Suffice it to say, the timing is apt: A mere three days after April Fool`s Day comes the second annual Dog Biscuit Eating Party for Humans. Yup, you read that right.
It`s the Anti-Cruelty Society`s Come Party With a Bunch of Party Animals fete, in which people pledge their Homo sapiens friends, relatives and loved ones (this is love?) to eat just one little Puppizza dog treat on the stage of the Phoenix Nightclub, 2848 N. Broadway.
A lineup of celebrity swallowers, including Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle, have promised to pop one of those tasty puppies down their throats, so even if you don`t line up for a biscuit, there should be plenty of fun to consume.
All this begins at 8 p.m. April 4. There will be a $3 cover charge for all those not eating biscuits. Proceeds go to the Anti-Cruelty Society, which fights for humane treatment of Illinois animals. Call 312-645-5671.
Here`s a Fiesta: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund celebrates 10 years of service to the Latino community at its 10th annual dinner on April 5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This year`s theme: A Decade of Latino Empowerment. That`s exactly what an expected 750 guests will be toasting at the dinner, chaired by Richard H. Brown, president of Illinois Bell.
The fund, the only national civil rights organization for Latinos based in the Midwest, has played a major role in the metamorphosis of the Latino community from one of a silent minority to one that now boasts a state senator, two state representatives, a city treasurer and four aldermen.
The Chicago office serves 1.9 million people-the nation`s third largest Latino population-through programs in education, employment, voting rights, immigration and leadership development.
Corporate and civic leader awards will be presented to H. Laurance Fuller, president of Amoco Corp., and Fidel Lopez, president of Broadacre Consulting Co. The keynote speaker will be Mayor Federico Pena of Denver. Festivities get under way at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $150. Call 312-427-9363.
So Hot It Sizzles: Everything about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago`s entry on the April 6 docket says this should be one hot night in the city. It`s the Celebrity Casino Ball and it`s happening at the recently restored Hotel Inter-Continental, 525 N. Michigan Ave.
The bash, which starts with cocktails and a Monte Carlo Casino at 7 p.m., will honor Neal Anderson, All Pro running back for the Chicago Bears. Among those hoisting champagne flutes to Anderson will be teammates Dave Duerson and Ron Morris.
The black-tie dinner dance is being co-chaired by a most dynamic duo:
Christie Hefner, chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, and Eric Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Products. Both co-chairs are very hip (guaranteed to attract a list of very hip friends), and neither suffers from social overexposure, making their presence here a hot ticket indeed. Speaking of
Tickets are $150. Proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Clubs, which keep inner-city kids off the streets and fill young lives with the stuff it takes to make dreams come true. Call 219-931-5380.
Summer in the City: The night, once again, is April 6, but the payoff comes in June, July and August for hundreds of inner-city children who will get a chance to splash in pools, take in a ball game and maybe down a s`more or two, thanks to the annual spring benefit dinner dance of the Women`s Auxiliary of the Joint Negro Appeal.
The black-tie gala, which raises money to distribute to 20 welfare agencies and community centers for summer education and recreation programs, starts at 7 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Pl.
The Joint Negro Appeal is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 for the sole purpose of raising funds to augment the budgets of 20 Chicago agencies and centers that serve some of the city`s neediest kids.
Tickets for the gala are $55. Call 312-842-6262.
Last Call: The Raoul Wallenberg Committee of Chicago holds its annual humanitarian awards ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday at Northwestern University`s Lutkin Hall, 700 University Pl., Evanston. The four recipients of the awards named in honor of the Swedish diplomat and humanitarian are: U.S. District Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz (Great Humanitarian Award); Joseph Kellman, founder of the Better Boys Foundation (Business Award); Sara Cohen, retired social worker (Social Services Award); and Rev. John Pawlikowski, O.S.M., a scholar on Christian-Jewish relations (Religion Award). Tickets for the awards ceremony are $25, and $50 for the awards and a reception afterward at the Omni Orrington Hotel. Call 312-781-6220.
