Tuesday, October 11, could have been a sticky wicket. Yipes! The Junior League of Dallas was holding a luncheon for the past presidents and ball chairs at Neiman Marcus Downtown’s newly reopened Zodiac Room. Across town at the Dallas Country Club, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae were raising funds at their 2021 Tablescapes. The problem was that there were a heck of a lot of former JLD leaders who were keyholders. But not to worry.
For some of the ladies, it was a real nail biter on which to attend. Past JLD President/Ball Chair Debbie Oates simply solved the dilemma by attending Tablescapes by Candlelight on Monday evening and enjoying the Zodiac get-together Tuesday. For Patti Flowers, who was both 2021 JLD Sustainer Chieftan and had a table on display for Tablescapes, it simply meant fast-tracking between the NM flagship and the Club.
However, Tablescapes Co-Founder Louise Griffeth just couldn’t be two places at once and she had a couple of reasons to be at the DCC. First, she was a Tablescapes co-founder along with Barbara Barton. Second, Louise’s daughter-in-law Annie Griffeth had the Tablescapes lead table at the DCC entrance.
And this year’s Tablescapes Co-Chairs Anne Mann, Cathy McEachern and Lacy Schultz decided to shake things up. In addition to getting rave reviews for the ease of registering, their reformatting of the event itself was refreshing for both guests and designers.
In the past, guests would view the table designs set up throughout the club and attend a lecture by a renowned designer in one part of the ballroom. While the lecture took place, the designers would adapt their tables to accommodate post-lecture guests for lunch.
This year guests like Nancy Doxey, Dare Gillette, Anne Nixon, Heather Furniss, Venise Stuart, Diane Bumpas, Dorothea Meltzer, Elizabeth Robertson, Rusty Duvall, Betsy Eiseman, Sewell sisters-in-law (Jacquelin and Josie) and Kelli Ford with daughter Electra Ford in matching outfits schmoozed, cruised and checked out the tables throughout the Club except for the ballroom.
At 11:30 a band of musicians including trombone players led the guests into the ballroom decorated by Garden Gate with trees of white flowers and centerpieces for the presentation of the Platinum Key to Peggy (Higgins) Sewell and a chat between author/Chef/master host/TV personality/Lecturer/columnist/hospitality consultant Alex Hitz and University of Texas at Austin KKG-er Chessie Breen.
According to Cathy, they’d heard from past guests that they wished they had more time to visit, and this format fit that wish to the T.
And they had a lot to visit about. For instance, man of the hour Central Market President Stephen Butt was on hand for the 20th anniversary of their Central Market partnership with Tablescapes, and he brought great news with him. In addition to Central Market’s $20,000 presenting sponsorship, their $20,000 match was well on the way to happening.
Another man’s presence being noted was that of HGTV’s “Design Star: Next Gen” Chris Goddard, who was immediately the celeb du jour thanks to his pal Barbara Womble Bancroft. The two had become fast friends when he helped her with her lake house.
For inspiration of how to set your holiday tables, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.