After an unexpected storm hit on the extremely early morning of Wednesday, September 25, North Texans found the drive-to-work a challenge due to broken tree limbs and non-functioning stoplights. But the gated community of Los Arboles, just off of Forest Lane, seemed to be back to its pristine haven — except for the fountain in the lake adjacent to Debbie and Nickey Oates‘ mansion. It wasn’t working.
But as the sun prepared to set, most guests like Kristi and Bill Francis, Dianne and Mark LaRoe, Andrea and Heath Cheek, Candace and John Winslow, Shelle and Michael Sills, Melinda and Mark Knowles, Claire and Dwight Emanuelson and Sunie Solomon sans husband Steve Solomon arriving at the Oates home for the 2024 Crystal Charity Ball Husbands Party didn’t notice. The grounds and lake were so idyllic, with two pairs of mallard ducks paddling by.
The pat-on-the-back for the supportive committee husbands was a real record-breaker. AT Bistro Chef Bobby Pollette had originally planned on preparing Texas chic barbecue for “perhaps 60,” but after the incredibly creative “Cut Loose” invitations of a card-stock tie and scissors were distributed, the number soared to more than twice that.
The evening’s underwriter, Northern Trust Dallas /Fort Worth Market President Dotti Reeder, shunned credit for the explosive rise in attendance, saying, “They [the Crystal Charity Ball team] put it all together.”
Even the favors of Rufus Teague barbecue sauce and a shot of Woodford Reserve tied together and topped with a natty bowtie was darn cute.
Inside the Oates’ home, the dining room table was a feast to behold, with the likes of ginormous shrimp, delicious pulled pork sliders, potato salad, steak sandwiches and deviled eggs.
In another wing of the mansion overlooking the lake, Bobby hosted a bourbon tasting sponsored by Ben E. Keith with four types of bourbons — Texas Silver Star 1849 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rowan’s Creek Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Smoke Wagon Private Barrel 7 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey and Pipe Dream Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey. Like a patient teacher, Bobby instructed guests on the correct way of sampling the bourbons, with eye-popping reactions.
“Breathe it in,” he said. “You want the hotness on the tongue. Then it gets super-hot, and then it goes away.”
The bourbon bar was just the right size to fit in the enclosed terrace. According to Debbie, Nickey had been pondering what would be the right fit, design and materials for it. Then, just the day before the party, he had the marble-topped bar that was a true Goldilocks creation made. It looked perfect and was just the right size for the barkeep and the guests.
Between sippings, guests caught up from the summer respite. Michael Sills had lost 22 pounds. The good news is that he can now wear clothes from years ago. The not-so-good-new: they’re all out of style, like trousers with cuffs. The solution: head to a tailor for an updating, or buy a whole new wardrobe.
Katy and Lawrence Bock found a couple of chairs in the living room to dine and talk with Bobby about the next night, when they were set to host the 2024 Fur Ball patron party at their home at the Mansion, with Bobby providing the menu.