Grovel Alert: Jonathan’s Place Luncheon

May 31, 2012 by 1 Comment

Despite this Tuesday being the day for lunches (Dallas Can! at the Dallas Renaissance Hotel honoring Ruth Ryan and Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society Circle at the Mansion), the Jonathan’s Place gathering at Brook Hollow is so close to being a done deal.

So, if you’re not headed to a friendly frisking at the airport for far-away places or having your annual physical, then try to grab one of the last spots.

Can’t wait to hear Wes Moore tell his story about what separated his greatness from his in-name-only cousin who is in prison.

If you’re too late, then you might want to check with the others or just sit at home chowing down on Jenny Craig or counting your Weight Watchers points.

Filed Under: Children, Community, Events, Fund raiser, FYI, Heroes, Luncheon Tagged With: , ,

Slipper Club’s New Member Reception Partied With Cupcakes, Officers And Plans For 2013 Fundraising Gala

May 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As mentioned before, the Slipper Club has come a long way since its founding in 1934 when it was a ladies social club. Back then young women didn’t have Uptown or anything like Chesterfield’s to socialize. Why shoot! The country was just emerging from Prohibition and women had just gotten the right to vote 21 years earlier.

2012-2013 Slipper Club leadership

Since having shifted its gears back in 1995 from a social club to a fundraising organization, the Slipper Club has still managed to keep the socializing a healthy part of their program. For instance, May 17 Slipper Club Gala Chair Lauren Chapman and the officers literally held an “open house” for the new member reception.

Slipper Club's new member reception

By open house that’s not to say it was anyone could drop by. Heck, no. Lauren’s folks Vicki and Bob Chapman lent her the use of their home for the new members and officers to chit-chat, sip and nibble. Only problem was how to accommodate that number of guests. Seems that Party Chair Whitney Toeller had so successfully arranged for the occasion, more than 100 were expected to literally fill the Chapmans’ abode. Simple solution. Arrange for perfect weather and open the doors for the ladies to extend the partying outside.

Trailercakes

Don’t know who had the connections, but it all worked out beautifully with delicious food including cupcakes that Lauren and Vicki discovered at Trailercakes and Slipper Club President Jacque Kennedy at the door greeting all the newbies.

Jacque Kennedy

Revealed at the party was the date of the next fundraising gala. The black-tie event will be Saturday, February 9, at Brook Hollow benefiting Communities in Schools  with 450 guests expected. Working with Lauren on the soiree will be Decorations Chair Shelby Krause and Auction Co-chairs Callan Harrison and Elizabeth Sanders.

Shelby Krause, Callan Harrison, Lauren Chapman and Elizabeth Sanders

But don’t go thinking the new members reception continued until the wee hours of the morning. Nope. It shut down promptly at 8:30, but not because they ran out of food or talk. The reason? Many of the guests had to change from their sundresses into cowgirl gear for the Cattle Baron’s Trailblazer party at Eddie Deen’s where Pat Green was on stage.

Filed Under: Cocktail reception, Events, Women Tagged With:

Why Go Out When The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Will Come To You For One Night

May 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

If you’re suffering from “Dancing With The Stars” withdrawal, you’re not alone. If you’re already burnt to a crisp from sitting by the pool, you need to spend some time chilling indoors. If  you just want to retreat to your (wo)man cave and watch TV, do it. If you fit one or all the above categories, have we got a deal for you.

All you have to do is have a television and be at home on Wednesday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. Even if you can’t be home, you can set your DVR to tape this show.

Why?

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Man in the Moon (File photo)

Because instead of “Entertainment Tonight,” WFAA-CH. 8 will air “Bridging The Trinity For The Love Of The City,” a 30-minute film illustrating “the building of the cable-stayed bridge beginning with the first announcements in 2001 and completing with the opening celebrations in 2012.”

Good buddy/producer/writer Judy Kelly and photographer/editor Ginny Martin have created this documentary that spans the decade of the bridge’s creation. From former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk‘s “appeal to the community” to get the private and public partnership going to the fireworks and celebration of the official celebration of the bridge, the film hits all the points. Well, maybe it doesn’t include spunky Mary McDermott Cook notifying a security supervisor that she wasn’t budging from Continental Bridge or Mary Ellen and Fred Holt suffering through the heat of the occasion when the topping took place in June 2010.

