Casting: Top Chef is casting for Season 12

Producers for Top Chef are looking for passionate chefs who are equipped with cutting edge cooking knowledge, techniques and trends to participate in the upcoming Season 12.  They will be in Dallas on February 18 from 10am to 1pm at the Hotel Palomar looking for the next culinary rock star.  Could it be you!?  For more info. on this open call visit http://www.topchefcasting.com/open-calls.

Oh So Tasty: Ceviche Mixto at Meso Maya

Earlier this week, I was invited by Meso Maya to stop by and taste new menu items created by Chef Nico Sanchez. Never one to turn down food, I grabbed a gal pal and headed over to their Downtown location to see what was new.

Shoutout to our waiter, Carlos, who was a total rock star. He was full of helpful suggestions and helped steer us to the best things on the menu. One such example is the Ceviche Mixto ($12). This is not an appetizer I would normally have ordered but when I said I wanted something "light and fresh" Carlos was insistent that we try it. Boy, am I glad we did.

Comprised of Mazatlan shrimp, striped bass ceviche, fresh lime juice, jicama, cilantro, tomatoes, serrano and fresh avocado this dish was indeed light to the taste but packed a powerful tangy punch of flavor.

According to the website, Meso Maya offers “an adventure into the fresh, bold and earthy flavors of authentic interior Mexico” with a menu inspired by natural ingredients from Mexico with scratch moles, adobos, salsas, and hand-ground tortillas.  Other standouts included the Avocado Margarita and the Dessert Sampler.

Meso Maya has two locations to serve you:
11909 Preston Rd #1426, Dallas, TX 75230, (469) 726-4390 and 1611 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75202, (214) 484-6555. Visit the website for more details at http://mesomaya.com

UPDATE: Will Courtney Loves Dallas See a Season Two?

photo by Jake Rosenberg
for The Coveteur

Now that the finale of the freshman season of Courtney Loves Dallas has aired, the question that's on everyone's mind is "will there be a second season?" Well, maybe not everyone, but a lot of people!

According to Bravo Ratings, "it’s almost certain that there won’t be a sophomore season for Courtney Kerr. (Kerr's) eighth episode saw its ratings fall from the seventh (which had fallen from the sixth) to 610,000 viewers of which 392,000 aged 18-49 – Demo 0.30.

That means that its season-to-date average ended up as 625,125 people per episode (385,575 aged 18-49 – Demo 0.33) which of course is even lower than the cancelled show from which is was spun-off.

Most Eligible Dallas throughout its 8 episode freshman season, garnered 828,625 viewers per episode (18-49 Demo 0.44), and Courtney Loves Dallas rated -24.56% less than that in its total audience and -25.71% less in the 18-49 demo.

Given that Most Eligible Dallas was cancelled by Bravo Media after just one season, it seems very safe to assume that Courtney Kerr’s spin-off will be also."

All Hail the Jelly Queens

The Jelly Queens, headquartered in Dallas with a commercial kitchen in Austin, was born out of a love for sustainable food, delicious flavors and words of encouragement. When company founder Donna Collins competed in season two of MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay, one of the judges advised her during the audition process that no matter what happened in the competition, she needed to get her food into production because it was some of the best he had ever tasted. Collins took his advice, and in 2012, she and her partners launched The Jelly Queens.  I've tasted several of their yummy jelly flavors and can tell you that they are the real deal! All hail the Queens!

The Good Food Awards hosted an awards gala in San Francisco last week and the Queens were bestowed a coveted Good Food Award by renowned chef Alice Waters, a pioneer of farm-to-table cuisine, in the preserves category for its Blood Orange Lavender Marmalade.  The Good Food Awards, now in its fourth year, recognizes the best from America’s growing movement of talented and socially conscious food entrepreneurs. The 2014 winners were selected from 1,450 entries from all 50 states in a blind tasting by 225 expert judges. Those that rose to the top on taste were then subject to a rigorous vetting process to verify they met the award’s sustainability and social responsibility criteria.

