Well, it happened. Thursday, December 11, had half of the MySweetCharity team cratering. The elves were trying all types of ideas to handle all the party-heartying that tends to take place on Thursdays and this one was a lollapalooza. A couple of the elves suggested incorporating party drones. Party drones? Nope. They don’t really exist, at least not yet. But the elves still thought it was a great idea. Instead of covering events firsthand, they would just send drones with cameras and microphones to do the job.
Needless to say, Queenie quashed that idea and cut off the cable service for the elves. But putting MSC politics aside, here’s what was happening:
Forty Five Ten
It was easy to spot where lifestyle designer Kelly Wearstler was in the posh salon. In addition to being squired around by taste arbitrar Brian Bolke in a leopard print jacket, she was surrounded by a swarm of top-tier friends and fans wanting to chit-chat with her about her latest project. It was one that she created exclusively for Forty Five Ten with the team from Atelier Swarovki. Kelly’s partnering up with Atelier Swarovski was the result of Brian’s matchmaking. He recognized that Kelly and the crystal designers might make beautiful creations together. Once again he was right.
Another Kelly goody was her coffeetable book, “Rhapsody,” that was quickly becoming a collector’s item.
What slowed up the elbow-to-elbow set from arriving were a couple of RV-sized trucks blocking the valet parking in the back and the filled to capacity parking spots out front.
But once inside it was music by DJ Lucy Wrubel, a photo booth coordinated by Lucy’s favorite elf photographer Santa Steve Wrubel, food provided by The Joule and a big old sign reading “Happiness is Expensive.”
With a portion of sales benefiting this spring’s 50th Art Ball, the crowd included the Mathews Nichols Group (Erin Mathews with dotter-in-law Brittany Mathews and MN partner David Nichols sporting still another new Hermes tie), Neiman’s Wanda Gierhart, Kimberly and Tyson Chandler, Michael Sam, Chandra North, Vanessa Swarovski and Charlotte Jones.
Cattle Baron’s Christmas Party
Over in Preston Hollow, Jennifer and Richard Dix’s home was all decked out to party with a beautiful Christmas tree at the base of the winding staircase in the entry hall and a sumptuous buffet complete with dazzling honeycomb in the dining room. Wolfgang Puck’s Alan Hernandez was handing out samples of the Bee-Pour Honey, suggesting that guests might want try rubbing it on crackers.
Party Co-Chairs Joanna Clark and Cammie Heflin greeted the 200 guests in the front of the home, while 2015 CBB Co-Chairs Mary Martha Pickens and Tia Wynne made the rounds checking in with Kris Johnson, Nancy Gopez, Carol Seay, new mom Natalie Fogiel Moon, Katherine LaLonde, Lisa and Bill Ogle, Cara French, Katy and Lawrence Bock and Olivia and Jeff Kearney. And what a house it was. The family room adjacent to the killer gourmet kitchen was filled to the max. Ah, but the evening weather was perfect for the outdoor fireplace, so guests spilled out into the covered outdoor terrace.
Foodie Pete Foster eyed the kitchen admiring the countertops as the Wolfgang Puck team cooked up yummies.
Speaking of tasties, 2014 CBB Co-Chair Cindy Stager revealed that the good folks at El Fenix on Northwest Highway learned that she had spent her birthday at their establishment on the eve of CBB. So they surprised her with “a case of hot sauce and chips.”
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Host Committee Kick-Off Party
Back down Preston Road, Ann and Lee Hobson also found the evening’s weather helped with the turnout for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Host Committee party for 200. The estate’s grounds with marvelous water features was outstanding and luckily speakers were placed for those who couldn’t wedge into the fabulous living room for the announcements and entertainment by Sister Hazel’s Ken Block and Drew Copeland.
Former Dallas Cowboys Tony Dorsett and Daryl Johnston with gorgeous wife Diane were in the atrium talking with Kathy and Richard Holt and Holly Reed, while Caroline Rose Hunt was nearby on a couch talking with friends like Lynn McBee, Regen and Dr. Jeff Fearon, Barbara and Steve Durham, Lyda Hill, Annika and Dennis Cail, Millie and Dr. Ken Cooper, Kim and Greg Miller, Diane and Hal Brierley, Barbara Babb and Kit and Kemp Sawers.
In other parts of the house, it appeared to look like an eyebrow-raising CEO conclave with Frito-Lay’s Tom Greco, Fluor’s David Seaton and Comerica’s Ralph Babb.
David recalled that when Fluor moved from California to North Texas, he was impressed with how Dallas corporate leadership, like ExxonMobil’s Rex Tillerson, AT&T’s Randall Stephenson and Kimberly-Clark’s Tom Falk, was committed to philanthropy — “All companies that have DNA of philanthropy.”
At 7:50 United Way of Metropolitan Dallas CEO/President Jennifer Sampson was like a thrilled schoolgirl who had just gotten a pony for Christmas as she reviewed the history and amazing support for the upcoming 90th anniversary gala on Friday, February 6, at AT&T Stadium — “This is an emotional night for me and the team. This is one of the last events leading up to the gala.” She recalled asking Tom Greco two-and-a-half years ago about chairing the campaign. He said, “Yes.” Then she asked Randall, Tom Falk and TI’s Rich Templeton to chair the gala. They said, “Yes.” Next she asked Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach to get involved. They said, “Yes.”
Jennifer was on a roll and no one was slowing her down. Even the kick-off party was being sponsored by KPMG, whose COO/United Way Board Member Manny Fernandez hinted, “There are still some packages and sponsorships available” for the gala.
Tom G. told the group that Frito-Lay had been involved with United Way since 2006 and was focusing especially on the Healthy Zone Schools Recognition Program — “We want to be part of the solution. We want to make the difference.” The program that involves the Cooper Clinic had 30K Dallas/Fort Worth kids going through daily PE with 30% showing improvement in cardio capacity and reduced body fat.