Chefs find themselves drafted at the 2018 KidLinks VIP Patron & Chef Selection Party

photos c/o Thomas Garza


The US Military draft might have ended in 1973, but the concept was alive and well at the recent 2018 KidLinks VIP Patron & Chef Selection party hosted by The Dallas Cowboys & Legends Hospitality - but this time Tiffany Derry from Bravo TV Top Chef All-Stars and Top Chef Junior fame led the charge in conducting a 23 table & chef selection event at The Star in Frisco for what is sure to be the culinary event of the year. Hamilton A Sneed acted as the War Room correspondent between chefs, guests and sponsors as guests including Ann & J.W. Brown, Aimee & Adam Hall, Mike Dollar & wife Karen and founding event chairs Bonnie & Nathan Shea claimed their table's chef for the upcoming Symphony of Chefs Gala. There were even financial challenges and draft seats being given up raising an extra $5K+ on the spot for the charity.

The 8th Annual Symphony of Chefs will be held on Monday, February 26, 2018 at Sixty Five Hundred benefiting KidLinks. The theme of this culinary evening is “global fare” and will begin with a hors d’oeuvres reception featuring Rising Star Chefs, followed by a seated 4-course dinner prepared table-side by Featured Dinner Chefs and concluding with a decadent dessert reception by a group of incredible Pastry Chefs led by Honorary Chef Chair, Tiffany Derry of Roots Chicken Shak at Legacy Hall. Each course of the evening is paired with wine. Additional highlights of the evening to include live musical entertainment and a lively live auction of chef & dining experiences. This culinary evening is led by Honorary Chair Faye C. Briggs and Event Co-Chairs Georgia & Marc Lyons and Vinette & Mike Montgomery. Good Morning Texas Co-Host Jane McGarry will serve as emcee. Funds raised from this event will support KidLinks efforts to provide healing experiences for the special needs of children through performing arts and media, funded therapeutic music initiatives, university-level Music Therapy training and free or low cost treatment programs for children in need. We are told that only a few seats remain so grab yours for the year's hottest foodie event! http://www.thekidlinks.org/soc.html

Symphony of Chefs 2017 Takes Dining For A Cause To A Whole New Level

photos c/o Thomas Garza


The social season is in full swing and as a result I am so behind in bringing you the scoop from the scene. Better late than never, right. I attended the 7th Annual Symphony of Chefs benefitting KidLinks on February 27, 2017 at the newly renovated and renamed Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station and was so impressed with the spectacular event that Hamilton A Sneed of HAS Events produced. This culinary evening was led by Honorary Chairs D’Andra Simmons-Lock and Jeremy Lock, Event Co-Chairs Georgia & Marc Lyons and Bonnie & Nathan Shea and Honorary Chef Chair, Salvatore Gisellu with Urban Family Restaurants. The unforgettable night began with an hors d’oeuvres reception featuring Rising Star Chefs: Jan Loov of Texas Spice, Benjamin Maulsby of Happiest Hour, and Juan Orocio of 4R Ranch Vineyards & Winery. DSQ Electric provided a live musical performance from the balcony in the Stationmasters Lounge lending a romantic flavor to the start of the night.

Folds of Honor Moves Into North Texas Looking For Support For The Families Of Veterans

Photo Credit: Mark Anthony Nelson and Bob Manzano


On February 3, hostess Valerie Istre opened her gorgeous Highland Park home to an intimate crowd of 100 plus for a reception celebrating the North Texas chapter of Folds of Honor. Military veterans including board members Col. Allen West and Capt. Phil Appenzeller, Jr., along with double Purple Heart recipient Joe Reyna mixed and mingled with powerhouse philanthropists Lynn McBee, Carmen Surgent, LeeAnne Locken and Rich Emberlin, Brandi Redmond, Stephanie Hollman, Dee Simmons, Amanda and Lloyd Ward, Trevor Strawhecker, Lindsay Lee McCain, Cary Deuber and Jonika Nix for an evening of sharing stories and garnering support for the families of fallen soldiers. My Father was a Marine in Vietnam and my maternal Grandfather was a doctor in Africa during WWII. On my husband's side of the family, his father dedicated 20+ years of service to our Country serving in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. He then went on to work for the Secret Service, doing special projects for several years. Fortunately, I have not experienced the loss of a family member through war, but I have most certainly been raised to look at their service with reverence and appreciation so I am always eager to support organizations like this one. The refreshingly eclectic group was eager to learn more about the ambitious organization that grants more than $10.5 million annually in educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled service men and women nationwide. While the North Texas chapter is still young, its more established big brother, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., boasts an impressive resume of corporate partners like Budweiser, Coca-Cola, the PGA and Southwest Airlines. For more information about Folds of Honor North Texas visit http://foldsofhonornorthtexas.org/

To read more about the Real Housewives of Dallas, CLICK HERE!

Let the bidding begin! Art From the Heart kicks off with a Preview Party

Last Thursday,  Jones Walker Home provided Dallas Challenge the opportunity to preview art that will be up for bid at the 5th Annual ART FROM THE HEART Celebrity Art Auction & Benefit, a fundraising event featuring the artwork of celebrities and professional artists. This chic affair will be held at Seven for Parties in the Dallas Design District on Friday, April 25, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Attendees to the Preview Party were able to not only be the first to view select pieces, but kick off the bidding and set the tone for this year’s auction frenzy! Co-chairs LeeAnne Locken and Lindsay Lee McCain played host to a crowd that included fashion designer Elizabeth Anyaa, Britt Harless of Bohem Unique Gems, Janet Fresquez, Shane Walker, Hamilton Sneed, fashion designer Charles Smith II, and blogger Tiffany Hendra.

