I've always been a fan of New Year's Eve. Granted, my plans have changed dramatically through the years from staying out all night, to dinner with friends to fun in the sun like this year. Newlywed/friends , Kim and Bob Mills, were recently married but decided to wait to combine their wedding celebration with a New Year's Eve party. The results were outstanding! Cruising down the Intracoastal in Ft. Lauderdale with about 60 old and new friends dancing, drinking, eating and enjoying the holiday lights on the multi-million dollar homes and boats was a night we will never forget!
But what did everyone else in Chicago do on NYE? I was very curious so I quizzed some of our town's VICs (Very Important Chicagoans) to find out! Nate Berkus, even though he doesn't live in Chicago anymore but will ALWAYS be considered a hometown boy by moi, spent his NYE at Playacar Palace in Cancun celebrating party guru Colin Cowie's 50th birthday with Padma Lakshmi, Jason and Haley Binn, NBC's Ted Harbert, Clear Channel's Bob Pittman and Chef Todd English. Natalie Cole sang "Unforgettable."
Glam It Girl, Gayle Anthony, reported that her equally glamorous sister, Julie Weindling and her beau Phil Geier, spent NYE at Round Hill, Jamaica, rubbing shoulders and chatting at the pool with Sir Paul McCartney and his family, including his daughter by Heather Mills. Also seen poolside were Ewan McGregor, Ralph and Ricky Lauren and Lauren Bush.
Entertainment reporter/uber-scribe Bill Zwecker and partner, Tom Gorman, spent their NYE at Linda Johnson Rice's "spectacular" mountain-top home in Palm Springs with Desiree Rogers, Neal Zucker, James Bell (Boeing CFO) and his wife, Sue Leonis and JulieLatsko among others.
Author Sherrill Bodine and hubby John, spent their NYE at the famed Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans. CS Magazine Editor and Chief, Korey Huyler, and her family usually go to Deer Valley but this year, since she's expecting her second child, they stayed in watched a movie and made dinner. Watch out NEXT year Deer Valley!
Auctioneer extraordinaire, Leslie Hindman, spent New Year's with friends in Paris dining at Le Grand Colbert. Dapper Sepia Restaurant owner, Emmanuel Nony, hosted over 17o guests at his restaurant before heading to Saugatuck, Michigan, the following day.
Henson Consulting founder, Kathleen Henson, and her hubby Mike had a quiet NYE (and with her crazy life I don't blame her!). They ate sushi at a friend's house and played Guesstures with their FIVE children! That's enough excitement for anyone! Myra and John Reilly opted to do the same, staying at their magnificent home in Lake Forest with friends and family. And photographer to the stars, Steve Starr, spent New Year's photographing friends at Rumba Supper Club enjoying live music by the Mannix Martinez Orchestra. Orchestra leader/pianist/entertainer Stanley Paul led the NYE celebrations at the Casino before heading off to his rental mansion in Palm Springs, which was the former home of actress Marjorie Main. Stanley describes it as "Grey Gardens on steroids!"
See what other VICs did to herald in 2012! (Check out www.CandidCandace.com for extended coverage!)
Freelance writer and Chicago Magazine nightlife reporter, Amalie Drury, partied with friends Alex and Megan Menocal at their Albany Park apartment with champagne, singing and board games. Grilled rib roast, smoked salmon and squash Wellington were on the menu.Cheeky Chicago's Jessica Zweig hosted a party at her apartment with 15 of her closest, best friends. Shown here with her "date" for the night, Lisa Frame (left, founder of MugShotMonday.com).Fabulous designer, Pamella Roland (DeVos), recently bought a home in Chicago so she has just become a VIC! She and her family and friends sailed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, aboard her luxury yacht.And even though this was a 2011 NYE event, I thought it was definitely worthy of inclusion! Glamor Girl Natasha Isaacs, hubby Michael and friends (Eva and Cezar Jakubowski, Bozena and Arie Zwieg) enjoyed an intimate dinner at Prince Charles' HOME as thanks for their mutual fundraising efforts to build a theater in Gdansk!NYE 2011 with Prince Charles, Natasha and Michael Isaacs and friends.
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Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis enjoyed their annual "ritual" of ringing in the New Year and saying goodbye to the old by viewing a sunset from their treehouse. A fire was lit in their fire pit on their magnificent Mettawa Manor estate and they enjoyed hot chocolate watching the sunrise on New Year's Day. Sounds idyllic!Reality star and E-Drop Off's Corri McFadden, along with BF Spiro Tsaparas, enjoyed a low key night with friends with a simple dinner at Le Colonial. But there's NOTHING simple about her Louboutins!Celeb TV's Kelli Zink, along with her friend Shaun, enjoyed NYE at Cancun's Melia Resort.Handsome Pierre Desy and Michel Desjardins enjoyed NYE in the Forbidden City in China! (VICs going global!)Watch312.com's "Chicago Unplugged" host, DC Crenshaw and his lovely wife Alayna, rang in the New Year with a new bundle of joy, Cruz Dylan Crenshaw.
