Art benefiting kids...
The Fifth Annual Art Benefiting Children fund-raiser features the work of local Chicago artists which will be on display and available for sale. The ABC event will be held on Thursday, April 21, at the new Buzz club, 308 W. Erie St., at 6 p.m. and is sponsored by the Medical Research Junior Board Foundation of Children’s Memorial Hospital.
Co-chaired by Marisa Brillhart and David McHugh, the event features the work of many local artists, photographers, jewelers, and sculptors. Its purpose is to benefit research initiatives at Children’s Memorial Hospital.
Guests arriving at 6 p.m. can partake in the cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception and more. There’s the art on display which guests can purchase, and raffles of date packages, art work, jewelry and restaurant certificates.
A ticket to the A.B.C. Gallery Event is $50 at the door. For additional information, call (773) 880-3298 or visit www.childrensmemorial.org/abc.
Spring Gala, spring season, spring party...
Join the Women’s Board of the Joffrey Ballet and its supporters on Friday, April 22, by attending the Joffrey’s Annual Spring Gala, its premiere fund raiser of the year. The annual gala is also a celebration of the Joffrey’s 10th year in Chicago and the opening of its spring season on Wednesday, April 27. There’s also a special party on May 8, but first the gala.
More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend as the night begins at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., with a ballet presentation of "Viva Vivaldi," "Suite Saint-Saens" and more. After the show, guests will be transported to the Chicago Hilton and Towers Grand Ballroom for a cocktail reception, formal dinner and dancing to the music of Stanley Paul and Orchestra.
Chaired by Gary and Vicki Holdren plus John and Carol Walter, the enchanting evening has tickets priced at $600. Although the event is by invitation only, you might snag one by calling (312) 266-8729 or (312) 739-0120, ext. 44. Call, you might just be able to purchase one.
The Joffrey Ballet opens its Spring Engagement on April 27 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy. The engagement offers performances on April 27, 29, 30, plus May 1, 6, 7 and 8. The music accompanying the ballet is performed live by the Chicago Sinfonietta.
As the Joffrey closes its engagement on May 8, donors, subscribers and ticket holders can attend the special Closing Night Party which begins immediately following the afternoon performance. Those who attend the party will get a chance to meet the dancers and staff of the Joffrey. If you already have a ticket for the performance, the cost of the party is $45. If you don’t, the individual ticket is $95 and that includes the performance and Closing Night Party.
If you’re interested in attending the ballet or the closing night party, call (312) 902-1500 or stop by the Auditorium Theatre Box Office, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., open Monday-Friday from noon to 6 p.m. Proceeds from the events and performances support the Joffrey Ballet.
Art benefits Parkways Foundation...
It’s not a new art show and it’s not a new benefit. The only thing different about Art Chicago’s 13th Annual International Contemporary Art Fair is that this year its name has been changed to Art Chicago in the Park, and it will now take place under a 75,000 square-foot tent in Butler Field, 201 S. Columbus Dr. (at Monroe St.).
Produced by Thomas Blackman Associates, the show features 2,000 individual artists from 90 round-the-world galleries and a public sculpture garden on the surrounding grounds.
The Benefit Preview night is set for Thursday, April 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests will be served light refreshments, cocktails and delectables catered by Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants.
When the benefit ends at 7 p.m., the public Opening Night Preview begins. The preview at 7 p.m. features a cash bar and the ability to see the art work before others.
Art in the Park officially opens on Friday, April 29, and continues through Monday, May 2.
For more information, call (312) 226-4700 or visit www.artchicago.com. A ticket to the Benefit Preview on Friday, April 28, at 5 p.m. is $125 each. A ticket to the public Opening Night Preview on April 28 at 7 p.m. is $25. During the balance of the show beginning Friday, April 29, an individual adult ticket is $15; a student or senior ticket is $12; children under 10 are free; a two-day pass is $25; a three-day pass is $35.
Where to park? Parking is available across the Street in the East Monroe Street & Millennium Park garage. The cost is $12 for the first 12 hours. The entrances are on Columbus north of Monroe. Proceeds from Art Chicago in the Park partially benefit the Parkways Foundation, a partner of the Chicago Park District that raises money to enrich the physical beauty of Chicago neighborhood parks. It is currently working on a playground specifically for children with disabilities.
Visions of Chocolate...
