With Halloween hardly a sugary memory, Christmas lights were already brightening up yards on Tuesday, November 3.
At Highland Park Village the boo-hoo memories of the late Tom Thumb had been put to bed and the welcome wagon was out for Royal Blue Grocery as people checked out the foodie boutique. Thank heaven! It happened just in time. Because the HPV’s Starbucks was all papered up due to an interior refreshening. Shocked caffeine fiends looked as if they were going through withdrawal as they saw their beloved jolt-source closed. One fella was pointed to Royal Blue Grocery, but he admitted that he had no coin and had planned to use his mobile Starbucks card. Last seen he was headed to the Knox Starbucks.
Christmas In The Park At Fair Park
On the other hand, another group of men gathered upstairs at HPV’s Mockingbird Room to learn about the plans for the upcoming Christmas in the Park at Fair Park. Plans call for the S.M. Wright Foundation’s Christmas celebration to provide toys for munchkins thanks to “area Santas.”
It will take place in the Automobile Building at Fair Park on Saturday, December 19. While it officially starts at 8:30 a.m., the lineup gets underway in the wee hours of December 19th.
If you would like to share in the giving, you can donate here or sign up to volunteer here. If you know of someone with a child who just might be in need of a toy, registration info can be found here!
Silver Supper
On the other side of Preston Road, new Dallas Museum of Art Board of Trustees Chair Melissa Fetter and her husband Trevor Fetter opened their Mediterranean-style mansion for art lovers like Jennifer and Coley Clark, Nancy Dedman, Emily and Steve Summers and James Campbell to hear about plans for the Dallas Museum of Art’s Silver Supper in the Chilton 2 Gallery from Co-Chairs Claire Dewar and Cathy Kincaid Hudson.
But before the announcement, the 100 guests explored the breathtaking home. John Phifer Marrs was full of superlatives as he admired the estate. Even John, who has had his share of show-stopping residential projects, confessed that the estate was an amazing accomplishment.
And what was so out-of-this-world remarkable? The main house that was built in the 1930’s was meticulously updated and enhanced by a truly spectacular second building that included a guest quarter, four-car garage, Melissa’s office, an exercise room and much more. And yet, thanks to J Wilson Fuqua and Associates Architects, Brad Kelly and other craftsmen, the connection between the 1930’s and the 21st century was absolutely seamless.
And on this clear night and thanks to exquisite lighting, it was spectacularly perfect.
So was the announcement. IMA Interim Director Walter Elcock briefly told of the history of the DMA’s silver collection and how the dinner started 24 years ago. Last year’s dinner brought in $300K.
Claire revealed that in addition to the exclusive dinner on Friday, January 29th, at which the DMA’s collection of silver is trotted out, there would be the addition of a symposium at Brook Hollow.
Cathy picked up from there. telling the guests that the head of Hearst would be in attendance and that House Beautiful and other Hearst publications would be involved. In addition to the dinner, there would be a symposium involving the Duquette Foundation for the Living Arts on Thursday, January 28, at which Hutton Wilkinson, business partner of the late American design icon Tony Duquette, will join the DMA’s Olivier Meslay and British antique dealer Peter Woods. It will be interesting to see if Hutton drops a couple of tales !
Tickets to this super-duper-special supper don’t come cheap. They start at $2,200 per person, and the Gilded Level seating goes for $10,000 a head.
But if you can’t fit the supper into your budget, you can still attend the symposium. Here’s the breakdown for the symposium:
- $125 (9:30 a.m. to noon) — Symposium only
- $250 (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Symposium and lunch
For more information or to purchase tickets, send Claire an email.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Decorative Arts Acquisition Fund.
* Photo credit: Tamytha Cameron Smith