Olympic games now a hot potato

07/01/2009 10:00 PM

By ANN GERBER

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WILL THEY GET MASHED or be found to be delicious? We’re talking about Chicago getting the Olympic Games in 2016. The games are now one hot potato for Mayor Richard Daley. His change of tactic after saying taxpayers wouldn’t have to bear the cost of the multimillions needed to put on a good show is causing serious anti-game reaction.

DALEY TOLD THE INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee that our city will guarantee all costs.

A TRIO OF CHICAGOANS is leading the battle for “No Games.” Insisting that Chicago is broke and guilty of corruption that would taint needed contracts are educator Tom Tresser, former teacher Rhoda Whitehorse and youth organizer Martin Macias Jr.

AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, they flew to Switzerland armed with 50 copies of The Book of Evidence (162 pages of reasons to not bring the games here) and presented them to the committee members who will decide who wins the venue. “We’re going broke so you don’t have to,” said Tom, citing the possibly huge burden to taxpayers. “Are you willing to mortgage your children’s future to pay for the games?”

ON THE POSITIVE SIDE are many merchants, institutions and citizens eager to put Chicago in the spotlight. Patrick Ryan leads the campaign, citing the improvements, modernization, mega-watt public relations for our fair city, and the possible financial rewards for hotels, restaurants, housing, retail sales and more.

GOADED BY nogameschicago@gmail.com, scores of naysayers partied at Carmichael’s last week vowing to fight against the coveted games.

IT IS ONE HOT POTATO for Mayor Daley, and it looks like it will not cool off.
Gossip, gossip, gossip

WHO IS THE WELL-KNOWN CHICAGOAN who gifted his mom on Mother’s Day with a gold box that contained the keys to a Rolls-Royce? On Father’s Day he gave his dad an Hermes tie.

BRACE YOURSELVES, GLITTERATTI. Some of the highest flyers and biggest spenders are starting to admit they are broke. These are the men who gave their wives everything, dahlings. We’ll see if their mates are loyal and loving or if they visit pit bull divorce lawyer Kurt Muller.

SORRY, HEF. BUT YOUR EX-LOVE Kendra Wilkinson is a stupid broad with an irritating giggle. But then you never pick your girls for their brains. Her TV reality show on E! is one of the most boring ever aired. You are either a very good sport to let her marry at your mansion June 27 or you’re glad to be rid of the no-talent mattress.

TALKING ABOUT LOSERS, porn star Ron Jeremy, now fat and out of work, has a new gimmick: opening Club Sessos, where swingers can find multiple partners. Not here, we hope.

THERE’S A NEW MYSTERY BOOK in your future when Sugar Rautbord welcomes her old college pal Jane Stanton Hitchcock, who has penned a thriller, on July 13 at the Fairmont.

FOR ABOUT $14 A BOTTLE you can buy Mark Buehrle’s White Sox Merlo or Derrek Lee’s Cubs Cabernet at Binny’s or Sam’s, and the proceeds go to charities.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FIREWORKS IN STYLE July 4 and 5 from Chef Joho’s Everest restaurant overlooking the lake. And a luxury town car will pick you up for just $15.

WILL TERRI LEE RYAN be penning her advice to women in a national magazine? Her latest book, Life is One Big To-Do List, about a woman’s life after 40, is a winner.

PETA NUTCASES just revealed how stupid they are with the complaint about President Barack Obama smacking a pesky fly. The fly deserved to live, they screamed. Next, will they fight using medicines because it kills germs? What about dread diseases? Germs, bugs, flies — they live as we die?

FAMOUS MOVIE DIRECTOR George Lucas was honored with the Gene Siskel Film Center Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking at a Four Seasons celebration. Actor Jon Favreau co-hosted the event. Lucas and our Mellody Hobson of Ariel Fund are an item and the attractive lady was elegant in a dress by Isabel Toledo, one of Michelle Obama’s favored designers.

OUR SYMPATHIES to Mary Brash, widow of well-known businessman Bill Brash, who has died at 85. Bill was a Flying Tiger in World War II.

CONGRATS TO PAT COX, named Goodman Theatre board chairwoman succeeding Shawn Donnelley. ... WILLIAM

McNALLY was honored for volunteer service to Lawrence Hall for Youth Services as was Jeffrey Singleton and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

ROMANTIC NEWS: Wedding bells ring Aug. 14 for widower Peter Byrne and the lovely Libby Scripps.

