The Happiest Hour

Fine art meets fried chicken: CultureMap Dallas parties with art influencers atMax's Wine Dive

Photo by Kelly Knight
Newly opened Max's Wine Dive played host for the evening.

Photo by Kelly Knight
Jonathan Horowitz, Kelly Fordham and Mallory Jensen at Max's Wine Dive party.

Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Max's Wine Dive staff explains the retail wine program.

Photo by Kelly Knight
Photo by Kelly Knight
Among the passed apps: fried chicken, of course.

Photo by Kelly Knight

Consider us master party planners — or at least Jessica Baldwin, network marketing director, and Jennifer Smart, marketing coordinator, who organized a lovely fete at the newest addition to the West Village: Max’s Wine Dive. The evening was co-hosted by Dallas Arts District champion Veletta Lill.

Even on a Monday night, CultureMap Dallas lured in a crowd of art influencers from Heritage Auction Gallery, Dallas Black Dance Theat re, TITAS, Dallas Arts District, Dallas Opera and Dallas Film Society. It wasn’t just the grilled cheese sandwich bites, tomato soup, lamb sliders, fried chicken and (of course) open bottles of wine that kept guests interested. CEO Alyce Alston toasted the Dallas team and introduced Nic Phillips, one of CultureMap’s founders, who described CultureMap as the go-to site for news about arts, culture and quality of life.

Some of our expert arts contributors, including Kendall Morgan, Lindsey Wilson and Elaine Liner, showed up on the scene, as did CultureMap Austin leaders Veronica Castelo and Kevin Benz and chief digital officer Amy Katzenberg. None of our work here would’ve been possible without their support. We are also thankful for the expertise and guidance of the rest of the teams in Houston and Austin.

Among the artsy crowd were Cindy Brenner, Julie Sexton, Heather Hankamer, Debbie Rexing, Sharon Lyle, Chad Jones, Charles Santos, Catherine Cuellar, Suzanne Calvin, Lee Papert, Veletta Lill, Carol Stabler and Sonya Spencer.

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all-time high

Idina Menzel helps Dallas Symphony Gala defy gravity and raise $1.3M

Photo by Celeste Cass

Allison Brodnax, Brett Brodnax

WHAT: 2026 Dallas Symphony Orchestra Symphony Gala

WHERE: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

THE 411: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s annual black-tie gala - led by chairs Allison and Brett Brodnax and honorary chairs Linda L. Burk and John R. Gilmore - raised a record $1.3 million to support music education, community engagement, and artistic initiatives across North Texas.

More than 550 guests attended the sold-out dinner on September 26, held beneath a canopy of gold branches in the Meyerson lobby and themed “Harvest Rhapsody.”

The evening began with a cocktail reception, and continued with dinner and the main event - a gala concert featuring Broadway star Idina Menzel with the DSO.

Conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the concert featured Menzel singing favorites from Rent, Wicked, and Frozen. In a sweet moment, she invited three young girls from the audience onstage to sing with her. An appropriate gesture as the gala supports DSO programs that bring music to more than 200,000 adults and children annually.

A post-concert after-party kept the energy up for those who weren't quite ready to end the celebrations yet.

WHO: Isabelle Haemisegger, David Haemisegger, Nancy Nasher, Roger Gault, Marena Gault, Sherwood Wagner, Todd Clendening, Laura Harris-Means, Patrick Means, Lisa Segert, Bob Segert, Donna Weitzman, Herb Weitzman, Jennifer Perez, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Grace Cook, Jane Montgomery, Michael Catrino, Claire Catrino, Meredith Camp, Cyndi Phelps, Denise Do, Steve Do, Karen Cox, Kevin Cox, Calvert Collins-Bratton, Vince Bratton, and hundreds more DSO patrons and guests.

Photo by Celeste Cass

Allison Brodnax, Brett Brodnax

dallas symphony orchestra dso gala galas