Designer Borris Powell brings the "Black Swan" back to Chicago.

Everyone was waiting in anticipation.....  I've never seen such a bank of photographers and press people outside of NY Fashion Week but this was the scene at top Chicago designer Borris Powell's first fashion show since winning the Oscar's Designer Challenge 2011"!  I was privileged to go backstage before the show to interview Borris.  (It was my first taping for "Social Circles" which I will be co-hosting with Julee White...details, of course, to follow!)  Anway, there it was.....

Join host Elysabeth Alfano as she goes behind the scenes with artists, actresses Joan Cusack and Joyce Piven, and collectors like me!  Having worked with artists for over 15 years in her art gallery and accessories design business, Elysabeth wanted to take audiences on an all-access pass into the artists' studios to discover the artists behind the art.  Check out my recent interview with the hardest working producer/host in showbiz!  The show airs on WTTW March 31st,  at 10  PM and Wednesday, April 6th, at 10:30 PM. (Other show times and screening party info follows....)

 

 

Elysabeth Alfano is a Chicago native who has been living and breathing the arts all her life. After studying art history and fashion in Paris and Florence, she returned to Chicago and opened an international art gallery. Having the itch to create herself, she began designing and producing accessories. Alfano has also taught graduate and undergraduate classes at Columbia College, written art reviews, consulted artists, acted and performed in the Improv for Actors Series with Second City, and done voiceover work. Her latest project is creating, producing, and hosting the television show Fear No Art Chicago. It began airing on WTTW in spring of 2010, with quarterly shows, and is co-produced with HMS Media.  Elysabeth is definitely ONE TO WATCH!  Showtimes and screening party info follows: 

WTTW 11

Thursday, 3/31, 10 PM, Sunday, 4/3, 12 PM, Wed., 4/6, 10:30 PM, Sat., 4/23, 11:30 PM

WTTW PRIME

Fri., 4/1, 4 PM, Thursday 4/7, 4:30 PM, Sat. 4/9, 5 PM

SCREENING PARTY WILL BE MARCH 29TH FROM 6-8 PM AT THE LH SELMAN GALLERY, 410 S. MICHIGAN, 2ND FLOOR!  See you there I hope! 

Sponsors for Fear No ART Chicago on WTTW are the LH Selman Gallery,

Disaster Planning and Response Art Rescue, Chicago Art Leasing and Columbia

College Chicago.

 

 

This video was posted by cameraman, James MacWhyte, and although he didn't tape this footage, he lives in Tokyo, 180 miles from the disaster zone.  This is what he had to say, "I want to show everyone the news media we are being presented with here in Japan.  I think it's quite different from what you see on CNN and other Western news outlets.  One thing about Japan--there are professional cameramen EVERYWHERE!  It reminds me of the Vietnam war, and how it was the first time the US got real-time, color footage of a war zone.  Since the quake, we've had lots of steady, HD video playing non-stop, showing you exactly what it would be like to witness the disaster first hand.  Watch it full-screen, and please share..."

Here is the link:   http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1605260179420&comments

Too frightening for words....those poor people....

The magnificent ballroom of the Elysian Hotel.

Last Sunday night was the opening night Black Tie Dinner to kick off Common Threads' Sixth Annual World Festival the following day at Soldier Field.  It was an intimate (100 guests), star-studded affair that included celebrity Chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Anita Lo, Michelle Bernstein, Nicole Pederson,Stephanie Prida and Ria's own Danny Grant.  The Elysian Ballroom is one of the most elegant in the city and on this night it was magical with the dimmed chandeliers, twinkling candles and sparkling crystal winking from every table.  American Idol's handsome Aussie singer/songwriter, Michael Johns, performed several songs and even had the black-tie clad crowd singing happily along.  The live auction, conducted by Jeff Brown, raised big money and included a Russian Celebrity Cruise with Chef Art Smith.....

Hundreds of guests turned up at the Chicago Hilton recently to attend a Fashion Show Benefit for Little City.  Neiman Marcus unveiled the latest trends for 2011 from collections that included Diane Von Furstenburg, Tory Burch, Oscar de la Renta, Escada, Valentino, Vionnet, Vera Wang, Marchesa, Badgley Mischka, Carmen Marc Valvo and Alice & Olivia among many others.  Gorgeous jewels by Lana Jewelry twinkled from the Ford Models' necks and ears. 

You won't want to miss the first Annual Chicago Red Dress Party on Saturday, April 16th, at 525 W. Monroe from 8:30 PM to 2 AM!  It is sure to be one of the most DYNAMIC events of the year!  It will feature international recording artist Kristine W, Chicago's very own Miss Foozie and your co-hosts, NBC's handsome Marcus Riley and MOI!  I am so excited to be....

A fun-filled evening benefitting TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network). (Pic by Steve Starr).

What a whirlwind of an evening for "Macy's Chicago Takes Off" at the Park West Saturday night!  "Lido des Boyz" treated guests to a variety of performances that left you feeling like you'd attended 20 Broadway shows!  Repeat host, Murray Hill, was hilarious and kept the crowd on its toes with his zingers while introducing the fantastic lineup for the evening including acts that ranged from sexy Can Can dancers to Polly the Prancing Poodle and everything in between!

Beautiful Union Station was the venue for the 18th Annual Bear Tie Ball.

Over 500 guests raised over $450,000 in one night for the 18th Annual Bear Tie Ball benefitting Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation.  Guests included past honoree Gary Fencik and his wife Sandy, Sylvie and Todd Ricketts (who was honored with the 2011 Hope for the Future Award), Chicagoan of the Year nominee Dr.Dan Ivankovich, emcee Demetria Kalodimos and awesome auctioneers Jennifer Weigel and Kathy Hart.  15 year old Luke Strotman was this year's "Bear Hugs Ambassador." 

Scholarship winners Ana Leon, K'Lynn Kennedy and Rebecca Lopez.

The Chicago Fashion Foundation and Project Runway contestant Peach Carr hosted their Fourth Annual Scholarshop Event at the Chicago History Museum on March 3rd.  The event, which showcased local fashion students' original designs inspired by Chicago's music scene, awarded $6500 in scholarship money to the top 3 student competitors.