THE LOOP — After School Matters and Chicago's Palmer House hotel are celebrating the 75th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" with a cake decorating contest for the program's teen participants Friday.
The hotel's executive chef, Stepehen Henry, who is hosting the event, said the Palmer House wanted to celebrate the iconic film's landmark birthday because the hotel has a history with the film, and the book that inspired it.
Author Frank L. Baum first debuted "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" at a book fair at the Palmer House in July 1900.
Then in 1938, while on tour promoting the movie, actress Judy Garland performed in the hotel's Empire Room.
“Our ties to ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and this 75th anniversary are a perfect opportunity to unite past with the future," Henry said.
Lizzie Schiffman explains how the Wizard of Oz and the Palmer House are linked throughout the story's history:
He added that the hotel hopes the contest will be an opportunity to "mentor the chefs and creative minds of the future."
The cakes decorated by After School Matters students will be on display in the hotel lobby through Sunday. Winning cake decoraters will be treated to a dinner at the hotel's Lockwood Restaurant.
Guest judges critiquing the cakes include City Clerk Susana Mendoza, Aldermen John Pope (10th) and Bob Fioretti (2nd) and staff from other Chicago restaurants and culinary programs, including Takashi Yagahashi of Takashi and Meg Galus of NoMI.
The contest winners will be announced at 11:15 a.m. Friday.
After School Matters was founded by Maggie Daley in 1991 to provide summer and after-school enrichment opportunities to students. The program offers multiple culinary arts-focused classes, in addition to courses in writing, tech, science, sports and other creative arts.
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