Hello, dahlinks… tis’
the week o’Nan… Nan Kempner, that is. Hat’s and all, she’s been
keepin’ us buzeeee… stay
tuned for details – next week!
As for food, MK is OUT, NK is in… check out her new book ‘R.S.V.P. – Menus
For Entertaining From People Who Really Know How’ (or rather ‘menus of the Rich and Famieux’)
– ‘we’ bought two… proceeds from the sale of which support The Society for
Memorial Sloan-Kettering for Cancer Research and
related programs. And dahlinks,
there’s alotta photos contained
therein iffin yas don’t
like to read (or cook!)…
You’ll always find both current and past calendar and event listings, reportage
and just about anything else ‘socially
saavy’ in the ARCHIVES… simply
click the ‘archive’ button in the www.adams-wells.net navigation bar! Enjoy…
WHERE’S JOHNNY ‘B’
DINING?
Summer Menu Bites – Johnny ‘B’s’
picks… Melvin B’s (for the obvious reasons…
gotta love the Patron Tequila Margaritas and the burgers)… Johnny
Rocket’s (put ‘em together,
and looky loo at whatcha have…
“Johnny B.” Love that)
toujours for the St. Louis (no
pickles), ‘rings, fries and of course, choccie shakes. Anything Pizza and Beer… and always near the
water… the closer the better.
The best, on a boat. Pontiac
Café in Bucktown – voddie and OJ. Ice is a must… crushed, slushed
and everything in between. Zoom
Kitchen – Rush Street. Healthy and sexy… right on the
street. Try any one of the
salads. Watch out for the LoCalZone
– we like to steer clear…
however, let’s not forget Bistrot 110 and RL –
au dehors (or do you say ‘al fresco?’)… take
your pick, but it’s allabout fun
in the sun… people watchin’, food and booze… oh, and grab a
seat – the outdoor patio at The Palm is now open for your
dining plaisir.
SCENE & OVERHEARD
Colette Cachey and Marko Iglendza co-chaired a fantastic evening for Roadworks at the Three Arts Club, Chicago. Roadworks was founded in Chicago in
’92 by a group of Northwestern grads who wanted to promote avante
garde (read unlike anything in the Midwest) theatre in
Chicago… more like off off Broadway
or just about most Manhattan oeuvres. The energy and drama that
surrounds this innovative, contemporary organization is refreshing and to be
sure, unlike anything you’ve seen in Chicago… two actors from the
org performed a bit that related to post graduate North Shore peeps – who
‘all of a sudden’ discover that they’re adults, with lives
and responsibilities. Yep, I felt
it too… powerful and apropos to a divergent, cultured group. “In the audience” we saw
Nora Collins, Michele Fabry, ‘Virginia,’ Erin McDonnel, Duke
Miglin, Sarah Esler and Alex Pearsall, Berit Stevens, Danny McCrath, David
Croner, Ira and Trina Lauter, Neil Zucker, Jessica Stevens, Lisa Kueng, Dan
Verakis, Jim Cachey, Jennifer Krug, David Shaw (board VP) and Gail Freeman. www.roadworks.org. Oh, and dahlink Wally
Vincenty from Café Ba Ba Re Ba was
one of the food providers… along with Scoozi and Caliterra. Two tix from Iberia Airlines of Spain
were auctioned for the cause… The Flower Firm and ‘The Lighting
Department’ also provided splendid decor.
The American Cancer Society Women’s Board annual fashion show was presented by Neiman
Marcus and Andersen at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. Fabulous! akris was in store and on the runway… some of the most beautiful
clothes you’ve ever seen. Each
ensemble was more exquisite than the next. Elizabeth Johnson chaired the event, along with co-chairs Kit
Hughes, Kathy Suto and Lesley Greer of
Chicago, Northbrook and Oak Brook Neiman’s, respectively. Deborah
DeHaas acted as honorary chair. On akris, designer Albert
Kriemler speaks of “The akris lady
defines herself not by age, nor by nationality, but by the high demands that
she makes of her wardrobe and its quality. She wants to underline her personality… in a discreet
way and style” as he
appeared during the presentation of the
fall/winter 2001 collection. ‘We’
saw lotsa the colour plum and leather and silk and cashmere and
bits of fur… clean and fluid lines that move… fabric, form and fit –
three words that speak oceans of design.
