We’re cheersing to Thomas Lauderdale, Myrlie Evers, Nicole Banks, Andrew Walsh Smyth and rachel and Elena Besser this week. Find out why. Shoppers at Ikram, 15 E. Huron, enjoyed an impromptu performance recently when Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale chose the cafe’s second-floor space to rehearse songs for an upcoming Carnegie Hall show. Myrlie Evers, the wife of late civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was in town for a fitting for the dress she would wear to sing with the band at the famed music venue on Dec. 14 and 15. Love is in the air for Nicole Banks, sales lead at Gilt City Chicago, and Andrew Walsh Smyth, index option market maker, who recently became engaged. Smyth prepared the big proposal by taking Banks on a tour of all their shared “firsts” as a couple, including Bandera and Pops for Champagne, and ended the evening by slipping the ring onto her finger from under the table at her favorite spot, GT Fish & Oyster. And the award goes to … the Besser family, of the Chicago-based production company, Intersport Entertainment, which threw the American Giving Awards hosted by Joel McHale last week. Rachel (left) and Elena Besser were trophy…

We’re cheersing to Thomas Lauderdale, Myrlie Evers, Nicole Banks, Andrew Walsh Smyth and rachel and Elena Besser this week. Find out why.

Shoppers at Ikram, 15 E. Huron, enjoyed an impromptu performance recently when Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale chose the cafe’s second-floor space to rehearse songs for an upcoming Carnegie Hall show. Myrlie Evers, the wife of late civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was in town for a fitting for the dress she would wear to sing with the band at the famed music venue on Dec. 14 and 15.

Love is in the air for Nicole Banks, sales lead at Gilt City Chicago, and Andrew Walsh Smyth, index option market maker, who recently became engaged. Smyth prepared the big proposal by taking Banks on a tour of all their shared “firsts” as a couple, including Bandera and Pops for Champagne, and ended the evening by slipping the ring onto her finger from under the table at her favorite spot, GT Fish & Oyster.

And the award goes to … the Besser family, of the Chicago-based production company, Intersport Entertainment, which threw the American Giving Awards hosted by Joel McHale last week. Rachel (left) and Elena Besser were trophy girls for the evening, handing out awards to the winning charities.

Send us your cheers at Splash@suntimes.com