Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tower Power!: Balsan's Introduces Seafood Tower & Twitter Contest


Chic, casual fair at its finest:
Balsan at the Elysian hotel

It's not fair but some towers have just gotten a bad rap - Tower of Babel, Tower of London, Tower of Pisa, Tower of Silence, Trump Tower. Fortunately, Balsan wipes the slate clean with its Seafood Tower, a gargantuan three-tiered sampling of the freshest fruits de mer that will have you smacking your lips and speaking in tongues (pardon the pun).

Balsan's Executive Chef Danny Grant, who also oversees Ria's accolade-loaded kitchen at the posh Elysian hotel, has added a tempting selection of seafood offerings to Balsan's well-stocked menu of charcuterie and brasserie-style bites.

The restaurant's even kicked off a Twitter contest where one lucky tweeter will win a Seafood Tower - three platters brimming with lobster, oysters, mussels and shrimp ($130).

A Culinary Wonder:
Balsan's Tower of Seafood

Participation is easy: Simply tweet a photo of yourself and any form of shellfish along with the phrase: "I want to #getmyseafoodon with @riabalsanchefs!" by 12AM on June 27th. After that, you'll move on to Round 2: be the first to correctly answer a trivia question which will be posted on the @riabalsanchef Twitter page at 11AM on June 28th.

Good luck and Bon Appetit!

Fresh Fare, Straight from the Sea

Balsan at the Elysian hotel is located at 11 East Walton, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

For reservations, please call 312-646-1400 or click HERE.

Photos courtesy of Balsan and the Elysian hotel.

Posted by Kerry Shorr

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Luxe File ♥s: GLAMORAMA '11!



Party Princess: “I’m so thrilled to be a part of Glamorama!” gushes Candace Jordan, everyone’s favorite former Playboy model, philanthropist , playwright and Candid Candace blogger. “It’s going to be one of the year’s most exciting events!” Jordan, who hosts some of the city’s most glamorous, philanthropic parties and attends dozens of high-profile events each week, should know. This year, she returns to help host Macy’s thirteenth annual fashion extravaganza which takes place on Friday, August 12 at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street.

Candace Jordan

Get Ready! Get Set! Get Your Glamazon On!: Macy’s Passport presents Glamorama has become one of Chicago’s most acclaimed fashion bashes – and this year is no exception. Taking a cue from its “ARTrageous” theme, the event will feature a creative mash-up of fashion, art and dance as well as musical performances by Cee Lo Green, singer/songwriter and judge on NBC’s hit show, The Voice and the electro-pop quartet, Far East Movement. The festivities continue with an “ARTlandish” after-party on the seventh floor at Macy’s on State Street where revelers will enjoy more fashion, music and creative sips and bites.

Cee Lo Green

Far East Movement

Glamour Has Its Privileges: The first 350 ticketholders will be treated to an exclusive Glamorama Launch Party hosted by Candace Jordan and CS Magazine on Thursday, June 18 at Room 1520, 1520 W. Fulton. Guests will enjoy open bars, creatively prepared hors d’oeuvres, DJ entertainment and a special performance by four-man band sensation, Blah Blah Blah who will also present their new music video, featuring a cameo appearance by Candace Jordan.

Blah Blah Blah

Glamorama Launch Party sponsors include: Aon Hewitt (Presenting Sponsor), Creative One Consulting, The Coca-Cola Company, Five-Star Audio/Visual, MillerCoors, Salon Duo, Event Creative, Phillips Flowers, Tito's Homemade Vodka, The Hershey Company, Ivan Carlson, YELP, Anna's Custom Sweets & Treats, Four Roses, Action Booth, and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

Do Good/Feel Better: For the third consecutive year, Macy’s will contribute a portion of its ticket sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI). RMHC-CNI will receive 100% of all tickets purchased on its website. Click HERE to purchase Glamorama tickets.

“We are so appreciative to be a part of this amazing event,” says Christina Thomas, Director of Events for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. “Macy’s has been an incredible partner to work with. Last year, the event helped to raise over $200,000 for the organization.” Monies will go towards funding a fifth Ronald McDonald House and will help keep its other Houses open for the thousands of families who use it as a ‘home away from home’ while their loved ones receive treatment at area hospitals.

Click HERE to purchase Glamorama tickets or for more information about RMHC-CNI, please visit: www.RonaldHouseChicago.org.

The Glam Squad: This year's Glamorama Host Committee include: Candace Collins Jordan (Host), Samantha Amato, Carol Beitler, Lynne Bredfeldt, Cindy Burns, Fabrice Calmels, Christopher Clinton Conway, DC Crenshaw, Ann Danner, Richard Gamble, CeCe Gonzalez, Tom Gorman, Leslie Hindman, Greg Hyder, Linda Johnson Rice, Melinda Joseph, Erica Bethe Levin, Kate McLenaghan, Corri McFadden, Kristina McGrath, Lynn McMahan, Helen Melchior, Corinne Melchior, Mary Ann Melchior, Ken Norgan, Amanda Puck, Marcus Riley, Rhonda Sanderson, Quenten Schumacher, Andrea Schwartz, Laura Schwartz, Kerry Shorr, Sally Shorr, Jim Smith, Rich Varnes, John Walcher, Julee White, and Jessica Zweig.