Highlights from the 2014 Grammy's

Katy Perry, Ciara, Taylor Swift, Johanna Johnson, Miranda Lambert

Last night marked the 56th annual Grammy awards. One of the reasons that the Grammys is always fun to watch is that musicians are not always as stylish as the acting community. You know, they are in to being cool and edgy.  They have to be unique and make a statement.  There were some fashion hits (see the stunners above) and lots of misses. Oh, so many misses.... Let's get to the highlights:

Pharell showed up in what the Grammy's website called, "a Canadian Mountie hat, if a Canadian Mountie hat was about 92 percent larger and 81 percent poofier. Hey, if he wins, at least he'll have a place to put that Grammy trophy. He could probably fit six of them in there." Within minutes, a Twitter parody account called @PharrellHat had spring up tweet parody pics throughout the night. Here's what some other Twitter fans thought of his look:

Sarah Jessica Parker will present her new shoe line at Nordstrom NorthPark Center on March 9

photo: Fashion Foie Gras

It seems like such a natural thing for Sarah Jessica Parker to design a shoe collection, that I'm honestly shocked it's taken this long to happen.  Finally, the stars have aligned and the SJP Collection by Sarah Jessica Parker will launch exclusively in Nordstrom stores and at nordstrom.com on February 28th. Featuring shoes, handbags, and a trench coat, the collection is a reflection of Sarah Jessica’s personal style and inspired by details from her childhood, design heroes, and favorite spots in New York. The shoe prices range from $195 to just under $500. The entire shoe collection is made in Italy from high quality leathers and materials. The SJP handbags are functional pieces but with a fun and fashionable twist. They can be carried by the everyday woman on the go and transition easily to night out. The line features versatile styles from the “New Yorker” hobo shoulder bag, the “Waverly” cross body and the “Beekman” clutch, all named after some of her favorite NYC spots. They will retail from $245 to $375.

Even MORE exciting, is that Sarah Jessica will present the line in person at Nordstrom NorthPark Center on March 9th. More details regarding the time of her appearance are on the way... For now, just put the date on your calendar with a big red circle around it!

Addison refreshes and rebrands

Just like people, brands need an occasional makeover to stay current.  With the tagline, “It All Comes Together,” city leaders used an interactive experience last week at Whole Foods Market in Addison to introduce residents, visitors and business leaders to a fresh new branding look for the North Texas municipality.

The city’s new, clean, sophisticated blue circular mark was developed and selected through a 12-month long process involving nearly 4,000 people including residents, business leaders and visitors, along with City Council members and Addison employees.

The new logo will be used to represent Addison across all departments. The new look is “very authentic to who Addison is at the core—it has a nod to the past—but has an easy to read, vibrant, sophisticated design ideal for the present and the future,” said Carrie Rice, Director of Marketing and Communications for Addison.

Sponsored: Learn Courtney Kerr's beauty secrets and meet the man behind her flawless face

You know Courtney Kerr is a big fan of Botox. Meet the man that keeps her beautiful and ask the Bravo star all about her beauty regimen. Call 972-620-3223 to register!

Meet author Sam Harris on February 4

Sam Harris will make an appearance in Dallas on February 4 for the launch of his first book, “HAM: SLICES OF A LIFE”, while celebrating the Grand Opening of ilume Park. “HAM: SLICES OF A LIFE” is a collection of short stories and essays from Sam and his journey through life. Harris will be reading excerpts from his newly released book and performing musical numbers live at 7:30 PM. Master of Ceremonies Ron Corning, Anchor and Reporter for WFAA, will emcee this great event with Sam as the live entertainment.

Harris is a multi-platinum recording artist and has toured the globe in concert, including sell-outs at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles’ Universal Amphitheatre, London’s West End, The Boston Pops and performing the duets show, Schmooli & Minnooli, with Liza Minnelli. On television, Sam first came to national attention as the premiere winner on Star Search. He was a series regular on the CBS comedy, The Class, recurred on Rules of Engagement and has appeared on numerous specials and talk shows, from Leno to Oprah.

ilume Park is located at 3109 Douglas Ave., Dallas, TX 75219. Tickets can be purchased at samharrisevent.eventbrite.com.

