By Judy Carmack Bross
Board Director Anne Loucks and David Loucks
The illuminated paths of Lightscape, featuring sparkling cathedral ceilings, singing Christmas trees, and starry galaxies attracted 650 guests opening night at the Chicago Botanic Garden, sipping hot spiked cocoa as they explored new installations.
The Board of Directors and Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society raised over $1.1 million during the Lightscape Preview that supports the Chicago Botanic Garden’s work in plant conservation science, urban agriculture, learning, and the curation of the living museum.
Linda Falotico – Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member, Jean Franczyk, President & CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden; Scot Tyson, Anita Tyson – Board Co-Chair LPP, Board Member, Craig Niemann Board Co-Chair LPP, Board Member, Rene Svach – Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member, Jenny Niemann, Dora Aalbregtse, Woman’s Board President, Mike Zimmerman Chairman of the Board, Ivan Adames Chief Development Officer, John Aalbregtse; and Tony Svach
Jean Franczyk, President & CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden and Chris Hall of Chicago
Luis Velez of Chicago, Tim Ward of Chicago, Clarence Morales of Wilmette, and Felipe Morales of Wilmette
The 2024 Lightscape Preview was co-chaired by Board of Directors Craig Niemann and Anita Tyson and Woman’s Board members René Svach and Linda Falotico.
The evening was an exclusive first look at the return of Lightscape, the popular holiday lights event now in its sixth year. Guests and sponsors were able to socialize in the celebratory, holiday setting and enjoyed the all-new path filled with transformed vistas and dazzling installations from around the world debuting for the first time including Neon Singing Tree and Winter Galaxy, along with show-stopping favorites like the Winter Cathedral.
Linda Falotico Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member; Anita Tyson Board Co-Chair LPP, Board Member; Rene Svach Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member
Front row: Anita Tyson – Board Co-Chair LPP, Board Member; Jean Franczyk, President & CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden; Linda Falotico – Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member; Rene Svach – Woman’s Board Co-Chair LPP, Woman’s Board Member; Scot Tyson; John and Dora Aalbregtse, Woman’s Board President. Back row: Ivan Adames Chief Development Officer, Chicago Botanic Garden; and Mike Zimmerman Chairman of the Board, Chicago Botanic Garden
Guests enjoyed welcome cocktails such as The Illuminator–spiked hot cocoa–and Cranberry Ginger Mimosa, as well as appetizers along the trail such as beef and vegetable empanadas and s’more’s kits. Dinner was served in the Regenstein Center with carved beef wellington, butternut squash risotto, and pan seared sea scallops on the menu.
The Pullman Room dining with a view of the Lightscape on the Garden’s Esplanade
Guests dining on main course menu options including pan seared sea scallops, carved beef Wellington, Dijon crusted lamb chops and coconut chicken skewers in the Garden’s Nichols Hall
The Garden’s Welcome Plaza; a stop for guests to enjoy desserts
House-made warm salted caramel bread puddings with a dollop of pastry cream waiting for guests
The lights, music and art that combine to make Lightscape one of Chicago’s top holiday attractions continue through glow through January 5. Thursdays are ugly sweater day, with the welcome: “the more over the top the better”.
Catherine and Harold Handelsman of Glencoe
Evan and Heather Hochberg of Chicago
For more information about Lightscape, visit: chicagobotanic.org