WHAT’S CUTER THAN DOGS AND KITTENS? Nothing, and that’s why the new PAWS desktop calendar is such a hit. Proceeds go to the no-kill shelter. Founder and chairwoman Paula Fasseas praised the work of co-editors Julia Mickelsen and Carol Walters who created all the adorable pages. You can buy the calendar, and see the pampered pets of city and ’burbs, for $45 at North Community Banks or at www.pawschicago.org.

PEGGY BODINE, former president of the Junior League, was cheered at a birthday party hosted by Todd Schwebel. They danced and were applauded by Paul Bodine, Kimberly Orput, Carlyle Madden, Jenny Lazarre, Amy Lardner, Francee Harrington, Vern Broders and photographer Dianne Brogan.

BORING, DAHLINGS, BORING. That’s the real life of The Real Housewives of Chicago, so it is not surprising so many desperate housewives are trying to find fame, fortune and ego gratification via Towers Production’s planned reality series. But do not judge these Botoxed broads harshly unless you’ve walked a Mag Mile in their Manolo Blahniks. Most do good work and add pizzazz to our town, but some are unfulfilled, looking for excitement, drama, lights, camera and action.

YOU THINK IT IS EASY putting on eyelashes, checking out the latest in cosmetics and plastic surgery, and listening to the hottest gossip, all the while maintaining one’s position in the pecking order of Chicago society? Hell no! It is exhausting, but someone has to do it, say les girls in the limelight.

REAL HOUSEWIVES ON EASY STREET, or is it Easy Housewives on Lake Shore Drive? Only the wealthiest will qualify and some financial adjusting due to the recession may put a few in a new category: Real Housewives Facing The End of All That Conspicuous Consumption.

WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY DESIREE ROGERS faced her 50th birthday surrounded by local pals at Fred’s restaurant atop Barneys. In the crowd of well-wishers were Jackie Harris, the Fred Latskos, Steve Traxler, the Scott Hodeses, Melody Hobson, Neal Zucker and Linda Johnson Rice.

“YEAR ONE” IS A COMEDY that our Harold Ramis directed, and he was taking bows when it was screened here. With him was Matt Willig, basking in the laughs. (It is too slapstick for our taste but the audience loved it.

ARTIST/SCULPTOR LISA GENGLER is proud of her beautiful daughter, Cynthia Erb, who received her degree in architecture with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Cynthia is the mother of three and captured her first commission, a $600,000 home addition.

THE HAPPIEST MADOFF STORY reveals that an investor of $3 million was told by his accountant that he needed more details of transactions. So the investor called Madoff and Bernie was so irritated that anyone dare question his tactics that he sent the man’s $3 million back to him. For two years the investor complained that he lost 12% interest, and he fired his accountant. But now he’s one happy fella.

TRIAL LAWYER ROBERT CLIFFORD will be a speaker at the July 30 American Bar Association’s annual meeting here. Topic? How and when to object at a trial.

COMEDIAN ANDY DICK surprised photographers at the Just for Laughs festival at the Lakeshore Theater by being so cooperative and friendly he shattered his reputation for being nasty and abusive. The funnyman invited them to watch the show and shoot any photos they wanted. Here’s one by Linda Matlow from Pix International.

WHAT’S HOT IN FASHION in New York City? Mary Kay Touhy Silverman reports that snake skin, patent in high colors, studs on shoes, bags, dresses, shoes with crystal bling, and skinny women with Birkins weighing more than their owners, make the scene sizzle.

BERTHA PALMER REIGNS July 22 at a private viewing and dinner at the Chicago History Museum, reports Costume Council president Noren Ungaretti. Tim Long will present rare artifacts from the Palmer collection. Tickets are $300. ...

LACE & PEARLS Lawn Fete for La Rabida Children’s Hospital is July 16 on the lake supported by Frankie Alper, Yana

German, Janet Derrick and other grand dames.

Rita Rudner: “Men hate to lose. I once beat my husband at tennis. I asked him, ‘Are we going to have sex again?’ He said, ‘Yes, but not with each other.’”
Contact: annbgerber@gmail.com


1 Comment - Add Your Comment



By Tom Tresser from Lincoln Park
Posted: 07/02/2009 8:37 AM

I was one of the No Games Chicago delegates to Switzerland. If you agree with us that the Olympics is the wrong project for Chicago, then go to http://www.nogameschicago.com and sign ou for our newsletter and make a contribution via PayPal. Call your alderman - tell them "No Games! No blank check!"