Dr. Gail Thomas, president and CEO of The Trinity Trust, said, “In March, more than 40,000 people attended the opening celebration of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. With this film, we can relive that celebratory moment and all of the dramatic moments leading up to it. On June 13, we will watch how this bridge was built, from the groundbreaking and topping off of the arch to the stringing of cables and three-day opening celebration.”

Filed Under: Events, FYI, History, Television and broadcast media Tagged With: ,

Cellphones Make Lousy Paperweights, So Recycle

May 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The elves have been upgrading their phones left and right. While Queenie still relies on a couple of cans and a string, the elves have Android, iPhones and Star Wars phones. Now, the question at the MSC espresso bar is, “What do you do with your old phones?” One elf said that it made a great chew toy for the MSC pooch. Another said that using it as a paperweight was only so-so successful. Evidently Texas winds can blow the smartphones off papers.

And then one elf said that AT&T smartgal Holly Reed suggested, “Recycle your phone. . . give it new life.”

What? Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? You’re so silly. Instead, send your phone to AT&T. They’ll not only tell you how to “clean” your phone, they’ll provide you with a pre-paid bag to mail the phone to them. Doesn’t cost you a cent. That was the part that the elves liked the best.

You can even drop it off at a AT&T store!

Who knows? Your phone just might land in the hands of a soldier serving overseas.

Filed Under: FYI, Really!!!!! Tagged With:

Blondes vs. Brunettes Are Starting To Sizzle For Their August 11 Showdown At The Cotton Bowl

May 30, 2012 by 1 Comment

Summer is just starting and for most that means heading out for vacations. However for some dedicated.. . . very dedicated young women and men, it means weekly workouts in the late afternoon heat and raising $1,000 just to be in those workouts culminating in the August 11 Blondes vs. Brunettes.

2011 Blondes vs. Brunettes (File photo)

Benefiting the local Alzheimer’s Association, the all-female powder puff (it should be called “power puff”) game has grown in just five years and now has moved to the Cotton Bowl, with a goal of raising $275,000 with the additional help of returning sponsors Bud Light, Ebby Halliday Companies and Camp Gladiator.

If you’re under the impression that the players fret about chipped nails and smeared makeup, rethink that. The teams are over-the-top competitors who can hold their own in pigskin strategy and on-the-field plays. Those who have watched from the bleachers are amazed how these teammates play for keeps.

Perhaps the reason for the fierce competition is due to the fact that their coaches are par excellence. Sure, they’re cute, but they’re also tough because they, too, want to win.

Blondes (File photo)

This year in addition to the move to Fair Park, there’s revenge in the air. Last year the Blondes got a taste of defeat and they didn’t like it one little bit. There was talk that the Bru’s had recruited a “ringer.”

2011 Brunettes' trophy lift (File photo)

On the other hand, the Bru’s aren’t about to let 2011 be a one-time “WOW!” win.

Erin Finegold (File photo)

BvB Mother Hen Erin Finegold, who has tirelessly orchestrated every step of the big $$ fundraiser, is a smart leader and a volunteer at that. To safeguard the program’s future, “We restructured the organization to ensure that when I do eventually leave, that there are capable people at the top to take over when I’m not around.”

This restructuring has resulted in the following folks stepping up for this year’s matchup:

  • Rookie Chair — Jennifer Bergman
  • Events and Spirit Committee Chair — Caroline Terry
  • Game-Day Chair — Axel Garrido
  • Fundraising Co-chairs — Brooke Fawcett and Katie Hicks
  • Merchandise Chair — Chelsea Baird

Heading up the two teams will be:

TEAM BLONDE: 

  • Holly Aldredge

    Captains – Holly Aldredge and

    Rachael Piper

    Rachael Piper

  • Head Coach –

    Patrick Mancenido

    Patrick Mancenido

 

 

 

TEAM BRUNETTE:

  • Captains –

    Lindsey Wike

    Lindsay Wike and

    Meredith Wilson

    Meredith Wilson

  • Head Coach –

    Hatch Smith

    Hatch Smith

The teams all come together for the kick-off party presented by Bud Light this Friday at Revive Uptown from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. The $15 charge at the door goes to the Alzheimer’s Association, of course.

