers Bob Hercules, Seth McClellan, Daniel Nearing, Jennifer Reeder and Frank Ross will also be recognized for their contributions to film by the GSFC. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Awards telecast begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
($100 General Admission, $200 VIP) can be purchased online at siskelfilmcenter.org or by calling 312.846.2072.
Center on Halsted’s On the Red Carpet party welcomes donors, patrons and supporters to enjoy the Academy Awards presentation in a fun and festive atmosphere that includes cocktail service, reserved seating, buffet dinner, silent auction and a raffle drawing. In 2014, On the Red Carpet
was attended by 425 participants and raised more than $70,000 to support the many programs and services of the Center. Tickets start at $40 and there will be a cash prize for a Predict-the-Winner contest. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for Red Carpet arrivals at the Center (3656 N. Halsted). For more info, contact Dustin Erikstrup, Manager of Special Events, at [email protected] or call at 773.661.0957.
Beloved chef/owner Bruno Abate will also host his annual Oscar Party for Chic(agoans) at his restaurant, Tocco, 1266 N. Milwaukee. For only $25 enjoy a small set menu with one drink while viewing the Oscars and party with this darling Italian! And speaking of Bruno, I would like to send a shout-out of congrats for the good work he's doing to help rehabilitate inmates in our local prisons. This great article in Huff Po, explains it all, but in a nutshell, he's teaching inmates how to cook as
well as helping them regain confidence and skills to enable them to return as a viable citizen once they've been released. #GivingBack (For Oscar Party tickets, call 773.687.8895)
Here's some great news for all of my party girlfriends! Too busy to make it to BlowTique in this miserable snow? Well, this new service comes right to YOU! Founded by a friend of a friend of mine, Amanda Diedrich, Blohaute is an on-demand beauty service that sends a beauty expert right to your door! Right now they're just offering hair services (blowouts, up-dos, braids and keratin
treatments) but, makeup, nails, and other spa services will be included later this year. "Blohaute will essentially be the Uber of Beauty," shared Diedrich. They will be releasing an iOS app mid February and then android will follow shortly, so stay tuned! Good Stuff Amanda! (To make an appt., click here and follow her@Blohaute!)
A lot of my hometown friends have asked where I found the cool Dupo, Illinois, sweatshirt that says, "DUPO, It's Where My Story Begins". Well, I'm sharing a photo of my favorite model in it and you can purchase this (or a T-shirt) at www.SunFrogShirts.com. :-)))
Dancing with Chicago Celebrities is back and bigger than ever! This fun, fundraising event, now in its 10th year, is similar to a Dancing With the Stars competition but, in this case, local celebrities pair up with Arthur Murray Pros to put on a wonderful show, compete for a gold trophy and, most importantly, raise funds in the critical fight against breast cancer. This year they have a wonderful line up of local TV news personalities, Bears players, celebrity chefs and corporate superstars. The event is March 13th at the Hyatt Regency
Chicago and I hope you can come out for some fun on the dance floor! (I hear Dina Bair is pretty hard to beat though!) (For tickets and more info, click here!)
Urban Gateways is excited to host its annual Art for All Gala in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago for the second consecutive year. This colorful evening of cocktails and dinner, incredible live performances, and exciting live auction prizes helps Urban Gateways bring more high-quality arts programs to Chicago youth. Performers will include jazz trio The Second Hand Three (featuring Urban Gateways teaching artist Michael Riendeau); Urban Gateways touring group Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater; Urban Gateways touring magician Walker
King Jr. (The Spellbinder) and Urban Gateways students performing West African Music & Culture with teaching artist Josh Guy. For tickets and more info, please contact Brian Foster, Director of Marketing and Sales at Urban Gateways - (312) 445-2749 or [email protected].
What is a Brave Gown? A Brave Gown is a gown that a child will wear when going through a treatment that scares them, a horrible shot, a spinal tap, an MRI, an x-ray, a long hospital stay or just a moment that they need to feel BRAVE! "One of the biggest reasons kids love superheroes is the sense of control and power they have on the world," said Brave Gowns founder Summer Germann. These hospital gowns are screen
printed like costumes that make children feel brave, like their favorite superhero! When a child walks in to a room for a procedure and they get asked what their favorite character is, they will get to choose which "Brave Gown" to wear. Mickey Mouse, Batman, Superman, a pumpkin, Elf, Princess, a musician, a
cheerleader---anything that represents a piece of the child's personality! No more dingy pastel gowns that make these kids feel hopeless. Children have very limited control in their daily lives and especially when going through treatment for an illness. Becoming a superhero will allow them to access some sense of power during this scary time. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful idea and support Germann's cause, click here! And here's to all the little Superheroes in the world. This one's for you. (See video below). (Thanks to Max Herrick's godmother for this info--HE is my FAV Superhero!) (www.HappyDitto.com)
It's official - Thursday, February 26, is the annual Field of Dreams Gala celebrating 20 years of empowerment in Chicago and beyond for Girls in the Game! This remarkable organization, through participation in sports, gives girls confidence and helps them learn that it’s okay to succeed. It also teaches them that they need to take care of
their whole lives – from being a good teammate to doing well in school and taking care of themselves and their health. Every year, Girls in the Game empowers more than 3,500 girls to make healthier choices and develop the confidence and leadership skills
they need to succeed on and off the field. 2015 Champions include: Aja Evans-Bronze Medalist in Bobsledding, 2014 Winter Olympic Games; Rochelle Trotter-Charlie Trotter’s Culinary Education Foundation; Beth Brooke-Marciniak, Global Vice-Chair, Public Policy at EY and leader of EY's Women Athletes Business Network. For tickets and
more info, click here!
Congrats to Carrie Williams, TCW Magazine's former digital manager! She has landed at the Chicago Tribune and I couldn't be happier for her (and me!) Read all about it here in Robert Feder's great column!
Congrats to beloved photographer Mila Samokhina who has a great photo in the recent Sports Illustrated magazine of the legendary Ernie Banks. What a beautiful pic Mila! Congrats on this wonderful achievement!
An afternoon of Glitz and Glamour will benefit A Silver Lining Foundation at the Drake Hotel on Wednesday, March 18. A. Marek Fine Jewelry and Mark Roscoe Couture have partnered to present one HOT fashion show (produced by the one and only Tracey Tarantino DiBuono of ZZAZZ Productions) that will feature couture and jewelry collections for Spring 2015. Zoraida Sambolin will emcee this event and Dr. Sandy Goldberg, founder of A Silver Lining Foundation, will speak about the essential services provided by this foundation including access to cancer resource information, quality of life assistance during treatment and beyond,
together with cost free mammograms and follow up diagnostic testing. A superb lunch will be served under the direction the Drake's newlywed Shaun Rajah. Concert pianist Ani Gogova will be on hand to entertain you. A must-attend event! For tix and more info, click here!
And under the "now I've seen it all" category, here's a unique gift idea for your Valentine. How about a limited-edition Fifty Shades of Grey Bear from Vermont Teddy Bear? Inspired by the best-selling book, this adult gift is specially designed for fans obsessed with Grey and even comes with his own satin mask and mini handcuffs. ($89/99) Ahhhhhh, nothing says
love like handcuffs!
OR, if your Valentine's Day sweetie is a food lover, there's always this gift idea--a heart-shaped pizza from Giordano's!
My final thought: Even though Jackie Robinson West lost their title, they will always be little champions in my book.
Hope you're surviving Snowmageddon! This Minion cartoon says it all!
Love, as always,
Candace
[email protected]
P.S. Take a look at this hysterical video that shows how it feels to be a cat who hates walks.
Comments