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Nina and Bob Mariano spent NYE surrounded by friends at a dinner party near their home in Inverness. Five couples each brought a dish and agreed to stay close to home in case any of their teenagers, who were out for NYE, needed a ride home. All agreed it was "one of their best parties ever!"24/7 star Catie Keogh (shown here with Mary Astor Smithe) spent NYE on the shores of Lake Michigan at her lake house with family and close friends including Tim and Mary Smithe (Walter E. Smithe).Saira Mohan, Monika Dixon and Lana Bramlette celebrated at the Pump Room with sparklers and kisses.Tim Smithe enjoying Lake Michigan at Catie Keogh's lake house. After, he warmed up with the last of the egg nog and his cookie-baking wife, Mary Astor.XA's Amanda Puck with BF Jerome Weitzel at Big Star before cooking up a storm at her apartment. (Check out her blog, Foodarazzi!)
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Watch312.com's Amanda Puck tested a new French Onion soup recipe with beau Jerome Weitzel after partying with friends at Big Star for some tacos and bourbon.Author and fitness expert Andrea Metcalf spent NYE in Aspen with skis, sunshine and a handsome loved one.Blah, Blah, Blah's Solomon Moss played two NYE shows at Multi Kulti and The David Ferguson Art Gallery and then partied with darling friend Tina Powell.Beautiful twins, Korinna Isselhardt and Kristina McGrath, spent NYE with family and friends at her gorgeous home in Park City, Utah.Trib U's Social Media Guru Tracy Schmidt visited Chicago's Botanic Gardens with her boyfriend just as the sun was setting and visited the Wonderland Express (shown in photo) which included 80 miniature Chicago landmarks made of different woods. They rang in the New Year at a friend's cocktail party in Logan Square.
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Michigan Avenue Magazine's Susanna and Tom Negovan celebrated at Charlie Trotter's and were shocked to hear him announce at midnight that this would be the last NYE in this historic restaurant. Charlie will be pursuing his love of philosophy. The culinary world will miss him!Park Hyatt's PR Genius, Lynne Bredfeldt, enjoyed a fashionable NYE with a road trip along California's Pacific Coast Highway visiting Geoffrey's in Malibu, R & R in Santa Barbara, tacos at La Super Rica Taqueria, croquet and pinot in Montecito and then south to Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, San Diego, La Jolla and Laguna. I'm exhausted just writing this! Mesirow's Les Coney celebrated NYE in style with fashionable friends including Rich February, first dining at Sunda and then ringing in the new year at the Pump Room.Visual Therapy's Jesse Garza and BF Christian Hughes enjoyed the dramatic seascape of Big Sur and the tranquility of the beach in Carmel. (www.Visual-Therapy.com/blog)Jesse Garza's photo of the beautiful coastline of northern California.
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Zacuto's Steve Weiss and his darling daughter Isabel and glam wife Lucy, spent NY in Los Angeles where they had rented a massive home in the Hills. Here they are clowning around with "Will Smith" at the Wax Museum. CS Magazine's Samantha Saifer Berngard and hubby, along with friends, went to Tony Mantuano's new restaurant Bar Toma. After, dancing at the Hard Rock Hotel to the "Gold Coast All Stars", their wedding band!Tiffani Kim, hubby Brad and "son" Monster, enjoyed a first-time NYE at their Michigan home with a bottle of 1983 Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux and caviar while listening to Adelle's chart topping CD. Monster dined on dried salmon doggy treats. :-)Gibson's Restaurants's Hostess with the Mostest/Partner, Kathy O'Malley Piccone, and her fabulous staff served almost 1000 NYE dinners at the restaurant and then, the following day, fed 300 people from Catholic Charities as well as supplying goodie bags containing warm hats, gloves and tooth paste and tooth brushes. The charitable staff from Gibson's Restaurant Group.My glamorous friend, Gibson's Kathy O'Malley Piccone.Newlyweds Kim and Bob Mills celebrating their wedding and NYE in Ft. Lauderdale! Watch for Bob's Watch312.com Network coming soon! "Chicago's Online Network" will feature numerous shows highlighting every aspect of Chicago.Celebrating NYE with Mr. and Mrs. Bob Mills and friends aboard the 130' yacht, Sea Dream.Cruising the Intracoastal of Ft. Lauderdale.Chef Art Smith and life partner, Jesus Salgueiro ring in the NY in New York.Kim Mills surrounded by friends on NYE in Ft. Lauderdale.ICB's Bob Mills and Bill Natale surrounded by friends on NYE in Ft. Lauderdale.NYE at the Pump Room with another set of newlyweds, Jerry and Stacie McClane Mickelson, with Dusty and Alex Stemer and friends.Visual Therapy's Joe Lupo and his handsome BF, Tim Rogers, in Zihuatanejo, Mexico at Las Palmas. This boutique hotel only has 10 suites and is situated on a nine mile stretch of undeveloped beach. Las Palmas.....sigh......Chicago Film Festival's Michael Kutza sporting a killer tan in Rio where he watched the fireworks from Copa