laissez le bon temps rouler

New Orleans-themed Crystal Charity Ball 2018 lets the good times roll in Dallas

To say the 2018 Crystal Charity Ball had a "New Orleans" theme would steal the elegance of its official motif: "A Celebration in Nouvelle-Orléans."

Chairwoman Claire Emanuelson had chosen the theme not only as a nod to her mother's French heritage but also to fete the tricentennial of the beloved Southern city, she announced last spring.

Upon arrival to the Hilton Anatole Hotel, 1,500 guests — dressed in their finest ballgowns and tuxedos — walked down a hallway of moss-covered trees and into a postcard-perfect French Quarter vignette. A bubbling fountain that seemed straight from a famous old New Orleans courtyard provided one of many Instagram-worthy backdrops.

Inside the cocktail reception, a replica of the revolving carousel bar from Hotel Monteleone poured premium libations. Bartenders also pointed guests to the nearest Hurricanes, which were being passed on trays.

Gorgeous displays of vibrantly colored roses climbed iron lamp posts to adorn oversized displays of hors d'oeurves. Guests daintily loaded their plates with Big Easy-inspired canapes of mini muffaletta lollipops, Andouille sausage puffs, sliders, and jumbo Gulf shrimp.

After having portraits made by John French Photography and grabbing glasses of wine and bubbly, attendees — including Piper Wyatt, Cara French, Alison Malone, Tiffany Divis, Susan Farris, Tucker Enthoven, Sami Arslanlar, Muffin Lemak, John Clutts, Holly Riefe, James Riefe, Kate Rose Marquez, John Levis, James Tarpeh, Jessica Johnson, Annette Watkins, C.A. Anderson, Susan O’Brien, Brooke Hortenstien, Nardos Imam, and Delayna Minter — began bidding in the silent auction. Up for grabs were magnificent trips, fine jewelry, artwork, runway fashion experiences, one-of-a-kind accessories, and many more exquisite items.

Patrons also perused the The French Market for holiday gifts, including small electronics, beautiful housewares, and furry stuffed animals and mini cars for kids. Those who (literally) wanted to let the good times roll hit the casino early.

A few minutes before 9 pm, the Kinfolk Brass Band led a festive, high-stepping second-line parade into the Chantilly Ballroom for dinner.

They continued to play and dance inside, and soon were joined by the joyous sounds of a choir from Booker T. Washington High School. It's rare for people to take so long to sit down to dinner, but the band and choir were so entertaining, folks couldn't help but clap, dance, and capture video on their phones.

Attendees found their tables, which were adorned with opulent arrangements of roses and hydrangeas, and some had wisteria trees towering over the top. When the entertainers paraded out, the James Davis Orchestra took the music down a notch to allow for pleasant dinner conversation.

Throughout the evening, guests could be overheard discussing the Cowboys' recent victory over the Saints (apropros of the night's theme); anticipating their holiday plans; and sharing memories of President George H.W. Bush, who had passed away the night before.

A sumptuous three-course meal started with a Crab Louie salad with Galatoire's Remoulade Blanc and lemon tarragon vinaigrette. Next came a pan-seared filet of beef with sherry mushroom compote; potato and parsnip puree; bacon and balsamic crispy Brussels sprouts; and braised carrots. A chocolate hazelnut profiterole with lemon cream was the most gorgeous, sculptural work of art on any dessert plate all social season. Throughout the evening, wines from Duckhorn and Rodney Strong were poured.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying dinner, were Tiffany Work, James Emanuelson, Julie Castro, Gabe Castro, Tracy Fulton, Dotti Reeder, Joseph Mahoney, Kara Goss, Randall Goss, Ciara Cooley, Jake Fraze, Leonardo Gonzalez, Andrea Devaldenebro, Jamie Watley, Rhandi Bobo, Shawn Kaplan, Tish Cruciani, Ed Hellwig, Kelly Hellwig, Rhonda Marcus, Frasier Marcus, Rob Bowlby, Sarah Bowlby, Kathy Crow, Michael Crow, Lynn McBee, Tracy Lang, Bela Cooley, Chase Cooley, Kate Ford, Christel Crigler, and Tracy Madans.

It didn't take long for the music to gear up again and for the dance floor to fill to the brim. Big Blast and The Party Makers, a party band from Atlanta, kept the room moving and grooving long after the last bites of dinner had been eaten.

Those with tired feet scooped up their party favors — including a box of note cards from Tiffany & Co. — and exited back to the foyer. There, they could check silent auction bids one last time; hit the casino tables again; and try for one last chance in a raffle for a 2019 Lexus, which was parked inside.

On the way to the valet stand, guests got one last taste of the Big Easy — fresh, hot beignet doughnuts made on site (and covered in mounds of powdered sugar, just like at Cafe du Monde).

Tom Addis of Tom Addis Productions, Junior and Maria Villanueva of The Garden Gate Floral Design, Hilton Anatole executive chef Rigoberto Lemus, and a host of others helped bring the "Nouvelle-Orléans" night to life.

The 66th annual black-tie gala is the grand finale of the social season and benefits children's charities around the city. This year's beneficiaries are After-School All-Stars North Texas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Buckner Children and Family Services, Friends of the Dallas Public Library, Mosaic Family Services, Nexus Recovery Center, and Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

Ciara Cooley, Jake Fraze

Photo by WJNPHOTO

Ciara Cooley, Jake Fraze

luxury galas fundraisers

Mosaic of millinery

Mad Hatter's 2026 brings beautiful tableau of chapeaux to Dallas Arboretum

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It is tradition that each chair of the Dallas Mad Hatter's Luncheon should choose a new theme for each new year - to start with a blank canvas, so to speak. But if a future chair were to repeat the 2026 theme "The Art of the Garden," it's hard to fathom anyone would complain.