Fashion Magic at The Pin Show 2014

Rochelle Rodriguez, c.h.r.o.m.a., Coco Franco  |  photos c/o QC Cong 

The Pin Show has become known for featuring the latest in locally produced, independent fashion on a runway. Originating as a liaison for independent designers to gain access to stylists, artists, retail buyers and the like, this unique Dallas fashion show has gained tremendous momentum and a devoted following and support by those in the Dallas fashion industry.

The Event Nerd provided pre-event fun.
Did they capture my spunky spirit?!

While most designers are Texas based, the most recent Pin Show featured designers from all over Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and Louisiana. This year's show included 15 new designers and 8 veteran designers for a total of 24 lines hitting the runway.

Among the stylish scouting for new looks were Gina Ginsburg, Hamilton Sneed, Jackson, Bri Crum, DFW Style Daily's Lisa Petty and Leah Frazier, Steve Kemble, Charles Smith II, LeeAnne Locken and Aftershock London's Imran Sheikh.

Each designer showcased 6 looks on the runway, featuring menswear, women’s Ready-To-Wear, avante-garde, bridal, jewelry, handbags, intimates, full figure and resort wear. Designers for the 2014 show included: c.h.r.o.m.a, Thriii, Kae & Jae, Little Day Dresses, Becky Hollands, Coco franco, Charmaine Marshall, Cykochik, Marek + Richard, Hardly, Alice, megMORGAN, yomono, folksy menswear, Rochelle Rodriguez, Le'Venity, LHP, blokes n divas, Melancholic Design, Tracy Popken, Ann Hoang by Ann Hoang, Gia Rodriguez, This One Woman and Sandbarri.

Fashion Group International Announces the Fashion Police for 2013

HALT! You are under arrest.
I am now officially a member of the FGI Fashion Police 2013!

If you are involved with fashion as a career or just love fashion and appreciate the art form, you need to attend Fashion Group International's (FGI) Fashion & Lifestyle Awards ‘Night of Stars’ Gala. It is the largest fundraiser of the year for FGI of Dallas and directly funds and supports Career Day. Held annually in April, Career Day provides over $40,000 in multiple scholarships to local fashion students.

What I love about this event - outside of supporting FGI - is that it is the BEST event of the year for people-watching. Why, you ask? Because in fashion, honey, they dress to impress. When you are dealing with the creme de la creme of the industry, I can assure you that they are going to pull out ALL the stops to make sure their look is flawless.

To help raise money for the cause, FGI selects individuals each year to be on the Fashion Police squad. Our job is to raise awareness and funds (see below) for FGI through this event.  Joining me on this year's unit is Scott Finfer, Dan Pritchett, Jennifer de Soccaraz-Flemming, Hamilton Sneed, Rachel Roberts, Tre Wilcox, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Jim Duran, Crystal Wilson Herrera, Janet Fresquez and LeeAnne Locken.

Patron Magazine (run by the exquisite Terri Provencal) is the media partner for this event, so it fell to them to debut our glam squad in their August issue. Check out the awesome spread above... If you'd like to pick up a copy, you can find Patron at Barnes and Noble, Meadows Museum Gift Shop or subscribe online at http://patronmagazine.com/subscription.html

Oh So Charitable: 2d Annual Leadership Foundation Gala

Cynthia Smoot & Matt Nordgren
photo: John "Doc" Strange, Selig Images

The Leadership Foundation held their second annual awards gala on December 7, 2012 at The Room on Main benefiting The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and just keep livin' foundation.

In May 2010, the Rangers Foundation launched a partnership with the just keep livin foundation (founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey) and implemented the after-school program in three high schools in North Texas: Sam Houston High School in Arlington; Pinkston High School in Dallas; and Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School in Fort Worth. The program takes place twice a week, two hours a week after school, and provides fitness, nutrition, and self-awareness activities. Students also participate in a variety of community service activities.

Founded in 2011 by CEO of Nordco Consulting, Matt Nordgren, The Leadership Foundation is committed to giving back to non-profits whose purpose is to empower youth through sports and education. I know Nordgren from his time on Bravo's Most Eligible Dallas. You might know his from his time as Quarterback for the University of Texas. The spotlight fades quickly once the cameras stop rolling and it's nice to see that Nordgren has shrewdly married his sports and entertainment worlds to create something bigger than himself.

Cattle Baron's 2012: The Good, the Bad and the Muddy

Can you believe that until Saturday night, I had never been to Cattle Baron's Ball. Although this is a legendary event around these parts, I have just never had a burning desire to dress up in western wear and drive out to Parker, Texas for some boot scootin'.

This year, I felt like it was something I needed to man up and do, just to cross off the list - when I received an invite to sit at the table of Pucci Lisenbee (I swear to God, that's his real name) and be a guest of Burberry.  Coincidentally, I had just aquired a smokin' hot pair of Bonafide Boots. I took it as a sign that I was meant to go. This was the year.

As you all know, the flood gates opened up and it poured rain all day and into Saturday night. The best thing I can say about this year's Cattle Baron's Ball was that the poor event Chairs, Skye Brewer and Kristen Johnston, did the best they could under the circumstances.