The annual Green Tie Ball -- one of the year’s most spectacular charity, dining and dancing events – returns Friday, September13, to Chicago’s Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph). BUY TICKETS HERE

 

 

 

 

Every year for 28 years, the annual Green Tie Ball has brought together some of Chicago’s finest chefs, serving some of their favorite dishes, all under a green theme. In the past few years, the themes have included Devil in the Green City and Green Eggs and Glam. This year, the theme is I Dream of Greenie, and it will play off the Golden Age of Television sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie,” which starred Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. In the show, Eden was the genie in a bottle and Hagman was the astronaut who found her (yeah, we knew it was a preposterous premise at the time, but it was a fun and popular program).

 

But why green? 

 

The Green Tie Ball has for years helped support Chicago Gateway Green, a not-for-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to the greening and beautification of Chicago’s gateways, expressway and neighborhoods through landscape enhancement, litter and graffiti removal and the installation of public art. Gateway Green has planted more than 4,000 trees, 80,000 shrubs, and 130,000 perennials along with the removal of over 1.3 million pounds of litter. Chicago is a more beautiful – and much greener – community thanks to the efforts of Chicago Gateway Green.

 

In keeping with the I Dream of Greenie theme is this year’s event venue, Alhambra Palace, which is tailor-made for this occasion. If you’ve been to Alhambra Palace, you know it’s designed along the lines of a Moorish palace, with intricately carved and gilded doorways, hand-painted tiles, stone mosaics, and other exotic furnishings.

 

 

This year, the Green Tie Ball will be hosted by WGN Radio’s Roe Conn and Anna Davalantes, with special guest Pete Wentz, bassist and lyricist of multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated Fall Out Boy, one of rock’s mega-acts. Wentz will DJ for the evening, along with top Chicago DJs including Eddie Mills, Blake Alexander, and Rock City.

 

Among the biggest stars of the show, however, may be the food and drink, served up by some of the finest restaurants and bars in Chicago, including Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, Avli Taverna, Barton G. The Restaurant, Katana, Taureaux Tavern, Sunda, Truluck’s, III Forks, Artango Bar & Restaurant, Tavern on Rush, and many, many others.  There is, of course, an open bar, and you can expect to see top shelf beer, wine and spirits, being poured all evening.

 

Charitable gaming will be provided by Rivers Casino, and the evening also includes a set from the popular cover band Dr. Bombay, featuring on the drums none other than Chicago Gateway Green Vice Chairman and Co-Chair, Lee Golub.

 

Other event sponsors include Chicago Magazine, Lakeshore Beverage, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, NBC 5 and WGN Radio AM 720.

 

To ensure an intimate, exclusive experience, tickets will be limited to 1,000 guests: $150 for Gala tickets and $450 for VIP tickets. You can also purchase a bundle of ten VIP tickets for $4,000. VIP ticket holders will have exclusive access to the second-floor lounge, which features private bars, passed hors d'oeuvres, and a premium view of the stage.

 

Doors open at 6:30pm on September 13^th, and doors start closing at midnight.

 

It’s a very good time.

 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.gatewaygreen.org.