Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/593406
party plan CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Tom Kehoe (INSET) fi nds inspiration for his stunning events in luxe window displays and at retailers like DreamHome. In ANY Event Five tips from Tom Kehoe for hosting an unforgettable fête. 1. Cater to your guests. "Know their likes and dislikes, what they will fi nd funny, and what will trigger them." 2. Create an experience. "Don't just view it as a gathering; you have to view it as a gift. So create an experience." 3. Make things easy. "Think of every detail, from the ease of guests getting there." When Kehoe hosts dinner parties, he offers valet parking and orders Ubers for departing guests. 4. Welcome diverse crowds. To keep things interesting, Kehoe advises inviting a mixed group. "Bring in your true, core friends, and then bring in some that you want to get to know [with] different mind-sets that your guests will enjoy meeting." 5. Stimulate the senses. "Think through your whole party: Am I giving visual? Am I giving tactile? Tactile can be an unexpected tablecloth; if it's a winter party, make it faux fur—something subtle that people will touch." "I'm very inspired by nature, and I love being outside. Now I love the new Maggie Daley Park (337 E. Randolph St., 312-742-3918; chicagoparkdistrict.com). I walk my dog in Oz Park (2021 N. Burling St., 312-742-7898; chicagopark district.com), and you can see so many things in nature you can turn into a glitzy party, from the light that comes through the trees to the way the sun hits the leaves. All of a sudden, you see something that would be a great light fi xture or a lighting effect. I'll take a picture, come back [to our design center], and blend gels to get the perfect color. "In the Merchandise Mart, I love DreamHome (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. 137, 312-527-7058; dreamhome.designcenter.com). It's good inspiration for entertaining because it's so over-the-top and luxe; how can you not walk away with an idea? "I love window-shopping, and Louis Vuitton (919 N. Michigan Ave., 312-944-2010; us.louisvuitton.com) and Moncler (33 E. Oak St., 312-361-8573; moncler.com) have the best windows [near] Michigan Avenue. I love going in Bucktown, Andersonville—all the small stores—because they have limited budgets for their displays, and they get really resourceful and creative. I'll see a dress in a window and be like, 'That's a great party,' and turn it into the overall colors, the table linens, the texture on the dance fl oor, [even the] room environment." MA Life of the Party AS HOLIDAY SEASON KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR, EVENT WIZ TOM EHOE SHARES THE CHICAGO INSPIRATIONS THAT KICK HIS SOIRÉE SENSES INTO OVERDRIVE. BY MEG MATHIS Since launching Kehoe Desig ns 20 years ago, Tom Kehoe has masterminded some of the most over-the-top events in Chicago and beyond, from Oprah's farewell bash and Lollapalooza to the James Beard Awards and the NFL Draft. His career high- light? Designing a Halloween party for President Obama at the White House. "We looked like the Clampetts," he says with a laugh, recalling having to unpack a truckload of décor on the driveway of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for a security inspec- tion. Now the Lincoln Park resident is celebrating the recent debut of The Geraghty (2520 S. Hoyne Ave., 312-967-2520; thegeraghty.com), his grand new event space in Pilsen. When he needs inspiration, Kehoe fi nds plenty of it in the venue's 25,000-square- foot open-fl oor plan ("You can do anything to it," he enthuses)—as well as in Chicago, at some of his favor- ite places around town. STYLE Social Network 60 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM