November 29 Round Robin: Gingerbread Stroll, Chick Lit, DIFFA, Dwell With Dignity, Artful Bowls And Artreach

“Why is Thursday the must-night for all events?” asked Jill Rowlett Wednesday, considering the plethora of goings-on the next day. Good question. Haven’t a clue. But last night proved her right. This Thursday night was especially taxing. Perhaps it was because it was the last hurrah before the December holiday parties kicked into gear. The full moon above seemed to the only place where Dallas gadabout weren’t partying.

Gingerbread Stroll

Community Partners of Dallas‘s Paige McDaniel juggled fundraising events to a new max. On one side of the Highland Park Village she was thanking and shopping at Cole Hahn. Oh, it just so happened to be the site of the last-gasp of the Gingerbread Stroll benefiting CPD with

Gingerbread Stroll founder Christine McKenny thanking all for their support and encouraging them to keep bidding and voting on the houses located throughout the Village. Kids and parents filled the store along with chefs Nicolas Blouin of the Mansion and Joy Lynn . Nicolas admitted that in France they have no gingerbread houses, only castles. Dave Perry-Miller added that Nicolas had asked about the kind of house that DP-M agent Christine sold. Dave’s answer, “Park Cities mansion.” Voila — Nicolas created a gingerbread castle smack dab in the middle of Cole Haan. No sooner had the presentation been made than CPD VP of Development Joanna Clark was at Paige’s elbow reminding her of the Chick Lit announcement party benefiting CPD across the way. It was in a hold-mode waiting for Paige. So, paying up her bill and gathering her purchases, Paige followed by CPD fans like

Lynn McBee in beautiful stilettos with heels as skinny as toothpicks and Melissa Sherrill and her twins, Harker and Lily,  headed to Billy Reid.

Chick Lit Luncheon

Joanna Clark has a lot of personality highlighted by a laugh that could fill a ballroom. She also can smile when she threatens one with death. And that was the situation when someone asked her to name the author of the April 5th Chick Lit Luncheon at Brook Hollow benefiting Community Partners of Dallas. She had even threatened her boss Paige McDaniel with the same fate if she told one person.

With Lisa Singleton assisting in the unwrapping of pashminas covering the reveal poster in the back of the stylish clothes boutique, Paige revealed the author would be movie producer Brian Grazer‘s ex — Georgianne Levangie. In addition to writing “The Starter Wife,” “Maneater,” “The After Wife” and “Queen Takes King,” Georgianne has promised to have tales to tell at the luncheon. In other words, dishing will not be limited to the plateware.

Ah, but there were still more surprised to be revealed. For instance, Allie Beth Allman will be the luncheon’s honorary chair.

Then there was the drawing for a $250 gift certificate at Billy Reid’s. It was limited to only those who had successfully guessed the author. And the lucky person was Kristin Baker.

And to add to CPD’s win-win-win evening. Billy Reid’s Hillary Gilbert announced that 10% of all sales through the weekend would go to CPD.

DIFFA Holiday Wreath Party

More than 125 let’s-get-in-the-holiday mood types gathered at Timothy Oulton for the wreath auction benefiting DIFFA. Everywhere you looked, there were wreaths in every nook and cranny. Now these wreaths weren’t just the regular old garland splattered with holly berries and a ribbon or two. Nope! There was one blue one with fishes and a seahorse that was valued at $1,700 from Olivia Riegel. Excuse us. What? It was nice but $1,700? Ah, but upon reading the description card it seemed a three-day stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Maui was included.

And then there was Clint Mordecai‘s “Holidazed — Dirty Martini” wreath that came along with a Smartini gift basket and two uptown players tickets. That one was valued at $1,200.

And just like the designer wreaths, the guests like Holly Haber, Joani White, Scott Pharr, Omar Esparza, Donna Sedota, birthday gal Carmaleta Whiteley wearing a brand new necklace, Lee Bailey, James Campbell, John Phifer Marrs, Simona Beal, James Shackelford, Rob Brinkley and Oulton neighbor Lisa Garza were standing, sitting and sipping everywhere you looked except in the tank with the yellow submarine.

BTW, instead of the usual British guards in very proper, buttoned-up red jackets at the door, the delicious male models were totally unbuttoned.

Dwell With Dignity

Up on the 20th floor of The Azure high-rise condo building, guests enjoyed libations and light hors d’oeuvres as Sarah and (personal injury attorney) Doug Monsour opened the doors of their spectacular new three-bedroom unit, once the home of former Dallas Cowboy Terrell Owens. Redesigned recently in a “soft contemporary” style by Susan Smith and Vicki Crew of Urban Interiors, the Monsours’ place features lots of beautiful artwork from the Craighead Green Gallery. Urban Interiors and Craighead Green are donating a percentage of the gallery’s art

sales to the nonprofit Dwell with Dignity group throughout the month of December.

Partygoers including Kenneth Craighead and artists Kendra North and Brad Ellis enjoyed the stunning views of Dallas at night, while Vicki described what the place looked like when T.O. had it. Back then it featured a big central column that was covered in glass mirrors, a disco ball, and walls that were painted with different colors. Sarah, who said the Monsours spend 80 percent of their time at their more traditional home in Longview, showed off an automatic neon-lighting feature in the kitchen ceiling that flashes a rotation of different colors, like turquoise. The family’s three children like to keep the feature going 24/7 when they’re in town, Sarah said. Added Vicki: “It’s like a little remembrance of T.O.”

Over in the Design District, two more parties were also raising money for good causes.

Artful Bowls

At the Mary Tomas Gallery, about 150 guests showed up for the second annual Artful Bowls fundraiser, benefiting the 2013 Paws Cause. Under the direction of chair Karol Wilson, the event was on track to match last year’s net of $4,000. The funds will go specifically to the SPCA of Texas spay and neuter clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas.

Guests including Joe Pacetti, Diane Brierley, John Acton, Jocelyn White, Teena McMills, and SPCA president James Biasput in their silent-auction bids on a wonderful array of hand-painted ceramic pet-bowl sets. Once again, the ceramics were provided at a “very reduced rate” by BP’ers Ceramic Art Studio in Richardson.

One of the artists painting for the cause was Quan Dang, whose two kitty dishes drew a $100 bid. Asked what he called the dishes, if anything, Dang replied, “Can we call them Pussy Galore?”

Artreach-Dallas

Up the street and around the corner, meanwhile, Artreach-Dallas hosted a holiday affair called Bough Wow! at the 129 Leslie space. With catering by Wendy Krispin, the bash showcased the likes of one-of-a-kind decorated wreaths; clothing from J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier; food from Mother Shucker’s Tamales; and several spectacular, 7.5-foot-tall holiday trees. Two that caught our eye in particular were sponsored by the Ben E. Keith Co. and Kaleta Doolin. Kaleta’s on the board of directors for Artreach, whose purpose is arts outreach to low-income families, the disabled and the elderly in North Texas.

* Photo credit: Jeanne Prejean

** Photo credit: Glenn Hunter