Sisters, pamper yourselves with spa services – massages, mini-manicures, make-up applications, tarot card readings and more! That’s what’s awaiting you at Alhambra Palace on Aug. 19 at the fifth anniversary celebration of Girls’ Ni
Sisters, pamper yourselves with spa services – massages, mini-manicures, make-up applications, tarot card readings and more! That’s what’s awaiting you at Alhambra Palace on Aug. 19 at the fifth anniversary celebration of Girls’ Night Out, a benefit to raise funds for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center hosted by the folks at U.S. Cellular. Also, there’ll be bidding in a bachelor auction. Guys in handsome attire will be on “the block” as sister guests arrive – especially those who come as early at 5 p.m. for the VIP Hour ($125) which touts hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks and two guaranteed spa services for those who arrive by 5:30 p.m. General admission: 6 p.m.-9 p.m., $100. Honorary chairs, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) and Lisa Madigan, Ill. attorney general, will be assisted by co-chairs, U.S. Cellular’s Shelley Boresman, NBC 5’s Deborah Brown, Ill. AARP’s Merri Dee, AAR Corp’s Cheryle Jackson, writer and broadcast journalist Victoria Lautman, Chicago Public Schools’ Barbara Lumpkin, Sun-Times’ Mary Mitchell, HGTV’s Monica Pederson, ComEd’s Anne Pramaggiore, Dominick’s Wynona Redmond, Harris Bank’s Judy Rice, Mayer Brown’s Mary Richardson-Lowry and Katten Muchin Rosenman’s Elizabeth Weber and host committee members, Tipsy Cake’s Naomi Levine, U.S. Cellular’s Kim Swoboda and founder-president of Foster Care Children & Family Fund’s Cora White. Mayor Richard Daley founded CCAC in 1998 to unite public, private and community partners to ensure the safety, health and well-being of abused children. As a result of years of hard work from the public and private sectors, abused children now receive healing services they need and deserve. Since opening in 2001, CCAC has served some 20,000 children and is a model and leader for cities across the country and the world. Log on www.chicagoCAC.org. Milestones – Happy b’day to Pres. Barack Obama, Jim Buckner, Roderick Hawkins, Robert Shaw, Kelly Shepard, Buddy Fambro, Ghalib Ghallab, Rev. Linda Mootry-Dodd, Natalie Moore, Jackie Taylor, Lauri Sanders, Jeremiah Wright-Haynes, Marcia “Cookie” Jacobs, Emilie McKendall, Sheri Lynn Smith, Al Palmer, Deana Balfour-Williamson, David Dodd, Antoinette Simmons, Kenny Johnson, Derrick Mosley, Tumia Romero, Tressa Epps, John Stokes, Leontyne Brown, Trevy A. McDonald, Rudy Brown, Latrice Jones, Nina Tabb, Laura Rice, Marki D. Lemons and Larry Wilson. Golden wedding anniversary wishes to John (he’s the CPA whose downtown firm bears his name) and Velma Wilson, who celebrated “year 50” at a lovely dinner party in their Hyde Park home with family (including daughters Ginger and Kelly, Velma’s five siblings and other kinfolks) and several close pals. Velma and “Teesee,” 62-year BFFs since Sept. 1948 when we met on our very first day at Parker High School, were brides-maids at each other’s weddings and long-time members of The Dozen … And 30th anniversary greetings to two Trinity buddies, Patricia and John Dabner … And another “best bud,” U.S. Cellular’s Greg Hinton celebrates Friday by hosting his own b’day party for 100 of his fave pals at Phoenix Art Gallery, 1829 S. Halsted. And if you know Greg, you know “he just loves him some champagne,” so if you are looking to bring a little sump-um sump-um to the party, make it a bottle of "Veuve," his fave. Chef Reggie Carter, Greg’s BFF, will load the buffet table with culinary delights. Come for the celebration; stay for food, fun and frolic! Gala Gals –The Nielsen Co.’s Cheryl Pearson McNeil picks up the Launa Thompson Spirit Award at “Gala 2010” on Friday