Filed Under: Announcement, Events, Football, Fund raiser, FYI, Health, Kick-off Party, Leadership, Sports, Women Tagged With: ,

Cellphones Earned Their Keep To The Tune Of $312,000 At Heroes And Handbags For Heroes For Children

May 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Checking cellphone bidding

Heroes and Handbags was a pretty phoney affair. Never has a fundraiser seen so many cellphones drafted into full duty as this one benefiting the Heroes for Children. It was strictly a brilliant move by Co-chairs Danya Anderson and Andrea Weber for this crowd of highly skilled smartphoners. Using phones to check bid status and up the ante on gently-experienced and donated purses from fashionistas* at the Hilton Anatole on May 4, the ladies who clutch were not playing by the old silent auction rule of, “Wait til the last minute before bidding.” Nope, they were punching their numbers like the boxers who just hours before had been duking it out in the very same room for The Real Estate Council’s FightNight 24.

In fact FightNight was one of the topics that the organizers were still rolling their eyes about. Seems that in the waning hours of FightNight, the ladies of HaH were moving into the Chantilly Ballroom to set up shop for the Friday morning brunch/shop-a-thon. One female, who certainly wasn’t faint of heart, reported, “It was sorta amazing. I saw one man rushing to the bathroom with his hands over his mouth.” Interpret that as you wish.

Shoes shopping for handbags

But back to the ladies in their pursuit of the right purse. This was definitely not your granny Gertrude’s affair. Nope. These were the leggy gals who work out year round just to stay toned and healthy. With their best stilettos and wedges in place, they made the rounds of the room hunting for a new home for their now-overworked cellphones. After all, today’s smartphone demands accessories like Barbie. One just can’t toss the phone in a back pocket!

Gucci monogrammed fabric bag with bamboo handles

While first-timer Stephanie Korte was checking out the Gucci-monogrammed fabric bag with bamboo handles and turquoise leather accents that was valued at $850, she admitted “I’m a $25 ranger type. I’m scared to bid on anything.” Not to worry. If a mistaken bid was placed on the phone, it could easily be resolved by notifying organizers.

Prada straw bag

By 10:20 a.m. gals and their phones were checking out and bidding on the likes of Elaine Turner, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Marc Jacobs and Chanel. You know, a nice little Prada for your iPhone to cuddle up in. Or a feathery Antony Luciano brown satin evening bag for your Android to call home for a night. Nancy Rogers’ donated Valentino red flower handbag valued at $2,200 was already hitting $1,200. The Ralph Lauren gold hobo bag donated by Elaine Agather valued at $1,5000 was at $1,015.

Anthony Luciano brown satin evening bag with ostrich feathers

And the numbers continued to rise as the ladies moved into the other part of the Chantilly Ballroom for brunch and still more fundraising for Heroes for Children, a group that does so much good for families like brunch speaker Hagan Hoppess, who gave a moving talk about her battle with cancer and the effect it’s had on her family. Thank heaven for ladies who love their handbags and help Heroes for Children.

This year’s hoped-for total of $300,000 was topped by $12,000 with 260 handbags going home with new owners. Plans are already underway for next year’s event. It’s gonna be in the bag (oh, so sorry, but we couldn’t resist).

One suggestion for next year: Get a cellphone provider to be a major sponsor.

* Jennifer Houser, Jennifer Tobin, Jenna Alexander, Skye Brewer, Cindy and David Stager, April Willingham, Alicia Wood, Ashley Tripplehorn Hunt, Janine Steiner, Tamara Bickel, Amy Detwiler, Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell, Danya Anderson Stacy Kelly and Joe Wiseman, Tavia Hunt, Misty Quinn, Alison Weinstein, Emily and Todd Massey, Stacy Elliott, Anne Fontaine Paris, Andrea and John Weber, Megana nd Brian Flanagan, Angela Ruble, Megan Adams, Christi Houser, Stacey Butler, Wendy Konradi, Ashard Richley, Stacie Whitley, Kim Monk, Katherine LaLonde, Maura Bradshaw, Tanya Foster, Leigh Koch, Margot Keller, Donna and Ken Reese, Katherine Coker, Marianne Wilshusen, Melanie Gayle and Erica Robins

Filed Under: Auction, Children, Events, Fund raiser, Heroes, Luncheon, Really!!!!!, Shop, Women Tagged With: ,

Junior League Of Dallas Celebrates 90th Birthday Party

May 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Couldn’t attend the Junior League of Dallas‘ birthday party at Park Place on May 15, but got this report from the field:

Susan Wells

With 150 in attendance, JLD President Susan Wells announced that more than $1.2 million was raised in the past year, including $90,000 for Letot Residential Center for Girls as the JLD’s 90th Anniversary Gift.  

