July 31, 2008 - Parkways Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the Chicago Park District, held the second annual GALApalooza at the Petrillo Band Shell giving guests an exclusive sneak preview of the transformation of Grant Park into the Lollapalooza venue. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, a Lollapalooza featured band, took the stage for an unforgettable performance. Emcee Marty Lennartz from WXRT and Perry Farrell, founder of Lollapalooza, were special guests at this year's GALApalooza. Proceeds from this year's event benefited the Buckingham Foundation Restoration Project. Read more

All PAWS were on deck for the 6th Annual PAWS Chicago Beach Party on July 17, 2008. Over 400 guests and 100 pooches enjoyed a beach-y buffet at Castaways at the North Avenue Beach Boathouse. Thanks to Presenting Sponsors: The Chicago Spire and The John R. Walter Family and Media Sponsor: Chicago Magazine for helping to make this a very successful benefit. PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving) is the city's largest No Kill humane organization focused on alleviating Chicago's tragic pet overpopulation.

For more information visit www.pawschicago.org.

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VIP guests joined Chicago magazine, David Yurman, and PAWS Chicago on July 24th for an evening of glam for a good cause. In celebration of the new fragrance by David Yurman, guests were invited to the Oak Street location for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to sample the new perfume. A percentage of the evening's sales went to PAWS Chicago and guests went home with a goody bag that included a bottle of the new signature scent by David Yurman

Photography: Randy Blice

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In one of the bigger bar shakeups of the year, Cary Michael, former GM of Rockit Bar & Grill, announced his resignation last week, just days after the head of Rockit Ranch’s PR, Maura Daley (aka the mayor's niece), also said her goodbyes. I caught up with Michael to talk about his leaving and his in-the-works nightlife venture: an as-yet-unnamed spot in West Town (1371 W. Chicago Ave.) with partners Howard Natinsky (Five Star, Fat Cat) and Jim Dragatsis (Marigold)...

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I just ran into an old… um, friend? What do you call a person who mercifully pulled over and offered you a ride home when, four years ago, you were walking along North Avenue in the dark, in the about-to-start-pouring rain, holding two overflowing bags from Whole Foods while trying to balance an umbrella under your armpit, because the bus was JUST driving off as you approached the gosh-darn stop?! I think that person is called a friend. (Normally, I don’t hitchhike, but this woman had “good person” written all over her face—and let’s face it, I was desperate.) I ran into Evelyn Daitchman at the studio of artist Michael Thompson (whose super-cool and interesting space will be featured in our November/December issue). She is a massage therapist and has all sorts of celebrity clients, but she’s also a collector of vintage clothing, fabric, and dishes. She sells her wares (the home stuff has a fun Anthropologie feel) out of Thompson’s loft space and at the Randolph Street Flea Market. Look for the name Jackie Ono. Here’s to the kindness of strangers!

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Once again, Lollapalooza is descending upon us. So is 95-degree weather.

I will be sending dispatches from the fest up until the point that my appendages start melting, and I am forced to squirrel away the laptop and seek air-conditioned shelter. Look, too, for a photos...

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Final Exam

Sikia (pronounced “seh-KEE-ya,” 740 W. 63rd St.; 773-602-5200), a 75-seat African restaurant run by advanced students at Washburne Culinary Institute, opens on August 1st at the institute’s new Englewood facility. “This project has been in the making for eight years,” says Bill Reynolds, provost at Washburne. “It will be a requirement of last-semester students to work all the kitchen and dining room positions at...

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If the name Pierre Celis doesn't ring a bell, maybe his hometown will: Hoegaarden, Belgium—as in the birthplace of the beer that continues to collect trophies from here to eternity, including Best Belgian-Style White at this year's World Beer Cup. (Hoegaarden, by the way, is now brewed by InBev, the company that just bought Anheuser-Busch. Pay attention. There will be a quiz.)...

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Beyond swearing allegiance to the Taliban, the quickest way to make yourself a social pariah in America is to take a baby to a restaurant. Only on airplanes, and, perhaps, movie theatres are infants more loathed. I've seen servers argue with hostesses after getting a baby-centric family seated in their section. Once, for no apparent reason, I witnessed a waiter passive-aggressively kick the stroller that we had placed behind our table. Not that I can blame him...

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