The lobby of 525 W. Monroe was filled with red lights, red dresses and a whole lot of dancing courtesy of DJs Harmonix and Jeanette. Guests enjoyed complimentary hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a photo booth.
Marcus Riley of NBC and Candace Jordan of Candid Candace hosted the event. Chicago’s own Miss Foozie posed for pictures on the stage, which was later taken over by singer Kristine W. Dancers from the crowd joined her on stage and she dedicated a song to an HIV-positive friend who recently passed away.
“AIDS has been a big cause for me,” said Kyler Powell, who organized the event with a board of directors. Powell moved to Chicago from Portland, Ore., where the Red Dress Party started 11 years ago, and decided Chicago needed one of its own. He wants to “bring [AIDS] back into the spotlight.”
Powell said the disease is still an issue, but many people have become apathetic about it. The Red Dress Party is “really to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS,” he said.
All net proceeds from the event will be donated to AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Equality Project. Text by Lisa Klein; photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com)