In 2008, five friends sat at a table and talked about what they could do to help Chicago's dogs that were dying in city shelters.
Jean R. Dunord’s 22-year tenure as a door staff member at The Grand
The Cause: 550 animal loving supporters along with 60 of their canine companions celebrated the 20th annual PAWS Chicago Fur Ball at the Drake Hotel. The event raised funds for the nonprofit's life-saving mission, to shelter and bring an end to the killing of homeless dogs and cats. As Chica…
La Scarola is one of the most popular restaurants in town and it’s not just because of its delicious Italian food. Co-owners Joey Mondelli and Armando Vasquez are major people magnets. Everyone wants to visit them at their restaurant at 721 W. Grand Ave. From major celebrities to sports star…
And they can cook too! "One Chicago Holiday Cookbook" features recipes and stories from the casts of each of Dick Wolf's three "One Chicago" series, "Chicago P.D.", "Chicago Med" and "Chicago Fire." ((You can download the entire cookbook for free here.) You will find a recipe for pear tarts …
Chicago’s very own Chef Cedric Harden of River Roast will participate in the James Beard Foundation’s 2021-2022 Taste America culinary series, in collaboration with featured guest Chef Darnell Reed (Luella’s Southern Kitchen) on Wednesday, January 12th. Taste America presented by Capital One…
Derrick Funches, lead doorman of the Avenue East Condominium Association, 160 E. Illinois St., takes his job very seriously. Although he is serious about the residents’ safety and the security of the building, he is anything but grave.
The Cause: Nearly 300 guests came out to celebrate, honor and support our men and women in blue at the sixth annual True Blue gala hosted by the Chicago Police Foundation (CPF). The 7-year-old nonprofit, led by various Chicago business and community leaders, provides funding for supplemental…
I became the self-proclaimed “most passionate cinematographer” in the country in an unusual way. My career of diving out of helicopters in the Army was derailed one day by a girl who helped me see the world through a new lens — pun intended.
It was the neighborhood feel and the strong community presence that drew Charles Clemson to his job as concierge and doorman at Gold Coast City Club, 860 N. Dewitt Place, in downtown Chicago—a role he has been perfecting since August 2017.
The Cause: The Chicago Lighthouse hosted its eighth annual FLAIR luncheon and fashion show, this year themed “Eye on Style.” The event honored philanthropist Susan Griffiths Gohl and supported the nonprofit’s children’s programming for the blind, visually impaired and disabled. Sheree Schimm…
It all started on Grand and Ogden, where popular restaurateur Alex Dana grew up working in a restaurant with his father. As a child, he learned the ins and outs of running a restaurant. If the dishwasher broke, he knew how to fix it. If the butcher was late, Dana and his father could do it.
It was the first and best red carpet experience to come back in Chicago since the pandemic so it was no wonder that the nearly 200 guests at the Hilton|Amus Contemporary art gallery opening didn't want to leave. The event, hosted by the gallery in its new Bridgeport location on October 9, ce…
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab has appointed Peggy Kirk as president and CEO and Nancy Paridy as president and chief administrative officer.
Adrian McGuire, head doorman at The Legacy at Millennium Park, 60 E. Monroe St., has been a familiar face at the downtown high-rise from the beginning, joining the team in September 2009 when The Legacy opened its doors to residents.
For four generations, Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap has been quietly tucked away on a charming street in Chicago’s Little Italy at 1073 W. Vernon Park Place. It has been owned and operated by the same family since Italian immigrants Joseph DiBuono and Teresa Tufano opened their barroom there in 1930.
What would our debut Fashion & Beauty issue be without a nod to some of our town’s Best Dressed Chicago Stars? Mind you, the city is awash in chic fashionistas, but since we only have one page to devote to this new special section, we decided to highlight a few of our perpetually bestdre…
This year, the world’s oldest working supermodel, Carmen Dell’Orefice, turned 90 years young. She has been the gold standard for me as far as a favorite model goes for as long as I can remember and is listed in “The Guinness Book of World Records.”
The Cause: Eversight hosted its annual Gift of Sight Masquerade, this year themed “Fantasea,” at the Peninsula Chicago. The event honored Justine Fedak as its Woman of Vision and Dr. Parag Majmudar as its Gift of Sight honoree. The nonprofi t helps restore sight and prevent blindness through…
Event co-chairs Tracey DiBuono, Sharyl Mackey and Jean Antoniou with a leading sponsor, Tom Kehoe.
Mary Nguyen Aregoni, founder and CEO of Saigon Sisters, has always been inspired by her past. She was a baby when her family moved to Laos to escape the dangers of the war in their homeland of Vietnam. They left everything behind in search of freedom, even living in a refugee camp in Thailan…
Craig Kaiser is a retired businessman whose love for Chicago knows no end. When he and his wife Diane moved to Chicago in 2007, they both fell in love with the city and its rich culture.
For Alyssa Rapp, adapting to the challenges of teaching during the pandemic has not been an easy task, but she is pleased with the results.
Giuseppe Tentori. Every time I say or pen his name, I get visions of him on a Vespa racing down narrow Italian streets, passing streetside trattorie that are serving today’s handmade specials. But make no mistake ... Giuseppe might be a native Italian, but he is a true Chicagoan at heart!
