On Wednesday, November 20, Preston Hollow was bustling with activity for equines and eagles!
Triple Crown Gala Kick-Off
My, my, but Equest was a busy nonprofit. There was a trunk show at the Hobbit house earlier in the day. Then at 4 p.m. there was a check presentation in the Mockingbird Room in Highland Park Village with a book signing by Dotty Griffith. Then the horse-loving crowd capped off the day with the Triple Crown Gala kick-off party at Lisa Blue Baron’s mansion.
Why all this activity on one day? Well, the check presentation was slated so the 2013 Equest honoree Nancy Carter could be present. Alas, just days before the guest-of-honor had to regret that she would be unable to attend, but insisted that the check-handing-over go on without her.
Then the kick-off party got off to a great start with kids and critters. Needless to say, what W.C. Fields would have hated delighted hostess Lisa. In the mansion’s driveway, there were her triplets (Alessandra, Caroline and Nathalie) in their most adorable cowgirl attire with the Equest ambassadors, Sugar and Tex. Needless to say Tex loved all the female surroundings, whereas Sugar gave her buddy the side-eye. He seemed to be enjoying Lisa and her girls a bit too much.
It seems the girls aren’t just all dress and no ride. They’ve been taking weekly riding lessons. Are they riding English or Western? English. Do they wear helmets? “Of course!”
As soon as the photos had been taken, the wee Baronesses headed inside for dinner courtesy of the evening’s buffet.
As for the program, it was a case of mixed signals. One staffer said the affair was to be a get-together and there would be no talking nor announcements.
Minutes later, Triple Crown Gala Co-Chair Maggie Cooke Kipp reported that indeed there was going to be talking. D’Andra Simmons and her fiancée Jeremy Lock would be talking about Equest’s “Hooves for Heroes.” With firsthand knowledge of the need of such a program, Jeremy said, “I’ll talk about how I support what they’re doing. I’ve done six tours in the military and have photographed what these guys have gone through. Something like this program, which gives back to the brave men and women, is much needed. These programs really work!”
Maggie and her Co-Chair Shay Geyer revealed plans for the May 3 event at Texas Horse Park. Definite changes from the past galas that took place at Park Pane Equestrian Center in April. No, this one would be at the Horse Park that is currently under construction. And the date just so happened to coincide with the Kentucky Derby. They planned it that way and will have the Derby simulcast during the gala.
One bit of news that wasn’t on the agenda was from florist Shane Walker. He and partner Billy Fulmer have had a change of plans. They had thought they would have been moved into their new retail shop in the Trinity Groves complex. Unfortunately, negotiations proved not to be on the same page, so the boys decided to move their operation to the old Nuvo location on Cedar Springs. Shane was delighted because he said it’s closer to his clients and almost ready for them to move in.
Emerald Eagle Honors Announcement Party
Just a few blocks away in Preston Hollow, Sara Sue and Don Potts hosted the UNT Emerald Eagle Honors announcement party. Boy, when those UNT eagles party, they know the right nest to pick. From cases filled with trophies and sports memorabilia, Andy Warhol and Peter Max artworks to a see-through wine cellar filled with the right labels, the Potts’s place was filled to the max.
One female guest wandered into the game room overlooking the pool and spa with its fountains and asked, “Is this a second kitchen?” No, it just a game room with a super-duper bar.
And rightly so. Last year’s inaugural event honored Roy Orbison, Mean Joe Greene and Mary Suhm. This year the March 5 event will honor former Miss America Phyllis George, actor Peter Weller and a third, yet-to-be-named UNT accomplished grad. Emceeing the event at the Meyerson will be Melissa Rycroft Strickland and Dallas Cowboys guard Brian Waters.
But on this evening the man of the hour was newly named UNT President Dr. Neal J. Smatresk wearing a green tie, of course. The “sole candidate,” who will be formally appointed in December, Neal said that UNT “has to be a national prominent” institution. “The question is, ‘What is the right path to get there?’” His focus will be on “how to establish the brand first here in the Metroplex.”
Tickets are available for purchase now!