Proceeds of the event will benefit Red Party Foundation, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing thousands of members of the community together each year to fun and varying events, including the annual Red Party. These events provide financial support to Legacy Counseling, Inc., the largest provider of mental health services to those living with HIV/AIDS, and helps advance the knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and counseling services. For more information about Red Party please visit: http://redpartydallas.org/about/

Cattle Baron's Announces Kenny Chesney for 2014 Ball

To celebrate the 41st anniversary of Cattle Baron’s Ball, Co-Chairs Cindy Stager and Jill Tananbaum decided to shake things up. Their first shocking announcement was that this annual shin dig would be moved from it's long-time home at Southfork Ranch to Gilley’s.  Why? Maybe because it rains every single year. I can't believe it took someone this long to decide that maybe moving to an indoor venue was a good idea.  Their next bombshell was dropped tonight with the announcement of the entertainer for this year's October 18 event themed "Country Rocks". Get ready, Dallas, to par-tay with Kenny Chesney!!

To learn more about this event, visit http://www.cattlebaronsball.com

Texas Hill Country named one of 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2014 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Planning a romantic getaway? Perhaps a fun weekend with friends? Chances are that Sonoma or Napa Valley have come in that conversation. Have you ever considered wine-tasting in Fredericksburg or Johnson City? Yep, I said wine-tasting... in TEXAS!  Wine Enthusiast Magazine just named the Hill Country in its list of "10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2014"

According to Wine Enthusiast, Texas is the No. 5 wine-producing state in the U.S. and our "most promising wines boast super sized flavors."   Alexis Korman writes, "...the explosion of new wineries and tasting rooms along scenic Highway 290 west of Austin hasn’t lessened Hill Country’s old-fashioned country charm. It’s still a sea of cowboy hats and pickup trucks, a place where you can sip award-winning wines in a landscape dotted with as many cacti as vines. Visitors may flock to Hill Country to sip wine, but they end up drinking in the romance of the Old West, too. "

To read their recommendations of how to drink your way through an amazing Texas wine adventure, visit http://www.winemag.com/February-2014/10-Best-Wine-Travel-Destinations-2014/index.php/slide/Texas-Hill-Country--USA/cparticle/4.

Sponsored: Downton to a Tea

I've always found it ironic that our Country was started by people who hated the English monarchy so much they were willing to flee halfway around the world to escape it - and yet - to this day we are in explicitly drawn to anything British. From the Will, Kate and baby George to One Direction to Downton Abbey, we Americans are cray-cray for that accent, culture and way of life.  Pip, pip and cheerio!

Also taking note of our British obsession is Kathy Adams Furniture + Design who is introducing a grand partnership with the Althorp Collection by Theodore Alexander during “Downton to a Tea,” a special day-long event with a distinct British accent. The festivities start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014, as Kathy Adams Furniture + Design celebrates all things British with an impressive lineup of British partners. Kathy Adams Furniture + Design established the partnership with the Althorp Collection because of its rich history, fine craftsmanship and international reputation of the personal antiques of Charles Spencer, the 9 Earl of Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess Diana. Each of the pieces of furniture and upholstery are based on antiques from the family’s sprawling home in Althorp, England, and Kathy Adams Furniture + Design has partnered with the collection, which will be on display and available for purchase at Kathy Adams’ 23,000-square-foot showroom beginning January 25, 2014.

Pat Smith honors Second Chances

Pat Smith’s personal journey and setbacks have made her the person she is today and through her charity, Treasure You, she is helping other women find a renewed sense of power and purpose. This past Saturday, Pat Smith’s Treasure You celebrated women from Dallas and across the country who have overcome adversity. Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts was the keynote speaker, sharing the challenges and fighting spirit she used to overcome cancer.  I walked into the Hyatt Regency ballroom and felt like I had been transported to the set of Oprah. This production was not only enjoyed by the 100 or so guests who were there by personal invitation, it was streamed live on the internet and filmed for a future "sizzle reel". Spotted in the crowd were Mayor Mike Rawlings and his wife Micki, Dawn Neufeld, Bishop TD Jakes, Shon Gables, Faye Briggs and Kay Hammond.

