Jorge del Busto at the River East Art Center

Fashion designer and fitness instructor Jorge del Busto was one of the 500 glittering guests that included dignitaries, artists, and consulates from around the world at the opening night party, Noche Caliente, for the ARTEahora exhibition at the River East Arts Center, April 24, 2008. The occasion, produced by the Streeterville Chamber of Commerce and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, began in the great Aldo Castillo Gallery and included Hors d’oeuvres from DeLaCosta and the Frontera, lush wine donated by the Chilean consulate, a fashion show by Adele Dallas Orr, entertainment by the Papo Santiago Band, dancing by members of the International Salsa Congress, and heavenly desserts by the Bombon Café.

The evening before the event, del Busto, along with assistant Marianne Palumbo and fellow couture designers James De Colon, Bernie Martin, and Elysia Hangfu produced the beautiful Chicago Fashion Night in the Lake View Terrace Room at Navy Pier, drawing hundreds of fans to behold their spectacular creations.
Photo of Jorge del Busto at the River East Art Center, April 24, 2008, by Steve Starr

HOLLYWOOD GOES TO RUMBA

The wonderful and romantic Rumba Supper Club welcomed the stars of the film, Humboldt Park, to celebrate the completion of shooting in Chicago. Weeks of preparation and hours of intense scrutiny and attention to every detail is a hallmark of Rumba, led by founder and owner Edwin Rios, who has been an architect in the world of elegant restaurant hospitality all his life. The red carpet lined the entrance at 351 West Hubbard Street on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2008, as limousines delivered Debra Messing, Freddy Rodriguez, Alfred Molina, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, John Leguizamo and dozens of their beautiful family members and friends, as well as esteemed producers Rene Regal and Bob Tietel, and director Alfredo DeVilla, to this closed door event.

The press was allowed very limited access, and I was so thrilled to be the only official photographer invited to capture the evening as stars snuggled into the large, plush, burgundy tufted velvet booths and everyone dined on a spectacular cuisine designed by Chef Benjamin Soto. Throughout the night, Hors D’oeuvres were spread on clear and red crystal platters along glistening hand beaded runners, and trays of luscious appetizers were continually served by the outstandingly attentive and charming Rumba staff.

White tuxedoed Rumba Orchestra members entertained 400 bedazzled guests, thrilled by the outstanding compositions of Rumba’s entertainment director, Wo.  Mid- evening we were further immensely entertained by the fantastic Latin sounds of the SouLatina band, and danced into the early morning hours on the gleaming floor washed in warm golden lights, surrounded by the ambiance of 1940’s Havana.

Late in the evening, Edwin and Vivian Rios, dozens of friends, Rumba staff, band members and stars moved to the elegant private dining room where talented Freddy and Elsie Rodriguez and family, Alfred Molina, Jay Hernandez, Wo and a slew of highly crafted musicians jammed in a spectacular musical escapade lasting into the early morning hours when we finally decided to only begin our goodbyes. I had never seen anything quite like it, and am so grateful to have captured this great event with my camera.

Photo by Steve Starr

Debra Messing at Rumba

Debra Messing was born August 15, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York,  Her parents wished a quieter life for their daughter and her older brother, and moved the family to a small community just outside Providence, Rhode Island.

Messing received her liberal arts degree from Brandeis University. After appearing in a pre-Broadway workshop theatre production of Angels in America-Perestroika in which she received high praise, she went on to stage roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, Four Dogs and a Bone, The Naked Truth and Collected Stories.   Messing then moved to televison and appeared in Ned and Stacey from 1995-1997.  She also had a recurring role on NYPD Blue, appeared in the short-lived science-fiction series, Prey, in 1998,  and  appeared in two episodes of Seinfeld.

On the big screen, Messing had roles in A Walk In The Clouds (1995) and in Woody Allens's Celebrity (1998).  In 1998 Messing beat out Nicolette Sheridan to obtain the title role on televison's Will & Grace, in which she was nominated for an Emmy Award four consecutive times, winning the coveted prize in 2003.  In 2002, Debra Messing was voted by People Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

Messing's other film appearances include The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Hollywood Ending (2002), Along Came Polly (2004), and The Wedding Date (2005).

In 2008, Messing completed work in Chicago on Humboldt Park, a film with an all-star cast that includes Freddy Rodriguez, Alfred Molina, Jay Hernandez, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo,  and rising stars Vanessa Ferlito and Ramses Jiminez.  On March 17, 2008, the cast, crew, producers Rene Regal and Bob Teitel, and director Alfredo De Villa celebrated at Chicago's beautiful Rumba Supper Club where I was the only photographer allowed to take their photos as they lounged in the sumptuous maroon velvet booths, dined on a fabulous cuisine designed by Chef Benjamin Soto, and partied and danced through the night  to the Rumba Orchestra and the SouLatina Band, amid the glow of red and gold lights in the elegant decor of 1940's Havana, Cuba.

Debra Messing is to married actor/writer Daniel Zelman since 2004, with whom she has a son, Roman.

Photo of Debra Messing at Rumba, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2008, by Steve Starr

Jay Hernandez at Rumba

Handsome actor Jay Hernandez was born Javier Manuel Hernandez Jr., February 20, 1978, in Montebello, California. One day, while riding with his parents Isis and Javier Sr. in a Los Angeles high rise elevator, he was  approached by fellow passenger, casting agent Hunter Tyner who had happened to squeeze into the car as the doors were closing. Tyner felt Hernandez had the magic that it takes to be a star, and before they reached the lobby, the life of young Javier Hernandez, 20, had already taken a new direction.

