Bright lights, big chapeaux

Dallas starlets tip their hats to Hollywood at Oscar-worthy Mad Hatter's Tea

Whimsical Dallasites got to live out their big-screen dreams at Mad Hatter's Tea 2019. Themed "The Golden Age of Hollywood," the 31st annual luncheon and fashion show on April 11 proved to be an Oscar-worthy affair.

Co-chairs Terry Irby and Sharla Bush and honorary chair Kristina Bush Whitcomb welcomed 500 guests to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on a red carpet, of course. Among those posing for photos in their over-the-top chapeaux and fabulous fascinators were Donna Moss, Jennifer Stalkup, Adean Kingston, Dana Herberston, Gina Ginsburg, Kesha Couville, Kelley Gonzalez, Laura Freeman, Bethany Dow, Claire Gordon, Jessica Freeman, Carla Russo, Sharon Popham, Marena Gault, and Sherwood Wagner.

The most-photographed duo of the day was Shane Walker and Billy Fulmer, who went all-out as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, from hat to gloves. Also getting into character in a major way? Carmen Hancock, who embodied Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, complete with a hat full of Tiffany-blue bags and boxes and a high-tech movie screen playing the film.

While they mingled and shot selfies at the reception amid A Tasteful Place garden, guests sipped so much Moet & Chandon Champagne that, servers said, they ran out for the luncheon. Meanwhile, the hat competition judges had their work cut out for them. Putting pencil to paper to determine the coveted awards were Joani White, Vivian Lombardi, Jenna Jenovich, Vodi Cook, and fashion designer Jonathan Simkhai, whose designs would grace the runway later, too.

Inside Rosine Hall, emcee Joceyln White opened the festivities and championed the work of the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum, led by president Linda Spina. She encouraged attendees to visit the event's beneficiary, A Woman's Garden, to see its newest beautiful addition, the "Boxwood Niche."

This year's Tootsies fashion presentation, produced by Jan Strimple, showed looks that were both daytime chic and night-time glam. Guests could follow along on the handy printed "fashion menu" and circle the looks they loved. The show included designs by Lela Rose, Victoria Beckham, Versace, Emilio Pucci, BCBG, Ted Baker, Badgley Mischka, and of course, the featured designer of the day, Jonathan Simkhai, who was sitting in the front row.

Auctioneer Wendy Lambert got the crowd limber by first auctioning the Audrey Hepburn-style sunglasses she was wearing. Then bidding really heated up for fabulous prize packages. This year's big "gets" included a trip to Marfa; a Tootsies shopping package that included 20 percent off for a whole year; a luxury retreat at The Adolphus Hotel; a Dallas shopping excursion; and a pair of amethyst earrings from De Boulle. The earrings were modeled by special guest Kathy King, in town from Tucson, who donned a stunningly creative dress made entirely of 35-millimeter film.

Lambert then led the room in a "live give" initiative, allowing them to contribute amounts from $10,000 to $100. Paddles flew up around the room, and more than $16,000 was raised in a matter of minutes.

Then came the moment the room had been waiting for — the announcement of the hat contest winners, or, "the Academy Awards of millinery." Cheers and applause went up as the category nominees and winners' names were called. The prizes? Oscar statuettes topped with colorful hats, of course.

Winners were:

Best Picture (most true to theme): Prashe
Best Foreign Language Film (most dramatic): Kunthear Mam-Douglas
Best Short Film (most beautiful fascinator): Norah Maroulis
Best Actress in a Leading Role (people's choice award): Carmen Hancock
Best Director (best themed group of hats): The Wizard of Oz group
Best Art Direction (best botanical using fresh florals): Leslie Vaughan
Best Costume Design (most elegant): Jenny Foster
Best Visual Effects (most creative): Elizabeth Smith Theis

Guests held onto their hats as they headed back to the breezy outdoors and found their spots at tables under tents on the plaza. Elegant florals by Into the Garden filled each table with color.

Photo-taking paused just long enough for attendees to enjoy the luncheon of seasonal greens salad; pistachio bacon chicken salad; cucumber-boursin and dilly egg-salad tea sandwiches; and chocolate truffle tarts and petite fours with creme anglaise for dessert — all provided by Angela's Kitchen + Catering. Efficient servers never let wine glasses run dry.

Just like at the Oscars, some patrons were heading to after-parties at nearby hotels. Others made their final charitable contributions and checked out, but not before taking a stroll through the grounds of the garden, making a special stop at A Woman's Garden and looking forward to another applause-worthy luncheon in 2020.

Donna Moss.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Donna Moss.

Denim & rhinestones

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 wrangles record $7.1 million

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Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 chairs Marjon Henderson and Lora Farris had chosen the theme "New Horizons" for their Carrie Underwood-headlined event. By the end of the night, they'd changed their anthem to her hit "Blown Away."

"We just broke every record!" Henderson enthused as she passed out hugs during the live auction.

The big record they were going for was $100 million - a grand total raised in all 51 years of Cattle Baron's Ball. Entering the night, they only had a couple million to go. No sweat for this event. And, they made it.

Henderson and Farris revealed on November 6 that the grand total raised at the 2024 ball was (drumroll, please) $7,122,663.

