2008 EVENT REVIEWS

CHICAGO WOLVES GAME
The Chicago Wolves game was a night out for a group of Chi O girls to get together to cheer on the hockey team! Our tickets were up front next to the ice rink, thanks to one of our members. Even though we did not come out with a win, the train ride, the nachos and the sound of the hockey puck made for an exciting evening. We look forward to more sporting events in the future!

CHI O JANUARY BOOK CLUB
We had a great time discussing the Time Travelers Wife at Maggie Ross' home on Jan. 15. Thanks to Nicole for leading a compelling chat. Please join us next month, and remember that we meet on the third Tuesday of each month! 

2007 EVENT REVIEWS

HOLIDAY DINNER/GIFT EXCHANGE
On Dec. 20 a group of us met at Carnivale to bring back the annual holiday gift exchange. In addition to enjoying delicious food, we challenged ourselves to find cardinal or straw colored gifts valued at no more than $10 to swap. There were some great gifts, including candles, bath and body products and more! 

TOYS FOR TOTS
Through the months of November and December we collected more than 10 toys for the USMC Toys for Tots holiday drive. Thank you to all who participated for helping to make a few kids' Christmas a little bit better! 

ANNUAL COOKIE EXCHANGE
On Sunday, Dec. 9, a large group gathered for the Annual Cookie Exchange. Thanks to Dania for hosting us with some tasty treats and Rachel for providing all the delicious recipes for the attendees! We enjoyed holiday music and a variety of festive cookies and even addressed some cards to recovering troops in VA hospitals.

CHI O/SIGMA CHI MIXER
On Dec. 6 a large group of us gathered with the men of the Lincoln Park Sigma Chi Alumnae Chapter to watch the Bears and enjoy free drinks. Some of us even won 50/50 raffles, with gifts including bottles of wine and salon packages!

CHI O NOVEMBER BOOK CLUB
On Monday, Nov. 19, our book club met to discuss "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Thanks to Julie Pedlar for hosting us with delicious food and Erica Islas for leading our discussion with thought-provoking questions about circus life, the post-Depression Era and relationships. We look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting!

CHI O DINNER--ATHENA IN GREEKTOWN
On Thursday, Nov. 15, a group of us met for dinner at Athena in Greektown. We sampled authentic Greek food and drinks in true Greek spirit! The only thing missing was the baclava, which they were out of. Afterward, we even posed for a picture by a statue of white columns.

CHI O DINNER--CHICAGO BRAUHAUS
On Thursday, Oct. 18, a few us went to the Chicago Brauhaus for some German food, beer and entertainment. We had a great time listening to the authentic music and the yodeling contest. Unfortunately this year none of the Chi Omega's at the table participated in the contest but we did enjoy listening to the others.

SEALED WITH A WISH--CHI O DATE AUCTION
Thank you so much for everyone's participation at the Sealed With a Wish Date Auction. We came close to hitting our goal of raising $3,000 for the night! Thanks to all the guys for volunteering to do this, I know it must have been so hard, with all those women wanting to go on a date with you. And a special thanks all the Chi O helpers! We appreciate all of your support and hope we can do this again soon!

RHO MU FALL RECRUITMENT
Thank you to all the wonderful alumni and advisors that helped out with Recruitment this Fall at DePaul. The Rho Mu chapter participated in their very first recruitment and met quota with 30 new members!

CHI O HAPPY HOUR
On Sept. 10, a group of us gathered at Gaslight in Lincoln Park for happy hour. We enjoyed the dinner, drinks and an escape from the rain! Thanks to everyone who came out--it was a hoot, as always!

IRISH EYES GUEST BARTENDING FUNDRAISER
On Thursday, Aug. 30, a group of Chi Os and friends gathered for the second annual Irish Eyes guest bartending happy hour event, with all proceeds going to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. We raised $300 and had a great time!

CHICAGO CUBS GAME
On Wednesday, August 15, a few Chi O's enjoyed a few innings at the Cubs evening game. Why did we only spend a few innings there? Well there was an hour and a half rain delay and some of us had to work the next morning. Even though there was a long rain delay we still had a great time hanging out and meeting new friends at Murphy's.