This year's most-anticipated spring luncheon wove the setting itself - the Dallas Arborteum and Botanical Garden - into an event mosaic of marvelous millinery, modeling of fine fashion, and mingling with friends over food and drink.

The artsy theme was chosen by chairs Reagan Pace, Sheridan Reeder, and honorary chair Anne Stodghill as a way to honor the Dallas arts community, including the city's museums, artists, the Dallas Art Fair, and the burgeoning gallery scene. It also happened to coincide - "as if we had commissioned it ourselves," they write in the program - with sculpture artist Hunt Slonem's large-scale exhibition, "Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies," which had just opened on the grounds of the Arboretum days before the April 25 luncheon.

Like any masterpiece, Mad Hatter's 2026 also took some risks, rearranged some focal points, and elicited emotion from those in attendance - from awe to "aw dang, it's warm out here."

Now in its 38th year, Mad Hatter's remains the beloved fundraising event sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. It's also one of the most coveted tickets in town.

Mad Hatter's 2026 This group went all in on a Monet "Water Lilies" theme. Photo by Ashley Gongora

A few hundred VIPs mingled on the Ginsburg Plaza, clad in their finest floral frocks and with bubbly in hand, for a first look at each other's hats and the first chance to bid on silent auction items. Guests went all out in their execution of the "art" theme - from fascinators featuring Monet's "Water Lilies" to big hats with paint brushes and palettes.

It was also the first time folks got to view the new set-up for the event's fashion show. Instead of the traditional catwalk inside Rosine Hall, the runway would be the al fresco pathway through the garden between Rosine and A Tasteful Place (a risk, considering it had been a cloudy, windy morning). Pretty paper parasols had been placed on each seat, which would prove useful not only as sun protection, but as seat place holders.

At 11 am, clouds parted, the sun came out, and the crowd of about 500 took their seats (and opened their parasols) for the fashion show featuring the designs of acclaimed Dallas designer Esé Azenabor. The unmistakable intro to Abba's "Dancing Queen" came over the speakers, and to the audience's surprise and delight, a group of little girls - not grown-up fashion models - appeared on the stage. Walking two by two on the runway, they modeled Azenabor's darling new children's collection.

Then, legendary fashion show producer Jan Strimple began sending models out to showcase more than 50 stunning looks by Azenabor, including breathtaking ballgowns and wedding gowns with intricate ornamentation and draping. The audience was so close to the runway that the rhythmic "swishing" of silk and "clinking" of beading could be heard as the models walked by. "I felt like I was Anna Wintour at the front row of Fashion Week," one attendee could be overheard saying. The program provided descriptions and prices for all the designs - from slightly less than $1,000 to $28,000 - adding to the fairy tale of it all.

Mad Hatter's 2026 One of the stunning couture gowns in the Ese Azenabor fashion show. Photo by Ashley Gongora

Instead of the luncheon following the fashion show this year, an outdoor reception took place around the plaza. Here, the hat judges got up-close looks at the most impressive creations of the day, and guests posed for each other's photos and videos. DJ Lucy Wrubel - wearing a party-ready hat topped with a champage bottle - kept the beats lively.

With temperatures pushing toward 85 degrees, some patrons headed inside to the air-conditioned relief of Rosine Hall and A Tasteful Place, and began enjoying the cold water set at their place for lunch.

The big moment came when hat awards were announced in seven art-themed categories. Winners and judges were:

The Inaugural Carole Ann Brown Best in Show: Prashe Shah (judged by honorary chair Anne Stodghill)
Italian Masters: Debbie Murray ("classical creations," judged by Capera Ryan)
Impressionists: D&M Leasing group ("best group category," judged by Nicole Myers)
Surrealism: Elizabeth Smith ("over the top creations," judged by Sharon Lee Clarke)
Rococo: Sarah Ring ("best use of live botanicals," judged by Eliot Whitall)
Cubism: Allison Brodnax’s group ("monochromatic geometry," judged by Hannah Fagadau)
Pop Art: Erin Jett ("brightly colored tribute to pop culture," judged by John Sughrue)

Mad Hatter's 2026 "Surrealism" category winner Elizabeth Smith, whose hat twirled around like a carousel. Photo by Ashley Gongora

At tables adorned with gorgeous spring floral centerpieces by Gro Designs and The T Shop, guests dined on a spring salad of mixed greens, feta, candied pecans, pickled onions, and champagne vinaigrette; a plate of finger sandwiches (chicken salad and pimento cheese), Greek pasta salad, and mini mandarin orange souffle; and a decadent individual carrot cake for dessert. Wine stewards kept glasses filled.

Attendees adjusted their hats for some final photos at the valet line, and picked up their swag bags filled with goodies from Eataly.

Money raised through Mad Hatter's assists with the development, growth and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden, a major garden at the Arboretum.

Scroll through the photos, above, to see who was there and glimpse all the highlights of the hats, fashion show, and more.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

The winning group of the "Impressionists" category in the hat contest.

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Mosaic of millinery

Mad Hatter's 2026 brings beautiful tableau of chapeaux to Dallas Arboretum