FEBRUARY 2012 EVENTS

Updated: February 29, 2012 9:27PM

Gino’s East Celebrates The Giving Heart this Valentine’s Day: Through Feb. 29. Gino’s East celebrates the true meaning of it this Valentine’s Day with “The Giving Heart.” For every deep-dish, heart-shaped cheese pizza purchased, a portion of proceeds will go to Children’s Memorial Hospital. Heart-shaped pizzas are $10. Gino’s East restaurants that are offering “The Giving Heart” campaign are The Original Gino’s East at 162. E. Superior St in Chicago; 633 N. Wells St. in Chicago; 1590 E. Main St. in St. Charles; 315 Front St. in Wheaton; and 820 S. Milwaukee in Libertyville. For more information visit www.GinosEast.com

Saks Fifth Avenue forms local charitable partnerships nationwide: Through Feb. 29, Saks Fifth Avenue will give five percent of all registered purchases made with a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card back to charity. The donations will benefit certain local organizations, keeping support within each Saks Fifth Avenue store’s immediate community. Customers may select which local charity from Saks Fifth Avenue’s roster they wish to allocate their five percent contribution. Registration is one simple step at point of sale linking the customer account with their chosen charity. Saks Fifth Avenue, 1849 Greenbay Road, Highland Park, has partnered with the following charities: Leukemia Research Foundation, Women’s Board of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, Special Olympics of Chicago, The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation. Saks.com will also be supporting the program, with five percent of online purchases made using a registered Saks credit card, being donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Kiwanis Club of Evanston annual Pizzamania event: 5-8 p.m., Feb. 21, Giordano’s, 1527 Chicago Ave. (corner of Chicago and Davis St.), Evanston. The all-you-can-eat and drink party will be serving up several varieties of pizza on Fat Tuesday, the day before the official beginning of Lent. In keeping with that date, each guest receives colorful beads to mark the occasion. Pizzamania chair Tom McRaith says that while this Mardi Gras celebration isn’t quite like New Orleans, pizza lovers enjoy it even more. Tickets can be obtained by calling McRaith at (847) 332-2800 or contacting members of the Kiwanis Club of Evanston which meets every Tuesday at Gio restaurant, 1630 Chicago Ave. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for children under twelve. Tickets purchased at the door are $17 and $8 respectively. SHORE Community Services assists over 400 children and adults with developmental disabilities.

The Dance COLEctive & The Big Hearts Fund hold their first joint fundraiser, “Wholehearted Wellness Jam 2012 ZUMBATHON: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Feb. 23, at Grossinger City Autoplex, 1530 N. Dayton, Chicago. The two-hour ZUMBATHON — four 30-minute sessions — also features local health and fitness-focused businesses offering complimentary services and products geared toward the health of animals and people alike. The evening includes refreshments, a raffle and a silent auction. Advanced registration is $35 at http://wholeheartedwellnessjam2012.eventbrite.com. For information, call (773) 377-5560.

Erie Family Health Center Eriedescence Benefit: 6 p.m., Feb. 23, Lumen, 839 W. Fulton Market St., Chicago. Tickets are $65 and includes entrance to the private cocktail event, drinks, appetizers, a chance to win premiere silent auction items and more. Event proceeds will directly support Lending Hands for Life’s programs for Erie patients with HIV/AIDS. For more information call (312) 432-7378 or see eriefamilyhealth.org.

Evanston History Center Jazz at the Dawes Fundraiser: 7-10 p.m. Feb. 23, Dawes House, 225 Greenwood St., Evanston. Remember Cool Cal Coolidge and Vice President Charles Gates Dawes’ 1924 Campaign for the White House. Listen to live jazz from the Chris Greene Trio. Cut a rug. Jitterbug. Party in a National Historic Landmark museum. Enjoy a beverage or two. Nibble on hors d’oeuvres and mingle with friends. Tickets: $35; $30 for EHC members. Must be 21 years of age. Reservations required. Funds support the Evanston History Center. Call (847) 475-3410, or see evanstonhistorycenter.org.

The Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE) inaugural evening fundraising event, Warm Your Palate: 6-9 p.m., Feb. 23, Now We’re Cooking, 1601 Payne Street, Evanston. Local chefs will take guests on a culinary excursion to sample signature appetizers and desserts. Guest chefs include The Hearty Boys, winners of the first season of “Food Network Stars”; Vince di Battista of Campagnola; Jeff Perin of Davis Street Fishmarket; Jonadab Silva of Hota (formerly Jacky’s on Prairie); Geoff Felsenthal of the International Institute of Art, Chicago; and Victor Hernandez of Stained Glass Bistro. Whiskey samplings by event sponsor FEW Spirits, and wine tastings by event sponsor Schaefer’s Wines, Foods & Spirits. Live auction begins at 7:30 pm. Auction packages include airline tickets and a golf package with a local golf pro. Tickets: $100. All proceeds benefit IWSE’s programs providing high-quality early childhood education and family support services for teen parents and low-income families with young children in the city of Evanston and the surrounding communities. Contact Jennifer Riskind, (847) 491-9650, jenniferriskind@iwse.org. For more information on the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, visit iwse.org.

