For years, the Two x Two Gala has been as limited as a sorority meeting on a Monday night. No outsiders, especially media types, are allowed in. It’s a very ultra private, high rollers’ dinner at Cindy and Howard Rachofsky‘s estate that raises millions of dollars in one night for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and the Dallas Museum of Art. Past celebrities have included the likes of Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli, Barry Manilow, Natasha Richardson,  John Benjamin Hickey, Taylor Dayne, Dita Von Teese, Stanley Tucci, Harry Belafonte, Gavin Rossdale and Christian Siriano. Why there are even delicious tales of the night Sharon Stone got a bit naughty in getting the bids sky high!

The press has been allowed to cover Thursday night’s First Look with its artiste types and local celebs wandering the grounds and getting a “first look” at the 130 pieces of art to be auctioned off at the extravaganza two nights later.

Ah, but the gala. That is another story — until this year. Word was sent out that the media would be allowed to cover the pre-dinner reception (6:30 to 8 p.m.) with certain limitations. Namely:

• Only one media representative per organization.
• Reporters only  (no cameras) would be allowed in the house during the cocktail reception.
• Photographers would be restricted to a “designated media area” outside the house, with one exception: “Photographers will  be escorted into the house on a first-come, first-served basis for a 15-minute period of time per photographer.”

No problem! MySweetCharity staff opts to stay outside with the trusty MSC Brownie and record the arrivals, which turns out to be a heck of a lot of fun.

6:15 p.m. — Arrives early to get a feel for the surroundings because there had been a change in arrangements since Thursday. No more elevated platforms with couches, high cocktail tables or mammoth bar. Instead a white tented porte-cochere has been installed just in case Friday’s rain continued Saturday. Within the tent entry area are two gentlemen in black tie and top hats on stilts. From the ceiling of the tent dangle champagne flutes from purple and lavender ribbons. The tall fellows reach up, snip a flute from the ribbon (pictured) like a flower from a garden and hand it to the guests as they arrive. The rest of the tent is set up for VIP photos in front of a sponsor backdrop, a champagne bar and a check-in area.

As the first few guests arrived, it’s easy to maneuver. No other media is on the scene yet. Designer Christian Siriano arrives without much fanfare and looks like a cast member from “Glee.” Evening chairs Suzanne Droese and Lucilo Pena (pictured with Suzanne Droese) are on hand for official greetings and photos. Among the first of the locals to arrive is Elaine Agather in a very bare-shouldered Christian Cota. Did she pick it up on her recent trip to France? “No! Forty Five Ten!” she proudly smiles.

6:40 p.m. — Barbara and Don Daseke arrive to have Todd Fiscus, who has been in charge of setting the whole thing up, greet them with hugs and puckered air kisses.

Host Howard appears in a purple and black jacket with lavender shirt and purple evening slippers, just in time to greet Fanchon and Howard Hallam (pictured right with Fanchon Hallam). Fanchon looks quite adorable in black leggings, black coat dress and high-neck satin blouse with star-burst broach at the  base of the throat. The black shoes with rhinestone buttons make it a total packet.

Now the easy maneuvering is getting a little congested as more guests arrive via Bentleys, Mercedes and Lexuses. They’re all spotless. Must have been a busy day at the car washes.The event photographer apologizes for getting in the way of shots. Still no other media around. As one guest waits his turn in line to check in, he tells a waiter, “Top me off,” pointing to his champagne glass that is only half full of Dom.

6:46 p.m. — An entourage of gorgeous men arrives including designer Derek Lam, (pictured) who tops off his formal wear with a natty gray and black scarf; two of the chap are tieless. All are wearing delicious smiles.

It’s starting to get a tad crowded with guests arriving, staff serving and vehicles driving through like a Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive Thru. Host Howard is having a great time greeting folks.

6:50 p.m. — Hostess Cindy enters the scene in a brilliant red and oh-so gold silk Chinese jacket, gold bangled earrings, gold silk evening pants and gold shoes. Her smile lights up the tent. In Cindy’s world, there are no strangers.

More people are arriving and staying in the reception area. Who needs to go inside? The party is out here. But it is getting crowded. . . very crowded.

The wind picks up, blowing the ribbons in the tent. Luckily most of the flutes have been removed. What if this gusty situation had occurred when all the glasses had been there? Would there have been a spray of glass? Nah. This is Two x Two.

Three fellows in black tie are outside the tent at the far end of the house. Are they plotting out their bids for the auction? Are they comparing notes about a dinner last week in New York City? No, they’re just grabbing a quick smoke before heading back into the house and eventually the tent on the back grounds for the dinner and auction.

7:06 p.m. — Catherine and Will Rose arrive and start chatting with Host Howard. Oops, right behind them are actor Stanley Tucci and designer/amfAR Board Chair Kenneth Cole, both the stubble look. Two x Two photographers have hit the daily double. Kenneth has taken black tie to the max complete with black shirt, black vest and black glasses. Wonder if anyone has ever told him that he looks like a chic Bruce Springsteen? Immediately Stanley and Kenneth gravitate to Cindy, who welcomes them with open arms. Handlers don’t want to lose the moment and line up Cindy, Howard, Stanley and Kenneth (pictured right, with from the left, Stanley Tucci, Howard and Cindy Rachofsky) against the sponsor backdrop.