Tweeds – not at all stuffy – all sexy. We loved the slit pleated skirts that
were sleek and flowing – but not overly so. Work, play – evening and gala… the attention to
detail is maximum – it’s the look that says “You could wear
it all.” That’s tough
commentary for a fashion show – especially couture, when so much of what
you see is unwearable.
The always gorgeous crowd we saw at the NM ‘kick-off’ included Connie
Williams, Betty and John Kozak, Gay Leffel, Lenor and Bob Day, Rosie
O’Neill, Kathy and Jim Laski, Terry Caulfield, Quentin Johnson, Steve
Sherman, Helen Applegate, Verna Stovall, Sheila King, Bill Olafsen, Loretta
Foxgrover, Jane Ellen Murray, Barbara Samuels, Kay Smith, Oscar Tatosian, Maria
Lampros, MaryAnn Rasmussen, Cindy Simon, Nancy Westlake, Tina Koegel, Arlene
Shattil, Nancy Lowenberg, MaryAnn McGrary, Janice Reilly, Helen Groban and
Virginia Liles-Dudley… it was such a show, we don’t want
to miss a one – but those lining the runway aisles included Paul
Kessler, Tina Koegel, Todd Bowman, Laurie Brady, Heather Farley, Senator
Corrine Wood, Judy Yale, Mary Ann Childers (Mistress
of Ceremonies), Desiree Rogers, Nancy Berman, Sandy Kagan Angell,
Sheila King, Helen Schubert, Bess Winakor, Averill Levitton, Mary Cameron Frey,
Marlene Rubenstein and Tracy Lundergan,
Oh, let’s not forget those tasty
chocolates on the table – by none other than Vosges Haute
Chocolate… in the shops at North
Bridge.
Dahlinks Oscar and Sarkis Tatosian hosted Chef Peggy Ryan
in their downtown Oscar Isberian Rugs showroom for les local personnes ‘to the trade.’ That’s designer talk for, well,
custom stuff. We loved it…
Chef Ryan prepared an international feast of wide acclaim – Mediterranean
delicacies that could inspire the nomadic soul. Her former affiliation was with Evanston’s Va
Pensiero, where the duo Tatosian’s
first decouvert her culinary talent. Dining amongst the antique tapestries on vintage rugs of
equal peerage, we saw dears Christine Butler, Floyd Fulkerson, Michael
McNamara, Cynthia Winter, Richar, Patrick Lynch, Brian White, Ed
Schimmelpfennig and the toujours
charmant Marc Straits.
That gorgeous store on North Wells Street, Fabrice, hosted a sexy lil’ cocktail
party – two of them, to be exact.
And guess what? Fifteen
percent of the evening’s proceeds benefit the Y-Me Foundation… although ‘we’ didn’t recognize
the clientele, suffice to say it was a well heeled and ‘in the
shopping’ mode crowd… kudos to the ladies in charge.
Bonnie Hunt, Mike Nussbaum, Aidan Quinn, John C. Reilly and Charlayne Woodard received the prestigious Theatre School Award
for Excellence in the Arts at the 13th
Annual DePaul Theatre School Awards Gala. Each year a select few
distinguished artists who have made a significant contribution to the arts
through their careers are honored. George Wendt presented the awards to a sold out crowd at the Chicago
Hilton and Towers. Jacoby Dickens and Sondra Healy co-chaired; Merle Reskin acted as honorary chair and alumnus Joe
Mantegna was the celebrity chair. The Theatre School
Scholarship Fund and Chicago
Playwork’s, the city’s oldest
continuously operating children’s theatre, benefited from the
evening’s proceeds. And a
fun time was had by all.
Didja get to Art Chicago 2001? Paint, sculpt or draw me
impressed. Major collectors
assembled in the midst of international (and influential) dealers and artists
– and renown interior design Richar et
moi saw them all. And
it was all for sale… unlike trips to The Whitney, Guggehneim or… dare I say, MCA? Guess
you had to see it to believe it… but me faves? A Giacometti bronze, a Modigliani master and, as always, a gaggle of Andy
Warhols. And who doesn’t love Henry Moore? We
jumped over the ‘Puddle Art…’ those who were there know what
I’m talkin’ ‘bout.