Cabana Beach. One million people celebrated with him.Michael Kutza's photo of Rio's Copa Cabana Beach at NYE.NBC's Marcus Riley rang in the New Year starting with a home-cooked meal for his model girlfriend, Nicole Townsend, and then partying together at the Hard Rock. They also popped over to the Playboy Party at the Hilton Chicago.Biz Bash's Jenny Berg and cute BF Dustin Berta spent NYE at the Playboy Party at the Hilton Chicago with a confetti explosion, a kiss and a Bunny at the turntable!Cheeky Chicago's Erica Bethe Levin spent NYE at NAHA Restaurant where Chef Carrie Nahabedian kicked it up a notch with delicious lobster risotto!Handsome man-about-town Paul Iacono, celebrated with friends in Booth One at the Pump Room for NYE with visions of Frank Sinatra swimming in his head. Fashion superstar, Ikram Goldman, and her darling family Oberon, Aragon and hubby Josh spent NYE on sun-soaked Nevis Island.Superstar sisters Kerry and Sally Shorr, her partner-in-crime, celebrated at home with "buckets of bubbly, big steaks, Magnolia cupcakes" and a fireworks display from their rooftop.Sarah Beardsley and Ted Tetzlaff enjoyed NYE in Steamboat Springs where they delighted in watching a torchlight parade of skiers followed by fireworks. This pic is taken from the top of the Morningside lift on New Year's Day.Zacuto's Steve Weiss talking business with "Steven Spielberg"....no doubt telling him what camera equipment he needs to use! (At the Wax Museum in L.A.!)
What the hell is a VIC and who are these people? If they are so important, I'd have heard of a few of them. I think you mean VRC, Very Rich Chicagoans.
Hi Chris! First of all Happy New Year! VIC is a term I made up to denote Very Important Chicagoans. These are people that are well known around town and who responded to my request to send me their NYE plans and a photo. Not all are rich, not by a long shot, so you're very wrong on this count. And I'm sorry you haven't heard about them but then that's why my blog is so much fun! Now you have! Have a great 2012 and thanks for the comment.
Hi pbombz and Happy New Year to you too! And, not to worry if you aren't interested in these people......but a blog's very nature is what that particular writer is interested in. And since I AM interested in what these high profile people did for New Year's, I wrote about it. I'm sure you will find lots of other blogs out there of more interest to you. Sorry you didn't enjoy it! Have a great 2012.....
Chicago loves you Candace. You're way too kind. I on the other hand am not. Ha. Your blog and column and show are always positive and upbeat. As im sure you're aware: You know you're a success when folks like the previous posters creep out of their anonymous caves in a futile attempt at making others feel as miserable about life as they sadly do. Keep spreading your love as I know you will. The world needs more of you. "They" will never get it. Let's hope they will someday. And yes I'm proud to be a personal friend of yours.
Love
Paul Iacono
I'm a Ford model/actress/Playboy centerfold who writes about fashion and society news on Chicago Now and my blog, www.CandidCandace.com. Look for my weekly column, "Candid Candace," in Sunday's Tribune Magazine as well as my show,"Candid Candace Chicago," on www.Watch312.com. Contact me at Candace@CandidCandace.com.
What the hell is a VIC and who are these people? If they are so important, I'd have heard of a few of them. I think you mean VRC, Very Rich Chicagoans.
Hi Chris! First of all Happy New Year! VIC is a term I made up to denote Very Important Chicagoans. These are people that are well known around town and who responded to my request to send me their NYE plans and a photo. Not all are rich, not by a long shot, so you're very wrong on this count. And I'm sorry you haven't heard about them but then that's why my blog is so much fun! Now you have! Have a great 2012 and thanks for the comment.
I think it's great that these people I never heard of had a nice NYE but why should I give a rat's arse? Big up big up, it's stick up stick up.
Hi pbombz and Happy New Year to you too! And, not to worry if you aren't interested in these people......but a blog's very nature is what that particular writer is interested in. And since I AM interested in what these high profile people did for New Year's, I wrote about it. I'm sure you will find lots of other blogs out there of more interest to you. Sorry you didn't enjoy it! Have a great 2012.....
I think it very interesting to find out where the very important rich gay people go to on NYE
Chicago loves you Candace. You're way too kind. I on the other hand am not. Ha. Your blog and column and show are always positive and upbeat. As im sure you're aware: You know you're a success when folks like the previous posters creep out of their anonymous caves in a futile attempt at making others feel as miserable about life as they sadly do. Keep spreading your love as I know you will. The world needs more of you. "They" will never get it. Let's hope they will someday. And yes I'm proud to be a personal friend of yours.
Love
Paul Iacono
Why am I not on this list?