7:17 p.m. — Brooke Hortenstine arrives but not with her husband. She’s with hair engineer Ceron. Despite swearing to retire from her job at PaperCity, the petite society editor returned to the beat for Cindy and Two x Two.

As Gene and Jerry Jones (pictured left with Gene Jones) join the now very cozy crowd, someone mutters, “Don’t ask him about the Cowboys going to the Super Bowl.”

7:22 p.m. — A whole passel of local VIP’s arrive (Bob and Myrna Schlegel, Jennifer and John Eagle,  D’Andra Simmons and Colin Duchin) and everyone is having a grand old time.

7:25 p.m. — Then it happens. Everything has been going so flawlessly in the valet line when Ana and Don Carty pull to the head of the line in her beautifully brand-new Porsche. Just as Don is opening the door and getting out of the black super-duper car, it starts backing up. Looks of horror hit the most veteran of car parkers. Shouts of “No!” are heard. All the guests in the tent turn around to see the rear of the black Porsche get it together with the front of a white sedan.  Immediately Don realizes that he’s shifted the car into “Reverse” instead of “Park.” He makes the adjustment stopping the Porsche. Valets quickly make sure that all drivers and passengers are all right. Then they set about checking on the well being of the two kissing vehicles. Like CSI staffers they examine bumpers, license plates and grills. Emerging from the white sedan is none other than former Dallasite Jeff Marcus, who laughs and tells Don not to worry, “It’s a rental.” Ana doesn’t give Don the same look. It’s her Porsche!

On the passenger’s side of the Marcus car is Jeff’s bride (they were married in August just passed the one-year mark in their marriage, but who’s counting) Nicola (pictured), a dead ringer for Uma Thurman.

7:35 p.m. — Broadway’s Alan Cummings is next on the scene for his photo session with the Rachofskys. He’s fun and promises to provide an entertaining performance at the dinner. Just as the shots are being taken, last year’s chairs Elizabeth and Jan Showers arrive followed by Nancy Rogers, who had made a quick stop at the Mission Ole soiree at Amy Turner‘s. Nancy and Jan must have compared notes. Both are in bare-shouldered black gowns with dazzling turquoise blue and diamond necklaces.

7:39 p.m. — It’s time for the big photo of the visiting celebs — Stanley, Cheyenne Jackson, Alan and Kenneth. The latter three look as happy as Rangers fans. Stanley (pictured with, from the left, Cheyenne Jackson, Alan Cummings and Kenneth Cole) looks like Nigel.

Joyce Goss, in silver sequined jacket that Liberace would have killed for, jokes that if the lights go out, they’ll still be able to spot her.

7:45 p.m. Now the line of luxury vehicles are stretches all the way to Preston Road, waiting their turns to drop off their boldfaced passengers. It’s nearly impossible to get around the crowd in the reception area. How the men on stilts are managing is a wonder. But there are few glasses dangling, so their Edward Scissorhands duties must be slowing down.

Nothing but society biggies are arriving now — Nancy Dedman with her son Bob, Kenny Goss looking quite trim in the all-black, black tie look, Anna-Sophia van Zweden all in black except for diamond drop earrings, Charlotte and Shy Anderson and Marguerite Hoffman, who joins her best buddy Cindy (pictured left with Marguerite Hoffman) for a photo.

7:56 p.m. — Among the last to arrive are Angie Barrett and jeweler Joe Pacetti (pictured with Angie Barrett). Angie is a real trooper. Not only was she on hand for the First Look reception on Thursday, she was also to host a private brunch at her One Arts Plaza penthouse Sunday morning.

8:00 p.m. — The men on stilts, the black-tie guests, the servers with trays of appetizers, the hosts and the event organizers are now all gone. The valet parkers are breathing more easily, now that their 450 drivers and passengers are safely in for dinner, entertainment and the auction.

Ah, but you want to know what happened inside. According to sources inside, here are some highlights:

• The evening’s menu included a four-course dinner of caviar, black truffle explosion, kobe steak florentine and a cheese plate with Dom Perignon Blanc Vintage 2000 flowing nonstop. The dessert bar was set up in the Rachofsky house.
• Due to the humidity, the tent had a range of temperatures. If you were near the A/C vents, you were feeling a strong breeze that nearly knocked over the centerpiece flowers. If you were more toward the center of the tent, it was slightly well done. Decision was made to keep the A/C going for the sake of interior guests.
• The first item up for bid was Cecily Brown’s oil on linen. Estimated at $65,000, it went for $80,000.
• The 126″ by 96″ silkscreen ink on linen by Christopher Wool went for a whopping $675,000, $200,000 over its estimated value.
• Kenneth Cole’s introduction of Alan Cummings: “He was honored by the Queen of England last year, and it was odd because he’s the Queen of Scotland!”
• Said Alan Cummings: “Who would have thought I would be singing a song by Shirley Bassey, or more importantly, who would have thought I would be singing in a tent in Dallas in the middle of a tornado?”

Departing the Rachofsky estate, the moon is in full glow overhead like a perfect piece of art. Wonder if the Two x Two organizers had arranged to have it on auction block, too.