CHI O DINNER--COAST
On Wednesday, July 25, we met for a delicious sushi dinner in the heart of Bucktown at Coast. We took advantage of the BYOB and enjoyed a couple bottles of wine with our sushi rolls and edamame.  Hope to see you all at the next dinner outing!

WINE AND CHEESE
On Monday, June 25, a small group of ladies got together at Juicy Wine Co. for their "Cheesy Monday Nights." We enjoyed a couple bottles of wine, paired with a complimentary cheese while listening to some cheesy 80's music. A great event for a warm summer night!

CHI O DINNER--BISTRO MARGOT
On Wednesday, May 23, a group of Chi O's got together for a meal at Bistrot Margot, french style! We enjoyed a prix fix 3-course meal, but our group was a bit too large to enjoy the gorgeous weather on the patio. Hope to see you all at the next dining al fresco event!

CAREER DAY AT RHO MU
On Tuesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 31, Alumnae from the Chicago Area joined the ladies of Rho Mu to talk about life after college and possible careers. Such topics included careers in real estate, mortgage industry, IT consulting, Corporate Leadership, PR/Advertising just to name a few. The ladies even had the opportunity to hear from a previous Chi Omega National Consultant. The ladies asked many questions and the open dialog about possible careers and life in general post-collegiate years was positive! We look forward to joining the ladies again for another round next year!

CHI OMEGA'S ELUESIAN
On Saturday, April 28 about 100 Chi Omega Alums got together at Ruth Lake Country Club for the Chicago Area Eleusinia Celebration. The attendees enjoyed speeches by SM (National Alumnae Officer) Andrea Derouin Bechtel and renowned USA Today columnist and author Christine Brennan. There was plenty of time to remember and laugh about college stories, as well time for new connections to be made. Additionally, some of Chi Omega's newest Initiates of Rho Mu Chapter were present, as well as a bunch of Xi Chapter actives who serenaded us with Chi O hymns, chants, and songs. We look forward to the next Founder's Day Celebration!

2006 EVENT REVIEWS

HOLIDAY COOKIE EXCHANGE RECIPES!!!
Thanks again to our gracious host Lisa Glathar for holding our annual cookie exchange on Dec. 10. We had a wonderful time catching up, eating and drinking... not to mention sharing stories and recipes of our favorite cookies and sweet treats.

1154 LILL STUDIO FUNDRAISER
Thanks to all who attended our handbag designing fundraiser at 1154 Lill Studio on Nov. 15. We had a lot of fun picking bag styles and choosing fabrics for our one-of-a-kind creations! And we raised more than $250 for the Chicago chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

IMPROV NIGHT
On Wednesday, Oct. 11 a group of us gathered on a chilly evening for an improv show at the Playground Theatre. We watched three groups of improv comedians perform skits, and even heard a shout out for Chi Omega! Thanks to all who attended.

CHI O OCKTOBERFEST
On Thursday, Oct. 26 about 13 Chi Omega's and friends had our annual dinner at Chicago Brahaus. Unfortunately, no ChiO won the yodeling contest this year. But we did enjoy listening to the other restaurant participants yodel. Maybe next year we'll have a chance to grab the title.

OUR FIRST CHI O BOOK CLUB
Our group's first Book Club meeting was held on Tuesday, September 26th. About 10 of us met to discuss the book "Women of the Silk" by Gail Tsukiyama. The book was the story of a young Chinese girl, Pei, who was given by her family to work in a silk factory to earn money. Set in rural China in the 1920s, the book follows Pei's childhood and adolescent years as she develops friendships with other silk workers and learns the trade. We had a lively discussion including everything from the themes of love and independence in the book to our own experiences growing up and bonding with our Chi Omega sisters. A special thank you to Maggie Ross for hosting and providing delicious treats!

CHI O DINNER OUT AT PIAZZA BELLA TRATORIA
Nine of us dined at this quaint little Italian restaurant in Roscoe Village on Tuesday, Sept. 19. We enjoyed our meals, complimentary desserts and homemade Limoncello (an Italian liquor), as well as the live harp music, and as always, each others' company! Thanks to all who attended.

