If you think about it, you really had no excuse not to go out last night. After all, how many warm summer Thursday nights are still on the agenda this year?
Alas, if hitting the town wasn't on your agenda, we were there for you, mingling with models, trying on Manolo Blahniks -- well, watching others trying them on, scoping out a new spot on Old Town and hanging out with Dwayne Wade and some of his buddies at Crimson Lounge. Here's the dirty details:
Fashion's Night Out
Vogue's Anna Wintour started this annual event, celebrating the launch of Fashion Week in New York. Neiman Marcus stores all over the country stayed open late and celebrated fashionpalooza style. Not that the ladies we ran into needed any justification to hang out and shop, but it the free makeovers plus hair and skin consultations surely helped things along -- not to mention free drinks and food dished up by "Top Chef New York" cheftestant Radhika Desai.
Old Town Social (455 W. North Ave.)
Word is trickling out about the brand new Old Town Social, a contemporary bar with an old-style feel that is a direct slap in the face to the establishments that have popped up in recent years that are heavy on flash and pretense. Last night was especially packed due to a charity event and many patrons checking out the digs for the first time. The response seems to be overwhelmingly favorable with the many of partygoers commenting that this new spot fills a sorely needed niche in Old Town.
D. Wade's World
Where hasn't Dwayne Wade been this week? The NBA star is on a whirlwind tour of his hometown, dropping off checks to the needy, hosting town hall-style summits and quite possibly helping little old ladies cross the street when we're not looking. Ya, he's that good. Last night Wade brought some celebrity buddies to the Crimson Lounge for the best type of fundraising -- the kind that involves poppin' bottles and working it on the dance floor. We spied the Bears' Adewale Ogunleye, retired NBA player Alonzo Mourning, Bulls guard Tyrus Thomas, Cam Barker of the Blackhawks, a trio of Chicago Bliss players and a whole bunch of tall muscular guys who looked kind of familiar but we were afraid to approach. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wade's World Foundation.
