Society

MAD HATTER’S INTRODUCES JUDGES, CATEGORIES FOR APRIL 20 TEA PARTY

Karl Chiao, Addison Sloane, Diana Brosseau, and Kallie Hauschild Barbara Bigham and Emilynn Wilson

Trisha Sims and Cindy Avroch Rosenthal Lisa Loy Laughlin, Claire Catrino, and Allison Brodnax

Nerissa von Helpenstill and Linda Spina

Vanessa Logan and Elizabeth Selzer

Gail Warrior

(PHOTOS BY ROB WYTHE/WYTHE PORTRAIT STUDIO)

Get those bonnets and bowlers, cloches and cartwheels, and fascinators and fedoras ready.

Allison Brodnax chaired the Feb. 24 Reveal party in Tootsies’ recently renovated Preston Center space, where Mad Hatter’s Tea Party organizers introduced the judges and categories for the April 20 affair at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

The judges: Mary Brinegar, Best Use of Botanical Components: “Bluebonnets;” Kim Noltemy, Most True to Theme: “Flying Horse;” Barbara Bigham, Best Big Over the Top Texas Hat: “Everything is Bigger in Texas;” Vanessa Logan, Best Fascinator: “Uptown Girl;” Amy Hofland, Best Group Hats: “Dallas Dynasty;” and Tanya Taylor, Best in Show: “Don’t Mess with Dallas.” Those attending the tea will choose the People’s Choice Award: “Deep in the Hat of Texas” winner.

– Staff report

Looking Ahead

Golf with a cause

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s (HDSA) Greater North Texas Affiliate will host the inaugural JCH Golf Classic beginning at 7 a.m. May 2 at Bear Creek Golf Club. The event coordinated by Haley Pearce will recognize those who have impacted the community and helped inspire others to fight the disease. Visit greaterntx.hdsa.org/golf.

Give pets a home

Dallas Pets Alive! has partnered with The Bandwagon Tour for a concert on May 7 at the Dos Equis Pavilion. Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and The Cadillac Three will perform to promote the fostering and saving of homeless pets. Visit dallaspetsalive.org.

New dates

Flexibility has remained an ongoing theme during the COVID-19 era as charitable social events have returned to the calendar. These events Steve Eagar would have already happened but got new dates because of concerns about surging case numbers from the Omicron variant: • The masquerade-themed Gala, An Event to Remember, moved from Feb. 19 to May 7 at the Verona Villa in Frisco. Steve Eagar, from Channel 4 KDFW, will emcee. “The safety of our constituents, supporters, and guests during the current omicron surge drove this decision, and we are hopeful that by moving the event to May 7, we will be able to resume the in-person Gala we are all looking forward to enjoying,” said Nicole Garrison, manager of relationship events for the Dallas and Northeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/og4/ or call 972-752-0233. • The Center for Vital Longevity’s 10th Anniversary Dinner, initially scheduled for Jan. 29, was moved to May 20. The event will honor Dr. Denise C. Clark, director of research and distinguished university chair in behavioral and brain sciences. Watch calendar.utdallas.edu for event updates or call Erin Dougherty at (972) 883-3938.

(COURTESY PHOTOS) – Compiled by Greg Nielsen

Fabulous flowers for life ‘s most precious moments!

Wedding Days, Birthdays, Any Days

Grand Tableau

Elizabeth Walsh Madigan Jacoby and Spencer Hardin Julia Hicks and Vance Miller

FRONT ROW: Karen Cox, Venise Stuart, and Sarah Mills. BACK ROW: Claire Catrino, Elizabeth Gambrell, Courtney Slater, Nancy Labadie, and Cynthia Beaird Chris, Sydney and Susan Goodiel

Eric and Elizabeth Gambrell Larry and Venise Stuart, and Kim Noltemy Todd Clendening and Sherwood Wagner

(PHOTOS: GITTINGS)

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s annual Presentation Ball has raised more than $12 million for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the years and created many family legacies along the way.

For example, Margaret and Barry Hancock met when she was a debutant, a year after he had served in the 1987 honor guard. With this year’s 36th annual ball, all their children have participated, too: Mary Margaret in 2016, James in 2020, and Katherine in 2022.

Elizabeth Gambrell served as ball chair with Sherwood Wagner as honorary chair for the Feb. 12 event at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The 2021-2022 debutantes: Nora Arnold, Virginia Baker, Bailey Beaird, Cambridge Bender, London Boscamp, Abigail Brannon, Riley Cheek, Grace Condon, Amelia Cox, Erin Daugherty, Eliza Davis, Katherine Downing, Katherine Edwards, Katie Elliott, Virginia Fielder, Sydney Goodiel, Katherine Hancock, Emily Hea, Reva Henderson, Ava Heppner, Julia Hicks, Stephanie Hirschbrich, Sophie Hung, Madigan Jacoby, Grace Judin, Claire Koonsman, Story Langston, Ashley Laughlin, McKinley Lawson, Brooke Marvel, Ashlyn Meuse, Anna Mikeska, Kate Murray, Ashlee Newton, Abbey Perry, Mary Tarver Reid, Anna Robinowitz, Annie Sawers, Bella Scott, Sarah Smith, Lydia Szuwalski, Margaret Thompson, Samantha Ungerman, Ella Varel, Annie Walker, Elizabeth Walsh, Tory Wicklund, and Kelsey Wittmann. – Staff report

French Châteaus For Beginners De Vouge brings tales of Vaux-le-Vicomte to Woman’s Club, Aldredge House

By Daniel Lalley

Special Contributor

Growing up amid the opulence of an ancient French chateau seems more like a fantasy than any feasible upbringing.

