Naturally, November was full of Thanksgiving parties, friendsgiving parties and lots of Scorpio parties, too. I’m thankful for all of it — these are the nights keep my cornucopia of gossip flowing. And we’re just getting the holiday season started.
Nov. 8-10, NAR NXT brought thousands to Boston, where, yes, I really did get my baseball card signed by Big Papi! I may not be a Red Sox fan — I’m from Chicago, after all — but I love any celeb sighting. Then, just a couple days later, COMPASS agents were rushing off to Charleston for a fancy-schmancy networking event. I, unfortunately, was not there and had to binge “Southern Charm” to keep the FOMO at bay.
That’s OK. We were having fun in Chicago — on Nov. 14, two local real estate lovebirds tied the knot downtown. Congrats to Javier Garcia and Leticia Andrade! A loan officer and an agent, a tale as old as time … that’s what makes a power couple if you ask me! (Also, Leticia looked fab in her dress. Very Hollywood glam.)
That weekend, Lance Kirshner held his — 19th! — yearly Friendsgiving at the COMPASS office. The massive party brought a mix of friends and colleagues and was so packed that, by the end of the night, more than 20 people were shotgunning beers outside in Lincoln Park! Brings me right back to college. Man, those COMPASS peeps know how to party.
On Nov. 21, Lincoln Park Builders held its 35th annual Real Estate Forum, which, we all know, is really a swanky night out for everyone in the industry. Sure, the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are followed by panel discussions … but panel discussions are followed by an open bar.
Shoutout to Dennis Huyck and his group doing the good work. Their team collected “blessing baskets” at Naveen’s Cuisine with the goal of delivering 150 baskets to Nourishing Hope, a nonprofit that’s keeping people fed through the holidays.
Finally, let’s hear it for the snow babies! On Dec. 6, Mike Jones turns a year older, followed by b-day triplets Kelly Maguire, Barbara O’Connor and Andy M. Shiparski on Dec. 8. The next day is Todd Mullen’s time to shine before a short cooldown period. Then, on Dec. 13 it’s Judy Pettas’ birthday, followed by Michelle Mills Clement on Dec. 15, Michael Bauknecht on Dec. 16, Mike Sato on Dec. 17, then b-day twins Kathleen Malone and Rafay Qamar on Dec. 19. Creeping up to Christmas, we have Jeff Lasky on Dec. 20, Kelley Regan on Dec. 21, Walter Krajewski on Dec. 22 and Leo Aubel on Dec. 23. Then, yes, we have that rare Christmas birthday: Denise Salazar-Carosella. Don’t worry, Denise, your birthday is not forgotten. Wrapping up the season is Jeff Metz on Dec. 27, and both JoAnn Sworan and Jennifer Evans on Dec. 29. And, sliding into the new year, we have the first birthdays of 2025(!): Mimi Luna on Jan. 1 and Leslie Struthers on Jan. 2. That’s a wrap on 2024!