Cocktailing Around Town!

Someone get me a sweater and some over-sized neckwear….burrrrrrrrr….Chicago's fall is here, but that still hasn't stopped me from going out!

My first stop was at Couture and Cocktails to benefit the Joffrey Ballet at the W City Center. I kicked off the evening with the VIP reception with some of Chicago's most stylish elite. I'll spare you another one of my big girl rants about the delicious hors d'oeurves such as the tasty mini burgers or the fresh sushi rolls, or even the absolute delic nachos…okay okay, I'm stopping myself, but everyone knows that sometimes my taste buds do the reporting. The soiree also featured a fashion show with models rocking the runway with designs by internationally known fashion designer Camen Marc Valvo, Valvo, who has dressed such stars as Beyonce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Oprah Winfrey, and a slew of other A listers attended the event. Guests also had the choice to rally their energy and dollars around a live auction hosted by Michigan Ave. magazine editor-in-chief Susanna Negovan and husband as well as WGN reporter Tom Negovan. There was a silent auction as well. My favorite moment of the evening was when three of the Joffrey dancers performed an entertaining rendition of Beyonce's popular hit "Single Ladies". I tried my best to keep up with them on the dance floor, but because of my two left feet, I opted for a glass of champagne….okay and two mini burgers too! This year's co-chairs Marci Holzer and Kristina McGrath did an excellent job at hosting a night of sophisticated fun to support the arts. The two photos from Couture and Cocktails were taken from Tommere Ingram Photography.

One Man Chicago hosted a thank you party for all the contestants at the new EnV rooftop. It was great to catch up with the other guys and enjoy a Veev vodka cocktail or several at one of Chicago's most luxurious condo rooftops before the fall weather really hits us! Located at 161 W. Kinzie, EnV is one of the city's new mixed-use developments that offers a high-end approach to living, going out, and working. EnV's rooftop definitely whisks guests to a more tropical vacation destination with great views, a color-infused wading pool and other top notch amenities. Of course One Man Chicago winner William F. Burfeind IV attended the event and I must say he was a great choice for a winner. Congrats William! Even though I didn't win, I feel like a winner since the city selected all of the One Man Chicago contestants as goodwill ambassadors for the mayor's new community service initiative, One Good Deed Chicago. Chief Service officer Jenne Meyers invited me to Mayor Daley's community service press conference. Photos from the One Man Chicago thank you party were by Chris Free of Project Captured.

Mayer Daley held his press conference at Arthur A. Libby elementary school located at 5300 S. Loomis. At the press conference, Mayor Daley explained the importance of charity and giving back. One Good Deed Chicago focuses on facilitating volunteerism processes and opportunities by not only matching up volunteers with non-profits but also providing an interactive platform for communication among volunteers and non-profits. Founded in New York City by Mayor Bloomberg, Mayor Daley and 15 other mayors from cities around the nation, Cities of Service is a nation-wide project to increase volunteerism. I can't wait to see what they have planned for us goodwill ambassadors...I feel so much like Angelina Jolie when I say that; but where is my Brad Pitt, haha, I'm a dork, I admit! Please check out the website when you get a chance, http://www.onegooddeedchicago.org/.

I attended the VIP opening of the new Calvin Klein Loft. Besides making some of the most comfortable underwear, sorry if that was too much information, Calvin Klein specializes in a timeless, classic look. Ten percent of the sales from that night went to The Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation. The pop-up store carries your CK basics from T-shirts and jeans to more fall wardrobe musts such as sweaters, knits and jackets. Such a small world too; I ran into my fellow One Man Chicago friends Jason Laws, James Goeke, and Philip Chang. I guess stylish minds think alike!

This has started off to be a great fall! Please save the date for my next P.Y.G. cocktail party. We have a lot of fun surprises planned for the evening, and I'm excited to announce that fund manager giant Jay Michael will be the keynote speaker for the night. www.p-y-g.org

October 21
J Bar
610 N. Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611
$10 suggested donated at the door with a generous portion to benefit the Center on Halsted