With 13 James Beard Awards under his belt, one could safely say that Steve Dolinsky is an expert when it comes to anything food-related. Fans probably first discovered him as the food reporter for ABC-7 Chicago where his popular “Hungry Hound” series ran for 17 years, covering a range of foo…
The Cause: Ravinia Festival’s annual gala, presented by its Women’s Board, raised nearly $750,000 for the Festival’s Reach+Teach+Play educational programs on July 18. These programs serve more than 75,000 people annually throughout Chicagoland and help ensure that many area schools and commu…
Losing weight can be a particularly challenging goal, but Dr. Ian Smith believes it’s an objective anyone can accomplish with the right plan and a supportive community.
Chicago native Lorenzo Anaya first arrived at 500 N. Lakeshore Drive a little more than two years ago, eager to begin his new position assisting residents and securing the building, among other responsibilities.
The Cause: Chicago Star hosted a lively kick-off party in collaboration with Mariano’s Lakeshore East for its second annual Streeterville Week, a celebration of Chicago businesses that was created during the pandemic to lift spirits and encourage visitors and residents to shop local.
For 23 years, Michael Colman and Kevin Butts have worked side by side at the Park Newberry in the Gold Coast. The colleagues are among the best-known and most-respected doormen in the area. Even the cab drivers know their names, along with the people they serve at 55 W. Delaware Place.
Marc Sievers is a nationally recognized cookbook author and entertaining expert who has spent the past decade sharing his expertise for earthy and elegant vegetarian cooking, easy entertaining and thoughtful but uncomplicated style. He is a sought-after food and entertaining expert who has p…
As a Survivor of the Holocaust and the President of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Fritzie Fritzshall devoted her life to combating hatred and prejudice, inspiring people to become Upstanders instead of bystanders, and speaking out to make our world a better place. Everyw…
Carmen Dell' Orefice had gone to 13 public schools by the time she was 12 years old. Her mother told her she had ears like sedan doors and feet like coffins. How could someone with "support" like this become the most enduring supermodel of all time? The answer is, spectacularly! Today, June …
The Cause: The Joffrey Ballet and Neiman Marcus celebrated a 12-year partnership during their FIRST in-person event since the pandemic began with “Fashion for a Passion,” a luncheon and fashion show.
After a career that spanned 25 years in government administration, management and staff support, James Edward Patterson found an open door to an opportunity that changed his career path.
Amanda Puck is quite simply, a whirlwind. She was the first host of the popular “Check, Please” show on WTTW-Channel 11, where she won two Emmys during the two seasons she steered the panel as they discussed their favorite Chicago restaurants.
When Dr. Helene Gayle first moved to Chicago, what struck her about the Windy City was its residents' "incredible pride" in the neighborhoods and communities where they lived.
For nearly two years now, husband and wife Dana and Robert Garvey of Robert’s Pizza and Dough Co. have run the Streeterville restaurant on 465 N McClurg Court along the river, serving artisan thin crust pies to loyal locals and traveling tourists.
When Keith Robinson entered 253 East Delaware Place in 2014, he was “fighting for hours,” in search of something more in his line of work, he said.
Whether helping guests work through their differences on his program or inspiring the latest class of college graduates, Jerry Springer is a natural at bringing people together — and equally humble about his unique gift.
A few years ago, I performed a horrible set at The Comedy Bar. My first joke didn’t land so I rushed through everything and forgot a punchline. Afterwards I began to question why I was doing stand-up. I was setting myself up for potential failure every time I got on stage. Yet, that night I …
You may recognize Mark Olley's name as one of Chicago's Best Dressed. He's made just about every list in the Windy City as well as being one of our town's most philanthropic supporters. You can find him hobnobbing with friends at RL, walking his handsome rescue dog Grayson or cooking up a st…
The Woman's Board of Rush University Medical Center will host its first virtual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, May 11, featuring keynote speaker Cindy McCain, a humanitarian, business leader and chairperson of The McCain Institute. Co-chaired by Katie Frekko and Brooke Kuehnle, the luncheon wi…
For more than eight years, Maicheal “Mike” Estepaniance has been lead doorman at The Chandler, 450 E. Waterside Drive, serving Lakeshore East residents with an easygoing attitude, and a sturdy and safe disposition.
With talks of a docu-series based on his life, Tom Dreesen has come a long way from a neighborhood kid in Harvey, Illinois. After reading his recent book, “Still Standing…: My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra,” I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down wit…
Entrepreneur, author, "it" girl, podcast host and influencer. These are just a few of the words used to describe Jessica Zweig, the multi-talented author of the newly published "BE.- A No Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Net Worth By Simply Being Yourself," a how-to book (and…
Choose Chicago kicked off Chicago Restaurant Week 2021 by presenting Chef Michael Airhart, founder of Taste for the Homeless, with a $5,000 check.
Richard H. Driehaus, a Chicago philanthropist and founder of Driehaus Capital Management, died unexpectedly March 9 of natural causes, the investment management firm announced the following day.
Architect Danielle Tillman shaping the face of Chicago
For 29 years, James Forrest has greeted the residents of Streeterville’s CityFront Place Court with nothing short of a warm smile and a genuine devotion to making sure everyone feels satisfied and welcomed.
Eleni and Ava Tsatsos started gymnastics in their preschool years.
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