Perhaps the biggest hoop-la was the eve of her March 9th birthday when Special Care and Career Services held its annual gala,”A Special Evening with the Pointer Sisters.” at the Winspear. The Sisters may have been the headliners, but the spotlight was firmly on the Great Mother of Dallas Residential Real Estate.

But the gala evening was not just to salute the diminutive Ebby. SC&CS ring mistress Cathy Packard (pictured) had a full agenda for the evening and she neatly got each task done beautifully.

For instance, how about a name change? Yup, on the big screen of the Skokos stage, the new name for Special Care and Career Services was presented. . .

“LaunchAbility.” It may seem like a new word to you, but it makes perfect  sense when you realize the purpose of this organization for nearly 50 years has been to enable “clients to become more self-sufficient.”

As if that wasn’t enough, there was the presentation of the Milton P. Levy Jr. Outstanding Volunteer Award to Walgreens Senior VP Randy Lewis, who has been “instrumental in introducing a new concept to Walgreens that would transform the company’s distribution centers and employment opportunities” by integrating a workforce composed of 40% persons with disabilities. Randy has established a goal of employing 1,000 (10% of the workforce) in its distribution centers by the end of 2010.

His involvement in this issue is of a personal nature since he and his wife Kay (pictured) have a son, Austin, who is autistic. But don’t put on the pity towel. There are no prouder parents around.

And speaking of awards and Walgreens, the company was on a real roll. LaunchAbility presented Walgreens with the Alliance Data Corporate Champion Award for its outstanding contributions in empowering children and adults with development disabilities to lead fulfilling lives in their communities.

Then it was time for the official honoring of Ebby. From her balcony seat, she waved to the Winspear-full crowd. Emcee Jody Dean with a ukulele accompanist (pictured) led the thousands of Ebby fans in a birthday sing-along. To return the favor, Ebby with mic in hand smiled mischievously and said, “I’m so excited. . . I just can’t hide it. . . I’m about to lose control and I think I like it” to the delight of the crowd especially the gals across the way in the balcony with the feathered boas.

What many in the crowd didn’t know is that this was the second time during the evening that Ebby had been sung to. Earlier a VIP reception had been held backstage at the Winspear with oodles of Ebby fans including Ruth and Ken Altshuler, Diane and Stuart Bumpas with son Joe (pictured), Ellen Terry, Brandy and Will Taylor, Randall and Myriam Graham, Cody Baker, Dave Perry Miller, and DallasDirt girl Candy Evans in attendance.

Upon being presented with a candle-ladened cake, Ebby (pictured) took a deep breath and blew most of the candles out.

When asked if rumors were true about riding a customized bus with a “dance pole” to the McClung dinner in Terrell, Ebby chuckled saying that fellow bus riders Toni Brinker and Nance Chapman had tied for best performance of the night’s ride.

But enough of these Ebby shenanigans and back to the Winspear, where event chairs Elizabeth (pictured) and Eric Gambrell introduced a video on “Launching into a New Era” for the organization.

After the lights came up, Jody auctioned off “an on-stage performance with The Pointer Sisters and an opportunity to meet” the sisters after the show. With the zeal of a preacher, Jody got the bidding up to $6,000.

Then the lights went down and The Pointer Sisters (okay, so they’re not really sisters anymore. They are related, though) set the Winspear in motion with some guests getting up from their seats and dancing.

Was there any doubt that the occasion deserved a little dancing? Now imagine what’s in store for LaunchAbility? And how Ebby’s going to celebrate the big 1-0-0? Yes, we can can!

Photo credit: Holt Haynsworth

CBB Chair Kristi Sherill Hoyl (pictured with from the left True North Advisors founders Scott Wood and Mark Gehlbach) revealed Thursday night that this year’s theme will be “Great State Fair.” The headliner for the annual gala will be Alan Jackson with 2008 Academy of Country Music “Best New Male Vocalist” Jack Ingram appearing on the the Live Auction Stage.

The Thursday announcement was made at a party sponsored by True North Advisors in the Legends Room at Cowboys Stadium.

“We are returning to Southfork Ranch where we will have access to several structures and hard surfaces to ensure a great experience for our guests, rain or shine!” said Kristi.

Wonder if they’ll have a Big Texanna instead of Big Tex to greet guests.

Tickets may just still be available.

By mid-February after DIFFA’s silent auction at Reunion Station, an uneasy rumor started making the rounds that the Queen would not be appearing after all. Surely not!

Before you could slam that rumormonger’s mouth shut, the rumor became reality . . . the Queen had to “cancel all March engagements.”

This “development” is a nightmare for any organization. Do you proceed with a Winspear full of people and no “big name” entertainment? or do you postpone? The DIFFA leadership evidently opted for the latter.

Checking with Queen L’s schedule, it seems that she didn’t cancel all of her March engagements.

Photo provided by GALT

Most of them are athletes whose best days and tracks are behind them. Despite their racy past, greyhounds are notorious for their loving and intelligent nature. Unfortunately, once their racing days are at an end, they are abandoned by handlers. Bob (pictured) is just three of the 55 greyhounds that is being cared for by the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas.