But it wasn’t all celebration. Seems that the celebrants were also honoring JLD members who had completed 90 hours of service. That’s 30 hours more than the regular requirement.  

Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths

Susan also introduced 2012-2013 incoming President Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths, who besides being a successful entrepreneur (co-owner of G&G Pizza Partners, Inc., operator of GattiTown North Dallas, and FHC Restaurants, Inc., operator of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Frisco), civic leader and Ursuline grad, is the daughter of much-beloved former professional baseball player/car czar Bob Baillargeon.  

Aimee will lead the JLD in the implementation of a strategic plan developed with the assistance of Deloitte. As of today, Deloitte has given 680 hours (which is equivalent to $185,000) for a current state assessment and strategic plan. This is something Susan and Aimee have been working closely on for the past year, and the incoming leadership team will continue this work into the 2012-13 year.

Photo credit : Dana Driensky
Filed Under: Events, Women Tagged With:

Horsing Around Was Perfectly Grand At Equest Triple Crown Gala Despite The Chair Being MIA

May 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

Equest Triple Crown Gala Chair Jocelyn White was a no-show at her own gala at Park Lane Ranch. Despite working months on the fundraiser, she couldn’t be in two places at the same time. Where was she? Cruising the Mediterranean on her honeymoon after wedding longtime beau Kim Seal.

Dale Hansen

Not to worry. The Equest fundraiser went on without a hitch. Even emcee Dale Hansen was beyond best behavior. Of course he was. His bride Chris was not only present, she was a contestant in the team obstacle course. And this wasn’t any old course.

Chris Hansen

Equest students and their adult partners  had to ride their steeds through sand pits and over rails while holding an egg on a spoon.

Equest rider Hilary Babb with Dena Miller

Despite a close race, the Pink Team of Dena Miller and Equest rider Hilary Babb brought their eggs safely on spoons in first, closely followed by the Purple Team (Equest student rider Nancy Appelman and Susan Schwartz), Blue Team (Equest student rider Leah Battalora and Emily Hargrove) and Red Team (Equest student rider James Taylor and Chris Hansen).

After the race,  guests had a chance to meet the equine contestants who were up for adoption. No, it didn’t mean loading the ponies in the backseat and taking them home. Instead “adoption” in Equest language translates into underwriting the upkeep of the horse in the program for a year.

Key Coker, whose mom was raised in Cleburne, knew his way around as he checked out one of the horses.

Linda Evans

On the upper terrace Honorary Chair Linda Evans was joined by good friend Trisha Wilson, Anne Reeder and Diane Frank.

Trisha Wilson

As for fashion, diamonds were outnumbered by turquoise, and stilettos by dressy boots. Honorary

Louise Griffeth

Co-chair Louise Griffeth admitted that she was surprised to learn husband Guy didn’t like boots on gals. Perhaps he changed his tune after seeing Louise in boots and skirt.

Auctioneer Jody Dean‘s date, daughter Madeline, thought the horses were nice, but she was fascinated by Tony “The Butterfly Guy” Delia and his collection of flowers with newborn butterflies. He’s becoming quite the man in demand. Just a few weeks ago some of his herd of Lepidoptera were the scene stealers at the Mad Hatter’s Tea, where Jocelyn wore them in her hat.

Madeline and Jody Dean

In hindsight, perhaps it was just as well that Joce wasn’t there. The parking lot was as filled as NorthPark’s the weekend after Thanksgiving. In addition to Equest in Park Lane Ranch, the adjacent TopGolf was in overload capacity, forcing people to park a block away.

Filed Under: Animals, Auction, Children, Dinner, Events, Food Glorious Food, Fund raiser, FYI, Health, Heroes, Party Hearty Tagged With: ,

Tomorrow Candidate Eager Beaver Phone Calls Will Take A Rest, But You Shouldn’t

May 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Today was a day of remembrance for those who made monumental sacrifices in the name of freedom. It didn’t matter whether you were for or against the confrontations over the decades, the loss was still overwhelming for all concerned.

