Curated Texan
Last-Minute Weather Change Only Heightened The Event’s Success And Dramatic Flair
By Cynthia Smoot Photography by Susie Burleson
and Grace Cook
THE SETTING: Stormy skies forced Zoo To Do: Safari Noir Co-Chairs Mary McDermott Cook and Grace Cook to pivot to a plan that included swinging the whole soiree from the Zoo grounds to Centennial Hall at Fair Park. The Dallas Zoo’s Animal Adventures Outreach team greeted guests with almost two dozen animals appearing early in the evening. From African penguins to Caribbean flamingos to lizards and snakes and porcupines – oh my!
To help set the tone, the Zoo team lined the entry walkway and entire room with larger-than-life glowing lanterns that represented many of the Zoo’s most beloved species. The lanterns made the temporary trek over from the Zoo, where the team is completing set-up for its upcoming eighth year of Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant. Guests grazed on bites provided by a list of chefs that were a mix of familiar favorites along with more than a dozen first-timers – all from some of the hottest restaurant names in the city. Among those who participated in the event were Chef Aaron Collins from Café Momentum; Chef Hollie Contreras from Cane Rosso; Chef Eric Dreyer from Casa Kuro; Chef Landon Perdue from Emporium Pies; Chef Matt Balke from Encina; Chef Michael Matis from Fearing’s Restaurant; Chef Stephen Rogers and Chef Allison Yoder from Gemma & Sachet; Chef Jeff Bekavac from Goodwins; Yasmeen Tadia from Make Your Life Sweeter; Chef Janice Provost from Parigi; Chef Daiana Guzman from Petra and the Beast; Chef Dan Landsberg from The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch; and Chef Estephan Fernandez from Truluck’s – Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab.
THE VIBE: Lively music set the vibe for that portion of the night, where a pop-up from Oak Cliff’s own LadyLove Lounge took over one corner, featuring tunes from DJ Duo Endolena. In keeping with the Safari Noir theme, the team had created a “speakeasy” for Zoo To Do’s VIP guests, where entry through a sleek telephone booth led the way into a swanky lounge for the Zoo’s special guests. Among those in attendance were Honorary Chairs Carol and Don Glendenning, Steven J. Roth and Thai-lan Tran, Kim and Greg Hext, Diane and Hal Brierley, Dawn and Steve Moore, Marena and Roger Gault, Matrice and Ron Kirk, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Christina and Rob Swift, and Shawna and Josh Hinkel. Later in the evening, screens were removed to open up the seated area where another ten or so chefs were serving late night bites and sweet treats for the remainder of the evening. Guests listened to remarks from Dallas Zoo’s CEO Lisa New and the event chairs who then turned the stage over to Louis Murad for a spirited live auction. Party band Manhattan took the stage and provided the backdrop for dancing and late-night dining for the remainder of the night.
Kim and Greg Hext
THE NON-PROFIT: The co-chairs’ stated goal was to make this year’s 33rd annual Zoo To Do, presented by The Eugene McDermott Foundation, the biggest and boldest yet. And there is no doubt the team accomplished that – with the event selling out earlier than ever and fundraising for the night topping a record-setting $1.5 million. The Dallas Zoo is dedicated to creating a better world for animals.Consistently named one of the nation’s Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, it is the largest zoological experience in Texas and includes a 106-acre park, more than 2,000 animals, keeper chats and animal encounters, and opportunities to engage, explore, and learn through the Zoo and its robust schedule of education and conservation programs.
