Please meet, Mark, my friend who has struggled with drugs his entire life. He is 46 years old, and has lost nearly everything due to his addictions. Below, he shares his experience, offers insight into drug use, and gives advice to parents who may suspect their children are abusing substances.

Andy Cohen can get away with anything. Credit his mischievous smile, his endless amounts of energy or the fact that his show comes complete with cocktails, but the Bravo executive and host of “Watch What Happens Live” might be the only television personality who can coax Tina Fey to reveal the worst “Saturday Night Live” host (she named Adrien Brody), have the famously plumped Lisa Rinna play a game called “Lips Mountain,” or get any of the “Housewives” to divulge how they really feel about their castmates. So what’s his secret?

This week: Second City’s “Let Them Eat Chaos,” The Cubs’ Bricks and Ivy Ball and ‘Havana Blue.’

Shopping for a cause is always in style, and the Splash-sponsored Shopping for Love event, held in conjunction with Kristina McGrath, was no exception. More than 300 attendees — including Joffrey Ballet Women’s Board president Melissa Babcock and party mavens Jodi Fyfe and Debi Lilly — turned out to McGrath Acura (1301 N. Elston) to shop spring fashion and indulge in spa services from Advanced Dermatology, Amazing Cosmetics, AstroWifey and Leah Chavie in a sleek environment crafted by Event Creative.

Ladies are lacing up their wardrobes, sporting one of fashion’s most feminine trends. A far cry from grandma’s doily or Austin Powers’ flamboyant sleeves, modern lace is a sleek, no-frills statement. From chic black to eye-popping color, there’s no wrong way to wear it. When it’s time to accessorize, skip the big jewelry, which will interfere with — or worse, snag on — the fabric’s intricate pattern.

More than 500 guests blazed a trail to the Swissôtel Chicago (323 E. Wacker) on March 7 to support civic nonprofit Leadership Greater Chicago at its sixth annual Celebrate Leaders Dinner. Grace Hou, president of the Woods Fund of Chicago, presented Ric Estrada, president and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, with the 2013 Distinguished Fellow Award and event dinner chair Laura Dunne introduced keynote speaker and best-selling author of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics, Steven D. Levitt.

City Year Chicago made waves at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (221 N. Columbus) March 14, as nearly 400 guests helped celebrate the 14th annual Ripples of Hope Awards Dinner. After a gourmet meal, partygoers mingled with community leaders such as Michael Alter of the Alter Group, Mark Furlong of BMO Harris Bank, John T. Cusack of DLA Piper, Stephen Quazzo of Pearlmark Real Estate Partners and Mike Watts of Transwestern.

For its third annual benefit, the Cameron Can Foundation — a locally based charity that helps support children coping with pediatric hydrocephalus and other long-term neurological conditions — rang in St. Patrick’s Day a little early alongside more than 300 guests at Rockit Bar and Grill (22 W. Hubbard) March 14. This year’s theme, “Sham-Rock It Out,” was inspired by the Irish heritage of the Friends of Cameron grant recipient, 2 1/2-year-old Declan Keddy.

Thodos Dance Chicago’s 21 Club Gala, held at the Chicago Cultural Center, featured dancing and a silent auction.

This week, we’re toasting to Morgan Marie, Maison De LaCour and Jason Vincent.