Tabletop Tuesday // TWO x TWO Gala 2013

A mixture of white Chloe goblets with Onyx and Stella black stemware on black + white striped linens from POSH Couture Rentals. Design by Todd Events. Image courtesy of Roderick Pena Photography

What an honor to be a part of the 15th annual benefit dinner and art auction for TWOxTWO for Aids, benefiting amFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and The Dallas Museum of Art. Hosted by Howard and Cindy Rachofsky in their Richard Meier-designed home, The Rachofsky House, the charity event of the year included a who's who of national accord as well as the top event producers in States. Todd Fiscus of Todd Events  pulled out all of the stops, with a European-constructed dome for guests, a wall of black and white photographs from years past, and a scrumptious menu from Cassandra Fine Catering. Guests included Dallas philanthropists (Nancy C. Rogers, Deedie Rose, Tina Craig, Nasiba Adilova, and the fashion darlings of the world (DVF, Derek Lam) and art enthusiasts (Maxwell Anderson, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld ). A live auction was conducted by Jamie Niven, Chairman, and Sotheby’s, North and South America. The event raised over $5 million in one night, bringing their total contribution over the past fifteen years to be over $45 million. 

Alternating tables of white and black chiavari chairs and specialty stemware set the stage for a celebratory charity dinner. Roderick Pena Photography.

White Chiavari Chairs, Artesian Flatware, Onyx Stemware, Black and White Chloe Goblets, Pure Stemware, all POSH.   Roderick Pena Photography

We find it fitting that Todd picked an elegant mixture of black and white stemware for an evening celebrating a cause that should be black and white - helping make AIDS history and honoring the art that inspires and teaches us all. Congrats to all of those involved in this magnificent night and a huge shout out to the sponsors. Read more about the event here, like TWOxTWO on facebook, and see Vogue's coverage of the event.

Clockwise from top left: Dinner guests toast the evening with crystal champagne coups. The dome constructed by Todd Events. Howard and Cindy Rachofsky play host to the gala of the year. Photographed by Kevin Tachman for Vogue.

 

Link Love // Art and the Park

dear sunset by Ugo Rondinone, a commissioned artwork by the Nasher XChange, which will be produced at Fish Trap Lake in West Dallas.

We are literally blown away by the artistic wonders the Nasher XChange will produce in Dallas. One of our favorites is shown in the image above. Entitled "dear sunset", a wooden pier will be finished in vibrant colors reminiscent of a sunset in Fish Trap Lake in West Dallas. Artist Ugo Rondinone describes a romantically poetic approach to his work that evokes deep emotion for anyone in tune with Nature. Read all Rondinone's work and the other nine amazing artists  working on the XChange in a brilliant interactive digital guide by the Nasher Sculpture Center. You will be amazed.

There are so many things to get you inspired this weekend. Here are our favorites:

Klyde Warren Park, Dallas' own central park uniting Uptown and Downtown over Woodall Rodgers, is celebrating it's first birthday. A weekend of festivities will commence, beginning this evening with a big screen simulcasting the Dallas Opera's Carmen. Free of charge.

TWOxTWO for Aids and Art will be held this weekend at the Rachofsky House in Dallas. The amazing gala and auction has raised over $40 million for the Dallas Museum of Art and amfAR. Check out their facebook page for a look at the art going up and the philanthropy invovled. 

If you stay inside this weekend to prepare for your Halloween festivities, take time to nourish your mind and soul with an amazing documentary from HBO - Life According to Sam. Following the medical trials and tribulations of children with progeria, an aging-related disease, will give you hope by the wisdom and strength of young children bearing this illness. Sam, the namesake of the documentary, is a force. Be warned, there will be Niagara Falls, in a good way.
 

Weekend To Do: August

Get Inspired: The September issues are slowly trickling in. We love seeing Daria Werbowy's touch editorial in Vogue UK (you can download that one now on your ipad). The Town and Country issue looks like it will be pretty great too, with two of our favorite young tastemakers on the cover: Claire Courtin-Clarins and Lauren Bush. Plus, who isn't excited about seeing Princess Diana on the cover of Vanity Fair -- this one will hands down be the best last summer weekends reading material. 
Get Local: The Dallas Design District is our home during the week, but the weekend is proving to be pretty festive. Check out their indoor/outdoor events Saturday around the neighborhood; first stop should be The Dallas Contemporary. More details here. If you're out on date night, FT33 is a hot restaurant that everyone has been talking about. You know it's worth the hype when Bon Appétit Magazine names it one of the 50 best new restaurants in America. We're dying to try it!
Get Involved: TWO x TWO for aids is well-known around Dallas and the nation for raising over $40 million in support of amfAR’s AIDS research initiatives and the DMA’s contemporary art acquisition program. Beyond being a worthy cause, they have amazing pieces of artwork that have national collectors taking note. Check out their catalog here. Our favorite are the brilliant neon statements from Tracey Emin (Trust Yourself, £35,000) and the killer artwork of Brooklyn artist Emilio Perez (Just Another, acrylic and latex on wood, $18,000). Add to your collection and support this beautiful cause.