E!'s #RichKids Scavenger Hunt hits Dallas

Earlier this week, I brought you news from E! about a fun promotion they were doing in Dallas called "Finders Keepers" to market their new show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills debuting this Sunday night. The #RichKids team hit the streets of Dallas on Friday, planting five luxury items for discovery. Photos were posted to their Instagram account giving fans visual clues to the locations of the five items. Photos of landmarks, street signs and iconic markers and other clues pointed the way to the hidden luxury items: headphones, bracelet, backpack, wallet, and handbag.

Henrik Hiort was the first to reach the #RichKids team at Dallas City Hall and win a Gucci handbag

I thought I'd see if I could nab a prize for myself. I mean, after all, who knows this city better than someone who writes about every day. Certain I could decipher the clues, I pulled up Instagram on Friday morning and clicked refresh about a hundred times until the game began...  When this first photo popped up I was STOKED. First off, it was the prize I wanted the most out of all of the offerings: a coveted Gucci handbag. Second, I knew right away where they were - City Hall. Thirdly, I was pretty sure that this photo would stump a lot of people. City Hall isn't an entertainment, dining or shopping destination so probably 90% of our citizens have never been there. Hoping this gave me an edge I ran out the door, hopped into my car and tore down the Tollway towards Downtown, certain that Gucci handbag would be mine.

I got to City Hall about 15 minutes after the photo had posted to Instagram and raced over to the Team... only to be informed that I was the second person on the scene. And you know who beat me? A BOY.  A boy who doesn't carry a purse. Oh, the travesty of it all... So, to Henrik the "tall, skinny Swede", I want you to know that I have put a hex on you. Grrrr. Since it was a work day, I didn't chase after the other prizes. Below are the clues for the remainder of the prizes and the winners. How many of these photo clues can you get right off the bat?!

Belk previews Spring looks in anticipation of Galleria opening

Lucy Dang with Arlene Goldstein

Arlene Goldstein knows how to impress Dallas fashionistas. Belk's vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction nabbed the company's private jet and soared into Big D this past Thursday to host an exclusive media-only spring fashion forecast event.

Goldstein is a regular fashion and style contributor to Huffington Post and a notable fashion resource for stylists and fashion publications throughout the country providing first looks and insider knowledge on what to wear now.

The veteran style expert shared fashion trends and forecasts for the spring season. Attendees got a glimpse of the designer brands that will be available at Belk’s new flagship store opening at Galleria Dallas in April.

Also making an appearance was Lucy Dang. This past June Dang was named as one of 8 designers in Belk's Southern Designer Showcase 2013. Look for Lucy Dang designs in 40 of Belk's flagship stores starting Spring 2014.

Jillian Michaels is coming to Dallas to help you "Maximize Your Life"

The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels, America’s leading authority in health, wellness and fitness, will bring her critically acclaimed motivational live tour “Maximize Your Life” to McFarlin Auditorium in Dallas on Friday, April 4 (7 p.m.).

Jillian will take the stage for this intimate and uniquely personal live experience that will provide you with the tools and motivation to harness your potential, kick-start your goals, and live the exceptional life that you’ve always wanted, but thought wasn’t possible.

Set fire to your dreams! Imagine. Believe. Achieve. These words define the core of Jillian’s message. In an exhilarating, two-hour show, Jillian will awaken you to reignite your passion, define your goals and live in your authentic truth. She will teach you how to redefine your self-image, dramatically enhance your confidence and self-worth and blast through all internal and external obstacles.

Chef Eric Shelton to appear in Cutthroat Kitchen on January 19, 2014

Tune in to watch Kitchen LTO's newest chef, Eric Shelton, on the Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen this Sunday, January 19.  Each episode of Cutthroat Kitchen features four chefs faced with three cooking challenges. Each challenge gives the chefs a type of dish to create, typically expecting the chefs to refine the dish to high cuisine standards within a limited amount of time, typically 30 minutes, after a minute of acquiring ingredients from a pantry. After the dishes are prepared, a guest judge evaluates each dish and the chef with the worst dish is eliminated.

