Why So Blu?

THE PARTY The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago debuted with a grand opening bash, and thanks to interior designer Jim Hamilton of Graven Interiors, the space was already set for a fête. Guests sipped specialty cocktails and Prosecco in the ballroom, which hosted a carving station, raw and sushi bars, and a dessert table. Guests were also invited into Filini Bar & Restaurant for a sampling of Italian fare. THE PLAYERS The new luxury hotel occupies 18 floors of Aqua Tower, and Carlson Hotels and Magellan Development Group bigwigs showed up in style: Pierre-Louis Giacotto, general manager of Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago; Hubert Joly, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels; Thorsten Kirschke, COO of Carlson Hotels; Bob Kleinschmidt, EVP and chief development officer of Carlson Hotels; James Loewenberg, co-CEO of Magellan Development Group; Joel Carlins, co-CEO and founder of Magellan Development Group; and Robin Loewenberg Berger, chief marketing officer of Magellan Development Group. THE HIGHLIGHTS The evening, which included music by Gold Coast All Stars and entertainment from Cirque du Soleil performers, helped raise more than $50,000 for the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute. Photography by Galdones Photography