So Tuesday when the polls open for Texans to decide who will represent their parties in the November election, take a few minutes to vote. 

Filed Under: Announcement, Events, FYI Tagged With:

1992 Dallas Cowboys Reunion For Pat And Emmitt Smith Charities Huddled In the Westin Stonebriar Ballroom

May 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

While the Texas Exes and other college-football lovers were partying down at Eddie Deen’s, the 1992 Dallas Cowboys were in full force at the Westin Stonebriar. Who would assemble this Super Duper Super Bowl team for a Friday night dinner and golf tournament the next day to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Super Bowl Championship?

Emmitt Smith (in pink tie) and teammates on stage

Pat and Emmitt Smith did just that for the “How ‘Bout them Cowboys!” reunion.

Pat Smith

Benefiting the Smiths’ foundation, it initially appeared that Mother Nature was going to rain on their parade.

The originally planned outdoor red carpet was forced indoors in a very crowded hallway. It might not have been so jammed but every media outlet except KERA was there.

But it was not without some casualties. It seems that the hotel had removed two trees to accommodate the outdoor media meet and greet.

Gene Jones

But the cramped conditions of the red carpet was sort of a dress rehearsal for what was to come. Just past the media gauntlet, guests found a cozy situation in an equally crowded reception. The jammed group around the mega bar was glad to see familiar faces from the past. It was when the doors to the ballroom opened that it became apparent that this was Super Bowl of crowded conditions.

Rosalind and Rich Dalrymple

While it made perfect sense to have the dinner at the Westin, since the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational golf tournament the next morning was taking place at TPC Craig Ranch, the ballroom made maneuvering upfront and personal. Sorta like fitting a size 10 foot into a size 8 shoe.

Camera platform

The 6,200-square-foot ballroom with its 16-foot-high ceilings can normally accommodate 310 for dinner. But on this night it had to make room for staging at the front of the room for the team to gather and interviews and presentations to take place. And then there was the stage for the television crews to set up and against the back of the room, the event production team. Somewhere organizers managed to cram in seating for 350+ and a head table for the Smiths and Dallas Cowboy owners and high-ranking executives. As hard as it was for guests to make their way through the back-to-back chairs, pity the poor servers who had to work the room.

Dennis Haysbert and MIchael Irvin

But don’t go thinking that it was professional football guys and their families only. Heck, no. There was Nancy Lieberman,  “24′s” Dennis Haysbert, Jana and Mike Brosin, Nancy and Robbie Briggs and Event Chairs Dee Lincoln and husband John DiNardo.

Dee Lincoln and John DiNardo

The program opened with former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson on a really big screen telling the players to sit down and get ready for the evening that included the entire team on stage leading off with Troy Aikman and concluding with host Emmitt. In between Brad Sham‘s interviewing members of the team on stage, Newy Scruggs picked out certain guests for their comments that was hard to hear due to guests catching up at tables. And yet, no one couldn’t hear Michael Irvin as he stood at his table to interject comments with those on stage.

While everyone was on good behavior, leave it to Nate Newton who brought up the subject of “bounties.”  According to Nate, back in those days “I don’t want to say they were giving out bounty money, but we made a lot of money doing something. [Laughter] . . . They were called big plays.”

Filed Under: Celebrity, Dinner, Events, Football, Fund raiser, Heroes, Party Hearty, Sports Tagged With:

Memorial Day Is Far More Than A Day Off

May 28, 2012 by 2 Comments

Today the nation recognizes with gratitude those who lost their lives for causes that our country deemed necessary over the decades. And while these men and women are honored for the greatest sacrifices with thousands of flags waving and memorial services, others deserve admiration and attention as well.

They are those who have been horribly scarred by the ravages of war — the service people who suffered injuries and the families of all military personnel killed and injured on behalf of the U.S. Especially on a day like today, the living must carry on wondering, “What if. . .?”

There are no parades, no plaques, no monuments that can repair the damage to their lives. But they are not the type of people who seek headlines and rah-rah. They are far too noble. Still they deserve appreciation and respect. If you know someone whose life was changed due to military service, take the time on this day off to write them a note or give them a call. What’s a few minutes in your life compared to a life changed on your behalf?

Filed Under: Announcement, FYI, Heroes, Holiday Tagged With: