While Jill Stuart, Veronica Beard and Marc Jacobs were present in merchandise only in NorthPark’s Neiman Marcus on Thursday, August 29, there were about 100 of their fashionable types sipping champagne in the Contemporary Department. And they didn’t appear to be in a hurry to get home to watch the Cowboys play Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The occasion was the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Young Professionals launch of its DSO Gala After-Party with After-Party Co-Chairs Kasie and Axel Ricart filling the place with young lovelies and dapper gents like David Washburne, Shannon McKain and Deshan Mayfield.
As DSO VP of Development James Leffler looked over the crowd and fetched drinks for the musicians, he explained that it was a part of the DSO’s reach to the younger folks.
There were those who had already been a part of the DSO like Mia Valdez, who’s a member of the DSO Young Professionals board, and third generation DSO-er Reece Walker. He recalled that he had been attending DSO concerts since he was three.
And then there were the targeted types like Jennifer and David Betbadal. Former Californians, they had moved to North Texas to pursue their dreams of her work in fashion and his focus on mortgage industry. It worked out perfectly except Jennifer had to change direction from fashion to raising their two under-six-year-old youngsters.
The After-Party will immediately follow the concert featuring stellar violinist Joshua Bell on Saturday, September 28, at the Meyerson. The entire package of cocktail reception, seated dinner, concert and After-Party is available here starting at $1,250. The black-tie people watching is absolutely free.
But if the entire DSO Gala package is a bit overwhelming for the household budget, think about doing the concert and After-Party ticket. According to DSO insiders it would be no surprise if Joshua dropped in at the After-Party.