Photo provided by The Fashionistas

FRIDAY - (7 p.m. to midnight at Equinox on Oak Lawn) You didn’t think the Fashionistas were going to be stay-at-home types this weekend. They’re partnering up with Equinox for an “Old School Red Carpet Gala.” What does it entail? Basketball players wearing the newest duds in court wear? Heck, no. The Legends of Basketball (Houston Chapter aka “Dallas’ most southern burb”)  will honor Moses Malone (pictured) and “Sweet Lou” Dunbar. Besides locals, you can also expect to see special invited guests. It will be a night of cocktails, legends of style, silent auction, and entertainment by DJ Guillaume, DJ Kelly Hooper, and live entertainment from Boss Level. The $50-ticket will cover Fashionista membership, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres with proceeds going to the Fashionistas and Youth Basketball Camps of Texas. Leave it to those natty naughties Heidi Dillon and Bri Crum to be putting this little tall pal gathering together.

Oh, and, Mike, tickets just might be available at the door. See ya!

Starting at 9 a.m., Dash for the Beads will take place with proceeds directed to “Light Up Bishop Arts Project.” For your non-beautification types, DftB Steering Committee Member David Sassano explained,

“This beautification project consists of uniformly lighting the Bishop District Arts District merchant roof lines and wrapping the trees lined on Bishop Avenue with white lights that will shine year round providing a beautiful, entertaining, and safe destination for all those who visit our vibrant neighborhood.”

They’ve arranged for a 5K run, as well as a one-mile walk. Love those walks especially when they’re pet friendly! And to add that extra punch that Bishop Arts folks are known for, they’ve even included a costume contest with Shelly Slater and Krystal Summers judging.

They’re expecting 300 participants, so if you’re not Run the Rock caliber, Dash for the Beads is a great opportunity to have fun without being part of a stampede of seasoned runners.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what “beads” have to do with Bishop Arts District, think “Mardi Gras.” FYI: Return to the Bishop Arts District on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the annual “Krewe on Bishop,” the annual Mardi Gras parade.

Photo provided by Tri All

You’re starting to get that glazed look on your face. Sounds a bit goody-two-shoes in sweats, huh? Snap out of it! Actually, it’s a pretty smart volunteer operation that last year helped 40 Dallasites (a few are pictured) raise $125,000 for 26 Dallas-area charities including Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, the Friends of Fair Park, the SPCA of Texas, Angel Flight, CONTACT Crisis Line, the Dallas Wind Symphony, Gilda’s Club of North Texas, the Gladney Center for Adoption, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Paul Quinn College.

How?

According to Tri All chair/co-founder Randall White,

“All Tri helps coach individuals to successfully complete endurance events. But unlike any other program in the country, All Tri directs the funds those individuals raise to whatever charity each athlete chooses.

“All Tri is also unique in that it coaches participants on how to use social media, and other innovative tools, to raise funds among friends who share their passion.

“When we formed All Tri, our goal was to use it as a forum for spreading good as far and wide as possible. Participants can donate the funds they raise to whatever 501(c)(3) non-profit they care about, whether that be a neighborhood association, an arts organization, a wellness-related group or a group committed to battling hunger or homelessness.”

Tri All’s goal for 2010 is to motivate those seeking to do good to complete triathlons in Austin and San Francisco. Registration for the 2010 program is Saturday, January 30, at Maggiano’s NorthPark. The $150 fee covers at least four months of professional swim, bike and running training, along with coaching on fund-raising techniques. While participants must provide their own bikes and work-out gear, All Tri covers the race entries, team attire and travel expenses of all participants who reach the minimum fund-raising goals for their causes.

Sponsors for this year’s program include REI, The Bike Shop, Dallas Watersports Complex, Fit2Race, Sowell & Co., Montgomery Coscia Greilich LLP, and Elettore.

The morning’s schedule is

• 6:30 a.m. – Race day registration inside NorthPark Center
• 6:30 a.m. – Survivor breakfast
• 7:30 a.m. – Fun Walk/Fun Run start (line up on Boedeker St. heading north. Translation: Neiman’s heading toward Nordstrom’s*)
• 8 a.m. – 5K Walk/Run start (line up on Park Lane heading west. Translation: Macy’s heading toward Nordstrom’s*)
• 9:30 a.m. – Survivor Celebration and Awards Presentation begins

There’s no rain in the forecast, but there are lots of goodies to collect. Oh, and afterwards, you can go shop at NP or just head home, kick off your sneakers, and watch the Texas-OU game on your widescreen.

* We  know the kind of directions that make sense.

