Project Osmosis Presents “Carnival”

Join Chicago’s most creative individuals on Saturday, August 30th from 7-10p for a night of art and fun at “Carnival.” The yearly benefit supports Osmosis Education and Mentoring Initiative, an nonprofit organization with the purpose of furthering “design education for underserved minority youth.”

Programs offered by the Osmosis Education and Mentoring Initiative focus on graphic design, architecture, fashion, interior design and multi-media.

The event, held at Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center (1060 East 47th St), is being hosted by top designers such as Erik Kolacz from Bravo’s America’s Top Designers, Afiya Kumar and Johnene Adams of AHA Designs, and many more! Guests will be treated to music, food, art, and live artists. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $30 on the Project Osmosis website. You can also buy tickets at the door for $35.

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Don’t Forget…

Tomorrow, head on out to a old favorite or a new spot for Bar AIDS 2008! Click here for a listing of participating bars. As I mentioned before, a group of friends and I will be M Lounge (1520 S. Wabash) for a joint event: Bar AIDS 2008 and a watch party for Barack Obama’s DNC speech.

If you don’t have any plans, come on out, join us, and drink for a great cause! 

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Macy’s Shop for a Cause

Here’s another event designed to both save you money and donate to a charitable cause! On September 20th, you can head over to Macy’s for the 3rd Annual “Shop for A Cause” day. Various charitable organizations are selling $5 savings passes which allow you to save between 10-20 percent on store merchandise. 100% of proceeds from the passes will benefit the organizations. In the past two years, this event has helped to raise over $19 million!

Now, I’m not sure of all the participating organizations, but I know that the Chicagoland affiliate of Dress for Success is selling booklets. If you would like to support Dress for Success, send an e-mail to Laura Melcher at lauratmelcher@gmail.com.

If you aren’t able to purchase an advance booklet, just head to Macy’s on September 20th, and purchase the booklet then. The sales will benefit Macy’s national charities. For more information, head on over to Macys.com!

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Chicago Charity Resale Shops

One of my favorite things to do is mine thrift stores and vintage shops for jewelry, handbags, and the occasional sweater. Most people (including myself) usually only think of Goodwill or The Salvation Army as charity thrift stores, but I found a few others in the Chicagoland area!

Brown Elephant Resale Shops benefit the Howard Brown Health Centers in Chicago. The Howard Brown Health Center is the Midwest’s largest lesbian, gay, and bisexual health organization. There are currently two locations within Chicago:

5404 N. Clark (773) 271-9382

3651 N. Halsted (773) 549-5943

 

The White Elephant Resale Shop benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park.

2380 N. Lincoln (773) 883-6184

 

The Mount Sinai Hospital Resale Shop benefits Mount Sinai Hospital. 

814 W. Diversey (773) 935-1434

 

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Bright (Pink) Smiles!

Be Bright Pink has partnered with Orbit White Bubblegum during the months of September and October to help fight breast cancer. Orbit is rolling out special edition versions of their Orbit White 12-packs and 60-packs with 10% of the purchase price benefitting Be Bright Pink.

 

For more information, please visit www.bebrightpink.org!

Bloomingdale’s Shopping Benefit

It’s hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is almost here! I mean, where in the world did summer go? It’s always sad to change seasons, but I am excited about some of the upcoming fall fashions. If you’re looking to update your wardrobe or beauty roster, head on over to Bloomingdale’s (900 N. Michigan Ave) next Wednesday (08/27) for their Shopping Benefit. 

From 10a-10p, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy savings at Bloomie’s while also supporting some great causes. Tickets are $10 with a 100% of the proceeds benefitting participating organizations. There will be representatives from about 60 nonprofits there discussing their programs and answering any questions that you may have. The day will also include live entertainment, fashion events, cooking demonstrations, and plenty of savings!

Some of the day’s happenings include:

• Bobbi Brown makeup demonstrations
• I.N.C. Fall Fashion Focus
• DKNYC Launch Event
• Polo Ralph Lauren Fashion Focus

It’s always nice to shop for a cause, so be sure to check Bloomie’s out and enjoy yourself!

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Carlos Santana Shoes

Did you know that guitar legend, Carlos Santana, has his own line of women’s shoes? If so, did you know that 10% of all shoes sales benefit the Milagro Foundation, founded by Santana and his wife, Deborah?

The Milagro (which means “miracles” in Spanish) Foundation is a charitable foundation which supports “underprivileged and underserved” children in the arts, education, and health by granting individual organizations and programs targeted towards this population. 

Please visit the website (www.milagrofoundation.org) for more information. 

Here are some of my favorite Santana shoes currently available on the website…

 

Whistle, $105

 

Catch, $99

 

Hotrod, $189

Bliss, $110

 

What do you all think of the picks above? Like them? For these shoes and more, visit www.carlosshoes.com! 

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CRAVE Chicago Summer Party

“What do you crave?” Whatever it is, I’m sure that you can find it at the CRAVE Chicago Summer Party on Sunday, September 7th! This shopping event will feature over 30 vendors featuring handbags, clothing, shoes, jewelry, gifts, so on and so on! Guests will also be treated to the following:

• Complimentary manicures and pedicures
• Complimentary makeovers and massages
• Fashion consultations
• Hors d’oeuvres, a cash martini bar, and complimentary MGD 64

This event, being held at Flirty Girl Fitness (1325 W. Randolph), will benefit Prescription Well-Being. Prescription Well-Being is a nonprofit “devoted to helping women and children deal with the changes in their appearance while living with cancer.” Volunteers with the program provide on location spa services such as manicures, massages, haircuts, etc. You can find more information on the organization by visiting their website!

For CRAVE tickets, go here. Tickets are $20 in advance and $40 at the door. 

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Bar AIDS 2008

Next Thursday the 28th, grab your friends and head out to a local bar for the fifth anniversary of Bar AIDS in Chicago. During this event, participating bars will be donating a portion of the night’s proceeds to AIDSCare. There will be onsite educators spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS and also hosting a raffle. I’ve listed some of my favorite participating bars below…For the complete list, click here!

M Lounge

1520 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL

Zocalo Restaurant and Tequila Bar

358 W Ontario St
Chicago, IL

The Flat Iron

1565 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

If you don’t have anyone to go out with, I’m heading over to M Lounge. You’re more than welcome to join our crew! Wherever you go, make sure that you have fun

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Get Glammed Up!

Need to glamorize during the dog days of August? Head on over to Aniko Salon and Spa (1109 S. Wabash) for their Aniko GLAM Chicago event and watch stylists create couture hairstyles for models and complete the lookup with makeup and body paint. It will be held on Thursday, August 21st from 6-9p.

This event will benefit The Chicago Fashion Foundation, and attendees will be treated to cocktails, appetizers, gift bags, a live DJ, vendor displays, and much more! The event is free, but you are asked to donate an amount. If you’re interested in attending, please call 312-431-1573 and RSVP by this Friday, the 15th!

And, when you’re done, head on over to NV Penthouse Lounge (116 W. Hubbard) for the after-party!

Have fun!

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