While the Ritz Carlton porte-cochere can be a bit of a challenge for guests and valets, an unexpected “oop’s” really derailed the most patient on the evening of Thursday, January 27. It seems a guest driving a sleek Jaguar sedan had headed into the hotel with keys in pocket. As the Jaguar turned into an oversized paperweight reducing the two-lane drive to one, staff was sent scurrying to The Rattlesnake Bar, the Fearing’s Restaurant and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball Underwriters supper in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom. As soon as the errant keys were found, the Jaguar disappeared into the underground garage and guests like Laura and Jason Downing, Claire Catrino, Barbara and Bob Bigham, Carole Ann and Dick Brown and Stacey Walker with her mom Kay Sim moved smoothly to the ballroom.
DSOL President Venise Stuart reported that it was all systems go for the presentation ball on Saturday, February 12 at the Meyerson. She had just gotten the thumbs-up from Dallas Symphony Orchestra President/CEO Kim Noltemy.
Arriving with Marena and Roger Gault and Todd Clendening, DSOL Presentation Ball Honorary Chair Sherwood Wagner, wearing her mother’s dress, laughed about her own gown for the ball. It was still in the works and would be another “Sherwood original.”
Presentation Ball Chair Elizabeth Gambrell was checking her cellphone to juggle her evening plans. In addition to hosting the Underwriter seated supper, she and husband Eric Gambrell were meeting up for daughter Sarah Rose Gambrell’s voice recital. Slipping out of the reception to grab an Uber ride, Elizbeth managed to attend the recital and return for dinner with Eric. Elizabeth had truly fine tuned pivoting and juggling.
As Heather and Malcolm Hicks were looking at the Gittings portraits of Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutantes in the Ritz Carlton’s ballroom on Thursday, January 27, he was asked if he had polished up his dance steps for the Presentation Ball on Saturday, February 12. Malcolm admitted that he was concerned about the post-bow dance with his deb daughter Julia Hicks. But his slight look of worry was relieved to learn that the dance floor in the Meyerson Lobby would be crowded with 48 debs and dads.
When asked about Julia’s gown, Heather looked pleased, reporting that the Korshak gown had arrived just in time for the formal portrait that was now on display with the other 47 portraits.
Ellen Ungerman reported that deb daughter Samantha Ungerman had spied her gown at the deb announcement party at Korshak last June. After checking out other sources, Samantha couldn’t get the Korshak gown out of her mind. Looking at the portrait, Ellen admitted that it was indeed the perfect choice.