Reinventing the Wheel

THE PARTY The Museum of Science and Industry hosted its premier social event, the 31st annual Columbian Ball. THE SCENE More than 800 guests— including honorary co-chair Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Kevin Byrne, who recently spent a month living in the museum—enjoyed an evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing. The event featured the museum’s exhibit Fast Forward... Inventing the Future in celebration of today’s leading inventors. Cocktail hour included Moto Restaurant’s Executive Chef Homaro Cantu’s famous Cuban Cigar appetizers before guests moved to a heated tent for dinner, provided by Jewell Events Catering. The tent’s décor—courtesy of HMR Design Group—paid homage to the Fast Forward inventors with bright colors and geometric shapes. The evening concluded with a live auction, led by Bill Kurtis, where guests bid on extravagant travel packages and specialty items. THE BOTTOM LINE More than $2 million was raised to support the museum’s vision. Photos by Robert Carl and JB Spector