Before You Go Glambusters: Luxe File Chicago caught up with the Glamorama Host Committee a veritable “Who’s Who” of Chicago tastemakers, trendsetters and socialites to ask them: What does “Glamorama” mean to you?

Here's what they had to say:

Candace Jordan
Blogger, Candid Candace
"Prepare for the hottest fashion show of the year!"

Carol Beitler
Fundraiser & Ronald McDonald House Charities Auxiliary Board Member
"Mysterious allure. Bewitching charm. Elegance. Luxury. Well, that and the chance to leave Glencoe, get all dressed up and be in my beloved city for the evening!"

Lynne Bredfeldt

Director of Public Relations

Park Hyatt Chicago

"Combine two of my loves – fashion and music - and give back for a good cause. Glamour at its finest."


Christopher Clinton Conway
Executive Director, The Joffrey Ballet
"The epitome of all that is chic, alluring, fun, luxurious and refined…now that’s Glamorama!"

Cece Gonzales
President & Co-Founder, Cece & Melinda with Raymi Productions
In Spanish: "Encanto sensual que fascina."
In English: “You have it or you don't have it. The way you dress, the way you look, the way you talk, glamour does not have an off and on, it's for life and is a sensual attraction that fascinates people.”

Melinda Joseph
Vice President & Co-Founder, Cece & Melinda with Raymi Productions
"The celebration of glamour, fashion and style. Glamour is a creation of elegance and allure created through fashion and using sophisticated palettes of color and fabrics to create magic!"

Erica Bethe Levin
Co-Founder/Editor-in-Chief, CheekyChicago.com
"Fun, fierce, fashionable and all-around glamorous what summer in Chicago is all about!"

Kate McLenaghan
Philanthropist
"Getting together some of the most fashionable and philanthropic hearts in Chicago to come together to support the Ronald McDonald House in a way that only true Chicagoans can throwing a fantastic party unlike any other!"

Corri McFadden
Founder/Owner of Edrop-Off Express
"An evening filled with some of the most Glam Fashion lovers in Chicago."

Lynn McMahan
Owner/President, Trinity Development
"It means I am going to the best fashion show and after party of the year!"

Helen Melchior
Fundraiser & Board Member/Development Committee Chair, The Joffrey Ballet
"A fabulous opportunity to serve on the Host Committee with my daughters – a first!"

Ken Norgan
Franchise Owner, McDonald's (Deerfield & Lincolnshire)
"A luxurious extravaganza of fashion and music, simultaneously highlighting Macy's philanthropic commitment to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicago."

Amanda Puck
Executive Vice President PR, XA, The Experiential Agency
"FASHION, FASHION, FASHION!"

Marcus Riley
Multimedia Entertainment Reporter, NBC Chicago
"Seeing as I've only missed one Glamorama in the past five years, I certainly have a strong connection with that word. "Glamor" already exudes a strong feeling, but add "ama" to the mix and you get glamour on steroids, which sums up this event pretty concisely."

Rhonda Sanderson
President, Sanderson PR
"Glamour, glamour and more glamour. The perfect name for this event!"

Quenten Schumacher II
Senior Meeting Producer, SG2 Health Care Intelligence
"An overabundance of glamour and everyone needs more glamour in their life!"

Andrea Schwartz
Vice President, Media Relations & Cause Marketing, Macy's North and Midwest
"2,000+ of Chicago's most glamorous attending the event-of-the-summer benefitting such an important cause."

Laura Schwartz
Speaker & Author, Eat, Drink & Succeed!
"Glam at 360 degrees! A complete panorama of glamorous and generous people."

Kerry Shorr
Co-Creator, Luxe File Chicago
"Imaginative. Extravagant. Effortless chic."

Sally Shorr
Co-Creator, Luxe File Chicago & Public Relations Specialist, Morton’s The Steakhouse
"Bold, brazen, overly confident, tiara-tipping rock-and-rolla."

Jim Smith
Occupational Therapist, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
"A celebration of people HIGH on beauty, charm, and sophisticated style!"

John P. Walcher
Specialist, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
"A fusion of glamour and philanthropy, further exemplifying the importance of a community supporting its neighbors through an exciting and fun event."

Julee B. White
CEO, Testarossa Entertainment
"As a Women’s Auxiliary Board Member of The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, it has special meaning to me. What a great way to combine, music, fashion and a phenomenal group of philanthropists!"

Jessica Zweig
Co-Founder, CheekyChicago.com
"Chicago at its most fashionable fabulousness, the sparkle of the summer."

Photo of Candace Jordan courtesy of Erika Dufour

Posted by Kerry & Sally Shorr