Chicago Abused Women’s Coalition (CAWC) will celebrate with more than 300 guests attending its annual fundraising party, "Visions of Chocolate," on Saturday, April 30, at the Chicago Marriott, 540 N. Michigan Ave.
Proceeds from the "Visions" party will help bring sweetness into the lives of the many women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Its four service sites help by providing a safe shelter, legal advocacy, crisis intervention, family trauma therapy and substance abuse counseling.
Guests attending the Benefit Gala will have a sweet evening also when they gather at 7 p.m. for a gourmet dinner, dancing and a "Visions of Chocolate" dessert buffet created by some of our city’s finest pastry chefs, chocolatiers and restaurants. This year chocolate sculpture silhouettes will adorn each table; they were created to show the struggle of women, female beauty and the delicacy of life.
Besides the fabulous dinner and the chocoholic’s dream dessert, the evening also includes a silent auction, dancing and a raffle.
For additional information or to purchase a ticket ($150), please call (773) 489-9081.
Butterfly Ball...
On Friday, May 6, supporters of the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum will gather for one of this spring’s top galas, the Seventh Annual Butterfly Ball, held at the Notebaert Nature Museum on Fullerton Pkwy. and Cannon Dr., known for its incredible exhibits such as the Butterfly Haven.
Guests at this year’s ball will see three new permanent exhibits: Mysteries of the Marsh, Riverworks, and Rooftop Star. The Museum itself will be transformed into a dramatically dazzling atmosphere with special lighting, and a few surprises. Guests might think they have been transported to a new dimension thanks to the Gala Co-Chairs: Vera and Frank Clark, Shirley and Pat Daly, Cathy and Bill Osborn; and their 50-member Ball Committee. This year’s Honorary Chairs are Mayor and Mrs. Richard M. Daley.
Guests will arrive at the black-tie gala for the 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception which will be followed by a culinary feast created by Food For Thought Catering. After dessert, guests can dance to the music of Orchestra 33 and participate in a raffle for prizes that includes a pair of Tiffany diamond and pearl earrings, a trip to New York, and, well, other items that might thrill you, but I’d just go for the earrings.
This year’s proceeds from the gala are earmarked to support the Museum’s education programs and exhibits.
To purchase a ticket, call Kate Dell, Manager, Annual Fund & Donor Relations, at (773) 755-5149 or e-mail her at kdell@naturemuseum.org. Tickets to the gala are limited so act soon. A ticket for the Butterfly Ball is $500 per person. If you can’t make it to the fund raiser, stop by the Nature Museum at 2430 N. Cannon Dr. and see what everyone is talking about. It is also possible to visit the Museum at www.naturemuseum.org.
Rita’s 'Affair in Trinidad'...
This year’s Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala and the Alzheimer’s Association present a spectacular black-tie evening on Saturday, May 7, at The Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr. "Affair in Trinidad" will be a night to remember because it will be one of the year’s best galas and because it is named for the Rita Hayworth-Glenn Ford movie by the same title.
The Gala Co-Chairs, Kay and John Van Cleave, and the General Chair, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan (daughter of the late Rita Hayworth), have planned an exquisite evening for its 18th annual gala, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. The elegant dinner, catered by Wolfgang Puck Catering, will be served at 8 p.m.
Then it’s on to the award presentations to two highly deserving individuals. They are Jerome H. Stone, founding chairman, Alzheimer’s Assn., who will receive the Genesis Award; and Hugh C. Hendriel, M.B. Ch.B. D.Sc. Professor of Psychiatry, Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University Center for Aging Research, who is the 2005 Medical Honoree.
Besides the cocktail reception, dinner, dessert and awards ceremony, there’s dancing and entertainment featuring The City Lights Orchestra, and a live auction including several trips. The one I’d go for is a trip for four to New York to watch the Cubs play the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The auction is also available on-line from May 2-12 at www.ebay.com/rally-for-research.com.
A spectacular raffle will also take center stage. One lucky person will win $5,000 cash (they pay the taxes); other lucky folks will win a cruise, a trip to Cap Juluca, Anguilla and others. Raffle Tickets sell for $50 each or six for $250.
If you’d like to get more information about the gala, one of the hottest events in town, or to purchase a ticket ($500), call (312) 604-2453.
Complimentary valet parking is available. Call (312) 419-0033, ext. 4, for directions and parking. |
