How Dallas' Famous Faces Celebrated New Years Eve

Proving like they are just like us - only richer and usually better dressed - Dallas celebrities, sports stars and media journalists brought in the New Year like most of us... with friends, food and a whole lotta booze. I hope that wherever you were and whatever you did, you ended 2015 and started the new year surrounded by family, friends and a whole lotta love. Happy New Year everybody!!

Today our Rookie Club teamed up with @DoGoodLiveWell to deliver food & spread cheer at a local senior facility. pic.twitter.com/guHPoJ79y5

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 28, 2015

Kicking off the New Years festivities a few days early, the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club teamed up with Do Good. Live Well to deliver food & spread cheer at a local senior facility.

We made it!!! Bon Voyage!! 🛳 pic.twitter.com/0nR5JtxSCp

— Melissa Rycroft (@MelissaRycroft) December 28, 2015

Well, @tonydovolani, looks a little different than the last time we did this...but not too shabby!! 😉 pic.twitter.com/72oqRGLSxM

— Melissa Rycroft (@MelissaRycroft) December 31, 2015

Melissa Rycroft (The Bachelor and Dancing With The Stars) headed off with her family on a Disney Cruise to bring in the New Year, proving that the happiest place on earth is anywhere your family is! And how cute is she with that baby bump!?

Dallas Celebrities Share Their Favorite Holiday Traditions

If you said the word "holidays" to a group of 200 people, I can guarantee you that 200 different visual reactions would occur within the minds of those being asked. Some of us grew up with lots of traditions and rituals, while others did not. This time of year is magical and wonderful and part of that reason is that everyone celebrates it differently! I asked some of my favorite Dallas celebrities and media pals to share what their favorite holiday traditions were. I hope you enjoy reading their answers as much I as did. Happy holidays!!

"Every Xmas eve since I was a little boy my family has celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes*. Now that I have Spoon we celebrate that family tradition in the restaurant.  The next morning I drive out to my wife's family's ranch and open presents with the kids and roast a couple of prime ribs and celebrate! "

- John Tesar, Owner and Executive Chef of Spoon Bar & Kitchen and former Top Chef contestant

*The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American Christmas celebration. Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. 

"My favorite part of the season is reminiscing about the look on the faces of children as they gaze upon Santa. I spent two years helping Santa in Kerens, Texas. I actually dressed up as Santa and drew holiday shoppers to town.

Many children posed in front of me for picture taking. It wasn't possible for them to sit on my lap but I remember the look in their eyes. Now that I'm Big Tex, I rest during the holidays but I still enjoy seeing children gaze up at a 55-ft. cowboy in amazement during the State Fair of Texas each year."

- Big Tex, State Fair of Texas spokesperson and Texas icon

YTAC hosts Chili Cook-Off and Brings the Heat Against Cancer

(top) Tanner Louis and the Aviators perform | WFAA's Colleen Coyle, Tim Halperin and friends
(bottom) This spunky group won the Team Spirit Award

Young Texans Against Cancer of Dallas hosted it's 1st Annual Chili Cook-off for a Cure on Saturday, February 23, 2013.  Let me just tell you... if you are between the ages of 25 and 35 this is a group you need to get involved with. The beautiful people turned out in full force for this event and it was a social scene!  The cook-off was held at the Foundry Bar, capitalizing on venue's cool outdoor space which was perfect for cooking up some mean chili from teams comprised of YTAC supporters. Over 150 people enjoyed food and offerings from neighboring Chicken Scratch, live music from the Tanner Louis and the Aviators, and cold beer and other beverages to help extinguish the heat from the chili. Colleen Coyle (WFAA's weather gal) totally took credit for the beautiful sunny day and held court at a table of friends that included her boyfriend, American Idol's Tim Halperin.  I was on a team of judges including Chef Tim Byres, Colleen Coyle and Crave DFW's Steven Doyle who got to sample all of the flavorful entries. Well, Steven was supposed to judge but he got caught up on a bus tour and missed all of the fun. Luckily, he showed up right as we were getting ready to announce the winners - because he was in possession of the gift cards that were awarded to the winners!   To learn more about YTAC and their upcoming events, visit http://ytac.org/.

Judging this chili cook-off was a tough job... but someone had to eat it!