For the Turtle Creek Park Conservancy‘s 2024 Day At The Races kick-off at Vestal Catering, the valets were told to expect 50 guests. But despite the usual traffic jam along Cedar Springs on the evening drive of Wednesday, February 28, that number didn’t add up. Instead, a whopping 80 showed up despite the surprising chilly drop in temperatures. To think the day before, it had been in the upper 70s and lower 80s and now it was 50s with a nippy windchill that made it feel like the 40s.
As Pam Busbee admitted, “I don’t mind the temperature. It’s the wind …”
The humidity didn’t help the situation, either.
But the guests like Melinda and Mark Knowles, Elsa Norwood, John Parish, Renda Mathew and Russell Hayward and Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley didn’t mind once they were inside Vestal Catering on Dragon. There, they grazed around interactive food stations featuring Nashville Hot Chicken With Pickles and Pimento Cheese Sliders and Beef Tenderloin Sliders with Dijon Aioli, Crispy Onions and Arugula on Potato Bun Sliders with Signature Rosemary Potato Chips and a dessert display of pecan pie bars, itty bitty brownies with fresh powdered sugar, cheesecake bites with fresh raspberries and itty bitty ginger molasses cookies.
DATR Co-Chairs Melissa Sherrill Martin and Ross Martin and Underwriting Co-Chairs Katie and Allan Oster and Turtle Creek Park Conservancy President Tiffany Divis shared that DATR would, of course, be taking place on Saturday, May 4, to watch the Kentucky Derby on a huge screen at Arlington Hall with Emilynn Wilson serving as honorary chair and Truist Bank returning as presenting sponsor.
Katie displayed the pave diamond bracelet with 1.9 carats set in 14K white gold that will be featured in the DATR live auction. Donated by Kelly Mitchell Fine Jewelry, it’s valued at $12,750.
They also revealed the names of the judges for the ensemble contest including John Clutts, Lisa Cooley, Patti Flowers, Tanya Foster and Jill Rowlett. In addition to their judging duties, they’ll join Michael Faircloth and Katherine Wyker as 2024 DATR advisors.
Tickets for the DATR fashions, food and food are available here!