La Dolce Vita

Italian glamour steals the show at DSO League LimonCello Luncheon

WHAT: 2026 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Fashion Notes LimonCello Luncheon and Fashion Show

WHERE: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

THE 411: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League celebrated its 80th anniversary in vibrant, Italian-inspired style at the 2026 Fashion Notes LimonCello luncheon and fashion show. More than 500 Dallas philanthropists and arts supporters gathered for the chic spring fête benefiting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s youth education and outreach initiatives.

Chaired by Meredith Allen Connally, Amy Green, and Elizabeth St. Marie, with honorary chairs Anne and Bill Seanor and DSOL president Claire Catrino, the elegant afternoon spotlighted Dallas designer Mackenzie Brittingham as the 2026 Fashion Design Award honoree. Brittingham presented a dazzling couture runway collection inspired by the Amalfi Coast and Tuscan landscapes, featuring flowing beaded gowns, structured silhouettes, luxurious furs, and exotic handbags in shades of citrus yellow, ivory, and Mediterranean blue.

The Meyerson was transformed into a glamorous Italian escape for the afternoon. Valet sponsor Avondale Dealerships parked a flower-filled yellow luxury vehicle at the entrance, while inside, patrons sipped Limoncello and Aperol spritzes, posed for photos against blue-and-yellow tiled backdrops, browsed raffle prizes, and sampled crème brûlée cheesecake espresso martinis and ladyfingers while being serenaded by Dallas Symphony Young Strings cellists Vincent Ramirez Boyce and Carlos Vargas.

The show-stopping runway entrance featured towering arches overflowing with lemons, greenery, and yellow florals, setting the stage for a high-style presentation emceed by Calvert Collins-Bratton. Models included notable Dallas women and their families, among them Claire Catrino with daughters Grace and Katherine, Faith Baldwin and daughter Blake, Meredith Connally and son Allen, Elizabeth St. Marie with children Charlotte and William, Gloria Steves, and honorary chair Anne Seanor.

During remarks, Catrino explained that the clever “LimonCello” theme honored both Italy’s dolce vita spirit and the cello students of the DSO’s Young Strings program. Michelle Miller Burns, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, praised the league’s decades-long commitment to strengthening music education and community engagement throughout North Texas.

Following the runway presentation, patrons enjoyed an Italian-inspired luncheon featuring Caprese salad, lemon garlic chicken penne pasta, and a trio of desserts including lemon meringue, lemon posset, and tiramisu. Tables were dressed in cheerful lemon-patterned linens, pressed glassware, and bright yellow tulips and hydrangeas that carried the Amalfi Coast theme throughout the room.

Proceeds from Fashion Notes benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s education and outreach initiatives, including the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concert Series, DSO Cares, Young Strings, Kim Noltemy Young Musicians, and Bach’s Lunch. Over the past four decades, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League has raised more than $25 million in support of the orchestra and its community programs.

WHO: Maggie Kipp, Fallon Hennessy, Lindsay Hall, Sarah Bowlby, Allison Brodnax, Katherine Smethie, Nikki Beneke, Joanie Stephens, Shyler Landry, Shane Peters, Sherwood Wagner, Marena Gault, Donna Arp Weitzman, Sarah Hendrix, Natalie Davenport, Laura Black, Sheridan Reeder, Lea Wernick, Natalie LaDrier, Emma Boulle, Denis Boulle, Karen Boulle, Denton Bricker, Colby Baer, Gloria Gault Steves, and hundreds more.

Photo by Thomas Garza and Rob Wythe

Amy Green, Anne Seanor, Claire Catrino, Mackenzie Brittingham, Meredith Connally, Elizabeth St. Marie

Hugs all around

Nonprofit Hugs Café expands with $10M McKinney headquarters and eatery

Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Hugs Cafe has debuted a new cafe in its new McKinney headquarters.

A culinary-centric charity that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities build careers in hospitality has a snazzy new home in downtown McKinney: Hugs Café Inc. has opened a new $10 million headquarters, eatery, and training center at 221 Andrews St., McKinney.

The 13,500-square-foot facility brings together the organization's administrative offices and Hugs Training Academy under one roof, a release says, creating what it calls a centralized hub to expand workforce training and employment opportunities.

“This new space allows us to grow our programs and serve more individuals than ever before,” says Lauren Smith, CEO at Hugs Café Inc, in the release. “It represents a major step forward in our mission to create meaningful training and employment opportunities. We are deeply grateful for the community support and partnerships that have helped bring this vision to life and continue to make our work possible every day.”

The new HQ is called Home for Hugs.Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Called the Home for Hugs, the building includes a commercial training kitchen, four classrooms, administrative offices, flexible workspaces, a rooftop deck, and an outdoor patio. The facility is designed to increase the organization's training capacity while supporting future expansion of its programs, leadership says.

Hugs Café Inc. is a McKinney-based nonprofit social enterprise that provides hospitality training and competitively paid employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its flagship venture is Hugs Café, which offers on-the-job experience in an inclusive restaurant environment.

Dining at Hugs Cafe
Founded in 2015 by Ruth Thompson, the organization has grown from a single McKinney café into a network that now includes two café locations (the other's at 2918 Live Oak St. in Dallas), along with two Hugs Training Academies, the new headquarters, and affiliate partners across the country.

The McKinney cafe is open to customers for dine-in and delivery at breakfast and lunch, 8 am-3 pm Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday), with catering available. The menu includes breakfast items such as biscuit sandwiches and breakfast burritos; salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.

Sweet treats from Hugs Cafe. Photo courtesy of Hugs Cafe

Sandwiches include grilled cheese, a Monte Cristo, a BLTA with avocado, and a "chickie hug" sandwich with cranberry pecan chicken salad and mixed greens.

Salads include a Greek salad, spinach salad, and a chef's salad with turkey and bacon. Desserts include cookies, carrot cake, and chocolate bourbon pecan pie.

Catering choices vary from sandwich boxed lunches to whole cakes and jumbo quantities of pimento cheese or chicken salad. White Rhino coffee in large quantities is offered, as well.

Building a lasting impact
Construction on the headquarters began in May 2025. Dallas developer KDC led the project, with Corgan serving as architect, Brasfield & Gorrie as general contractor, and Valliance Bank providing financing, according to the release.

“Bringing this vision to life alongside Hugs Café Inc. is a meaningful opportunity for KDC to support individuals seeking personalized training and a pathway into the workforce,” says Eric Hage, KDC president. “We’re grateful to the Hugs Café team and our fellow donors for allowing us to play a role in creating lasting impact for these individuals and their families.”

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