Afterward, a well rounded trip to Navy Pier ALWAYS includes
luncheon at Joe’s Be Bop Café
– thanks, Kerry Bowler!
DIRT
Apparently, one of our local ‘up and
coming’ designers of a sort (or HAVE they arrived?) really makes their cashola
from those icky sticky 900 numbers… I’m not so sure that
you’d want to have them ‘create’ objets (or furnishings) for you that didn’t involve
vinyl, rubber, or anything washable.
Yuck…
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
The Chicago Academy for the Arts presented ‘My Kind of
Town, Chicago Is… The 20th Anniversary Gala’ honoring Academy founders Essee Kupcinet,
Joyce Sloane, William Gaines, Ph.D., Zelda Werner, Larry Jordan and Mr. Chicago, Irv Kupcinet at The Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Bill Zwecker served as emcee, Steven Good presided as auctioneer, and of course, peeps danced
to the ever-delightful musings of Maestro Stanley Paul and his accompanying orchestra. Whadda night! Event co-chairs included Evie
Glieberman, Phyllis Caplin, Sylvia Allen Kinney (Hi Sylvia), Russell J.G. McLean… the gala committee comprised Kari Kupcinet
Kriser, Eduardo Vilaro, Lynda Silverman, Kim Chelos, Debra and David Genc, Nancy
Milbury, Heather Straits, Michelle Jenkins, Sherrill Bodine, Jerry Kupcinet,
Mary Jane Scheel, Gerissa French, Tony Mallerdino and the dashing Marc Straits.
Students presented a performance of excerpts from ‘FAME, The
Musical’ and moved guests in only
the way a bevy of young talent can… one guest reported that there was “nary
a dry eye in the house.” It
was only the guest list and attendees that eclipsed the pink orchids set tabletop…
Lisa Erspaner, who noted that “The
experience of the evening captured the excitement of the entertainment
industry,” the school’s Headmaster Frank Mustari, Christy
Hefner, Donna LaPietra and Bill Curtis, Pat Brickhouse, Martha and Rich Melman
and Kay Alden Nelson (from ‘The
Young & The Restless’) and hey sistah,
soul sistah – the stunning and intelligent Laura Brenner, in a Kay Unger silk sheath – dias cut – floral print! Howzabout that smile – right outta the Moulin Rouge. Guests reveled in the celebrity video tribute to the school
and honorees, co-sponsored by Angel and Paul Harvey… among
the notables, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Mayor Richard Daley, Jim
Belushi, Governor George Ryan and Lara Flynn Boyle. The scene was old guard
and the young stars rising crew that gave this event the air of a
sophisticated, metropolitan salon – framing creatifs, both in
heart and spirit, in a pastoral scene bar none.
WHAT’S UP?
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres anyone? Friday, May 18 marks the day (dare I say date?) to celebrate
the work of Jason Smith, photographer and art Director for the Chicago
Free Press, and the unveiling of
“Portrait of the Community,” a specially created chair and ottoman ‘upholstered’ with
the images of the Chicago gay and lesbian community that’s scheduled to
be in this summer’s public arts project, “Suite Home
Chicago.” Chicago House is the beneficiary, and the sponsor and host for the
evening is Oscar Isberian Rugs
– at their downtown showroom location. Brad Robin
and Ginger Tam will perform… from 5:30 until 7:30 pm. RSVP & Info: Michael Zartman, 773-248-5200 ext. 304.
The Inner City Teaching Corps (ICTC)
will host its annual fundraiser at Green Dolphin Street… they’re turning TEN, so pop out and celebrate
their Happy Birthday and 10 years of making a difference in Chicagoland
schools. Saturday, May 19… Open bar, light dinner and live band…
valet parking available. Mayor Richard and Maggie Daley will act as honorary chairs… Sue and
Phil Rooney and Shirley and Pat
Ryan will chair, along with Nora
Daley Conroy, Mellody Hobson and Trisha
Rooney. Info & Tix: 773-265-7240 or www.ictc-chicago.org.
AX Armani Exchange and The
Auxiliary Council of Steppehwolf Theater Company will present an ‘After Work Bash’ for cocktails and good cheer at the AX in the Shops
at North Bridge, Wednesday, May 23.
