ArtSees Diner: Step Up, Shine & Dine, 2014

National mentorship organization Step Up will honor television personality Catherine De Orio and Step Up alumna Kenia Rodriguez at its fourth annual Shine & Dine on August 7, held at the Bridgeport Art Center’s Skyline Loft. The red carpet evening will feature seasonal fare from top Chicago restaurants and welcome 800 local professionals, all to benefit Step Up’s mentorship programs that propel girls from Chicago’s under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women.

“Shine & Dine is the perfect commemoration of Step Up’s presence in Chicago,” the nonprofit’s founder, Kaye Popofsky Kramer, said. “The culinary evening unites community influencers for a terrific celebration, but also raises vital funds that give Step Up girls a chance.”

De Orio, the host of WTTW’s Check, Please!, will be honored as an inspiration to women and girls in the media and culinary industries. Rodriguez, a member of Step Up’s Class of 2012 and now DePaul University’s Class of 2016, will also share her story during the event’s brief program.

Epicures including Ryan Pitts (RL), Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp (Honey Butter Fried Chicken), Lee Ann Whippen (Chicago Q), Mary Punmit (Opart Thai), Kurt Guzowski (TÊTE Charcuterie), Carolina Diaz (Filini Bar and Restaurant), Michael McDonald (ZED451), Sophie Evanoff (Vanille Patisserie) and Mari Luangrath (Foiled Cupcakes) will offer guests special tastings. Farmhouse, RA Sushi, Troquet, and Kaiser Tiger will also host tastings. Cîroc, Peroni, Crafthouse, JIMMY, Paramount Events, Lifeway Kefir and nUM yUMMIES are also on board to offer sips, hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

Tickets start at $125 and are available at suwn.org/snd or by calling 312.904.2000.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a VIP reception featuring exclusive tastings and cocktails for VIP ticket-holders. General admission is at 6:30 p.m.

For the first time, the event will be held at the Bridgeport Art Center’s Skyline Loft, located at 1200 West 35th Street in Chicago. Thanks to a partnership with Hailo, the taxi-hailing app, registered guests will receive a $15 credit for transportation to or from the event. In addition, the Bridgeport Art Center has a free parking lot for all guests.

Allstate Insurance Company returns to support the event as the Gold Sponsor for the fourth straight year. InStyle and Chicago Sun Times’ SPLASH are the event media partners. Shine & Dine is chaired by Christina Manuel of Lake View, Shayna Cook, of North Center, chairs the Step Up Chicago board of directors, while Evanston’s Angela Elbert chairs Step Up’s national board of directors.

The event’s host committee includes Danni Allen, Jonny Imerman, Candace Jordan, Hon. Stephanie Neely, Susanna Negovan, Whitney Reynolds, Laura Schwartz, Erin Shea Smith, Scott Smith, Mallory Ulaszek, and Amy and Chris Johnson.