Where's the party? Not even guests knew of secret soiree

September 14, 2006

BY LISA LENOIR SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

'At a private North Shore estate" and an "over-the-top experience," read the Women's Board of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's gala invitation -- wording that created quite a buzz over the mysterious event, for which the location and party details were cloaked in secrecy. For months, talk circulated around Chicago and the North Shore about this not-to-be missed tony event, "One Thousand and One Nights."

Guests had to park at the Lake Bluff train station and wait until chartered minibuses escorted them at 6:30 p.m. -- no exceptions. Many found themselves idling on buses. On one, they sipped bottles of Pelligrino and Moet & Chandon and snacked on a nut and cracker mix while watching Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in "Road to Morocco" on a screen inside the bus and speculating on the party's location. When the buses did depart, they wound around a few streets and then pulled into a narrow, tree-lined road.

A tented oasis contained guests draped in Moroccan, Indian and Persian-themed costumes, models wearing Graff jewels, belly dancers, delicious food, a menagerie of live snakes (a boa constrictor, Burmese and ball pythons) and camels (ridden by King Harris and Monica Betts into the 5,000-square-foot dinner tent), all of which created a scene of whimsy and magic.

Benefit co-chairs Catharine Hamilton, Kristin N. Smith, Alessandra Branca-Uihlein and women's board president Kitty Freidheim concocted this affair for a cause they feel passionately about -- bionic limb research.

This is a party "where people become the decoration," Branca-Uihlein said. "The whole idea is to have fun and give money to people who need it."

The night's special guests included Dr. Todd Kuiken, director of the Rehab Institute's Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs and Center for Bionic Medicine; his wife, Lisa Bierman, and Claudia Mitchell, the recipient of a novel thought-controlled bionic arm.

Mitchell, 26, lost her left arm in a motorcycle accident in May 2004. Elegant in a black halter-style cocktail dress, she gingerly held her new limb with her right one as she strolled through the event. Each hand featured an impeccable French manicure, something she said was a must-have for the evening's affair.

Kuiken said most people want to lend a hand to help someone. He said he "can give people a better hand."

The same extravagant party details helped inspire over-the-top giving, especially during the live auction. John Fornengo did the calling, frequently having to hush the enthusiastic crowd to complete his task. One top garner: a "Top Flight" excursion for three to play golf at the world-renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., for $26,000. With a "show me the money" plea from Branca-Uihlein, and Fornengo's commanding voice, additional money was raised for the Healing Military Heroes Fund.