At the start of the game, each chef is given $25,000, which is theirs to keep if they win the competition. In the first two challenges after the chefs have acquired their ingredients, the host presents a number of sabotage elements that are put up for auction to the chefs using that money. The player winning the sabotage items can use it on the other chefs, impacting their ingredients, what cooking implements they may use, or other elements. For example, a sabotage item may force the chef receiving it to give up fresh ingredients for canned or frozen ones, or forced to cook without using a stovetop.

Bacardi cocktail competition shakes it up

Nightlife Contributor Jarrod Fresquez enjoys the Bacardi experience | photos Jarrod Fresquez

Bacardi cocktail competition shakes it up 
by Jarrod Fresquez

This past Monday evening BACARDĺ rum hosted the USBG Legacy Cocktail Showcase at the W Hotel. Thirteen mixologists were chosen from some of Dallas’ best night spots, known for their craft cocktails, to compete and be judged on their unique rum-based libations’ balance, flavor, quality of ingredients and aesthetic appeal, as well as their enduring popularity and the story behind them. As a kicker, two winners will have the opportunity to participate in the national showcase for the chance to represent the US in the global showcase in April.

I stepped off the elevator onto the 33rd floor and entered into a wide open expanse of white floors, white leather furniture and mirrored mosaic walls. Uplit Bacardi bottles were in abundance, and you couldn’t look anywhere without seeing their logo, a black free-tailed bat emblazoned on a vibrant bed of red ringed in gold. Off to one side was a branded ice sculpture sitting atop the buffet, and at the end of the room was the 30 foot bar backed by shelves upon shelves of the Cuban elixir. Tucked away in the corner was a photo booth, which seems to have become a welcome staple at parties now. The best part was that the entire nighttime skyline acted as the backdrop, viewed through the floor to ceiling windows running along the entire far wall. The centerpiece of this event though was the stand-alone bar where the competition would take place.

Luxury Resale Site Vaunte Delves Into the Closets of Dallas Fashionistas

"There are now quite a few e-commerce startups offering visitors the opportunity to shop the closets of celebrities and “fashion insiders,” but we’re not sure any of them are doing it as well as Vaunte." gushes Fashionista.com, "Vaunte is glossy and easy to use and has really good people (Vaunte calls them “starlets”) on board selling their unwanted goods. It’s sort of like The Coveteur except you can buy all the pieces they photograph–as in seriously the exact same pieces in all their pre-owned glory. The inventory is pretty much all designer, so nothing is super cheap–the people behind the site know what things are worth–but there are definitely good deals to be found."

In recent weeks Vaunte has featured some of Dallas' most fashionable ladies including Joslyn Taylor from Swoon, Toni Munoz-Hunt and Laura Ginsburg Pierson who is the owner & designer of Ryan Kippel and Manager at Lela Rose.

You can peruse the goods at https://www.vaunte.com.  Happy shopping, ladies.

E! plays finders keepers in Dallas to promote #RichKids of Beverly Hills

E!’s new series “#RichKids of Beverly Hills” takes viewers inside an elite circle of wealthy twenty-somethings whose closets are filled with items from the world’s most luxurious brands, and to celebrate the January 19 premiere (10pm ET/PT), the network is inviting fans in major cities throughout the U.S. to join in “Finders Keepers,” in which the prizes are free for the taking and include five fabuluxe items in each city.

#RichKids Wang & Stewart are good at selfies

E!’s “#RichKids” Team will be in Dallas on JANUARY 17 planting five luxury items for discovery. Fans can check Instagram (@RichKidsOfBH) for visual clues to the locations of the five items on that day. Photos of landmarks, street signs and iconic markers and other clues will point the way to the hidden luxury items, and what lavish items they are!

The “#RichKids” Team will plant one of each of the following designer items: headphones, bracelet, backpack, wallet, and handbag. When an eligible fan/follower discovers one of the items, they simply just take a selfie with it, use our hashtag, post to Instagram in true #RichKids fashion and it is all theirs. After all … “Finders Keepers!”

Will Courtney Loves Dallas Get a Season Two?

