PARTY FILE Ticket price: $250 Guests: 250 Amount raised: About $43000 - - - Like literary minds conven to honor author EL Doctorow at the Union League association of Chicago.

PARTY FILE

Ticket price: $250

Guests: 250

Amount raised: About $43000

- - -

Like literary minds conven to honor author EL Doctorow at the Union League association of Chicago. The author, known for folding historical figures and affairs into imaginative novels such as Ragtime and The March, was center stage at the Harold Washington Literary Award dinner. The annual fund-raiser was held Friday for the Near southward Planning Board and raised wealth for the organization's year-round Authors in the gymnasiums educational outreach program. Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson is the non-profit's president and executive director.

Quiet chatter bursted around the club's Crystal sweep as a collection of writers, publishers and literary enthusiasts sampled smok salmon canapes, mustard and herb-crusted spring lamb change suddenlys and portobello mushrooms. Piano music from Mary Ann Krupa punctuated the conclusion

A congenial Doctorow circulated with attendees during the cocktail hour. His conversations, infused with forces of wit, made him appear to be as familiar as a longtime friend or colleague. He obliged the signing of a first edition print of Ragtime, possessed by Christine Skolnik, wife of Keith Giles, dinner chair.

And he told of for what cause his current book, The March, was inspired by the agency of a photograph of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and his staff sitting in fore-rank of a tent. "That locate me off. That's the way a main division begins -- surges of mental excitement." It sparked Doctorow's imagination, prompting him to thread together an engaging road novel where various characters were cast alongside the general's dramatic march to the sea.

(The volume received the National Book Critics Circle Award; Doctorow appeared at the Printers disturbance Book Fair Saturday.)

Honorary co-chairs were Mayor Richard M and Maggie Daley and Gov twig and Patricia Blagojevich. Mistress of ceremonial was Judy Garcia of WGN-Channel 9 Rebecca Ford Terry was chair of the Literary Award Selection Committee. She said Doctorow was this year's choice because his fiction created lasting impressions with readers. Recipients receive a $5000 prize. Past honorees included Susan Sontag, John faith Franklin, Margaret Atwood and Garrison Keillor.

visitors included Bette Cerf Hill, institutor of the Printers Row part Fair and former president and executive director of the Near southern Planning Board; writer S.L. Wisenberg, and Ray Spaeth, president of Lakeside Bank.

llenoir@suntimes.com

GLAMORAMA GAINS BACKING OF HIGH ROLLER

about people didn't blink an watch Monday night as they shelled revealed $1,000 for the chance to fit Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and other stars up cease and personal at Macy's clan 29 Glamorama event at the Chicago Theatre.

The ticket buyer were part of about 250 fashion-savvy visitors and members who attended a party at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W Hubbard, held at the Auxiliary Board and the Evening Associates Board of the Art Institute of Chicago to feast the upcoming show, Glamosphere.

There were 40 of those high-priced VIP tickets sold Monday; there are still 80 of these special tickets to be had.

Others who didn't want to be left disclosed of the Glamorama festivities have bought 700 tickets in the $50 and $1000 range -- and tickets went upon sale just last Thursday. PJ Huizenga and Peter Goldman are circumstance co-chairs for the Auxiliary Board; Glenn Eden and Karen K Trimberger are co-chairs for the Evening Associates Board.

a certain of the ticket sales take stepss will help the Art Institute and its programs: The Auxiliary Board members room for expectation to raise $200,000 from the termination for educational programs and art acquisitions; the Evening Associates Board plans to increase its 1300-strong young professional membership according to 10 percent and contribute riches to future exhibits.

Since Glamorama's first attempt in Chicago in 1999, it has raised about $2 million for the Art Institute.

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