While they wait for their “forever homes,” their caregivers are hosting The Greyt Gala Mardi Gras Dinner and Silent Auction this Saturday at Hackberry Creek Country Club.

Besides all the typical human frivolity, there’s going to be the naming of the king and queen of Greyt Mardi Gras. The voting is online, so why not pick out your idea of a grey royal?

Event co–chairs Debi Joynt and Shannon Forrest have arranged for humans of note to help raise funds for the GALT including MC/Emmy Award-winning sportscaster  John Rhadigan, actor Burton Gilliam, voice of the Dallas Mavericks Mark Followill, and former baseball greats Jose Guzman, Jack Lazorko and Mike Phillips.

Tickets are still available, but you better move like a greyhound to get on track.

BTW, if you can’t make it to the gala, think about adopting one former tracksters.

However, if you were one of those “wait til the last minute” types, the three C’s of the Ronald McDonald event have a suggestion. (Who are the three C’s? Co-chairs Caroline Gehan and Caroline Nix and Honorary Chair Carolyn Rathjen, of course.)

Since the JLD is sold out, the Ronald McDonald gals recommend that you join them and the rest of the black tie crowd to dine, drink, and dance. That last one should be easy thanks to Dallas’ top band, Emerald City.

Tickets start at $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples, and tables start at $5,000.  Sponsorships are also available.  For more information, contact Courtney McLain, chief development officer for Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, at 214-631-7354 or cmclain@rmhdallas.com.

Event sponsors include:

• Gold Patron: Bob and Katherine Penn, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Select Product Group L.P., Angie and Bill Wallander.
• Silver Patron: Anonymous, Ami and Craig Cooper, Betsy & Richard Eiseman/Eiseman Jewels, Caroline and Glenn Gehan, Kara and Peter Gehan, Sue and Joe Graham, Whitney and Jay Grogan, Suzanne and Patrick McGee, Sally and Mike McWilliams, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr P.C., Caroline and Jason Nix, Helen Pappas/Pam and Matt Mattingly/Mersina and Phin Stubbs, Margot and Ross Perot, Southwest Airlines, US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Jean and Tom Walter.
• Gold Couple: Barry and Lana Andrews, Tricia and Gil Besing, Robyn and Don Conlon, Kathy and Michael Crow, Lacie and Pat Crow, Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, Tucker and Rich Enthoven, Stacey and Robert Furst, Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities, Ann and Lee Hobson, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Lemak, Natalie and Mike McGuire, Pam and Vin Perella, Katherine Perot and Eric Reeves, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Perrin Jr., Drs. Carol and Daniel Podolsky, Prairie Creek Partners, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Rooney, Dr. Randall and Barbara Rosenblatt, Annette and Harold Simmons, Thompson & Knight Foundation, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Washburne.
• Patron: Lee Bailey, Katie and Bill Collins, Crow Holdings, Mary Clare & Stanford C. Finney, Ola & Randall Fojtasek, Linda and Winston Guillory, Tania and Kevin Hardage, Sarah and Alan Losinger, The Mulford Family, Cynthia and Kevin O’Brien, Christie and Frank Scardino/Lockton.

Photo provided by Black Tie Dinner

And even more good news! Park Place Motorcars Dallas will once again underwrite the Black Tie Raffle vehicle. This year it will be a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sports Sedan (pictured) equipped with a 3.0-liter, V-6 engine. BTW, the $100-raffle tickets are already available for purchase.

Give It Up! ended its successful world premiere run at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre on Valentine’s Day. But it was the night before when Dallas showed the love. The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas packed the house Saturday night for the Give It Up! Gala to benefit education and outreach programs at the Dallas Theater Center. The final tally isn’t in yet, but the event was a big success judging by the large crowd and generous silent and live auctions.

Guests filled the Wyly Theatre lobby noshing on Wolfgang Puck food and cocktails, with a tent just outside the main door providing shelter from the cold for those bidding up the myriad silent auction items. Mimes from Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts directed guests and acknowledged patrons such as the Meyer Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management/Bank of America, the evening’s title sponsor.

Photo by Natalie Caudill

Co-chair Keith Nix (Ed. note: pictured with, from the left, Carol Meyer, mime Martha Gans, and Julie Hash) with welcomed the guests from the Wyly stage before the cheerleaders and basketball players of Give It Up! sang and danced through this updated version of the Greek play Lysistrata. (Laurie Foley was the other co-chair.) During intermission, the guests went back to the lobby to enjoy a Valentine’s dessert buffet, while auction co-chairs Kay Wilkinson and Dean Carter persuaded guests to run up the bids for the silent auction.

Photo by Natalie Caudill

Honorary co-chairs Penny Youngblood and Nancy Pearce (Ed. note: pictured center with Mike McAdams and Penny) mingled through the crowd visiting with friends and thanking patrons. After the performance, the Wyly stage became the site of a Valentine’s Day dance with DJ Jennifer Miller spinning the tunes.