Concern Worldwide Women of Concern Awards Luncheon: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 24. WLS-Channel 7 anchor Kathy Brock hosts this annual luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus, Chicago. The event honors women who have demonstrated the qualities of justice, generosity and compassion in their work and daily lives. The 2012 Women of Concern Awards will be presented to Diane Geraghty, professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund. The funds raised by the luncheon will support Concern’s education programs in 13 developing countries, focusing on increasing access to and quality of basic primary education. Tickets are $150 or $3,000-$5,000 for tables of 10. Call (312) 431-8400 or visit concernusa.org.

Hadassah Chicago and North Shore Chapters’ 100th Anniversary: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 24. The women of Hadassah will celebrate 100 years of the women’s Zionist organization with a Kabbalat Shabbat Service and dinner at Beth Shalom Synagogue, 3433 Walters Ave., Northbrook. This evening will be led by Michele Rubin of Northbrook and Ruth Ann Freedman of Highland Park, Presidents of Hadassah Chapters. Tickets: $36 adults; $18 chldren under 12. Event chair is Felicia Gross of Deerfield. Reservations required. Any proceeds benefit HMO. Call (847) 205-1900 or visit northshoreHadassah.org for more information.

Northlight Theatre “Under A Blu Moon”: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Northlight Theatre’s Board of Trustees and gala chairs present the theater’s premier fundraising event at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago. The co-chairs are Rahul & Anuradhika Roy of Evanston (DraftFCB), Merril Prager of Northbrook, John Levine of Northbrook (J. Levine & Associates). The evening includes food, entertainment, silent and live auctions and special guests. Jersey Boys’ Michael Ingersoll will be the master of ceremonies and auctioneer. Two highlights of the auction will be an Oktoberfest evening of Beer and Brats with George Wendt and Tim Kazurinksy, who will both appear in next season’s The Odd Couple and the “El Bulli” dinner for 4 at Grant Achatz’s NEXT Restaurant. The evening will be capped off with dancing to the hot, 10-member dance band Dance Floor Plans. Proceeds from the event will benefit Northlight Theatre’s mainstage productions, The Interplay Reading Series of new and commissioned plays and musicals, and the Theatre’s imaginative and inclusive education programs. Tickets are $350; tables of 10 are priced at $3,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Call Northlight Theatre at (847) 324-1615 or see Northlight.org.

Y-ME Tickled Pink: 7 p.m.-midnight Feb. 24. Paint the town pink during the seventh annual charity bash benefiting Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization at River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois, Chicago. Guests walk the pink carpet and mix and mingle with celebrity guests. Party-goers will also have the opportunity to dine on hors d’oeuvres and late night munchies. As always, Tickled Pink’s dance floor will be the place to be seen. Tickets: $75. Call (312) 294-8557 or visit tickledpinkchicago.com.

Asian American Coalition of Chicago It’s Time …: 5:30-10 p.m. Feb. 25. The AACChicago’s 29th annual lunar new year celebration will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. The evening begins with a reception/silent auction at 5:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner, entertainment and awards. Arun Sampanthavivat, chef/owner of Arun’s Thai Restaurant, will serve as co-chair of the event. Proceeds allow AACChicago to advance the integration of all Asian Americans into mainstream society. Tickets are $800 for tables of 10. Contact Tippi Lee at tickets@aacchicago.org.

Aspire Children’s Services Benefit: Feb. 25, Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive., Chicago. “Big Night in Morocco” presented by Microsoft Store in Oakbrook Center and National Van Lines, Inc. Features live and silent auction. Tickets: $175. Profits benefit Aspire Children’s Services, one of Chicagoland’s most comprehensive programs for infants and young children with developmental delays and disabilities. Call Susan Clark, (708) 547-3550, x3448, email sclark@aspireofillinois.org or see aspireofillinois.org. for more information.

Barrington Breakfast Rotary Rendevous: 6-9 p.m., Feb. 25, Makray Memorial Golf Club, 1010 S. Northwest Highway, Barrington. Featuring sommelier Marcel Flori; open bar, chicken piccata and vegetarian pasta, wine and chocolate pairings, live and silent auction, music by the Barrington High School Rithum Machine Jazz Combo and harpist Brittany E. Smith. Tickets: $65. Proceeds benefit the Barrington Community. barringtonbreakfastrotary.org.

