Have you ever had an “OMG” moment? That time when you think you’ve seen just about everything and wham! — you come upon something that straightens your naturally curly hair?
That’s exactly what happened Friday afternoon for first-time guests at Kathy and Harlan Crow‘s place on Preston Road. The occasion was an Uber VIP reception to celebrate the Genesis Women’s Shelter’s Mother Day Luncheon held earlier at the Anatole with keynote speaker Dr. Condoleezza Rice (pictured center with Kathy and Harlan).
“Oh, you’re going to Kathy’s and Harlan’s. They’ll probably have the party in the library. Prepare yourself,” one veteran guest told her friends.
A library? How charming. How literate. How civilized.
Years ago, when the late Stanley Marcus decided that it was time to sell his house on Nonesuch Road and move into the Park Cities compound, he searched and searched and finally settled on a house because it had a library.
At that time, media rooms were the up and coming thing of 21st century luxury lifestyles. Nowadays, despite the eBook movement, the residential library is the must-have on any self-respecting mansion owner’s list. Usually no bigger than 20′ by 20′, they’re full of rich hardwood shelves and filled with hardbound favorites by Shakespeare, Mark Twain and Tom Clancy. Some even have a fireplace with windows looking out over charming gardens.
Having been forewarned by veterans, some folks were on guard as they drove along the narrow driveway to one of the quaint red-brick structures on the Crow’s estate, one of Highland Park’s largest.
As they entered the building, their eyes widened like children discovering Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory or Howard Carter‘s peering into King Tut’s tomb. . . “Yes, wonderful things.”
Before them lay a two-story gallery with portraits of greats by greats (John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Benjamin West, Rembran
dt Peale and others). Beyond that was Harlan’s office, conjuring up thoughts of the Oval Office. To the right of the gallery was a massive two-story library (pictured) with wonders defying description. We just knew you wouldn’t settle for that. So, here’s a itty-bitty idea —
- 8,000 rare books
- 3,500 artifacts including china that Hitler used, Eisenhower’s five-star helmet, Lincoln’s desk, Lincoln’s life mask created in February 1865, a 1493 letter from Christopher Columbus announcing his discoveries to the Spanish court, the deed to Washington’s Mt. Vernon estate, a silver tankard created by Paul Revere, correspondence from all U.S. presidents from George Washington to the present, etc.
Over to the side of the shelf holding baseball memorabilia was a worn tan suitcase. Looking a little closer, you could see imprinted in gold under the handle, “Babe Ruth” (pictured).
Let’s just say that most of the first timers walked with mouths gaping open. Veterans immediately returned to their favorite spots to make sure they hadn’t imagined their findings from a previous visit.
Harlan chuckled, “It’s pretentious.” But one suspects that’s his way of handling the shock and awe that first timers experience.
In the meantime, guests like Nancy and Ray Hunt, Jane McGarry, luncheon co-chair Daffan and Doug Nettle, Annette and Harold Simmons, Kent Rathbun, Lee Bailey and Carmaleta Whiteley (pictured right with, from the left Daffan and Lee) stayed pretty much in the gallery area. They were awaiting Dr. Rice’s arrival. The moment that Condi hit the door, she hardly made it past the entry before she was surrounded by a newly-crowned Miss America.
Why is it that we suspect that of all the guests, Condoleezza would have enjoyed browsing the gallery and library more than anyone? But, alas, she was the perfect GOH and chatted with all the others.
When it came time for her to talk to the group as a whole, she was moved like a queen bee fro
m the gallery to the library’s raised stage. Harlan fiddled with the wireless mike only to find it had taken the night off. So, the show went on au naturale. Condi thanked everyone for their support of Genesis and applauded the efforts of Executive Director Jan Langbein (pictured left with Ray and Nancy Hunt) and her crew. . . “You do it with heart and zeal and integrity.”
Then she and her gal posse departed, but don’t worry. She’ll be back in June. No, not for a Father’s Day Luncheon. Condi will return for a board meeting of the Bush Institute at SMU.
And the Genesis staff (pictured with Condoleezza, center) went back to work providing assistance to women in need, as they have for the past 25 years.