ON THE TOWN with Linda Matlow

Celebrity Sightings & Appearances

ON THE TOWN with Linda Matlow

by Linda Matlow

 JON SECADA Dreams Up New Music

Jon Secada stoped by Border’s Books & Music on Michigan Avenue last month to perform songs from and signed copies of his first CD in ten years, Same Dream. He was accompanied by A.J.Niilo on acoustic guitar.

IMAN: AN Ultimate Beauty    

Supermodel Iman talked with shopper’s and signed autographs at Border’s Books on Michigan Avenue while visiting our Toddlin’ Town to promote The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin Of Color.

THE SCENT OF BEYONCE

Marshall Field’s on State Street presented an exclusive appearance by R&B superstar, Beyoncé Knowles, who stopped by to launch True Star Gold her newest fragrance.

Approximately 4,000 fans attended the appearance. This was her only promotional appearance for her fragrance, which is a Chicago and Field’s exclusive!

RICHIE’S BEAU SPINS TUNES

DJ AM, the fiance of The Simple Life’s Nicole Richie, was seen spinning records at RESERVE, while promoting the, T-MOBILE® Sidekick™ II Limited Edition. 

Richie was to follow him to Chicago just days later to sign her new novel, “The Truth About Diamonds.”

CABRERA ROCKS B-DAY BASH

Chicago entertainment mogul Billy Dec rocked his birthday with a blow out bash. Friends G. Love and Ryan Cabrera performed for the hundreds of guests that were invited. The event was held at Dec’s very popular hotspot, Rockit Bar & Grill.

CAGE “WEATHERS” HIS FILM PREMIERE

Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage made a special Windy City appearance to introduce his new film, The Weather Man.  The film’s Chicago premiere was the Grand Finale of the 2005 Chicago International Film Festival.   

Cage attended with his wife Alice. The event was at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Local weatherman WGN-TV’s Tom Skilling consulted on the film, which was made largely on location here.

MINTS FIGHT CANCER

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Marshall Field’s presented a $100,000 check to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). 

Evelyn Lauder (founder of the BCRF) and Estee Lauder spokesmodel, Elizabeth Hurley, accepted the check at Field’s. The donation comes from proceeds of Pink Frango mints, which were created for the cause with special packaging designed by Miranda Moss, a breast cancer survivor. 

Marshall Field’s Pink Frango mints will be available until May 2006, at which time a final donation will be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

RESILIENT TEEN IDOL RETURNS!

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Tab Hunter was a matinee teen idol.  The still handsome Hunter stopped by Borders Books for a signing session to promote his new autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential, and his new “Best Of...” music CD.

Hunter became an instant star and a #1 box office attraction, recorded a #1 hit song, and survived a major sex scandal-all by the time he was twenty-five.

Five years later, new stars had been developed to meet the demands of fickle fans, and Hunter found himself scrambling to find work and struggling just to survive. Yet survive he did, re-creating himself as a cult star and film producer in a career that spans five decades and more than fifty films, from Island of Desire to Lust in the Dust.

UNDERWOOD LISTENS

L.A. Law actor Blair Underwood held a discussion and signing for his new book, Before I Got Here: The Wondrous Things We Hear When We Listen to the Souls of Our Children.

I first met this talented actor in the mayor's office at City Hall in the 1980s. Then Mayor Harold Washington honored local and national talent. Late Sun-Times scribe Irv “Kup” Kupcinet said, “Watch this guy, he’s going to be a biiiig star!”

I guess Kup was right!

CARTER SHOWS CLASS

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter did a book signing last month for Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis at Border’s Books on Michigan Avenue.

This man is just such a class act. I do not think, in the all the years I have been a photojournalist – a President or celebrity has ever walked over to personally shake every media person’s hand and greet them with a sincere smile. Except of course... Mr.Carter!

CRYSTAL HELPS KIDS

Billy Crystal, on behalf of Starlight Starbright lit Marshall Field’s Great Tree with Andree' Putman and children benefitting from The Starlight Foundation. 

The tree has 2,400 Swarvoski crystals and 15,000 lights topped with a 400-pound 6-foot-tall Swarvoski crystal creation by designer Putman.

On the same day, Chef Emeril Lagasse signed his book, Emeril’s Delmonico: A New Orleans Restaurant With A Past.  The event was held at Marshall Field’s State Street store.

The morning started off with the unveiling of the Holiday Windows. This year sporting a beautiful “Cinderella” theme, the windows will have the crowds pressed against them until the end of the holidays!

“EMMANUEL” RED CARPET NIGHT

Lisa Lax, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, and Nancy Stern were on hand for the Chicago premiere of the documentary, Emmanuel’s Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey. 

The film opened exclusively at The Music Box Theatre on Southport last month. The fascinating documentary chronicles Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah’s life, as he struggles against incalculable odds to open minds, hearts and doors, effecting social and political change throughout his country.

If you are born disabled in Ghana, you are likely to be poisoned or left to die by your family. Emmanuel escaped this fate, and now brings his vital message to the United States that people with disabilities are valuable contributors to any society.

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