The official shot launching the 2016 fall fundraising triathlon was fired on Thursday, September 8, at the Dallas Country Club. Instead of tank tops, running shorts and Nikes, the participants were in Zac Posens, Herreras and Hermes for the 2016 Crystal Charity Ball Platinum Dinner hosted by Comerica.
And, following the rules of hospitality, Comerica’s Ralph Babb and his bride Barbara Babb were Johnny-on-the-spot to greet the more than 150 guests, who were heavy hitters for the upcoming Crystal Charity Ball Fashion Show and Luncheon on Friday, September 16, in the glamorama tent adjacent to Neiman Marcus Downtown.
The only challenges facing the crowd were the DCC windows, which cast a blinding light just behind the check-in table with envelopes containing table assignments. Ah, but the CCV-ers had a back-up plan. They had gals immediately behind the table handing out the envelopes before the guests tried to overcome the shine to find their own envelopes.
After getting their envelopes, guests like Deborah and Jack Gunter, Neva Hall, Shelle and Michael Sills, Nancy Dedman, DeeDee and Jim Lee, Mary and Bob Potter, Simona Beal, D’Andra Simmons, Lynn and Allan McBee, Susu and Jerry Meyer, Debbie and Nickey Oates, Lana and Barry Andrews, Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley and Alison and Michael Malone played the catch-up game since most had been away for the summer. CCB Underwriting Chair Claire Emanuelson and 10 Best Dressed Piper Wyatt were back from Wyoming…Still glowing Annette Simmons and Gerry Fronterhouse were back from Montecito…10 BD-er Mary Clare Finney insisted that she had gained a couple of pounds over the summer, but she appeared to have already dropped that weight…Stephanie Fox was with adorable Nick Sowell, whose mum Betsy Sowell is the 2016 Hall of Famer…Robyn and Don Conlon were bubbling with news. Yes, they’re downsizing and growing. What’s that? They were moving to a “smaller house” on Beverly this winter, but they were also preparing for grandbaby #3. Seems son Keith Conlon and his bride Megan Conlon, who were married last December, were going to have a daughter just in time for Christmas… NM Downtown GM/VP Jeff Byron was solo, due to one of his pooches suffering from a diabetic episode requiring attendance by Kevin Hurst. As for the construction of the fashion show tent, Jeff reported that the tent had been under construction since Friday. When asked if featured designer Carolina Herrera would be receiving the Neiman Marcus Award at the luncheon, he said definitely. And like so many others, Jeff used the word “elegant” in describing the petite Venezuelan couturier… Not all had fled the Dallas summer heat, though. Niven Morgan in his hairdo du jour admitted that his business had required him staying put all summer.
Finally, after a couple or three requests for guests to go to their tables—and the bar being closed—the guests took their places. CCB Chair Christie Carter welcome the group and introduced Ralph, who thanked the group for supporting the CCB charities. Then Christie presented the 10 Best Dressed (Anita Arnold, Katherine Coker, Janie Condon, Tucker Enthoven, Heather Esping, Mary Clare Finney, Margaret Hancock, Julie Hawes and Piper Wyatt) and Betsy.
Dinner was then served, including baby greens with shoestring cucumber, baby tomatoes, red onion, shaved Romano cheese and lemon thyme vinaigrette; filet mignon and grilled jumbo shrimp with risotto and baby vegetables and heirloom carrots; and a very impressive chocolate salted caramel mousse tart. Equally impressive was the talk around the dinner tables. Tracy and Ben Lange had already attended a fundraiser that night at Kendra Scott’s for son Luke Lange’s Fast Break T-shirts…Lara and Bob Tafel were like a twosome on a first date. Lara explained that despite having nearby offices, they rarely get a chance to just talk. And what were they talking about? Their mutual concern for the growing demands on community services to help children suffering from abuse and how to support those needs. When asked about the growing numbers of child abuse cases, Lara suggested that the rise was due to the fact that more were actually being brought to light…The evening’s chair Paige Slates and husband John Slates were seated next to Vinnie and Malcolm Reuben…Tanya Foster was preparing for her trip with Alicia Wood to New York’s Fashion Week… Clay Cooley was all smiles over Robbie Knievel’s recent motorcycle leap at his newest dealership. Wife Lisa Cooley recalled that the newest acquisition was a dealership where Clay had worked as a young whippersnapper salesman and they were newlyweds. When he inspected the property upon purchasing it, he called Lisa and reported, “It still has the same carpet.” Needless to say, the carpet was one of the first changes made.
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