A bank that received $1.6 billion in bailout money just spent a fortune last week in L.A. hosting a series of lavish parties and concerts with famous singers … and TMZ cameras caught it all.

Northern Trust, a Chicago-based bank, sponsored the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club in L.A. We’re told Northern Trust paid millions to sponsor the PGA event which ended Sunday, but what happened off the golf course is even more shocking.

Northern Trust flew hundreds of clients and employees to L.A. and put many of them up at some of the fanciest and priciest hotels in the city. We’re told more than a hundred people were put up at the Beverly Wilshire in Bev Hills, and another hundred stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Still more stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and others at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.

Here are the highlights:
- Wednesday, Northern Trust hosted a fancy dinner at the Ritz followed by a performance by the group Chicago.

- Thursday, Northern Trust rented a private hangar at the Santa Monica Airport for dinner, followed by a performance by Earth, Wind & Fire.

- Saturday, Northern Trust had the entire House of Blues in West Hollywood shut down for its private party. We got the menu — guests dined on seared salmon and petite Angus filet. Dinner was followed by a performance by none other than Sheryl Crow.

There was also a fabulous cocktail party at the Loews. And how’s this for a nice touch — female guests at the Chicago concert all got trinkets from….TIFFANY AND CO.

As for what all that costs, well the company isn’t talking. We spoke with a rep from the band Chicago who said Northern Trust paid them around $100,000. A House of Blues source told us it cost more than $50,000 to close the joint down last Saturday night. As for Sheryl Crow’s fee, her rep didn’t get back to us. Earth, Wind & Fire acknowledges payment but won’t say how much.

As for the golf tournament, a rep from the PGA told us Northern Trust wrote one big fat check in order to sponsor the event. That check covers part of the $6.3 million purse, the advertising costs for the spots on CBS (which broadcast the final two rounds of the tournament) and operating costs. The rep says the fee was negotiated and is confidential.

Lots of people from Northern Trust went to the golf tourney … in special Mercedes that shuttled them to and from the hotels. But for those who weren’t into golfing, they could spend a few hours at the Northern Trust seminar on the credit crunch.

Now how’s this for outrage? Northern Trust laid off 450 workers in December, 4% of its workforce.

Here’s what’s absolutely amazing — the United States Government flat out gave Northern Trust the $1.6 billion in bailout money, and the bank didn’t even request it!

Northern Trust gave us a statement yesterday before going total radio silence. A rep for the bank acknowledges they paid for the events, but that the bailout money did not pay for the events. He claims it was paid out of the bank’s operating expenses. Here’s Northern Trust’s full statement to us.

Perhaps we’re missing something, but money is money. How can they spend like this when they’re using taxpayer’s money, whether they asked for it or not? And where the hell is Congress in all of this? Is there any oversight or accountability?

Your tax dollars, hard at work. Thomas Jefferson was right — "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing."

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/24/northern-trust-bank-bailout/2#comments

they have been doing this sort of thing for years….that’s the reason the banks and the federal government are in the the shape (financially) that they are in now…….it’s just caught up to them in the last 5 years

Okay, so I play tennis. I have for a few years and I love it and I have been on the team and take lots of lessons and am high up, on the girls ranking list. But I have always payed cross country along with it. I like it, but it’s a 2 mile run for middle school and as I get older, the miles increase. My school has cross country practice before school. I am pretty good at that, too and it gets me in shape for tennis. Now, i can run a 7 minute mile. But i don’t run though mile, or focus on that. The two mile, my best of last year is 14 min flat. Not the fastest, but it is pretty good for my grade and that i am a girl and do not train. But, I like it. I find it fun. But I do not have a passion for it. I just do not…. Love it!!! Now there is swimming. My new school has a swim team and it is kind of beginner but you still swim competitions and stuff. Now, swimming I have never done. I am not great, but it’s summer sooooo i have until winter (when swimming starts) to train and practice. I love the water. I live by the pool, the beach. Let’s just say there are pools, marinas, beaches water all around me!!!! I really want to learn it. I am excited. I know all the rules, I have had friends who have swam their entire lives. Now which should I pick??? Please base your answers on what I seem to like best, what is better for tennis (just know that I do not spend long hours in tennis so I do not have a packed schedule so d not base it on that) and other things that help you answer my question. Please, also explain. I WILL CHOOSE A BEST ANSWER BUT IF U R THE ONLY ONE AND U ONLY PUT ONE WORD, LIKE THE SPORT U PICKED, I WILL NOT PICK A BEST ANDWER!!!!! ELABORATE!!!!! Please, answer the question. You might not get best answer but u will get the regular points and I would REALLY APPRECIATE IT!! I AM STUCK HERE!!!!!!
hey andrew guy…!!!!!!!! I am a girl so shut up seriously do you guys c his answer!!!! ugh…. why would I do something manly… try reading my name: LAUREN how many girls do you know with that name???!!!

if you like swimming better you should try it for a while and if you don’t get better at it you can always think about going back to cross country. i think you should do swimming because you say that you like it and you should always give new things a try and you don’t have a passion for cross country but that’s just my opinion

Ok so i know that its "wrong" if you hit a flat note, or are too sharp.
But yesterday i was singing along to a song, and said she thinks im not singing right, as it sounds like its coming from the throat.
I like singing, and i wouldnt say im the best, though ive been doing for about 2 years now with my stage school. I have a rather low singing voice, kind of like marina and the diamonds voice. I have gotten lots of complements by others on how i sing aso. But is there a wrong way to sing?

Defintely. You can be note-perfect, but you can still "muffle" the words in your mouth, making it hard to understand the words.

Many people sing too soft, but it’s also easy to sing too loud. The word used is "projection" – you need to project your voice while maintaining key.

If you really want to improve, why don’t you go to a singing coach?

I’ve been on the marina (iud T thingy) for 13 months. The first 7 months i had no period or anything. Now im bleeding alot, and my boob when i squeeze it clear stuff comes out, When i was pregnant with my first baby i sneezed all the time, and im starting to again. with my first pregnancy i had no symptoms besides a missed period. My stomach is poking out, when a few months ago was flat. Im not eating any different though. Im craving coffee late at night, and sometimes candy, mainly Chocolate. I have/had an STD, climidya(i cant spell). I feel like im pregnant but i took many home test and all said no. Im thinking the std i have is affecting my pee or the IUD is. What do you think??

The doctor should have explained this to you when you first started
I wouldnt worry though, because if the std effected Mirena, then he probably would have suggested another form of contraception.
Look it up on google or their website, hopefully you can find some info.
Who knows though, the cravings for chocolate could just be coincidental. If the tests say no, you are def. not pregnant.
And my boobs started leaking once i was 25 weeks pregnant, and if you were that pregnant you would def. know!