Marshall Field’s Water Tower store was awash in blooms and the smell of blossoms Friday night as 400 guests gathered for The 2000 Flowering Field’s Gala, a part of the store’s annual flower show. Noted French floral designer Christian Tortu brought the countryside of Provence to the store, with his dazzling designs using flowers and plants such as citrus trees, magnolias, olive branches, sunflowers, fig trees, lavender and daffodils.
Every year Marshall Field’s designates a different recipient for the gala’s proceeds. This year, $75,000 was given to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
The evening began on the first floor, with the black-tie crowd nibbling hors d’oevures and sipping champagne and cocktails. Among the guests were Linda Ahlers, president of Dayton’s, Marshall Field’s and Hudson’s; Judy Istock, chairman of the board of the museum’s parent, the Chicago Academy of Sciences; gala chairs Susan Erler and Sue Smilie of the Academy Council; and Ann Bettendorf and Royal Allen of the Auxiliary Board of the nature museum. Steve Podesta, creator of the Field’s State Street’s store’s floral scenes, was in attendance also.
This year’s show incorporates flowers and foliage from the tropics and is called “Curious George Goes to the Flower Show.” Everyone eagerly awaited dinner to be served on the eighth floor, amidst the store’s crystal selections. Chef Jean-Andre Charial of France created a mouth-watering menu that included smoked salmon galette with caviar, wild mushroom salad, Maine lobster salad and rack of lamb.
When the meal was finished, the chef went from table to table receiving plaudits and applause. Later, guests moved to the third floor for dancing and a vast selection of miniature tarts, cakes, cookies and fresh fruit. The flower show runs through April 2 and is free to the public during store hours. The windows, which depict a country patio and picnic, can be seen daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.
– Gary Sinise and his Steppenwolf Theatre pals helped lend some Hollywood star power to Sunday night’s Academy Awards party at Spago. In what is shaping up to be hip annual tradition, the restaurant teamed up with a host of sponsors to raise money for the 36th annual Chicago International Film Festival.
The $175 per-person party included event co-chairs Donna LaPietra and Victor Skrebneski; WGN-TV’s Paul Konrad and Larry Potash; the film festival’s founder and artistic director Michael Kutza; and Spago’s Amanda Larsen Puck.
Emulating Hollywood arrivals, guests made their entrances under the harsh glare of television cameras and klieg lights. Once inside, trays of champagne and delicious hors d’oeuvres awaited. Silent auction tables were brimming with interesting items, including a copy of “Monica’s Story,” along with a humidor filled with cigars emblazoned with the presidential seal. There were trips to France and New York offered, along with gift certificates to beauty salons, and tickets to see Jerry Springer, Oprah and Jenny Jones.
The longest Oscar broadcast in history didn’t seem so long when there was gourmet food to eat during the show. Chefs Francois Kwaku-Dongo and Wolfgang Puck created the menu, the same served to guests that night at the Governor’s Ball in Los Angeles. As Billy Crystal said goodnight, most of the guests were already heading out the door, clutching their goody bags filled with bottles of orange-flavored vodka and martini glasses.
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