Thanks to two Highland Park policemen, the lineup of cars queuing up on Preston Road leading to Kathy and Harlan Crows‘ estate was as civilized as a White House state dinner on the evening of Friday, June 9.
But then, what would one have expected for the La Fiesta Under the Stars event? Having celebrated the La Fiesta De Las Seis Banderas fundraising week leading up to the Park Cities fundraiser, there had been the Duchess and Doll Luncheon, Fiesta Fire-Up and Fiesta Bachendorf’s on Tuesday, Duchess Dip II and Guild Tea on Wednesday and the Fajita Fiesta on Thursday. Now the crowd of nearly 300 including the 2018 Duchess and Escorts and their parents were filling the Crow library and its marvelous grounds for Fiesta Under The Stars.
For newcomers to the Park Cities, the Crow property is the largest in Highland Park extending from Preston Road to Exall Lake, covering nearly eight acres. The original home was built in 1918. Its history is a rich one, having been the home of the legendary cattleman W.T. Waggoner‘s daughter Electra Waggoner, after whom the Buick Electra was named. Even back in that day, the estate had been a showplace for entertaining.
When Kathy and Harlan took possession back in the 1990s, they not only kept the charm of the bygone era, but they built a world-class library and an underground parking garage to accommodate occasions like Fiesta Under The Stars.
As guests like Will Whitlock, Parker Quinn, Will McPherson, Cam Ruk, Becca Hayhurst, Jack Toohey, Amanda Hughes, Elizabeth Tedford, Mary Sullins Lancaster, Erin Arthur, Claire Sarfatis, Marshall Hammack and Kate Gioldasis arrived, the Crows along with 2018 La Fiesta Co-Chairs Anne Besser and Elizabeth Gambrell and Event Co-Chairs Alicia Jahant and Holly Soetenga welcomed one and all. And the evening’s weather was ideal for those who wanted either to stroll the gardens and lawn highlighted by statues of world leaders, or to stay put on the terrace.
Inside the library, the portraits of historic personages served as a beautiful backdrop for young and old.
But there just wasn’t time to take in the one-of-a-kind books and the artifacts in the library. It was an early evening, because the next day was going to be a long one preparing for the evening’s La Fiesta De Seis Las Banderas at the Hilton Anatole.