DJ Jesse De La Pena will
spin, and Tanqueray will sponsor
the spirits. RSVP: 312-654-5640.
Butterfields Chicago will
present a private preview of fine jewelry and timepieces, including gems on
Thursday, May 24, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Ellie Thompson
and Peter Shemonsky,
Butterfield’s jewelry specialists, will offer a brief overview of auction
highlights. The auction will take
place Tuesday, June 19, in San Francisco and Los Angeles. RSVP 312-278-6630.
Wednesday, May 30, at the Field Museum’s James Simpson
Auditorium, nine students from the International
Academy of Design and Technology will be
honored for their fashion designs at the school’s ‘Fusion’ fashion show extravaganza. Jurors who served on the selection of
independent designers include Paul Sisti, John Schultz, Amy Zoller and Maria
Pinto… Dorothy Fuller, Mim Hoffman, Joan Remily, Rene Hamm, Susan
Friedland and Angela Hutcheson. Proceeds benefit the Apparel Industry
Foundation. Info & Tix: 312-980-4848 or www.iadtchicago.com.
On Thursday, May 31, the junior committee of the Irish Georgian
Society, Chicago Chapter, will host a
spring cocktail party with a brief slide presentation of Castletown House, the
original headquarters of the Irish Georgian Society. The organization was founded in the 50’s by Sir
Desmond Guinness, of the ‘beer
family’ acclaim. Its
membership is made up of individuals interested in preserving historic
monuments in Ireland, and those who appreciate architecture, interiors, furniture
and gardens. For more information,
please call 312-787-1132.
About Face Theatre will host its
second annual Spring Youth Theatre Benefit, ‘The Wonka Ball,’
on Thursday, June 7, at the Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum. The
entertainment headliner will be a special preview performance by the About Face
Youth Theatre ensemble of new projects currently under development in the Youth
Theatre workshops. The Wonka Ball
will be set in a candy wünderland, with edible
candy-decorated trees, a delectable array of chocolate delights, a luscious
chocolate martini fountain, and appearances by Wonka-inspired characters. This gala event will feature an
open bar, full tapas buffet, Godiva chocolate
buffet, DJ, dancing, and a silent auction. Info & Tix: 773-549-7943.
Zoo Ball 2001 will be hosted by
the Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo on Friday, July 13, 2001 on the Lincoln Park Zoo
grounds. Dahlink Karen
Goodyear will chair ‘A
Walk On The Wild Side…’ Diane Sprenger Clark and Gale Gottlieb will co-chair. Corporate chairs include Rod
Goldstein and Scott Miller. Since 1977,
the Zoo Ball has raised millions of dollars for Lincoln Park Zoo… it is
the zoo’s largest single annual fundraiser. Annually, this event draws more than 1,000 of
Chicago’s civic and social leaders from the city and surrounding suburbs.
Last year’s gala raised an unprecedented $500,000 in net revenue for the
zoo. This year’s event
promises to transform Chicago’s celebrated zoo grounds into an exotic
evening of dining and dancing – guests will feel as though they have been
swept away to a magical time and place. Info & Tix: Laura Permesang, 312-742-2186 or www.lpzoo.org.
LITTLE BITS
Birthday Wishes to Colin Bend,
Gordon MacGeachy, Laurel Gray and ‘Ms.
Jessica’ from Restaurant
Rushmore… “Same Old” squared – repetez…
it’s old news, but on the ‘StarStrucker’ front who’s in
town? U2 (of course), Jude Law, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Joel.
LOVE ‘EM & LEAVE ‘EM
What’s the deal with Mr. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic? No
one’s good enough for them?
No matter how smart or ‘together’ one of their ‘prospects’
(or potential friends) may appear… if they’re not meltin’ their
underwear off – the presumption is that they’re ‘no good.’ Ya’d think – this ‘hanger on’ and ingratiatingly
infantile peep could pull together a few
gracious endeavors and ease up on the selfishness? ‘You Too’ don’t even know – get real
and fess up – and stop bringin’ up inappropriate stuff in mixed
company. If ya don’t watch
out yer gonna be
de-acquisitioned. This one’s
an easy case of ‘Spin and Deflect….’
Cheers, Jonathon
Wells