CHI O FUNDRAISER AT IRISH EYES
We raised $304.25 from our 4+ hours of bartending at Irish Eyes on Thursday, July 27. Thanks to all who came out, especially our fantastic bartenders, for making this a worthwhile, and very fun, fundraiser!

WINE TASTING
On Wednesday, Aug. 23, twelve Chi Os attended a wine tasting party, where we tried seven varieties of wine from boutique wineries around the world. We learned a bit about each wine, saw some interesting wine accessories put to use, and most of all, enjoyed each others' company. Thanks to all who attended!

ANNUAL CAP SCHOLARSHIP AUCTION
Over 25 women enjoyed a lovely and delicious formal tea ceremony on Sunday, May 7th at Chicago's Intercontinental hotel. Chicago Alumnae Panhellenic awarded two $500 scholarships to collegiate women who attended the tea. CAP also awarded the first distinguished service award to Nancy Dschida, Alpha Chi Omega, for her many years of dedicated and loyal service to CAP as Membership Chair and Treasurer. Between trips to the buffet for delightful tea sandwiches and devilish desserts, attendees placed bids on baskets for the silent auction. Auction winners took home some great baskets such as Chocolate Lover's, Chef's Basket of Goodies, An Ultimate Spa Experince, Gardener's Paradise, and our Chi-O basket of dinner and a movie which was a bit hit, raising over $45! Great thanks to Dana Kuhman and Julie Pedlar for your assistance in pulling the basket together!

ANNUAL NEW MEMBER NIGHT
Over 50 Sisters gathered at SoPo for our Annual Membership Night! Laughter, smiles and friendship filled the room as new and returning members connected.

Andrea Bechtel, Chi Omega’s 2nd Alternate NPC Delegate joined us to share the Fraternity’s success and enlightened us on her experiences and memories as an alumna in the Chicagoland area. Chi Omega’s also heard about the difference we can make by volunteering for our national philanthropy, Make-A-Wish Foundation from a representative from the Illinois Make-A-Wish Chapter.

Good news! You may now visit www.chicagochiomega.com to pay your annual dues on complete the membership profile online. New Members $35 and Returning Members $40. You may also send check payable to:

Chicago Chi Omega Alumnae Association
Send to: Lisa Glathar
1250 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605

Thank you for making the 2006 Membership Night a success! Chi Omega is for a lifetime!

CHI OMEGA DINNER
Seven Chi O's gathered at Arco de Cuchilleros to enjoy tapas and sangria on Thursday, June 18. This Spanish restaurant had a little something for everyone--dishes included salmon, shrimp, mushrooms and more. Everyone ordered a dish or two and passed them around for everyone to sample. The group favorite was the bacon-wrapped dates. Good conversation flowed, along with the sangria.

CHI OMEGA & DELTA CHI MIXER
Flashback to your college mixer days and this will give you an idea of what our Chi Omega/Delta Chi gathering at Duffy's on April 21 was like. We started out on opposite sides of the room, but by the end of the night, we were mingling, chatting and even tearing up the dance floor together. Thanks to all of the ladies who came and made this Greek get-together a success!

CHOCOLATE FONDUE
Ten of us gathered for some socializing and chocolate indulging at the new Chicago Chocolate Company in the West Loop. We enjoyed our time together in their private upstairs room talking and telling stories while enjoying dipping strawberries, pound cake, bananas, pineapple and marshmallows into delicious milk chocolate fondue.  Most of us couldn't leave without buying some english toffee, chocolate covered peanuts, or other treats from the cafe.

This is a cute little café that you can visit at anytime. They do have more than just chocolate.

EXPLORE A LOST WORLD
Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption is an exhibit at the Field Museum that a few of us Chi O's went to go see on Jan. 21. We saw what happened to all those people back in 79AD. How they lived before the volcano took away their lives. It was a very touching story, one that we'll remember for quite some time. The exhibit is there until March 26, so there is still time to check it out.

2005 EVENT REVIEWS

FARMER'S MARKET & BEACH
On Saturday, June 24, a small group gathered at the Green City market to sample the all-organic offerings. Leaving with a pint of cherries and a bag of sugar snap peas, we headed to North Ave. beach for a day of fun in the sun!