Lincoln State Cat Club annual All Breed Cat Show and Benefit: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 25 and 26, Harper College, Building M, Palatine. Proceeds benefit local animal shelters and feline-related health causes through groups such as the Morris Animal Foundation, the Robert Winn Feline Foundation, area shelters and spay/neuter organizations. Several shelter groups will be represented at the upcoming show. Show attendees will also be able to Meet the Breeds at the breed booth, learn more about several cat rescue organizations, adopt the perfect shelter or pedigreed cat, listen to speakers in the education ring, shop at vendor booths and watch the judging of cats. Children ages 3 through 10 can participate in a coloring contest and a chance to win a prize. Show admission for adults is $8 per person. Show admission for senior citizens, 65 or older, is $6 while children under six years old will be admitted free of charge. For more information about the Lincoln State Cat Club show or to print a $1 off admission coupon, go to lscats.org.

NA’AMAT USA, Aviva Club “Lox Box”: Feb. 25. Aviva Club will be delivering “A Lox Box” in the morning filled with 8 oz. lox, a half dozen bagels, cream cheese, an onion and tomato, juice, cake and some goodies. Cost is $25 and includes delivery and handling charges. Will be delivered to north and northwest burbs. By purchasing an Aviva Club Lox Box, you will be making a contribution to NA’AMAT USA. All profits will go toward the NA’AMAT Technological and Agricultural high schools. Call Bobbie at (847) 870-7883.

North Shore Country Day School annual Auction/Party: “Purple Wave,” 6 p.m., Feb. 25, NSCDS, Arts Center, 310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka. Event features cocktails, class-project bidding, live auction, dinner and music; hosted by Benefit Board. Banners decorated with student handprints will be on display. Live auction highlights include a home in the Netherlands large enough for two families, an Idaho rafting trip and a Beaver Creek ski vacation. Last year’s popular party boards will return this year with outings to the hip, new Evanston distillery Few Spirits; Old Elm golfing for the guys; fine jewelry-making for the ladies; and bowling for the kids. Tickets: $150. Proceeds are directed to support areas of the School not covered by the annual operating budget such as curriculum and teaching fund grants, faculty enrichment grants and major capital projects. If you would like more information on how to purchase tickets, or how to donate items for the Auction, please contact the Benefit Board at (847) 441-3339, or benefitboard@nscds.org or see nscds.org

Riverside Foundation’s 2012 Benefit Gala A Midwinter Night’s Dream: 6:30 p.m.-midnight Feb. 25. The event will take place at Marriott Lincolnshire Resort Grand Marquee Pavilion, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Maggie Speaks will provide the music and sports talk personality Dan Bernstein of WSCR’s “Boers and Berstein” will serve as master of ceremonies at this black-tie optional event featuring dinner, dancing, a live auction and more. Tickets are $200. Call (847) 634-3973 or visit riversidefoundation.net.

Bach Week Festival Pre-Season Concert: 4 p.m., Feb. 26, Winnetka Congregational Church, 725 Pine St., Winnetka. Performers from Evanston’s venerable Bach Week Festival will perform a fundraising concert featuring dramatic and powerful pieces for brass quintet, organ, and percussion. Proceeds from ticket sales for the hour-long concert, “Heroic Music for Brass, Organ, and Percussion,” will benefit the 39th annual edition of the Bach Week Festival, to be held April 27, May 4, and May 6 at locations in Evanston. The festival has been a musical rite of spring on the North Shore every year since 1974. Bach Week enlists musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra, and other top-tier ensembles. The benefit concert in Winnetka will include works from the Renaissance and Baroque eras to the 20th century. The first half will include Richard Strauss’s “Feierlicher Einzug” (“Ceremonial Entry”), Giovanni Gabrieli’s “Canzon duodecimi toni” from “Sacrae symphoniae,” Sir Arthur Bliss’s “Salute!,” J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, Percy Grainger’s “The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol,” and Eugène Gigout’s “Grand Choeur Dialogué.” After intermission, the audience will hear Marcel Dupré’s “Poème Héroïque,” Op. 33; Richard Webster’s “Pastorale on a Theme of Palestrina,” and Louis Vierne’s “Carillon de Westminster,” Op. 54, No. 6. The concert will conclude with the hymn “Love divine, all loves excelling,” sung by the audience with brass, organ, and timpani accompaniment. The concert’s conductor and organist will be Richard Webster, the Bach Week Festival’s music director since 1975. He is currently music director at Boston’s historic Trinity Church on Copley Square. The brass quintet will comprise Kevin Hartman and Channing Philbrick, trumpets; Daniel Gingrich, horn; Jeremy Moeller, trombone; and John Schwalm, bass trombone. Percussionist will be Jeff Handley. This concert is made possible in part by a gift from Pasi Organ Builders of Roy, Wash. Tickets: $25. Available online at bachweek.org, or by calling (800) 595-4849, and by mail (Bach Week Festival, P.O. Box 1832, Evanston, IL 60204-1832). The festival’s general information number is (847) 293-6686.

