I had a great Oscar night

maybe even better than some who were really there

03/08/2010 5:19 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

6 Comments - Add Your Comment


No, I didn’t win an Oscar--even though it looks like I did. Actually, I am holding a real Oscar at Nordstrom’s--where my picture was snapped yesterday by Kodak promotional people (the same people who run the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are held. I had just seen "A Single Man" at 11 AM at AMC River East 21--part of my plan to try to see as many nominated films as possible before the big show last night.)

But I did go to the best ever neighborhood Oscar party I ever went to since I moved to the South Loop 15 years ago. And I’ve been to some good ones--although I generally like to stay home so I don’t miss a word and can keep track of all the winners on the sheet of nominees I always print out.

I was able to provide an official Oscar poster for Helen’s party thanks to Nordstrom’s and Kodak--who were giving them to anyone who had their picture taken.

The party had everything, including our hostess Helen Kaplow dressed to the nines in a sparkly tank top and great high heel shoes, which she purchased at a great neighborhood shoe store at Michigan and Roosevelt.

The rest of us looked shlumpy--not the least of which was me. But we dined on California Pizza kitchen gourmet pizzas which Helen got them to deliver all the way from the other side of the Loop. And popcorn. And great nuts dolled up with rosemary sprigs courtesy of Lynn Cooper--and lots of cheap movie candy. All set out in a fantastic formal setting on Helen’s tables. Drinks were made with Grey Goose vodka mixed with fresh raspberries and pom juice. Very Hollywood, I must say.

Helen’s party at her loft in the Donahue was worth missing hearing the words of the stars on the red carpet for--due to the raucous din--because it was such a cool place to be. Helen provided Oscar ballots (I didn’t win because I had checked so many Avatars which didn’t come through--but who would have guessed?) and an Oscar fashion quiz (which I never got around to entering a ballot in) and Oscar Bingo; the spaces had things like “winner cries” and “someone spotted with a colored bowtie." Actually, the latter is the space with which I would have won the Bingo--and one of Helen’s specially made CDs with Oscar nominated hits from movies such as “Nine” and “Up.” But I didn’t notice until this morning when I read the fashion “bests” and “worsts” that Robert Downey actually had on a blue one. I saw it when he presented--but it didn't register. Probably because I was so distracted by the festivities. So Helen owes me a belated CD!


6 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Lynn Cooper from Printer's Row
Posted: 03/11/2010 1:21 PM

Kudos Bonnie, for beautifully describing the wonderful time we had on Oscar night. What a fun and fabulous Oscar watching party it was at the loft of the Colin Cowie of Printer's Row....Helen Kaplow. The party touches were amazing...the statuette butter cookies handmade from original patterns were "off the hook" yummy. Being with fun neighbors and friends in her uber creative loft was a treat. It was an A-list party and I am grateful to have been a part. Another fascinating event here in SoLo!


By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 03/09/2010 11:21 PM

A few more things I forgot (till now): Helen's elegant serving--from a silver tray--of Dibs ice cream bits was also rather clever. And in addition to the pom/rasp cocktail, which by the way was called a "Red Carpet," she also had a golden-colored cocktail made with peach nectar, vodka and champagne that she named "Golden Statue."


By judy marcus from palatine
Posted: 03/09/2010 4:09 PM

The party sounds fantastic! We watched the Oscars at home and ate our way through it with homemade nachos, frozen pesto vegetable pizza, hot fudge sundaes and more.


By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 03/08/2010 10:37 PM

oops! I almost left out the most dazzling aspect of Helen's soiree--she made huge sugar cookies in the shape of Oscar. And NO! You can't buy an Oscar cookie cutter because of the trademark. So she had to make a cardboard cut out, put it on the dough and cut out each cookie individually. And she bought gold sugar to make them just the right color. She also used the gold sugar to rim glasses for the fancy vodka/pom/raspberry drinks!


By Helen from South Loop
Posted: 03/08/2010 9:36 PM

Btw, the shoestore where I got those shoes (by United Nude) is House of Sole, a place that every fabulous South Loop woman should know.


By Helen from South Loop
Posted: 03/08/2010 9:19 PM

Glad you enjoyed the party, Bonnie. I will happily give you a copy of the CD I made, even though in order to actually win Bingo, one must not only get a row of matched items but also realize it and yell "bingo!" Still, you get a CD just for good party spirit. But to clarify: the CD is a collection of songs from nominated movies, not necessarily nominated songs. I didn't include a song from "Up," but I did include two from "Up in the Air," as well as a couple from "A Single Man." Its a fun mix.