However, for Alexandre de Vogue, director of patronage and external relations for Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, it was all part of a greater calling he’s come to accept as his family duty.

Preston Hollow resident Susan Cox helped arrange his recent visit to North Texas, where de Vogue spoke at the Dallas Woman’s Club and Aldredge House as well as to journalists and others about the intricate history of his home in France, the significance of the estate, and his journey as a steward for the next generation.

“In 1875, my great, great grandfather, who had built his fortune through the sugar industry, fell in love with Vaux-le-Vicomte. He decided to purchase the estate in an auction and dedicate the rest of his life to restoring it.” De Vogue’s great, great grandfather brought his family to live at the chateau for six months out of the year. They furnished it, restored the house, resuscitated the grounds and garden, and effectively saved this estate which had been abandoned for 20 years. The history of Vaux-le-Vicomte is as intricate as its architecture, beginning with a wealthy parliamentarian, Nicholas Fouquet, who built the estate but was soon after sentenced to

I thought life imprisonment by King maybe it Louis XIV. was time “It was a myth that to face Fouquet stole what I called my money from the treasury family duty. and raised an Alexandre De army to overthrow the Vogue king,” said de Vouge. “When Fouquet invited Louis XIV to the estate upon its inauguration, the king was so jealous that he threw him in prison.” Enduring multiple generations in de Vogue’s family, Alexandre’s father received the estate as a Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is known for its rich French history and impressive architecture. (COURTESY PHOTO,

FARIDA BRECHEMIER)

wedding gift in 1967 then opened it to the public in 1968.

“My father cared for it until 2011, before turning the company over to me and my twin brother. In 2015 our younger brother joined us as well, and now we are all three in charge of caring for the estate.”

But this wasn’t always the plan for de Vouge. Having been raised in Vaux-le-Vicomte, Alexandre grew bored of his life there and wanted to embark on a journey all his own.

“My brother and I spent our youth in the chateau,” said de Vouge. “I then went to study in Paris, completed my compulsory military service in the Alpine Troops where I discovered a love for skiing and mountaineering. I decided to make it my profession, so I became a mountain guide in the Alps and did that for over 20 years. I traveled and lived in Canada, South America, and Patagonia, earning my living.”

Then, something unexpected happened. He broke his leg in 2008 which gave him some time to reflect.

“I thought maybe it was time to face what I called my family duty.”

In 2010, de Vouge returned to Vaux-le-Vicomte to begin carving his part in the legacy of this magnificent place. Today, he travels the world sharing the story of his home and an incredible piece of history.

DISCOVER THE ESTATE

Visit vaux-le-vicomte.com for detailed information on events, history, tours, and more.

Party Hopping

Cooking up hope

The 12th annual Symphony of Chefs on Feb. 28 at SMU’s Armstrong Fieldhouse raised more than $300,000 to help KidLinks connect children to healing, hope, and happiness through music and media therapy.

Roni Proter, a TV personality, chef, and creator of Dinner Re-invented (dinnerreinvented.com), emceed. Christina and Chase Sanders and Lisa and Stuart Sides served as co-chairs, and John Kleifgen and Eric Dreyer as Honorary Chef Chairs.

Booker T. Strings Trio performed as guests enjoyed chef-prepared food, starting with hors d’oeuvres, fresh focaccia and classic rustic bread, and several courses.

Prodigal exhibit

SMU’s Meadows Museum celebrated the opening of “Murillo: Picturing the Prodigal Son” and honored the exhibit’s lenders as well as dignitaries and others at a Feb. 18 dinner held within the museum galleries.

On loan from the National Gallery of Ireland, a series of six paintings by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682) is in the U.S. for the first time. The exhibit illustrates the popular biblical parable and runs through June 16. celebrated members of its new friends’ group, the Texas State of Mind Society, during a Feb. 17 welcome reception at The Pumphouse, a private event space at the home of institute board member Deedie Rose.

The society, co-chaired by Caren and Peter Kline, will support the institute’s goal of making Texas the national leader in mental healthcare. Guest speakers were Meadows Institute President and CEO Andy Keller, Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, and Peter O’Donnell Jr.

Boogie for Nexus

With Disco and Dessert, the Dallas Nexus Recovery Center and its patrons celebrated 50 years of bringing substance abuse treatments to women and honored recently retired former CEO Becca Crowell for 30 years of service.

Jan Madigan, Carolyn Waghorne, and Angie and Rush Waghorne chaired the Nov. 17 event.

Guests fully embraced the theme, sporting boogie attire including gold sequins, platform shoes, and ’70s inspired fashions for the agency’s first in-person fundraising event in nearly two years.

The evening at the Joule began with an invitation-only Honorary Reception, chaired by Jan Madigan and Carolyn Waghorne, for 50 For 50 donors and sponsors. Roni Proter and Diana Crawford

(Photo: Courtesy KidLinks) Nicholas Weege, Jay and Pilar Henry, Michael Domke, and Terri Provencal

(Photo: Courtesy SMU)