Courtney Kerr photographed Scot and Kristi Redman in December 2013

We all know that Courtney Loves Dallas, but how are viewers loving Courtney Kerr? According to Bravo Ratings, last week's January 10th episode "hit a season high with 765,000 viewers total, with 472,000 of those in the 18-49 demo (demo 0.40). That’s the first 0.40 for Courtney as well as the first time she’s exceeded 700,000 viewers which presumably sets her up nicely for the last two episodes of her freshman season. Last night’s ratings have helped raise the season-to-date average to 626,333 viewers per episode and 373,000 aged 18 to 49 years, and through the six weeks the retention of Matchmaker audience is averaging 55%. Given that this show is probably reasonably cheap to produce, it’s possible that another two weeks of ratings around 800,000 might just convince Bravo Media to commission another season."

If you have watched the show, let me know what you think. Have you enjoyed the series? Would you watch a season two? Should Tori Gonzales get her own spin off? Do they need to film more episodes IN Dallas and quit leaving the city limits? (I say YES).  Discuss...

Golden Globes 2014 Fashion Highlights

Who won big at this year's 71st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best film and TV in 2013? Who cares. Let's talk about what really important... what all of the celebrities were wearing!  Here are my picks for the Best, the Worst and everything in between:

OSC BEST DRESSED NOMINEES

From left to right:
Olivia Wilde in Gucci
Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad
Lupita Nyong'o in Ralph Lauren
Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé

Oh So Tasty: Cauliflower Soup from Battuto

photo Julie Gates

Gene and Julie Gates of Battuto Italian Kitchen are offering diners at their restaurant free refills of their delicious Cauliflower Soup all month long in celebration of National Soup Month. Can't make it over there in the next couple of weeks? No worries! They are also sharing the recipe for those who wish to make it at home.

They claim "their cauliflower with roasted garlic soup is simply delicious AND guilt-free with less than 110 calories per serving so it's perfect for all those New Years resolutions to eat healthy and lose weight!"

Let me know what you think!

Chris Phelps creates the Tacky Box to encourage children to make good choices

Emma Phelps shows off her Tacky Box | photo Elizabeth Lavin

You've probably heard the old adage: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” This concept was fully realized for Chris Phelps, the day her daughter Emma, then halfway through her kindergarten year, nonchalantly used her first four letter word. Shocked and unprepared for the moment, Chris panicked – then got creative – she gave her daughter a wooden box and told her to write the bad word on a piece of paper.  She then asked her to lock it away in the "Tacky Box" and not use it again. The unexpected result was how well it worked – not just on four letter words but also unkind phrases and tacky behavior – and the resulting ripple effect. Being a 5-year old girl, Emma also decided to bedazzle her Tacky Box with paint, stickers, color and the like. You know, 'cuz that's what kids do. 

Cindy Kent and Chris Phelps

"When I created Tacky Box," says creator Chris Phelps, "I never expected it to work so well, and I certainly never imagined the resulting ripple effect. After the first week, I saw a noticeable change in both of my children. They began to take pride in distinguishing between what’s appropriate and inappropriate and in policing their own words and actions.

And, to my amazement, they also began to gently and successfully encourage those around them to choose to be kind rather than tacky. This unforeseen result gives me hope that we can collectively raise this generation of kids to put kindness first and ultimately leave the world a better place."

Knowing every parent faces the issue of tacky words and behavior, Chris and her mom, Cindy Kent, partnered up to share the idea that worked so well for Emma and Jake. As a former educator and professional artist who understands the value of a lesson, Cindy created the characters of Margo and Max the Monkeys to help tell Emma’s story and hopefully make the job of a parent a little bit easier by creating a visual and hands on tool.

Having witnessed the impact of Tacky Box on Emma, Jake and their friends, Chris’ longtime friends, Karen Cuskey and James Regester joined in the effort to take Tacky Box’s message of personal responsibility and kindness to the masses. Tacky Box started with a four letter word and evolved into a collaborative effort to make the world a kinder place, one child at a time.

Casting: Diane von Fürstenberg is looking for brand ambassadors

Cynthia Smoot with Diane von Fürstenberg

Diane von Fürstenberg breezed through Dallas a few months ago in celebration of her iconic Wrap Dress. It was the hottest thing around in the 70s, fell out of favor (but not production) in the 80s but has made a comeback in new millennium!