Celiac Disease Research “Skate for Celiac” Fundraiser: 12:30-2:30 p.m., Feb. 26, Highland Park Centennial Ice Arena, 3100 Trail Way. $15 per person (includes skate rental (limited skates) Includes silent auction and food. CeliacDisease.net.

An Evening with the Stars for Autism Speaks: Feb. 26, Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. An Evening with the Stars is the only red-carpet Oscar-themed party in Chicagoland to benefit children and families struggling with autism, a neurological disorder that affects 1 out of every 110 children. WGN Radio’s John Williams is Master of Ceremonies. NBC5’s Kim Vatis and Stefan Holt will host a VIP pre-event reception in Ventana’s, the revolving restaurant on the roof of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Emmy award-winning host of WGN-TV’s Chicago’s Best Ted Brunson and Chicago comedienne extraordinaire Patti Vasquez will welcome guests on the red carpet with hilarious interviews broadcast live on the big screens inside the Grand Ballroom. Emmy award-winning radio and television broadcaster Chet Coppock lends his talents to the event as this year’s celebrity auctioneer. Guests will also be treated to a very special multi-media segment featuring milestones and accomplishments of individuals on the autism spectrum, with musical accompaniment provide by Chicago recording artist Andrew Salgado and Grammy Award winner, Jim Peterik. The evening will culminate with the viewing of the 84th Annual Academy Awards(R) telecast on multiple giant screens inside the Hyatt’s Grand Ballroom. Steven Insoft, Autism Speaks’ Chicagoland Chapter board member and chief financial officer of Aviv REiT, serves as Executive Director of this year’s event, who dedicates his involvement to his son. Tickets begin at $150 for individuals and $1,500 to $5,000 for tables of four to 10 people. Premiere table purchases include an all-inclusive evening starting at 5 p.m. with the special pre-show VIP reception For more information, please call (224) 567-8573 or visit www.eveningwiththestars.org. Room discounts are available at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare by calling the hotel at (847) 696-1234 and mentioning “Autism Speaks.”

Keshet’s Pearl Anniversary (30 years) Rainbow Fundraising Banquet: 6 p.m., Feb. 26, Chicago Hilton & Towers, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Tickets: $300 per person. Contact Sharon Frankel at (847) 205-1234 or visit keshet.org.

Quay Red Carpet Party to Benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF): 6 p.m. until the last envelope is opened, Feb. 26, Quay Restaurant, 465 E. Illinois, Chicago. The evening will be hosted by movie critics Paige Wiser & David Plummer (Paige & Plummer) from ABC7 Chicago’s Windy City Live and movie producer John Digles. The event will feature multiple televisions on-site, and partygoers will be able to bid on upscale items in a silent auction (benefiting JDRF), while enjoying dinner-by-the-bite and sipping on themed cocktails provided by Absolut. Menu items will be created by Executive Chef Dan Marquis. Rent the Runway will provide exclusive designer dresses being modeled throughout the evening. Party attendees can receive 20 percent off the rental of a designer dress and accessory to wear to the event by visiting renttherunway.com and entering promo code “QUAYPARTY”. Tickets: $65, $70 door; Gold Level VIP tickets available. jdrfillinois.org

COVE Alliance Fundraiser: 11 a.m. to closing, Feb. 29, Casa Bonita Restaurant, 633 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. A portion of the proceeds from the day will benefit COVE and you can enjoy a fun outing with friends and family at the same time. Be sure to tell your server that you are there to support COVE Alliance. See covealliance.org.

Diabetes Friends Forever (DFF) Dinner: 6-8 p.m., Feb. 29, Tavern at the Park, 130 E. Randolph St., (Across from Millennium Park), Chicago. Dreamfields Pasta is sponsoring an evening of delicious food and valuable information from one of the nation’s leading dietitians and diabetes educators – Amy Hess-Fischl. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as share their experience with diabetes. Cost is Free. RSVP as soon as possible as space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Email dreamfields@mpfood.com with your name and the name of your guest.

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Send a notice to Trend’s Editorial Assistant, Deborah Hoppe. Her e-mail is dhoppe@pioneerlocal.com. She edits the information and includes it in our Save the Date calendar. The full version appears online, while a heavily-edited calendar appears in print on the last Thursday of the month.From calendar items and invitations (by mail or e-mail) I decide which events to cover. [Full disclosure: I like fashion, so I hit more fashion shows and shopping events than galas] Sometimes I assign Trend columnists to various events, but many times, they receive their own invitations.Since there are more events on the social calendar than we can possibly attend, chairwomen need to provide a post-event press release and high-resolution photographs (with full names and hometowns) of guests. Please include your photographer’s name so we can give proper credit.We no longer assign photographers to events we don’t cover. Many guests have cameras on their cell phones, and we’re happy to accept those images. — Meg Moore

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