Leave it to the true trendsetting capital of the world. . . . well, okay, of the Park Cities. . . Highland Park Village has come up with a Tory Burch pink vest. Plus 15% of the price goes to Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Hmm, we’re going to have to check the weather and see if it might go with our wardrobe for Saturday’s Race for the Cure. Great excuse to shop and help, don’t you know.

But just as we suspected you never really planned on that. You’re a crafty one, you are. We know you always planned to trot yourself over to NorthPark or Luke’s Locker in Dallas now through Friday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and do some shopping and register.

And for you oh-so tardy trotters, you can even register 6 a.m. on Saturday at NorthPark, if you get up very, very early. You might even beat the crowd looking for a parking spot.

And besides a ton of hardworking volunteers and staff members, the following sponsors are making this legendary event possible:

National Sponsors: American Airlines, Bank of America, Coldwater Creek, Ford, FUZE, Mott’s, New Balance, Quilted Northern Ultra, RE/MAX, Yoplait, and ZETA 

Local Sponsors: Academy Sports and Outdoor, AMN Healthcare, Animato, Atmos Energy, Bank of Texas, Baylor University Medical Center, BBVA Compass, BioLustre Inc., BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chevron, Chris and Cathy Packard, Comerica Bank, Community Coffee, Corner Bakery, Cumulus Radio, Dallas Observer, Emerald City, KDFW Fox 4*KDFI (My 27), Greensheet, Humana, Jackson Walker, Katydid Collection,Kimberly Clark, Kroger, La Madeleine, Lasseter Bus & Mobility, Luke’s Locker, Macy’s, Marc Robins Photography, Massage Envy, McCarthy, McDonalds, McShan Florist, Medical City Hospital, MetroPCS, NAPA,Nordstrom, NorthPark, Northrop Grumman, Paradise Bakery & Café, Pepsi Bottling Group, Perks and Provisions Company, Pfizer Oncology, Presbyterian Hospital (Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas), Sam’s, Skinny Cow, Specialized, Studio Movie Grill, Target, Tetra Pak, The Heights at Park Lane,The HR Consultant, Tom Thumb, Trailblazer Health Enterprises LLC, Two Men and A Truck, TXI, Unicare, VHA (Novation & Provista), and Women’s Imaging Network

Photo by John Shipes

If you’re around Victory Park this evening, beware of speeding bicyclists. Tx Tough launches Tx Tough Grand Prix II at 5:30  6:40* p.m. with some of the top professional cyclists competing in a ”crit.”  For you new to the cycle world, crit is short for “criterium,” a bike race that is held on a short course usually on closed-off city center streets with possible speeds reaching up to 50 mph. The plan is 60 laps through the streets around Victory and American Airlines Center. It’s going to happen regardless of the weather and is free and open to the public.

As  if that isn’t enough, Tx Tough organizers will return to Victory on Sunday at 8 a.m. for Bike Bash. Starting at Victory, cyclists of all ages like Ken Woody Smith and his son (pictured from last year’s ride) will participate in a 6.2-mile, traffic-free bike ride that is also a pledge-based fundraiser.

All the miles and money from the two events will go to building awareness and funds for Children’s Medical Center. 

“Tx Tough puts on running, swimming, and biking events, but we’re really not about athletics. We have everyone from little kids to professional athletes involved, because what they all have in common is a heart for little people,” said Tx Tough founder Joel Williams, who has been a trustee and volunteer at CMC for decades. He was also one of the original folks who back in 2001 created Texas Stampede, which has raised $2.5M for pediatric programs associated with CMC.

As we all know the big bucks are coming from some very supportive types like such Tx Tough sponsors as:

Exclusive Category Sponsors ($75,000+): Official Malt Beverage – MDG 64, Official Communications Provider – Metro PCS, and Official Automotive Sponsor – Sewell Automotive
 
Official Sponsors ($10,000 – $50,000): American Airlines Center, Andrews Distributing, Cotton Bowl, Dallas CVB, Irving Chamber of Commerce, and Tritrax Pediatrics
 
Official Media Sponsors ($10,000+): WFAA-TV Channel 8, Lite FM 103.7, MomsOutLoud.com, North Texas Kids, and
The Racing Post

* Sorry, kids, but the 5:30 is gathering for the athletes and V.I.P.s.  6:40 is when the rubber hits the wet pavement.

Pictured here is the back of the screen-printed tee. If you think it’s glittering, it’s the touches of rhinestones. The front is a bit more subtle. Sorry to report that the black version is GWTW, but white and pink ones are still available in both long and short sleeve. If you look carefully, you’ll see the messages on the pink ribbon are faith, hope, and love. 

“The design on our new tee was inspired by the brave women who fight breast cancer and those who support them,” said T-fashionista Katy.

Want to bet what Katy’s race team will be wearing on the morning of October 17 at NorthPark?