“Twelfth Night” Rocks in Oak Brook
Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus Proves Popular Choice; Dominick’s Becomes OPALGA’s First $5,000 Rainbow Level Sponsor
Faced with a winter that never seemed to end, 2008 Gala Co-Chairs J. Lee Latham and Rick Whitehead spent much of the time planning for “Twelfth Night,” OPALGA’s 12th Annual Gala. Their planning paid off in a big way—more that 340 guests attended the Gala and were virtually unanimous in their praise of the facility.
“We had seven rows of tables, and I wanted each row to have a floral centerpiece and matching napkins that represented a color of the rainbow spectrum (ROY G BIV, for those who don’t remember grade school science),” said Whitehead. “When the doors opened and the guests were allowed to enter the ballroom, the color array was stunning. I truly appreciate the florists who worked with me and donated their arrangements to help achieve this effect.” Adding to the scene was the sight of the wait staff lined up with bottles of red and white wine in each hand, ready to serve the attendees. “Some of my guests commented on the sight of seeing all those colors with the wait staff at the ready,” said Latham. “You just knew then that it was going to be a wonderful evening.”
Adding to the quality of the evening was OPALGA Co-Chair Mike Cochran’s announcement that Dominick’s, who has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with OPALGA, had stepped up to the plate and become our first ever $5,000 Rainbow Level sponsor. “The support shown to the LGBT community by Dominick’s is extraordinary,” said Cochran, “and is yet another example of their ongoing commitment to OPALGA and our mission. All of us are extremely grateful for this show of generosity.” Oak Park store manager Mike Salamone and a tableful of Dominick’s employees and their guests were present to enjoy the entire evening. Cochran concluded by reminding everyone to remember the sight of those two Dominick’s banners “when it is bitterly cold outside and you have to go to the store. Always remember how they have supported us and be sure to give that support right back.”
One of the highlights of the Gala is the presentation of the Oak Park Area Leadership (OPAL) Awards, given annually to recognize outstanding efforts on behalf of LGBT people in the Oak Park area. This year’s winners, the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest and Gary Mancuso, proved to be very popular choices. In accepting the award for the Journal, Editor and Publisher Dan Haley spoke of “the ascendancy of the gays” during his many years with the Journal. Mancuso called receiving the award “the proudest moment of my life” and was visibly moved. These two awardees have now been added to an illustrious list of past winners that has become a testimony to the strength and vitality of the LGBT community in our area.
While dining on beef, chicken, salmon, or a vegetarian entrée, guests were entertained by The Weird Sisters, who delivered a topical and humorous sampling of song and commentary. Following dinner, Cochran led the live auction. First to go was an ice cream sundae party for 100 donated by The Brown Cow, which raised $650. Next up were two tickets on Southwest Airlines to anywhere in the U.S., which went for $800. The final prize was a fantasy dinner for 12 to be held on the estate of Joseph Salerno, which brought in the incredible sum of $1,550. “Conducting a live auction is truly a labor of love,” said Cochran, “because you get to see so many friends having a great time bidding against each other for some terrific prizes. Moreover, the amount of money raised for OPALGA is just wonderful, so it’s truly a win-win situation.”
The evening then moved to the party phase, as the food gave way to the dance floor. This year, however, the physical layout of the Hyatt allowed everyone to do what he or she wanted after dinner with plenty of room to spare. The Silent Auction bidding was going on in the foyer outside the dining room, which was also where the photographer was set up. Guests could also have a drink with friends by one of the bars or step out onto the balcony to enjoy the air. “I absolutely loved the fact that this layout allowed you to talk with whomever after dinner without having to shout over the music,” said OPALGA Co-Chair Liz Stallone. “Having the music in one room and the bars outside in the foyer allowed people to go back and forth as they pleased, which was fabulous.”
“Twelfth Night” was an unforgettable memory for all who attended. It was clearly not “Much Ado About Nothing,” nor was it an example of “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” Rather, it was much closer to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” although the weather had not yet reached summer levels. All those who worked hard on the event had one message for all of the guests—“IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON.” The DJ took the request seriously and played nonstop music until 12:30 a.m., when the event ended. Now, for the announcement you all are waiting for…
***MAY 2, 2009***MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR OUR 20TH BIRTHDAY GALA!