at the kick-off event of the two-day State Farm-sponsored Black Women’s Expo at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Other Phenomenal Woman awardees: Boeing’s Joyce Tucker; (former) Chicago Public Schools’ Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins; Sun-Times’ Maudlyne Ihejirika; Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th); T&T Food Services’ Andrea M.T. Chapman; Little Black Pearl Workshop’s Monica Haslip; Schwab Rehabilitation-U. of C. and Sinai Health Center’s Dr. Lisa Thompson; and Chicago Minority Suppler Development Council’s Sheila C. Hill. Other awardees: The Black Star Project and Living Word’s Haiti Project. Radio One’s Cathy Hughes keynotes the $150 per person dinner. Call (312) 243-3554 or log on www.theblackwomensexpo.com. Alumni Fun ¼¼– The Chicago Chapters of National Alumnae Ass’n of Spelman College and the Morehouse College National Alumni Ass’n co-host their Annual Lois Davenport Fambro & William Cross Back to School Beach Party on Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., at the weekend’s 2010 South Shore Jazz Fest at the South Shore Cultural Center. (Look for the Morehouse/Spelman tent, which will also be available thru Sunday!) Bring folding beach chairs. Morehouse brothers are asked to bring two cases of soft drinks, fruit juice and water; picnic food will be provided. Attire: casual/beachwear, Morehouse/Spelman gear. Call Brad Minniefield, (708) 612-0789, or Othel Owen (312) 543-8619 for shuttle/parking info. Driftin’ South – We’re off mid-week to South Bend, Ind. with several sister members of the Chicago Chapter of The Drifters Inc. headed by Debbie Rountree, locl prexey, for our 54th annual national convention, “Dynamic Women: Determined, Driven & Destined.” Chicago will be joined by Drifters from over 30 chapter cities coast-to-coast. Newsy Names – Ken Bedford’s Steppers’ Second Sunday w/Line Dancing and DJ Sam Chapman kicks-off Sunday, 5 p.m., at Alhambra Palace. Admission, $10 … Taylor Alston, daughter of Marcus and Tracey Alston (Danielle Ashley Communications) received the Global Scholarship at Spelman College. Her major: Chinese and Economics … Blues-gospel legend Otis Clay headlines Ald. Emma Mitts’ 11th annual 37th Ward Back-to-School Gospel Fest & Picnic on Saturday, noon-7 p.m., at La Follette Park, 1333 N. Laramie. “Saving Our Youth for the Future” is the theme of the free neighborhood fest that offers fun for all ages, positive images, good food and the spiritual sounds of Chicago’s best gospel choirs and groups … Jazz by Jimmy Ellis, Maggie Brown, Ari Brown and Phil Cohran, plus kids’ activities featuring a performance from the South Shore Drill Team, face painting, Jumping Jacks and more will be featured at The South Shore Chamber’s third annual “Know Your Neighbor” Sidewalk Sale & Fest on Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., in partnership with Universal Alley Jazz and sponsored in conjunction with Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th). Teyonda Wertz is SSC’s executive director. Held along E. 71st St. from Constance to Ridgeland, this free fun-filled day features guided tours to the Japanese Gardens of Jackson Park, the Jackson Park golf range, select historic homes, retail, food and drink vendors, a South Shore Drill Team performance, face painting, Jumping Jacks and continuous music … Actor Richard T. Jones (Why Did I Get Married Too?, Terminator and Grey’s Anatomy) heads this way to receive an honor at eta’s Annual Benefit Gala on Sept. 11. Jill Scott‘s "low down" husband in Why Did I Get Married Too? will be joined by fellow honorees, Marshall High School’s "winningest" coach Dorothy Gators, ComEd’s executive veep John Hooker and MacArthur genius ragtime pianist Reginald Robinson. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender