Chatelaine staffers past and present, senior Rogers Media execs, advertisers, a few celebrities (Margaret Trudeau, Pamela Wallin, The Designer Guys) and many hangers-on crowded into the main lobby of the swanky Windsor Arms Hotel last night to wish the country’s most successful magazine a happy 80th birthday. Decked out in the “elegant attire” specified on the invitations, the well-lubricated crowd enjoyed a night of food, drink, music, gossip and a few (thankfully short) speeches.

Though the last three years have been marked by turmoil and turnover (and countless media stories about turmoil and turnover), it was all smiles last night. Recently appointed editor Maryam Sanati, who is set to deliver her first child in June, unveiled the magazine’s new look while standing high in the balcony above the crowd. (“I feel like Eva Péron.”)

The 364-page anniversary issue, which features all the redesigned elements (including a new logo), is available on newsstands now for a special price of $1.99. (You’ll note that this month’s Canadian Living is also discounted to the same price.) The fat-with-ads anniversary issue was tucked into one of two loot bags last night. One bag was a regular black shopping bag, but the second was a custom leather handbag made by Roots called The Chatelaine. According to a story in the National Post, it’s priced at $248.

Here’s a list of items guests left the event with:

• Kraft Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Sun-Dried Tomato Salad Dressing (one jar)
• Cooking with Philly recipe brochure
• $25 gift certificate, Capezio Shoes
• $50 gift certificate, Davids Footwear
• Maxwell House Maxiccino beverage mix, Vanilla Obsession flavour (two boxes)
• $50 gift certificate, Hamman Spa
• Box of Toblerone Miniatures
• Crystal Light Raspberry Ice beverage mix (one box)
• Almay “blackest black” one-coat nourishing mascara, (one tube)
• Nabob Breakfast Blend Rainforest Alliance medium roast coffee (one can)
• Bugatti manicure set in leather case
• $10 gift certificate and corkscrew from Pillitteri Estates Winery
• Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps Eau de Toilette, 1 box
• Shaye “Lake of Fire” CD, EMI Music Canada (the artists performed at the party)
• Revlon Chatty Cherry lip palette, (one tub)
• Fiji Natural Artesian water (one bottle)

The mainstream media was out in full force, with television cameras lined up beside the red carpet entrance. Plenty of ink (and bandwith) has been spilt over the past few days to mark the occasion, so here are some links:

• “‘Women aren’t easily changed’” [National Post]
• "Chatelaine gets a makeover” [Toronto Star]
• “Happy 80th birthday Chatelaine—you could use a good party” [Spectator]
• "Chatelaine turns a new page” [The Globe and Mail]
• Details on the redesign [Press release]