Urban Renewal holds annual ball
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EVANSTON — Attendance was down somewhat for this year’s annual Renewal Ball, but those who did attend enjoyed excellent food, great music and good company. The 37th Urban Renewal Ball was held on Saturday, June 8, at the Machine Shop.
The date was moved this year from the first Saturday in June when it has traditionally been held. When the ball began Evanston High School graduation took place typically in late May but was later moved and happened to conflict with the ball.
This year’s theme was “Star Struck,” and those who attended were encouraged to dress in cocktail attire or in costume as a famous person, couple or group. Disney characters, the Spice Girls, reality TV stars, suffragettes, TV personalities, Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe, “Game of Thrones” characters, politicians and more were spotted dancing throughout the evening.
In another change this year, live music returned to the ball, with the seven-piece ensemble, “Timeless,” performing several hours of dance tunes spanning the decades. The meal was catered by Denise’s Home Plate out of Coalville, Utah, which earned rave reviews for last year’s catering. This year’s meal didn’t disappoint as the beef tenderloin, whole baked salmon and chicken scampi, as well as homemade bread and pie, again had attendees raving.
Numerous items were up for grabs in the silent auction and, also new this year, the live auction was replaced with an “elite” silent auction for more high-dollar items. There was also a raffle for assorted prizes, including an Evanston restaurant package of more than $300 worth of gift certificates to local dining establishments claimed by one lucky winner. Everyone who attended automatically received one entry into the restaurant package raffle.
Evanston Urban Renewal Coordinator Jane Law said, “We consider the evening a success. We had several new faces, and everyone seemed to have a fun night. It was a great party.” Law said she wanted to thank the Urban Renewal Board and all the volunteers who put in hundreds of hours, as well as those who supported the ball by donating, purchasing ads, attending and bidding on auction items and raffles.
