UP FRONT

from 2018 December Lakewood

by Advocate Media - Dallas

They’re all our babies

Victorians

AMONG US

Cookies, candy, crabmeat, candlelight. Meet the mustachioed man who makes Christmas Eve memorable 

Tommy Bourgeois is anything but bougie.

But at his infamous Victorian Christmas Eve parties, things may get a tad boozy.

Bourgeois works as production designer at the Dallas Opera. He’s also the creator of the “12 Days of Christmas” at the Dallas Arboretum. (He currently is making updates to the exhibit, which he expects will debut in 2020.) He’s also known for his waxed mustache, which he began growing in 2016.

But neighborhood friends know him for his over-the-top Victorian Christmas Eve parties. At his annual soirée, he serves his grandmother’s fruitcake, which won ﬁrst place at the State Fair of Texas. He also serves tamale balls, which are “like meatballs, but they’re tamales.” In addition, there are artichoke balls, crabmeat croissant sandwiches, fudge, cookies and candies.

“Lots of wine ﬂows on this night,” Bourgeois says. “The whole house is lit with candles.

“Everyone looks good in candlelight.”

He describes his Junius Heights home as “New Orleans-looking.” He says it’s “Victorian, but not severe Victorian.”

His Christmas Eve open house is for everyone in the neighborhood. Bourgeois also provides gifts for neighbors’ children. The festive evening is his favorite holiday tradition.

But he enjoys Christmas Day as well. He prepares dinner for six close friends.

“It’s a candlelit Victorian dinner, and we’ve done this for years. They come early, we start off with cocktails. It’s a three- to four-course dinner and we enjoy the evening. And then the next day, it’s ‘poof’ — gone, and it’s a little bit depressing.”

But then he looks forward to styling La Boheme and Falstaff.

“I could never have a job in the real world. I always wanted to do windows when I was little. When the Arboretum came along, it was my Rhoda moment.”

And of course, he ends the interview with a Christmas Eve invite.

What to wear?

Incredible Todd Sedwick build situated on an elevated corner lot with over 4500 square feet of wonderful living and entertaining space centered around a resort style pool and outside living space, wine grotto, and full wet bar. The light filled space starts with 8’ double iron doors, marble floors, and a sweeping stairway to the second floor family space. The entry also opens to the study and into the Chef’s kitchen and family room all overlooking the pool. The home boasts four bedrooms and four and ½ baths & amenities include but are not limited to: hardwood flooring, three car garage, wired for sound inside and out, wood privacy fence and award winning Lakewood elementary!

Ruby And Roland

In August 2012, Highland on the Creek neighbor Roland Melton decided he wanted a dog. That very week, on a Tuesday morning, he left for the dog shelter only to ﬁnd a dog sitting in the neighborhood’s greenspace. She sat on the spot where he had found his previous dog years earlier. In fact, she looked just liked the type of dog he wanted. Melton says she had no collar, and she was hesitant to come home with him at ﬁrst. “Since I found her on a Tuesday, I decided to name her Ruby,” Melton says. You can see the two walking in the morning on a consistent schedule. “She is extremely calm and loves our walks every morning at White Rock Lake.” Melton says she enjoys playing with other dogs. He calls it Ruby’s social hour. “While on our walks, Ruby also gets to practice her favorite fantasy sport of thinking that she can catch the squirrels she sees — if only I would let her off her leash.”