SWEET 16
Dinotto Ristorante, 215 W. North Ave., is among a handful of Chicago restaurants that will provide food for this year's Chicago Celebrity Charity Chair Auction.
The 16th annual event, to be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Avenue, features autographed chairs donated by more than 100 national and local celebrities. Proceeds from chairs auctioned during the evening will be donated to six local charities.
As part of the acclaimed event, nearly two dozen local chefs, including Chef Dino Lubbat, co-owner of Dinotto, will serve samplings of their cuisines at food "stations" for attendees as they view and place bids on the celebrity chairs. Other notable Chicago restaurants include the Hearty Boys, Blue Water Grill, The Prairie Grass Café, and Heaven on Seven.
Founded and produced by Mary McCall, the evening includes live music, silent and live auction bidding of 100+ chairs, food and drink. Tickets are $90. This event attracts over 1,200 people from the City and suburbs.
Among the celebrity chairs to be featured at this year's auction are those from the Chicago cast of the stage hit "Wicked," Jeff Tweedy from Chicago alt-rockers Wilco, and Jay Leno. Bid on chairs autographed by, and decorated to represent, Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner, "Desperate Housewives," Halle Barry, Wynonna, the "Harry Potter" cast, Emma Thompson, and Kirstie Alley. With all the excitement of late over Chicago sports teams, fans can also bid on a chair signed by the 1985 Chicago Bears as well as an actual chair from U.S. Cellular Field that comes with autographed jerseys of Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas.
The event is produced from the E. Randolph St. living room of Mary McCall, 74. McCall came up with the idea of a celebrity auction to benefit charities after scouting photo locations with actor Paul Newman some 16 years ago. Working with celebrity reporters and others, McCall obtains the celebrity autographs which are later turned over to a legion of loyal artists who then create works of art on chairs to represent the celebrity.
The fun benefits the Chicago Abused Women Coalition, Chicago Communities in Schools, The Day School, Holiday Home Camp, Little City Foundation, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. For more information, call (312) 565-4900 or visit www.celebritychairauction.com. |
