PartySlate’s 2-Year Anniversary Party Featuring Broadway Star Desi Oakley

On November 13, PartySlate celebrated its second anniversary in style at The Lakewood, a beautiful industrial-chic west loop venue. Over 300 of Chicago’s who’s who, tastemakers, leading event professionals and media enjoyed a spectacular evening with a private performance from Desi Oakley who stars in the just-launched WAITRESS National Tour.

Paramount Events welcomed guests with passed hors d’oeuvres and mini passed vodka “cake” cocktails adorned with sprinkles. Guests were delighted by a build-your-own hibachi station and a Mexican street cart that included crispy fish tacos, empanadas and mini tortas. Ice-cold Corona Light served in silver buckets and craft cocktails were the perfect accompaniment to the cuisine.  

The décor set the stylish tone for the event as Kehoe Designs fashioned the space to reflect the clean palette of PartySlate. Hues of ivory, gray, black and gold complemented the sleek white look of The Lakewood, and Kehoe’s new all-white and marble-printed furniture sets provided posh seating for party guests. BBJ Linen showcased their new “Gold Kroft a Kehoe Collection,” and Hall’s Rental Services provided the serve- and drink-ware for the party. 

Later in the night, guests quieted to hear Desi Oakley perform a mesmerizing live 30-minute set which included songs from WAITRESS as well as her own original music. The star was backed by a talented team of Chicago musicians lined up by uber-talented bandleader and musician Larry King. Desi was expertly styled with a sky-high ponytail and smoky makeup by the newest salon in town, Blo Blow Dry Bar in the Southport Corridor.

FIG Media provided lively beats as guests mingled after the performance. In the background, a camera crew from Cake Hunters—the Cooking Channel reality series that pits bakers against each other to create show-stopping cakes—was on hand for the live reveal of PartySlate’s second anniversary cake. It was the exciting culmination of a PartySlate-centric episode that will air in the coming months.

As guests departed, they visited Spin Spun for magically lit-from-within cotton candy treats and a copy of Modern Luxury Weddings.

The event was perfectly orchestrated by caterer Paramount Events and event planner Jodi Wolf of Paulette Wolf Events. And the night was captured at every angle by Andrew Weeks Photography and BMP Film Co.