The September 20 event, held at the W Austin hotel, had a Beauty and the Beast theme. Referencing tropes from the fairytale, the decor included roses and ornate mirrors. The Mandarin Design Lab handled flowers.
The Chicago History Museum hosted its Costume Ball on November 14 to celebrate a new fashion-focused exhibit. For the tented dinner reception, Mike Hines of Epoch Floral created a sleek, gold-and-black design replete with golden roses.
#26 Benefit
The gala had a perfect milestone to celebrate this year: William Shakespeare's 450th birthday. About 275 guests attended the black-tie affair, which included cocktails, dinner, and humorous musings about the bard's work by actors—who also led a chorus of "Happy Birthday." The event continues to increase its fund-raising total, this year adding more than $330,000 for the library's programs. Next: Spring 2015
