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    Celebrity Sightings

    Jamie Foxx leads all-star cast of honorees at 2015 Texas Medal of Arts

    Diana Oates
    Feb 26, 2015 | 5:19 pm
    The stars aligned at the Long Center for Performing Arts in Austin Wednesday night — and by stars we mean actors, musicians, athletes and big-deal philanthropists who have at least two things in common: Texas and the arts.
    This was the 2015 Texas Medal of Arts Awards, which honors those who have helped shape the Lone Star arts scene — an industry that generates $5.1 billion annual for the state economy. The festivities began with a dazzling red carpet and cocktail reception, where event co-chairs Gene Jones and Charlotte Jones Anderson welcomed each award recipient who, although diverse in their craft, all hail from this great state:
    • Music: T Bone Burnett (Fort Worth)
    • Film: Jamie Foxx(Terrell)
    • Dance: Kilgore Rangerettes (Kilgore)
    • Visual Arts: Rick Lowe (Houston)
    • Literary Arts: Lawrence Wright(Austin)
    • Theatre: Robert Schenkkan (Austin)
    • Architecture: Charles Renfro (Houston)
    • Television: Dan Rather (Wharton)
    • Television: Chandra Wilson (Houston)
    • Corporate Arts Patron: Dr Pepper Snapple Group(Plano)
    • Individual Arts Patron: Margaret McDermott(Dallas)
    • Multimedia: Emilio Nicolas (San Antonio)
    • Arts Education: Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Dallas)
    • Standing Ovation Award: Ruth Altshuler(Dallas)
    • Lifetime Achievement Award: The Gatlin Brothers(Seminole)

    When it was showtime, guests packed into the auditorium and gave a warm welcome to special guest emcees Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, who call NFL games on Fox Sports. Their funny banter ranged from topics as the controversial catch/no catch debate from earlier in the year to Aikman’s Super Bowl trophy to Willie Nelson.

    During the presentation, every award recipient received a proper moment of glory. Noteworthy presenters — including Chris Harrison from ABC’s The Bachelor and 2009 Theatre Award recipient Betty Buckley — listed the honorees’ accolades, which were followed by short videos and their acceptance speeches.

    Although the night was not lacking in excitement — with performances by the Gatlin Brothers, Steve Miller, and Texas Young Masters Ani Mayo and Amber Pickens — two award recipients from Dallas won the hearts of all audience members with their candid, comedic remarks at the podium.

    Terrell native Jamie Foxx invited all of the recipients onstage for a rendition of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” with Foxx at the piano and Ray Benson on guitar.

    First up was 103-year-old Margaret McDermott, who was escorted onstage by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. The longtime Dallas philanthropist took us through her family history to shed some light on why she became so passionate about the arts — a passion that led to immense support of the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas Health Science Center, the Dallas Public Library System and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, just to name a few.

    She kept the crowd roaring with candid stories about her affluent family. She also told me, on the red carpet, that although she has been to some beautiful places in her lifetime to look at amazing art (“Well, London and Paris are pretty nice,” she said), she still thinks that Dallas boasts some of the best. She exited the stage to a standing ovation.

    Next up was Ruth Altshuler who was presented her award by her neighbor and dear friend, former first lady Laura Bush. Altshuler had the audience in her hand within seconds and she came out on the arm of Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett.

    “I just got escorted by Jason Garrett,” she said. “How do you like them apples?”

    Altshuler, who has been involved in countless philanthropic efforts — Salvation Army, United Way, AT&T Performing Arts Center, the list goes on — thanked the Texas Cultural Trust for improving access to arts education for all Texas students.

    The final trio of recipients carried the most star power: Chandra Wilson, Dan Rather and Jamie Foxx, all of whom accepted their awards to hoots and hollers from the crowd.

    Wilson gave big props to Houston for shaping her into the type of woman she is today. Rather got bonus points from all of the ladies in the crowd, because the majority of his speech revolved around his wife, Jean. He praised her not only for her artistic abilities, but also for the knowledge that she bestowed on him throughout the years as he polished his craft.

    Foxx ended the awards portion of the evening with a walk-through of some of his most beloved impersonations as a comedian and a touching story about his grandmother, who raised him. This proud Terrell native then invited all of the recipients onstage for a rendition of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” with Foxx at the piano and Ray Benson (who says he’s a CultureMap fan) on guitar.

    Post awards, recipients and attendees headed to an elaborate tent, which had been transformed by Todd Events into a purple and green botanical wonderland. Todd Fiscus himself was present for this big-deal dinner, along with fellow Dallasites Jerry Jones, Shy Anderson, Jennifer Sampson and Micki Rawlings.

