The rule of thumb is that Mondays are usually quiet for hairdressers and fundraisers. It provides the opportunity to rest up and/or catch up. But since December is the month of being special, Monday, December 1, was anything but quiet, especially with temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s.
Late afternoon Children’s Medical Center Dallas lit up a 40’ tree in the Butterfly Atrium for patients, their families and staffers to enjoy. Of course, they just couldn’t have anyone “throw the switch” to the light up the tree. It was a jolly, old fellow in a red and white suit.
That evening activities exploded. The Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society was warming up at Patrick Sands’ home-sweet-home on Lakeside. Anne and Steve Stodghill along with Robert Weatherly were hosting wine-world impresario Jean-Charles Boisset of the Boisset Collection for a seated bubbles and tastings in the Stodghill ballroom for the likes of Annika and Dennis Cail, Katina Anderson, Julie Horn, Carmen and Jerry Miller, Lynae Fearing, Bryan Curran, Kristen and Ross Gatlin and loads of others of the legal-drinking age.
Still others were lighting outdoor trees and checking “ice” inside.
Lee Park Tree Lighting
Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservatory President/CEO Gay Donnell was rather amazed and gratified by the success of the tree lighting at Lee Park. Last year the event had attracted 300, but this year the headcount was rising to the 500 mark despite a last minute change in arrangement. Had the event been held just 24 hours earlier, it would have been a T-shirt and cargo shorts affair.
But with the cold front courtesy of Canada, it turned out to be heavy-duty coats, Hammacher-Schlemmer heated gloves and necks wrapped in cashmere scarves.
Thanks to Event Chair Sharon Galer, the Lee Park Conservancy membership was in full force in Arlington Hall enjoying all types of refreshments and decorations. On the grounds, the public with munchkins all bundled up were filling the white folding chairs and sipping hot chocolate waiting for the tree on the grounds to be lit.
Crystal Charity Ball Diamond Dipping
Crystal Charity Ball Just up Preston Road, Diamond Doctor David Blank opened his two-story “jewel box” for the Crystal Charity Ball crowd.
Well, duh! With a theme of “Jewels of the Garden” for the upcoming children’s fundraising gala, David arranged for a showcasing of $100M worth of diamonds. According to David, this was the first time that a $100M event like this had taken place in Texas. In the spirit of the season, David was donating a percentage of the sales to CCB.
Even those who had avoided the previous temptations of jewelry ecstasy before couldn’t help falling for the dazzling red ruby ring surrounded by a star-burst cluster of diamonds with matching ruby and diamond necklace on the ground level.
And then there was an incredible pink diamond ring keeping company with diamonds on the upper level.
They were all in fine company as millions of dollars worth of jewelry filled the cases — a 39-carat fancy intense yellow radiant diamond for $1.8M; a 30-carat fancy yellow pear-shaped diamond for $1.15M; a 32-carat Harry Winston signet earrings for $2.8M and a 3-carat fancy pink pear diamond ring for $900K to mention a few.
But not all were displayed under glass. David’s sister Claudia Jacobs’ neck was surrounded in a rainbow of gems… a 68-carat multi-colored diamond necklace going for $775K.
While the ladies hunkered over counters and tried on the goodies, the fellows (Jack Pratt, Don Conlon, Charles McEvoy, Vin Perella, Brian Diers, Tom Swiley and Kevin Kadesky) made note to check with Santa and David.
Speaking of David, he was in a recovery mode. Seems that the Blank household had been stricken by the season’s first wave of “Yucky Flu.” But this evening was too important and David got his doctor’s “OK,” checked into the hotel, and was in the pink for the night.
One chap was checking out the loose diamonds for a future surprise. Can’t reveal. It would spoil the sussie. Don’t ya just love a surprise?