Next year, the wrap dress will celebrate it's 40th year in production. Something that's never happened before. Sure, Coco Chanel invented the concept of the little black dress, but it was never about one dress. 

This iconic designer is currently conducting a nationwide search for eight ambassadors (ages 20-25) to "travel the world, live the jet set life" and represent the DVF brand. 

Sounds like a tough gig...

I can't think of a better mentor to "learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry" from.  If you would describe yourself as "smart, sophisticated and savvy... with a great sense of style" then give it a go.

Additional details are listed below:

FT33's Matt McAllister to host Guest Chef Series

FT33's Matt McCallister
(photo credit: Kevin Marple)

(Press Release)  FT33 and Executive Chef and Owner Matt McCallister has invited some of the nation’s most heralded chefs into the FT33 kitchen to create unorthodox yet harmonious collaborative menus for a series of guest chef dinners beginning in February 2014.

Curated by McCallister the dinner series features culinary visionaries that share his values of honest, seasonally–based cooking with exquisite presentation and thoughtful execution.

The dinners, eight-course menus with optional complementary wine pairings, will capture the distinct essence of each notable chef using local ingredients. Chef Matt McCallister, known for modernist interpretations of Southern cuisine, will rotate courses each night with the selected guest chef, culminating in a symphony of flavors and regional styles.

The guest chef dinner series will take place at FT33 on the third Monday of each month, and will showcase the talents of multifaceted chefs spanning the nation.  This unique experience will run you $110 per person for the eight-course menu, $50 per person for wine pairings

Reservations are required and seating is limited. (i.e., CALL NOW!)

Dallas Dweller: Jan Strimple

Dallas is full of colorful characters. There are those you see monthly in the society pages, whose stories are legendary in this town. But, this feature is inspired by the people that I think you should know more about because of their fabulous style, interesting back-story or amazing accomplishments.  Dallas Dweller seeks to introduce you to these fabulous faces.  Jan Strimple is an icon to the local fashion community. This former model turned events producer is the creative genius behind some of Dallas' biggest and most extravagant events. This beauty is not afraid to put her time, talent and face behind the causes she believes in.

Strimple, pictured at the SMITH II fashion show, is a huge proponent of emerging Dallas designers
(September 2013) photo ℅ Sukilynn Photography

Jan Strimple

photo: Facebook

Turning heads is something Jan Strimple is used to. With her flaming orange hair, stunning chiseled looks and willowy stature, Jan Stimple is a hard woman to ignore. "She is the consummate conversationalist," says FD Luxe, "A catwalking encyclopedia of fashion knowledge and, by simply entering the room, a divine scene-stealer." I completely concur.

By the time she was 13, Strimple stood 5' 10" so she joined a Teen board and started modeling. In 1975, at the age of 19, she and her new husband Dan drove out of their hometown of Kent, Ohio with $600 to their name in Strimple's orange Vega hatchback equipped with a one-wheel trailer that held their clothes, some pots and pans, basic grooming essentials, some linens and pillows to travel the country and figure out where they wanted to settle.

After a couple of years of roaming, they moved to San Antonio for Dan's first foray into the golf business. "At that time, Frost Bros was the Neiman Marcus of San Antonio," says Strimple. "I worked as the house model doing their trunk shows and formal shows. My last year with them I worked as their assistant couture buyer and opened their Houston stores."

The Best Movies of All Time

photo: ABC News

I was up at 5am today to get my boys off to the airport. Yawn. Once they were gone, I poured myself a strong cup of coffee and hit up Twitter to see what was happening.

All of my local morning show TV pals were wide awake and cheerily tweeting away.  Lindsay Wilcox at NBC 5 tweeted out an admission, "Confession: Never seen a Star Trek episode. What's a 'must see' that you haven't?" to which her co-worker Samantha Davies tweeted, "I've seen Star Trek but never Star Wars…"

I'm sorry… WHAT?!

That got me thinking… What are my favorite movies of all time. The ones that I have watched over and over and over and they continue to inspire me, entertain me and make me laugh?

