Despite a record-breaking 94-degree temperature, the Crystal Charity Ball Circle of Angels dinner was as cool as the caviar that was served with the first course on Thursday, November 2.
Earlier organizers had worried. Was their concern, “What if you gave a party and no one came”?
Au contraire. Their problem was that Kathy and Harlan Crow’s Library could seat about 100 for dinner, and 124 RSVPs of Dallas most glamorous had checked the “accept” box on the reply cards. But thanks to the CCB space engineer and event chair Rachael Dedman, all fit. From tables of ten to the more intimate tables in the library’s alcoves, it was a one-night-only dining experience, all underwritten by Deloitte.
But before Cassandra‘s first course of baby greens, Madeira port poached pear, goat cheese, celery and honey pearls was even presented, guests like Laura and Jason Downing, Christina and Christopher Durovich, Caren and Pete Kline, Liat and Amit Berger, Marilyn Augur with Margaret and Barry Hancock, Julie Ford with Tucker and Rich Enthoven, Jennifer and Richard Dix, Pat and Charles McEvoy, Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley, Courtney Wang and Lori Barber checked out the wonders of the library. One guest wondered why the Lee Park statue hadn’t found a home at the estate. Another pointed out in amazement the death mask of a past president. Still another guest discovered Abraham Lincoln’s desk when he was served in the Illinois legislature. Others just eyeballed the thousands of books. This institution is one that never gets old and always impresses.
Alas, the hosting Crows were not around to accept accolades. Kathy was still mending from a car accident and Harlan was elsewhere.
But not to worry. The talk among the crowd kept things interesting from soup to nuts. Cliff Fischer, who was making his first trip to the Crow Library, was just back from a business trip to India… CCB Chair Pam Perella , who was in a Zac Posen, told a friend, “I wish the days would stretch out a little more, so I could enjoy the moment”…Ben Lange told Annette Simmons how her late husband Harold Simmons had backed his company in the early days… Robin Robinson was still receiving kudos about the Celebrating Women Luncheon with Jamie Lee Curtis… Pianist Tommy deSalvo was in seventh heaven playing the magnificent Steinway concert piano with a legendary Stradivarius safely in a glass case on the wall over his shoulder…
For more photos from the evening, check MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.