The weather Friday night couldn't have been more suited to an outdoor gathering, which was good news for guests turning out for the ever-popular TACA Party on the Green, featuring local chefs presenting signature dishes, a silent auction, a wine cork pull, and live entertainment.
Hosted by co-chairs Tia Wynne and Katherine Wynne, this year's event took place for the first time at Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center rather than the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, and thanks to clear skies and a cool breeze, it was more than an ideal setting.
VIPs gained early access to enjoy a sip and sup with their friends and fellow philanthropists. When the food stations opened and the rest of the guests flooded the venue, music by Michael D. Fitzpatrick and Studio 54 filled the air. And it wouldn't be an event in the Dallas Arts District without dancers performing in the reflecting pool.
While the chefs were all given kudos for packing bold flavors into their innovative bite-sized creations, we can't stop thinking about the Rosewood Ranches Wagyu beef sirloin medallions prepared by the Ocean Prime team and the whiskey-cured ruby red trout from Lisa Garza-Selcer's crew from Sissy's. The carnitas street tacos by Dean Fearing's self-titled restaurant and the garlic king crab by John Tesar and the Knife chefs were also hard to forget.
Attendees seen mixing and mingling on the lawn between wine pulling and bidding on silent auction items included Maggie Kipp, Teffy Jacobs, Heather Hibbard, LeeAnne Locken, D'Andra Simmons, Ron Corning, Steve Kemble, Lawrence Bock, Gillian Breidenbach, and Katie Norwood.
Proceeds for this posh party in the park go to TACA, the Dallas nonprofit that champions artistic excellence in performing arts organizations. In 2017, TACA will distribute $1.5 million in grants, in conjunction with access to innovative programs and services, to the most creative and engaging performing arts organizations in North Texas.
Heather Hibbard, Maggie Kipp, Teffy Jacobs
