Always-giving Faye Briggs, whose mansion was built with the purpose of helping nonprofits, had a little change in the usual routine. In the past, the very vacant lot next door that belonged to a very well-known and non-profit-loving banker, was often used by valets for a satellite parking lot. Alas, the lot recently sold and construction has been underway for the new owners. Translation: Satellite parking is no more.
Saturday night 250 No Tie Dinner patrons partiers didn’t know the diff. With Faye seated in the living room with her BFF Ralph Gorman, she was the belle of the ball as all thanked the diminutive near-80-year-old. Before it got too crowded, Honorary Chair Steve Kemble was seated with Faye. Then he dashed off. Why? According to Steve, “I stocked the bar, cut up a few limes, lit a few candles.”
Since the weather was one level above perfect, Faye’s gorgeous garden soon became the main place to chat and charm with Hattie’s food just a tray away. Among those wandering the grounds with its 10,500 tulips in various stages of blooming were Christopher Wright with fashion designer Jim Duran, who has a new line of clothing out called Blkln. Jim is working on his spring/summer 2014 line at his place in the West Village.
Helga and Ray Sims were just back in town in time for the party. German Helga had been skiing at Big Sky and Ray had been fishing at Cedar Creek. . . . After 29 years of working at Texas Instruments, word has it that Billy Fulmer will soon be retiring to go into business with Shane Walker. Evidently they’re planning a retail shop at the Trinity Groves “Incubator Project” to open late summer/early fall. It will be a fresh flower market and hat boutique.
No Tie Dinner Co-chair David Nelson and Dennis Koshner are expecting 2,000 guests at the two-stage No Tie Dinner with dinner at private homes and desserts at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Saturday, April 6.
At one point the group was called together outside, where Diamond Sponsor Don Neubauer and the co-chairs presented boxes to Steve [“I got a toaster!”] and Faye with a Tiffany box that was almost as big as Faye.
After thanking such sponsors as Siter-Neubauer & Associates, Dallas Children’s Charities, Ben E. Keith Company, Dallas Voice and DoorKing of Texas, Steve told the group, “There is no more generous woman in this world than Faye Briggs.” He then encouraged all to take a tour of AIDs Services of Dallas facilities saying, “It will change your life, like it did mine.”