By The Committee of Twelve
One of Several Pre-Parties buzzing around the Gold Coast
Harkening back to the days when The Social Register crowd gathered for private parties in Mrs. Astor’s Ballroom – The Committee of Twelve held its 119th Twelfth Night Masque– Titled: “Twelfth Night goes to the Grammy’s” – at Lathrop House. Home to one of Chicago’s first Private Clubs. Only this glamorous ballroom holds a lucky 120 people invited to this historic party that has been going on since 1905!
Ascending the staircase to this magnificent Mansion in the Gold Coast you were greeted by The Grand Vizier & members of The Secret Committee who welcomed their guests to what has been referred to as “a party with a past”. Started by Billy Gamble as a way for Chicago’s select– to get out of the Winter doldrums it is a highlight of the year for those lucky few who fit into THIS ballroom.
The Secret Judges
Mystery guest as “The Platters”
Honorable mention for the Vintage Flapper dress worn by the elegant lady in white!
Bookended by both “pre” and “post” parties buzzing around the Gold Coast- the big event started with Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres in the elegantly paneled Grand Foyer, Parlor and Drawing Room with all the vintage style of the 20’s and 30’s. The Mansion is one of the finest examples of Georgian Revival architecture in the country – designed by famed architect Charles Follen McKim of the prominent New York City firm McKim, Mead & White. This is truly a party that Rue Winterbotham Carpenter (who decorated the interior) would have surely lept off her portrait and joined right in…IN COSTUME with her closest friends!
Then after bells were chimed for dinner – comes “The Grand March” where costumed guests assembled in the dining room and marched in a procession through the ballroom where The Secret Judges will award prizes for the “best costume” and “best couple” and this year did NOT disappoint!
A ballroom that would have made Mrs. Astor jealous!
(L to R) Mystery guest with The Grand Vizier
Tearing up the dance floor!
For privacy, NO names will be mentioned in this story…….but you can certainly try guessing! Encouraged to go as anyone from Mozart to Beach Boys to Lady Gaga or anyone in between we saw everyone from Captain & Tennille, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Prince, Liberace & his chauffeur, “The Platters”, The Beatles… to a creative interpretation of Sonny & Cher.
Mystery guest clowning around on the dance floor!
Secret Judges awarding the prize for the “Best Costume” to “A Flock of Seagulls”!
The chef prepared a mouth watering menu of potato leek soup with truffle & chive followed by Pan roasted chicken breast, parmesan risotto, trumpet mushrooms, golden corn and saffron emulsion and ending with a decadent Opera cake. The FABULOUS ‘Hey Jimmy” band was performing and keeping the dance floor packed in between courses…. and all throughout the night. Then after desert the prizes were awarded to “A Flock of Seagulls” for BEST Costume and the duo of Liberace and his “chauffeur” Scott Thorson won BEST Couple. There was also an honorable mention to the elegant lady in a white vintage 1920’s flapper dress going as Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Chicago”.
Post party at (our favorite bar)- The Zebra Lounge- oldest bar in Chicago since Prohibition!
Dancing continued until the bewitching hour when we headed over to The Zebra Lounge for our little post party, snagging our favorite banquettes and singing along to American Pie, Piano Man, Sweet Home Alabama, I got you babe and the band “4 Non Blondes” what’s going on!
Mystery Guest & The Grand Vizier at The Zebra Lounge
Mysterious guests seen at The Zebra Lounge
Finally called it quits around 3am and we all headed home from a fun and memorable night…….until next year!