    During the feast — beet salad, beef tenderloin with mushroom risotto and chocolate cake — guests heard from the co-chairs one last time. Anderson and Jones thanked everyone who made the night possible, including Texas Cultural Trust chairman Charles Matthews and honorary chairs Gov. Greg Abbott and Cecilia Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Susan Patrick, and Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus and Julie Straus.

    Proceeds from the evening benefit the programs administered by the Texas Cultural Trust, including the Texas Young Masters program. The Texas Medal of Arts Awards are handed out every other year to Texans who exhibit lifelong achievement in their area of expertise.

    Ray Benson, previous Texas Medal of Arts Award honoree.

    Texas Medal of Arts Awards 2015 Ray Benson
      
    Photo by Shelley Neuman
    Ray Benson, previous Texas Medal of Arts Award honoree.
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    Tastemaker Awards

    Tastemaker Awards party salutes the best in Dallas restaurants in 2025

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 5, 2025 | 7:59 pm
    Dallas Tastemaker Awards
    Ashley Gongora
    Dallas Tastemaker Awards

    Foodies from all across Dallas showed up for the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, celebrating Dallas' top restaurants, bars, and chefs who've led the local dining scene most in the past year.

    After months of buildup, the winners were revealed at an awards ceremony and tasting event on on Thursday, May 1 at the Astoria Event Venue in Irving.

    The presentation of the awards was the pinnacle in a night of food and drink, in which more than a dozen nominated chefs and restaurants served up delicious bites, while bartenders crafted cocktails incorporating spirits from event sponsors including: Still Austin Whiskey and Hornitos Tequila, along with Pennsyvania-based Yuengling Beer, who served their traditional lager as well as Flight, their light lager.

    There were specialty cocktails from Silent Pool Gin (English G&T), Hornitos Tequila (Hornitos Paloma, ranch water, and neat), Reyka Vodka (Reyka espresso martini and cucumber martini), and Still Austin Whiskey (Still Austin old fashioned, plus neat pours of Straight and Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye Whiskey).

    Alcohol-free options included the Honey Berry Fizz from Punch Bowl Social, the Cucumber Garden mocktail from Seedlip, and an irresistible pistachio espresso martini from Ritual Zero Proof.

    Saratoga Spring Water kept everyone hydrated, and also dispensed goody bags containing a box of chocolates, notepad & pen, wine key, key chain, and bottle of water to the nominees. Brioche Gourmet handed out rich bread items to all attendees.

    The tastiest plates of the night included Chicken kofta meatballs from Goodwins, Peking duck wraps and spicy tuna cones from Komodo, Salmon bowl box and sesame rice noodles from Loro (served in a cool take-out box), rigatoni Genovese from Perch Bistro, pimento cheese and Benton's country ham sandwiches from The Porch, and pineapple char siu pulled pork baos from Scout at the Statler.

    Favorite sweet options included strawberry matcha and pink champagne macarons from Ollio Patisserie, and a medley of treats from LA 57 that included mini almond croissants, mini cannoli, and mini cajeta empanadas. Caffeine fans were rewarded with honey lavender cold brew from Well Grounded Coffee and iced coffee from Whataburger.

    After all that eating and drinking, it was time for the awards, delivered by charming emcee Mark Schechtman. For weeks leading up to the event, we published a special editorial series that highlighted nominees in nine categories. Winners were chosen by a panel of local food and beverage experts — except for the category of Best New Restaurant, which was voted on by readers in a bracket-style competition online.

    Dallas Tastemaker Awards
      

    Ashley Gongora

    Dallas Tastemaker Awards

    These winners were announced and presented with glass trophies, as the crowd enthusiastically cheered for each one:

    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Roman Murphy, Perch Bistro
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Ryan Stipp, Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Porch
    • Bar of the Year: Columbian Country Club
    • Best Coffee Shop: Merit Coffee
    • Best Eatertainment: Chicken N Pickle
    • Best New Restaurant: Nikki Greek Bistro & Lounge
    • Chef of the Year: Jeff Bekavac, Goodwins
    • Restaurant of the Year: Mister Charles

    A portion of the proceeds benefited Harvest Project Food Rescue, an indigenous led environmental nonprofit fighting food insecurity by redirecting surplus produce to DFW communities each week.

    ________________________

    Hungry to be a part of it all next year? You can read about all the winners here, and we'll see you in 2026. The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by The Yuengling Company, Brioche Gourmet, Still Austin Whiskey, Hornitos, Whataburger, Reyka Vodka, Silent Pool Gin, and PicMe Events. A portion of the proceeds benefitted our nonprofit partner, Harvest Project Food Rescue.

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