Tyner enrolled Hernandez in acting school and distributed photos of his new client throughout Hollywood. Within three months, Hernandez appeared in his first acting job, a commercial for a digital camera, which has only been seen in Japan. In 1998, Hernandez made his major acting debut on television in NBC’s Hang Time and in 1999 joined the cast of MTV’s sexy show, Undressed. He made his movie premier in the independent film Living The Life (2000).

Soon, Jay Hernandez emerged as the magnetic lead opposite Kirsten Dunst in the film Crazy Beautiful (2001) in which he was highly praised by movie critics and lusted and adored by movie patrons. Unfortunately, his mentor Tyner died of a sudden heart attack during the launch of the film, for which Hernandez was nominated for an ALMA Award. That same year the charismatic Hernandez followed this success with a role in Joy Ride (2001).

His other films include The Rookie (2002), Torque (2003) with Ice Cube, Ladder 49 (2004) with John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix, Friday Night Lights (2005) with Billy Bob Thornton, Carlitos’s Way:The Beginning (2005), Hostel (2006), World Trade Center (2006,) with Nicolas Cage, Grindhouse (2007), Hostel: Part II (2007), Stop-Loss (2008), American Son (2008), Quarantine (2008) and Lakeview Terrace (2008).

In February of 2008, Jay Hernandez began work in Chicago on the film Humboldt Park with co-stars Freddy Rodriguez, Luis Guzman, and Alfred Molina, who all frequented the beautiful Rumba Super Club. There, treated like royalty by Rumba founder Edwin Rios and the superb staff, they enjoyed the fantastic live music of the Rumba Orchestra led by musical director Wo, and the sensational cuisine designed by Chef Benjamin Soto. At Rumba, dozens of grown men and women often giggled in delight just looking at Hernandez, many hoping to meet him and all the other stars, who gladly and graciously posed with their fans for my camera.

Jay Hernandez has two older brothers, Michael and Gabriel, and a younger sister, Amelia. In 2006, Hernandez  was selected by People Magazine as one of the newcomers in their pick of the Sexiest Men Alive

True stars are those who appreciate their fans and treat them as their friends. What would they be without them?

Freddy Rodriguez, Jay Hernandez, Rumba manager Emerson Biazi, Alfred Molina, Luis Guzman and Rumba founder and owner Edwin Rios at Rumba February 7, 2008. Photos by Steve Starr

DANIEL SUNJATA at CROBAR

by Steve Starr

The magnetic Daniel Sunjata hosted the 2008 Chicago Firemen Calendar Party along with vivacious Kiss F.M. radio personality Nina Chantele, at Crobar, January 11, 2008.

I was personally invited up the stairs to the dressing area where firemen happily posed for my camera and prepared themselves for the excited attendees below who with their calendar purchase raised money for Ignite The Spirit Fund, a great beneficial organization that helps firefighters in need after being wounded on their dangerous job, and the families of those killed.

Each of the thirteen hot firemen made their way down the steep stairs to hit the stage and individually dance down a runway as hundreds of women shrieked in delight. Soon, Sunjata took to the stage and spoke of his present starring role as a fireman on his television show, Rescue Me, and Crobar presented a special check donation of $10,000. Sunjata and all the firemen were extremely friendly and charming, and having a lot of fun for very good reasons.

Daniel Sunjata Condon was born December 30, 1971, in Evanston, Illinois, and raised on Chicago’s south side. Sunjata earned a theatre degree from the University of Southwest Indiana, and spent two years at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has acted on several television shows that include Law & Order, Sex & The City, and Bad Company.

In 2002 Sunjata was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as a gay major league baseball player, appearing naked on stage in one scene, and in 2004 he played a gay man in the award winning film Brother to Brother.

Other film appearances include Noel (2004), Melinda and Melinda (2005), The Bronx is Burning (2007), and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Sunjata returned to Broadway in 2007 to play the second lead, Christian de Neuvelette, in Cyrano De Bergerac.

In 2003, People Magazine named the captivating, 6’1”, dark haired actor of African-American, Irish, and German heritage as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

Karina Smirnoff and Snejana "Snow" Urbin at Bon V

Karina Smirnoff and Snejana "Snow" Urbin are two of the most beautiful and spectacular dancers who choreograph, teach and entice the guest stars to perform with them in the most glamorous show on television, Dancing With The Stars, which dazzles the viewer with famous people, live orchestration, elaborate costumes, jewels, and incredibly exciting Ballroom and Latin dance.

The cast of Dancing with the Stars is touring the country, and after a performance at the Rosemont Theatre January 5, 2008, Svedka Vodka sponsored an after-party for them hosted by IMAGE Chicago Magazine at Chicago’s popular bi-level nightclub, Bon V, 1100 West Randolph Street. There, they partied and socialized through the evening with publisher Paul Sorkin, various members of his beautiful family, and hundreds of guests.

Karina Smirnoff was born March 11, 1978, in Kharkov, Ukraine. The gorgeous and amazingly talented dancer has won the United States National Champion five times, and has won the World Trophy Champion and the Asian Open Championship. Smirnoff partnered with Mario Lopez in the third season of Dancing With The Stars, and their performances were beyond fantastic. Although the couple, somehow, won second place, Smirnoff and the handsome, magnetic Lopez are currently dating.

Snejana Urbin was literally born on a stage in Siberia in 1980 to a family of dancers…her mother and sisters are all performers. Urban now lives in New York City. Highly trained in Ballroom and Latin, she has also appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, and has a role in the Disney film Enchanted (2007). The talented and athletic Urbin is also adept at singing, painting, ice skating, rollerblading and swimming.

Photo of Karina Smirnoff (left), IMAGE Chicago Magazine publisher Paul Sorkin, and Snejana “Snow” Urbin, at Bon V, Chicago, January 6, 2008, by Steve Starr

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