Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Luxe File ♥s: Taste of the Gold Coast '11!



On August 23rd, guests gathered for cocktails and sampled some of the area's most eclectic cuisine at this year's Taste of the Gold Coast 2011 at the Sutton Place Hotel - Luxe File was in South Florida getting a much-needed Vitamin D fix so we missed all the fun! BOO!

Gold Coast Girls: Cece & Melinda

Thirteen of the area's top restos participated including: Il Mulino, Cape Cod Room, RA Sushi, Chicago q, Go Roma, Whiskey Bar, Carmine's, Pane Caldo, Gaylord, The Drawing Room, Saloon Steakhouse, Devon Seafood Grill and more. Goose Island poured sip-worthy Belgian Style Ales and live musical performances by Lynne Jordan and the Shivers and Nan Mason & Terry Higgins kept guests dancing into the night.

BBQ Dream Team: Chicago q's Sous Chef and staff

Cape Cod Room's Joseph Marchionna

Some of the evening's notable guests included the Taste of the Gold Coast's hostesses, Cece Gonzales and Melinda Joseph of Raymi Productions, Candace Jordan (Candid Candace), Jessica Altieri (Wine Channel TV), Audarshia Townsend (312 Dining Diva), D.C. Crenshaw (Game Time Dine), Alderman Joe Moreno (1st Ward), and Alderman Michele Smith (43rd Ward).

Cindy Burns, Chuck Jordan, Candace Jordan
and Paul Iancono

Maralyn Owen, Jessica Altieri and Julianne Glatz

Alayna Washington Crenshaw and D.C. Crenshaw

Gold Coast Glamazon

Proceeds from the event's silent auction benefitted the North Dearborn Association.

Don't miss Raymi Production's next event: the second annual Who IS Chicago on Friday, September 30 at the dana Hotel and Spa. The event will honor some of the city's leading philanthropists and not-for-profiters. Tickets cost $50 per person. For more information, click HERE.

Photos courtesy of Raymi Productions and NBC Chicago/Onasis Odelmo.

Posted by Kerry Shorr

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Ultimate Premarital Pow Wow: "I Do...From Vows to Reality"


John Hassey, one of Chicago's leading marriage advocates and relationship experts, hosts an interactive workshop on September 25 to provide couples and newlyweds with insider tips and tools essential for marital B-L-I-S-S.


What does a happy marriage look like? Can two people with similar goals and values enjoy a lifetime of stability and can a couple with polar personalities actually build a truly sustainable foundation? John Hassey, who's one of Chicago's top premarital and family counselors and a divorce mediator and ordained minister to boot, thinks anything is possible.

Ah, L'Amor!: How Love Should Look

"Marriage is not necessarily about what you do, or do not, have in common,” says Hassey. “If a couple cannot negotiate the challenges and pitfalls that come during married life, they may find themselves on the road to breakup.”

Relationship Whiz: John Hassey

Over the past few years, Hassey has spent hundreds of hours counseling couples with a simple goal: build love and trust and elevate intimacy. In his counseling sessions, he works through his clients’ emotional issues, helps them tackle adversity and remove the barriers that block verbal and emotional expression.

"Most of the couples I counsel truly believe they are entering into their unions on a sure footing, but many lack the two basic fundamentals for maintaining long-term relationships: communicating with clarity and managing conflict.”


Relationship RX: Get the skills for a healthy relationship

On Sunday, September 25, the relationship aficionado will host "I Do...From Vows to Reality" at The James Hotel in Chicago from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In this one-day workshop, couples and newlyweds will learn how to enhance their relationships by boosting their communication skills, troubleshoot their way through conflict and overcome avoidance issues.

Prior to the workshop, couples will complete an in-depth, online relationship evaluation which covers nine key categories, ranging from communication and conflict resolution to financial management and spiritual beliefs. The evaluation will provide each couple with tangible results and areas to focus on for improving their relationship.


Communication Underload: Don't Type. Talk!

During the workshop, Hassey will address conflict sources and provide simple techniques and how-tos – via ground-breaking case studies, real-life success stories, open discussion, demonstrations & practice sessions – that couples can use to:

  • Alleviate and overcome conflict and other difficult situations
  • Increase their feelings of love and intimacy
  • communication for more open and honest expression

"I Do...From Vows to Reality” will also include special presentations by Anne Wagner, who will discuss the roles that fear and vulnerability play within a relationship; and The TantraNova Institute's Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver – the renowned intimacy/relationship coaches who've produced best-selling videos and have been featured on the popular Showtime series, “Sexual Healing”, and NBC's Emmy-winning show, “Starting Over” – will share the secrets for finding peace and love within ourselves and our relationships.

At the conclusion of the workshop, couples will have the opportunity to schedule a private and complimentary consultation with John Hassey to review the results of their relationship evaluation and discuss possible next steps.


Freddy Zental Weaver & Dr. Elsbeth Meuth

Now through September 4, the cost per couple is $425 (starting September 5, price increases to $525). The workshop includes a pre-workshop personality/ relationship evaluation; a one-hour, post-workshop session with John Hassey; and breakfast and lunch.

For more information about John Hassey and “I Do...From Vows to Reality”, please visit:www.JohnHassey.com/ido or call (312) 884-9830.


Photos courtesy of John Hassey Resolution and The TantraNova Institute.

Posted by Kerry Shorr

Thursday, August 4, 2011

GUESS hosts Lollapalooza Bashes, Aug 4 & 5



On Thursday, August 4, 6-8PM, join GUESS and Nylon magazine for an exclusive in-store event at the brand's posh Gold Coast digs. Guests will be treated to specialty cocktails, light bites, interactive photo booths, and live, pre-Lollapalooza "sneak peek" performances by some of the festival’s brightest, rising stars including Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., The Vaccines and DJ L1ght.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

England's up-and-coming garage rocker indie band, The Vaccines, will be spinning sets along with local talent, DJ L1ght; Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., who's "Simple Girl" anthem was selected for the GUESS Fall 2011 Behind the Scenes campaign video, will also treat fêters to an original acoustic set.


The Vaccines

DJ L1ght

On Friday, August 5, GUESS and Flavorpill, one of the nation's leading online cultural guides, invites guests back for a post-Lollapalooza performance at Subterannean Chicago featuring special guests, Tinie Tempah and Young the Giant.


Tinie Tempah

Young the Giant

The event is open to the public. To RSVP, email: RSVP@skirtpr.com.


GUESS is located at 605 North Michigan Avenue.

Subterannean is located at 2011 West North Avenue.


Posted by Kerry Shorr