Shirley Frye Shoup`s tree was decorated with hand-painted suede wallets-each one holding a $1 bill.
Wasn`t she worried about, you know, security? ”I figure there`s 20 of them,” she replied. ”What`s $20?”
Just the kind of devil-may-care attitude that`s sort of refreshing in these grim recessionary times.
Shoup, a clothing designer, was one of 11 creative people responsible for the decorations at this year`s Easter Seal Society of Metropolitan Chicago Festival of Trees. The trees, which are sponsored by local corporations, have been on display at the Hyatt Regency Chicago lobby since Dec. 1 (and will remain there through New Year`s). But on Friday night, the trees had a special group of admirers: the 250 guests attending the society`s annual fundraising party.
While the ”money tree” was one of the evening`s attention-getters, guests who preferred their trees along more conceptual lines undoubtedly appreciated the one by interior designer John Ansehl. It was trimmed in a garland of gold leaves, each leaf inscribed with the name ”Judy.” At the foot of the tree were several large gold balls.
The tree was titled-but you`re way ahead of us on this one, right?-”Heavy Metal Tree With Judy Garland.”
It was the fourth year that the society has used the trees as its benefit theme, but a lot was new this time around-like swankier-looking guests, since the event went black tie for the first time.
On top of all that, about 100 more people-paying $150 a ticket-showed up this year. ”It`s remarkable,” said event co-chairwoman Catherine Von Glinow, a member of the society`s Women`s Auxiluary. Her secret? ”Friends helping friends.”
There was dinner, of course-the dessert being a miniature chocolate sleigh filled with hazelnut mousse, sitting on a bed of white and dark chocolate sauce, garnished with raspberries and whipped cream.
”They aren`t that miniature,” confided Women`s Auxiliary member Bonita Friedland. It was clear from her expression that she knew the holiday weight gain season had begun.