Cattle Baron's Ball is the largest single-night fundraiser in the nation for cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

It's also Dallas' biggest party of the year.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 Cattle Baron's Ball chairs Lora Farris and Marjon Henderson with some special four-legged guests at the entrance.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

On Saturday, September 28, more than 3,000 party-goers, cowgirl'd and cowboy'd up in their Western-glammy best, descended from party buses and rideshare SUVs to the grounds of Southfork Ranch in Parker. Henderson and Farris, along with their volunteer committee 100 women strong, greeted guests on the famous grounds of the TV show Dallas, site of the first Cattle Baron’s Ball in 1974.

An exclusive VIP party, presented by Anne Davidson inside the Southfork Ranch Event and Conference Center, got the evening off to a festive start. Mistress of ceremonies, NBC 5's Deborah Ferguson, gave a hearty welcome and introduced '90s country tribute band Straight Tequila Night to the stage.

Early arrivals got the first chance to sip the night's signature “Cowboy Casanova” and "Take the Wheel" cocktails, featuring Grey Goose Vodka and Patron Cristalino Tequila, respectively. Longtime CBB-ers know to pace themselves when it comes to food; the entire night is a frenzy of glorious gluttony (keep reading). VIPs nibbled on lobster quesadillas, mini grilled cheese, bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper bites, Dublin Dr Pepper short ribs, Frito pie, and more.

Photo by Haynsworth Photography

Cattle Baron's Ball co-chair Marjon Henderson and her girlfriend group had plenty of reasons to smile.

At 7 pm, the masses arrived and the party really got started. It was a picture-perfect fall evening to take a Ferris wheel ride at sunset or pose for souvenir photos at one of the many interactive photo booths around the grounds.

Each room inside the Conference Center was buzzing with activity. The main event, as always, was the enormous silent auction. Bidders browsed and bid via smartphones for hundreds items from local retailers, restaurants, exquisite jewelry and fashion, trips, home decor, sports and music memorabilia, and more. The showpiece of the room was a stunning blue gown by Dallas designer Ese Azenabor, up for auction and bought for thousands.

For the first time ever, Neiman Marcus sponsored a "Glam Room," where guests could get get makeup touch-ups, enjoy a trendy Hugo Spritz cocktail, and enjoy Neiman Marcus' famous chocolate chip cookies. Next door, folks could shop for boots, cowboy hats, and jewelry at the event's first-ever Marketplace. (Considering everyone was wearing some combination of boots, jewelry, or hats, the room stayed impressively full of people trying on and buying.)

The Casino stayed busy, and so did a Mizzen + Main Sports Lounge next door. Note to next year's organizers: Stock up on the White Rhino espresso martinis. Fans remembered the hand-shaken delights from last year, the line stayed long, and supplies ran out early.

Time for more food. Vestals Catering served up an outdoor buffet as big as Texas: smoked bistro filet; smoked and jalapeno sausages; spicy peach-glazed chicken thighs; butternut squash, kale, and mushroom enchiladas; Texas caviar, cobbler with Blue Bell ice cream, and more.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 A getaway to Mexico was one of several fabulous trips auctioned off for thousands.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

At 8:15 pm, Cowgirl bell-ringing baronesses signaled it was time for the live auction to begin. Led by lively auctioneer Letitia Frye (herself a cancer survivor, she announced), this year's jaw-dropping prize packages and fantasy trips included a Napa wine weekend (sold for $55,000); best seats in the house for the forthcoming Carrie Underwood concert (sold for $75,000) and an "Ultimate Tailgate" with Troy Aikman (sold three times for $75,000).

Each year, one of the most coveted auction items is a wine dinner prepared by some of Dallas' finest chefs — including Kent Rathbun and Dean Fearing. Two dinners were sold for $200,000 each, bringing in a record-breaking total of $400,000.

A “paddle raise” initiative around the room raised an additional $1 million to name a grant in honor of Kace Phillips, a Dallas resident and CBB supporter who died of glioblastoma last January. His wife, Claire, and their young children appeared on stage to remember him and encourage the fundraising.

Finally, it was time to head into a sprawling tent for headlinerCarrie Underwood. Making their way across the grounds, patrons picked up portable “concert snacks” including dill pickle popcorn, rosemary potato chips, and ginger molasses cookies.

Dressed in black sequin shorts and denim-rhinestone jacket, Underwood played a high-wattage show for more than an hour. The crowd crooned along to her biggest hits, from "Church Bells" to "Cowboy Casanova" to "Before He Cheats," and threw their hands into the air, church revival-style, for "Jesus Take the Wheel." Her cover of Guns 'N Roses "Paradise City," for which she shed her denim jacket and head-banged her long blond hair, got the audience rocking along, too.

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2024 The crowd gathers inside the concert tent for the Carrie Underwood show.Photo by Haynsworth Photography

Those who wanted to catch early Ubers home ended the night there, while those who wanted to make a late night of it gathered back inside on the dance floor beneath the Live Auction stage, where Manhattan Orchestra band revved up the after-party until 2 am.

And, oh yes, there was more food for late-night revelers: breakfast tacos; a deep-fried station of tater tots, fried pickles, and onion rings; burgers, and sliders. And for good measure, a Raising Cane's food truck showed up with chicken fingers, too.

Going into the 2024 event, Cattle Baron’s Ball had raised more than $98 million since its inception in 1974. The November 6 check presentation for more than $7 million no doubt had the beneficiaries singing "Blown Away."

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The story originally was published on October 2, 2024. It was updated with the total amount raised on November 7, 2024.

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