A snow leopard from the Himalayas, a black bear, an Arctic fox and a skunk were the featured guests at this year’s Friends of Conservation’s Zebra Ball Friday night at the Hotel Inter-Continental.
But the guest of honor was, naturally, a zebra, introduced by Jim Fowler of TV’s “Wild Kingdom.”
Helped along by a live auction, this year’s dinner dance netted about $60,000, which is earmarked for community conservation work in Kenya and the FOC’s animal protection program to save the rhinoceros.
Heading up the gala was FOC president Reutie Butler, along with co-chairs Joan Wegner of Oak Brook, and Cissy Walker of London.
Perennial guest and FOC member (since the group’s inception in 1982) George Plimpton was honored for his work with the organization. The gala attracted about 240 guests, many of whom stayed long after midnight to dance to the music of Samba Samba 2000. Tickets were $200.
– Several cultural institutions picked up $5,000 checks from Chanel last week in conjunction with the famed boutique moving to the Drake Hotel.
The House of Chanel opened its boutique and first Fine Jewelry Boutique with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and champagne toast on Oct. 7, followed by a fancy luncheon the next day at the Drake. The luncheon was attended by Chicago movers and shakers, including Marilyn Miglin of the Oak Street Council, Donna LaPietra of Chicago’s Sister City Program with Paris, Boots Nathan of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Nancy Klimley of the Joffrey Ballet. Also spotted were Deloris Jordan and Juanita Jordan, Judith Simons of Steppenwolf Theatre and Carol Prins of the Goodman Theatre.
Receiving Chanel’s donations were the Art Institute, the Cultural Center, the Joffrey Ballet, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
– The kickoff party for the opening of the Chicago International Film Festival began last Thursday evening with pizza slices and vodka, but things didn’t really begin to hop until the arrival of movie star James (“Crash”) Spader.
Spader eased into the Viacom store at North Michigan Avenue and Ontario Street and was beset with camera flashes and television crews on hand to record his arrival.
After a few moments, the party adjourned to a screening of Spader’s movie, “Critical Care,” directed by Sidney Lumet.
About 700 people paid $75 each to attend the party and movie, with all the money going to defray film festival costs. The partying, meanwhile, continues through next week with other events, including a special gala honoring actor Michael Douglas with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers Cityfront Center, 301 E. North Water St., starting at 6 p.m.
For more information about this or any festival events, call 312-425-9400.
———-
Please submit items in writing three weeks in advance to The Chicago Tribune, Amanda Barrett, PlacesPartiesPeople, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60611.