Disclaimer: I love action, adventure, romance and singing. I like happy endings and tap-dancing off into the sunsets. You will find no horror movies or gut-wrenching dramas on my list. When I pay $48 for a movie ticket I better walk out of the theater feeling good about myself and the world. Not miserable and depressed about how life sucks. Just sayin'. So, here are a few of my must-see flicks of all time:

Help the Lost Boys living in DFW have a Happy Birthday

photo ℅ Friends of the Lost Boys DFW

The Lost Boys of Sudan were approximately 30,000 boys orphaned or separated from their families as preteens in the 1980s in the midst of a brutal civil war in Africa. They grew up in deep poverty and terrible conditions in refugee camps. In 2000-2001, 4,000 of them came to the United States to start a new life here. Currently there are approximately 100 “Lost Boys” living in the DFW area. They did not know their birth dates, so the US government assigned them all birthdays of January 1st. To celebrate, on January 11th, the Friends of the Lost Boys organization, in collaboration with the Young Men’s Service League, is hosting its fourth annual birthday party for the Lost Boys of Sudan, along with their wives and children at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church at 5:30pm.

The party will feature an inspirational speaker, provide dinner, and set up a store where the "boys" (now men, really) can choose needed items from donations collected. If you have any unneeded LIKE NEW men’s, women’s or children’s clothing, household items (bedding, towels, dishes, cooking items, etc.), used laptops, or toys - Friends of Lost Boys would love to have your donation. Gift cards to Walmart or Target are always a welcome gift as well. The Lost Boys are also in need of 7 beds, any size. Men now, the “Lost Boys” are in their 20s and 30s. They are diligent, hardworking, have strong faith, a good work ethic, and take nothing for granted. Some have married and have young families. Life is still hard; some are trying to finish college or looking for good jobs. They do not have money for luxuries, so they will truly appreciate any items you are able to provide.

Friends of the Lost Boys – DFW is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and they can provide tax receipts if desired. Please drop your donations off at 3515 Rosedale Avenue, 2841 Fondren Avenue, 3112 Drexel Avenue, or 2916 McFarlin Avenue in Dallas between January 1-10. For more information, visit www.friendslostboys.org

Duck Dynasty Does Dallas

A few days ago I saw a tweet from Missy Robertson that said, "Spending New Year's traveling for Mia's cleft surgery this Friday. Plan to squeeze in some fun before the big day. #PrayersAppreciated" Apparently that surgery is here in Dallas (Children's Hospital would be my guess) because photos of the family's "fun times" have begun to circulate on social media and sightings are happening all over town. Mia's Aunt, Jessica Robertson, tweeted out several photos of the family's visit to Medevial Times last night and today they were spotted shopping at the Galleria, specifically the American Girl store. We wish Mia all the best on her surgery and send prayers for a speedy recovery!

From left to right: Lily Robertson, Mia Robertson, Crew Wyard, Priscilla Robertson and Merit Robertson

My favorite knight-in-shining-armor Crew Wyard held court with the little ladies of Duck Dynasty. 

Win a Trip to Cabo San Lucas

This year I am proud to be a part of the inaugural group of "Fashion Stars For A Cause" led by Yvonne Crum and Beverly Drive Magazine.  This event will have a big focus on the cause of suicide prevention and how it has an impact in the community and proceeds will benefit the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas. There are a couple of ways you can participate: Join me at the gala dinner at Dallas Country Club on March 21, 2014. A table of 10 is $5000 or join me at my table for $500 a seat. Larger sponsorships are also available.

If that's a little pricey for you, you can support the cause by purchasing raffle tickets to WIN a trip for 2 to Cabo San Lucas. The winner will enjoy two round-trip airline tickets on American Airlines, a three-night stay at the Estrella Suite at the Capella Hotel, breakfast for two daily, a dinner at El Farallon for two, 60-minute spa treatments for two and round-trip transfer from the airport to the hotel. AMAZING!! Tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100.  The drawing will be held on May 24, 2014 and you do NOT have to be present to win.

Your support is so appreciated by Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, as well as the thousands of children and families in our community whose lives are helped by the programs of Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas.  Interested in learning more or want to try your luck at that trip? Email me at cynthia @ohsocynthia .com.