Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
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VIEW FROM THE TOP continued from page 57 sex life. "They fired me for printing gossip, which is exactly what they hired me for—printing gossip," she says. But she insists Winfrey never called the paper to complain, and there are no hard feelings between them. In fact, Gerber and Winfrey ran into each other at RL restaurant as recently as last year. "She came over and said, 'Ann, you look great.' I told her she looked great, too, and we shook hands." Gerber recalls some of her best memories interviewing celebrities over lunch: "I dined with Clark Gable at the old Pump Room; he drank his lunch," she says. "He must've had six glasses of bourbon, but he was charming in a sweet, unaffected way." She also remembers having lunch with a 30-year-old Marlon Brando. "He was the most exciting celebrity I'd ever met, but [when he asked me out] I said no. I was afraid Gerber's home office features a spacious glass-topped writing desk accented with family photos. WRITER'S WIT Heroes Reading between the lines with Ann Gerber. Maggie Daley, Dr. Jack Kevorkian ("He never should've gone to jail."), Cardinal Bernardin, Warren Buffett, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart Standing Lunch Date Gerber's monthly "Platinum Posse" consists of Suzie Glickman, Mary Ann Childers, Paula Fasseas, Joan Brodsky, Gretchen Jordan, Judges Ilana Rovner and Rhoda Sweeney, Kathy Fox, and Kathy Finley. Her other group of friends is "The Goddesses," and includes Mamie Walton, Averill Leviton, and Sherrill Bodine. Reading List Forget blogs and websites—Gerber isn't even on Twitter or Facebook. "I read The Economist and The New Yorker cover to cover." Work Philosophy "I have never missed a deadline in 62 years." A treasured collection of photos illustrates Gerber's pride in her family. " Everyone has a story, whether it's remarkable, sad, sexy or embarrassing. " he might expect something. Today? It would've been a different story." So, what's the biggest difference between the social scenes now versus then? "It used to be there were a hundred people who went to all the big galas. Now, the social scene is more diluted—more people have more access. I remember attending a party at the Field Museum in the 1990s when Princess Di came to town—everyone was there, from the mayor to the governor." Gerber has also mellowed out a bit over the years. "I don't try to judge people, and I'm not out to destroy anyone," she says. "I would never want to disrupt a family, marriage or anyone's job." She has a true appreciation and sensitivity for the people she writes about. "Everyone has a story—whether it's remarkable, boring, sweet, sad, sexy, embar- rassing, or historical." As for the future: "I'm trying to make arrangements to write my column from the grave," she says wryly. "I never want to retire." MA A close-up of Gerber's desk. RIGHT: Gerber is the author of two cookbooks: 1985's Chicago's Classiest Cuisines and 1987's Chicago's Sweet Tooth. 58 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY TAHLIER