Thanks, Eric, for the report and please thank Natalie for the photos. If anyone else has any other coverage notes on the event, feel free to comment.

You know how most people dread costume parties? Those folks stayed at home. Just as well. They wouldn’t have stood a chance with the likes of Hank Keller and John Coffman (pictured right, with Hank and Marisa Allen). Sure to all the world, they appeared to be a couple of cute guys, but say “Where’s your costume?” and the masks came out. Seems the boys dropped by Pier One to pick up their “look.”

And looks were in abundance thanks to the welcome committee that draped everyone in beads, beads, and more beads. VIP’s reception guests were easy to spot. They sported the gumball-size pearl  beads with red crosses. One hesitant guest upon seeing the pearl necklace coming his way said, “It looks like something to ward off vampires.”

And speaking of “looks,” that’s exactly what Mary Lucille Coffman (pictured) got as she walked by on her oh-so high platform shoes and in an interesting dress with cut-out back. No one seemed to notice if she was wearing a mask or not.

Red Cross Executive Director Cheryl Sutterfield decided to take a different angle to the attire in her multi-colored flowing gown topped off with still more Mardi Gras beads. Even her earrings matched the beads.

Sitting on a couch by the window wearing their beads with pride were sisters Mindy Smith, Erica Yake, and Susan Cooper (pictured from the left). Austinites Mindy and Erica trek up each year to join Dallasite Susan for the Red Cross gala. Can you imagine their collection of beads?

But not all were adorable single Gen X, Y, or Z. There was a very special couple who owe the Red Cross a whole lot. Joan and Dr. Larry Rogers (pictured) were seated on stools reflecting about their meeting in Japan. It was 1956,  when Larry was stationed with the Army veterinary corp and Joan worked for the Red Cross. They met at the Officers’ Club in Shendai and were married not long afterward. That was a mere 53 years ago. Since then they have been longtime supporter of the Red Cross.

Then there was Gretchen Gerlach (pictured) whose multi-colored morning coat suited the occasion perfectly. Darn, she couldn’t remember who designed it, but she did recall picking it up in Aspen.

However, contender for the most  “eye-catching” gettup was John Bolt (pictured) for his eye-popping topper of the night which he made himself. When asked what he called his hat, he replied with a smile, “I guess, my eyes are on you.”

Alas, we got the silent treatment from the three mimes (pictured) who did everything from direct guests to the right door to hamming it up. After a bit of investigation, it was learned that the three are Booker T. Washington students, who will be taking part in a performance tonight. You might want to drop by and enjoy the silence. The show starts at 7.

Despite the chilly February drizzle, last night’s second annual Dallas Art Fair “cliqued” to perfection as art lovers poured out to get the first look at stunning works from fifty primo galleries AND support Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Champagne flowed thanks to presenting sponsor Veuve Cliquot who, along with Neiman Marcus, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Sotheby’s, the American Visionary Art Museum, Paper City and the Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G., where the event was held) put their artistic heads together to create the three day arts event in Dallas. Qualifying Booker T. Students will receive scholarships ranging from $5000 to for college tuition, educational summers and travel; past recipients are already working on degrees at some not-too-shabby places like Harvard and Cal Arts. Sotheby’s has also developed an internship program at Booker T. that includes a VIP visit to the New York City auction house. This year’s event was noticeably larger than last year’s collection of 35 galleries and featured multiple media that filled F.I.G.’s 70,000 square feet to the brim, and many people came by to personally thank co-founders John Sughrue and Chris Byrne. Perusing the art: Christophe Charrier, Senior Vice President, Moët Hennessy USA, and major Dallas art honchos types Bonnie Pitman, Jeffrey Grove, Charlie Wylie, Jeremy Strick, Joan Davidow, Christina Rees Patterson, (who once worked for D Magazine), Richard Patterson, Michael Craig-Martin, Kenny Goss, Ken Downing, Mary Ann & Bob Marshall, Eve Reid, who looks about 35 and husband, Warren Weitman, plus Kary & Eduardo Brittingham, Jennifer & John Eagle, Dan & Lizzie Routman, Jim & Jan Showers, Jan just back from L.A., and Bob & Laura Wilson. Modern art aficionados Erin Mathews and David Nichols were there along with many Dallas designers. John Bobbit said heloved the “earnest-ness” of the space — the display evoked the feeling of a museum.

Photo provided by Dallas Art Fair

Sherry Hayslip and Cole Smith (ed. note: pictured) practically closed the party, Cole wanting to scour every single exhibit: “outrageous and beautiful” was how Sherry described the work, urging me to buy a Joan Bankemper sculpture from Nancy Hoffman Gallery (NY). But the best quote of the night came from a beautiful thirty-nine something blonde on the arm of a handsome investment banker, who looked wistfully at a David Hockney: “Ohhh, I had a Hockney,” she sighed over two paintings by one of the most influential British artists of the twentieth century, “But I lost it in my divorce.”

Loved that last anecdote. A champagne toast to your efforts.