GOOSE ISLAND BREWRY TOUR
On Sunday, June 11, we toured the brewing facilities at Goose Island in Lincoln Park. We learned about the fermentation process, smelled hopps and malts and finally, sampled the goods. All of us bravely tested every ale, stout and porter set before us, and left with a complimentary pint glass as a keepsake.

HOLIDAY WITH A LATIN TWIST!
Last month, a group of ladies hit the Latin hot spot Nacional 27 to celebrate the holidays with one another. Tasting portions such as seared ahi tuna with tomato aioli, spiced pear salad and beef tenderloin were just a few tasty treats served.  Let us also not forget the pairings of wine too! In addition to the fun with our palates, we also had a $5 grab bag with gifts of either cardinal or straw.  There were some creative and practical minds in the works with the gifts-- Jenny was kind enough to shower one lucky member with a token from her recent trip to Thailand!  It was a wonderful evening with good food, good times but more importantly good company.  Thanks to those that made out; we look forward to seeing you and new additions at the next outing!

MAW FUNDRAISER
Thanks to everyone who came to our first ever fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation! We were stunned by the gorgeous styles of pearls, and many of us had a difficult time choosing what to buy! Bourdage Pearls donated 20% of the proceeds which will go directly towards Make-A-Wish in our name. Stay tuned for future events as we work towards raising $5,000 to fulfill a wish for a child in Illinois.

MCA
On Tuesday, June 13 a group of Chi O's met up on the steps of the Museum of Contemporary Art for a viewing of Andy Warhol's "Deaths and Disasters" exhibit. After hearing about Warhol's obsessions with Marilyn and Elizabeth, we headed out to the back terrace for a live jazz performance and cocktails.

MOVIE OUTING
A mid-week spontaneous movie night on March 21 was the perfect kick-off to spring! A group of Chi O's met for dinner and drinks at Lucky Strike before heading up a flight at the AMC River North to see Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker in the recently released Failure to Launch. Thanks for coming out ladies—be on the lookout for another movie night soon!

A NIGHT AT SECOND CITY
On Monday, March 27, 13 ladies met for a night of sketch comedy and improve at the Second City 's “Best of Second City” show. The show, performed by a cast of six, was a celebration of the best skits from 45 years of comedy, and the night full of laughs was a perfect start to the week. Thanks to all who joined us—we were definitely the biggest group of women in attendance!

PERSONAL NOTECARD MAKING
On May 23 a few of the Chi O's went out to learn how to make our own personal notecards. In two hours we made 5 different cards and had a great time doing it. We all felt that this was a nice relaxing hobby and hopefully most of us will continue making cards in our spare time. If you are interested in participating in another class, please let Katie know and we'll set another class up. Katie Radcliffe can be reached at katieradcliffe03@yahoo.com.

PUB QUIZ
On Wednesday, March 15, a team of Chi O's participated in a pub quiz at the Local Option tavern. Answering to the team name of The Ideas of March Madness (thanks Dana—your suggestion won us 2nd place in the team name round!), we racked our brains for the right answers for everything from Everybody Loves Raymond trivia to the anatomy of a flower to locations of downtown Chicago restaurants. We didn't win, but we had a great time playing anyway!

RAVINIA EVENT
On June 3, opening day for Ravinia, 9 ChiO's headed on up to see Blondie and The Cars. We had a great time enjoying the beautiful weather and great music. This was Shannon's last Chi O event before she moved to Texas and I'm sure this was an event that she'll never forget. Ravinia has concerts pretty much every night, check out their site to see if there are any you would like to go to www.ravinia.org.

WHITE ELEPHANT DINNER REVIEW
Last month, a group of ladies sipped on swirls and exchanged unwanted holiday gifts at our White Elephant dinner at Uncle Julio's. Among the "winners" of the post-holidays exchange were Katie, who received a lovely snowman's snow cone trolley for her fireplace mantle, and Dana, who is now the proud owner of a large framed owl print. Good times were had by all, and thanks to those that made it out on a cold winter night--we look forward to seeing all of you at another event soon!