DADDY DEAREST

As a complete daddy’s girl (his picture is to the left), I may be slightly biased in saying this, but my dad is a total rock star! From scraped knees and the Girl Scouts “Father Daughter Dance” to driving lessons and broken hearts, my dad is my go-to guy when it comes to just about everything…everything except gift suggestions! Each year when Fathers Day rolls around I am at a total loss as to what to get the man who “doesn’t want anything”. Lucky for me, Zapwater is filled with helpful clients and staff that take the guess work out of Fathers Day gift giving!

Hotel Sax Chicago, located in the chic Marina City, knows the importance of unleashing your inner rock star from time to time. Their Celebrity Rider packages, inspired by rider requests from celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, is a great way to show your dad he rocks. My favorite, the Rat Pack inspired package, is aimed at helping dad experience Frank Sinatra’s kind of town first hand. Featuring a suite with a bar cart and personal bartender, a private steak dinner at Harry Caray’s restaurant for up to nine friends, personal butler service, 24-hour transportation and a boat for dad and his friends to cruise the Chicago river on, this gift will have dad singing your praises.

If your dad is at all like mine, and insists you get him nothing this year, why not grant his wish and make a donation to a charitable cause in his name? Contributing to a local cause, such as a hospital or community group that has touched your dad’s life is a great way to show him you care. The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center in my family’s hometown of Waterbury, CT is a place that is especially close to my dad’s (and my) heart. The Leever Center is a state of the art cancer treatment facility that wouldn’t have been possible without the generous donations from our community members. And without the Leever Center, many people from Connecticut, including myself, may not have a father to celebrate with this year.

So this Sunday make sure your dad knows that you are his #1 fan. Even if you’re like me and believe that everyday is Fathers Day (trust me, I have the phone bills to prove it), take the time to celebrate everything your dad does. Happy Fathers Day Dad…and sorry again about those gray hairs!

Emma Richards
Intern

LE DRESS UP!

Whether strolling down Michigan Ave. on a shopping spree, dining with friends al fresco in the city or heading out on a date, a dress is the one frock that promises to flatter and impress. Sisters-in-law Eva and Robyn Anderson and co-owners of le Dress, the first dress-only boutique in Chicago that recently opened in Wicker Park (1741 W. Division), understand the simplicity and sexiness women everywhere crave and have answered our prayers with a store designed to fulfill fashionistas’ closet dreams. Enter, my fashion-filled two week whirlwind with le Dress.

On May 29, I had the unique opportunity to get a behind-the-seams look at what really goes on backstage at a high-energy fashion show. Hundreds ventured down into the city’s hotspot, the Underground, to attend the debut “le Dress and the Windy City” fashion show. At 10:30pm, after a last minute dressing area change, five model mavens hit the runway in le Dress style. The stylish set in attendance drooled for the dresses by Issue, Shoshanna, VaVa, the le Dress private label and more, while backstage dressers worked frantically to make sure every zipper, button, sash and buckle were perfectly placed. It was 20 minutes of pure adrenaline and excitement! Little did I know that less than a week later I would be the next to hit the le Dress catwalk, albeit for a slightly larger viewing audience!



If I ever said that modeling was easy, I take it back! On June 3, while sitting in the green room at WLS-TV, ABC Chicago Channel 7, the nerves were working in overdrive! Donning a “Samantha Jones-esque” little black dress (le Dress label, $65) and sky-high faux snakeskin heels for a “Sex and the City” themed segment which aired yesterday, I hit the bright-lighted runway with fellow co-workers to give viewers samples of the styles they can find at le Dress for under $150.



While I prefer to be behind the camera, I must admit, it was fun to le Dress it up for a day!

Holly Ramsey
Publicist