Fashion, Film, Fine Art & Fun!Dallas on the Goby Robert PainterI arrived just in time to be whisked to my fabulous room at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas. Two days before I had been in Kuala Lumpur enjoying the outrageously successful 10th anniversary of the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix and all the pomp and circumstance surrounding that event.  This weekend I am in Dallas for something completely different. Believe me there are plenty of glamorous and expensive automobiles everywhere here, but here they are accessories, not the focal point of the journey.
 I’m in Dallas to attend the opening of the AFI Dallas Film Festival and to enjoy a bit of haute couture. And, starting at the Mansion is a perfect beginning. My arrival is a bit late so the hotel has laid out a delightful “snack” for me. It consists of the largest club sandwich I have ever seen. The chips are cooked to perfection and even before I uncover the sandwich there is a side dish of three finger sandwiches. Plus more, so let me just say that it was perfect. The hand-written notes from the managing director and the director of marketing are impressive as well. This is probably reflective of the fact that this is the only 5 star, 5 diamond hotel in Texas.
I wish I had more time to enjoy this wonderful spread, but I have to rush to get to the opening of the Film Festival. It’s a wonderful evening at the stately Majestic Theatre in Downtown Dallas. The symphony sings a few numbers - I missed part of the performance thanks to my late arrival, but I’m in time to hear a talk by Mickey Rooney. Lots of reminisces about old movies that bring back many memories. His talk wanders a bit and his lovely wife coaxes him off the stage. I could have listened for another hour, but the show must go on.  Following Mickey is the opening film of the festival. A serious and funny movie about a woman recently married whose husband has decided he made a mistake. He’s immature, she wants a baby and into her life walks a woman who claims to be her biological mother who conceived her as the result of a one night stand with Steve McQueen! This is not a movie review so just go see Then She Found Me for yourself. It’s the directorial debut of Helen Hunt - and, she’s the star. Taking a cue from Mickey she keeps her after-screening talk short and sweet. She’s lovely in her beautiful gown and graciously thanks the audience for attending.
After the movie (should I say film?) comes my first Gala of the weekend. This is a Black Tie Optional event presented by Neiman Marcus. Moet champagne all around. Or your choice of most anything else. I don’t recognize many faces but I do know it is a star-studded Private Gala Reception. I hear names like Hunt, Perot and a number of other A-list Dallas notables.  The next morning offers up a sumptuous waffles & strawberries & whipped cream breakfast, followed by a tour of the Mansion. It is surprisingly large. The feel is that of an intimate B & B or maybe a large, and admittedly affluent, private home. Again, I wish I had more time to soak in the surroundings, but it’s soon time to be off to The Power of Style, a celebration of Dallas society’s most distinguished women. Presented by Nordstrom and Vogue, the collections by Andrew Gn, Blumarine, Donna Karan, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Peter Som and Versace are appreciated and applauded by the Dallas elite gathered to watch. I can see mental notes being taken for the next shopping trip.
 But, there’s a lot more to Dallas than film and fashion. Fine art and museums hold their own in the 9th largest city in the nation. The Dallas arts district is the largest contiguous urban arts district in the country. It includes the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Meyerson Symphony Center, and, there’s a lot more to come. I’m already planning a visit for October of 2009 for the opening of the new Opera center.
My first visit to the Dallas Museum of Art was brief - too brief. I went back another day and spent about 3 hours there and look forward to returning to spend more time with the special exhibits. Even after a month and a half, the J.M.W. Turner visiting exhibit was mobbed.  Across the street is the Nasher Sculpture Center where you will find works by Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Aristide Maillol and others. The one you absolutely will not miss is a piece entitled Walking to the Sky by Jonathan Borofsky. It’s a wonderful story that I will leave for you to discover on your own.
 You’ll probably recognize the name behind the Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art. Be sure to visit the gallery for the splendid collection from Japan, China, India and other Asian countries.
In the Fair Park District you’ll find the African American Museum. Right now they have an outstanding collection of papers and memorabilia from one of the most volatile  periods of the civil rights movement, most specifically Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Sponsored by AARP it is perhaps the most comprehensive exhibit of that era that I have seen.  With all the day’s activities and sightseeing and museum visits and shopping center stops dinner in the FDR Suite at the Mansion seems the perfect way to finish my second day in Dallas. John Tesar, the head chef prepares a splendid meal for my small group. Matched with just the right wines and a few stories about the Mansion, FDR’s visit and other tales the day could not have been better.
 On my last full day in Dallas I have decided to skip the Macy’s Runway Show and see more of the city. While I’d like to see the men’s fashions that are to be included, I really want to get more of a feel for the city as a whole. Besides, there’s another fashion show this evening.
 The day zips past and I’m off to the invitation-only Fashion at the Park Gala presented by Neiman Marcus, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and NorthPark Center. For me, this is the highlight of the fashion weekend. When I saw the dresses on display in the main room the fabrics struck me as Middle Eastern, having recently traveled in Turkey and Malaysia. It turns out that the designer is Naeem Khan of India so I wasn’t too far off. The fabrics are fabulous, the designs are delightful and the models are marvelous. Especially the one that reminds everyone of Salma Hayek. And the dinner that follows is near perfection. How can one chef with eight assistants turn out such a wonderful meal for 260 intimate friends? You guessed it – he’s the Rosewood Mansion chef.
So, what next? How about another AFI Dallas party in the Great Room of the W Hotel? O.K., I’m done - time to go to my room and soak in the gigantic tub with lots of superb toiletries and piped in music from the stereo. I could tell you even more but I’m almost out of space. I will mention one last stop before I head to the airport. Tucked away about two or three blocks from the Mansion you may want to seek out the MADI. I peeked in and found The New Amazons of the Avant-Garde: Eleven MADI artists. Check out these pioneer women of modern art. This exhibit may be gone, but some of the pieces are part of the permanent collection. And, yes, King Tut is coming back. Look for him at the DMA beginning in October 2008. Keep on traveling. Story and photos by Robert Painter. rpainter2006@comcast.net. When You Go: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: http://www.mansiononturtlecreek.com/ Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.visitdallas.com AFI Dallas International Film Festival: www.AFIDALLAS.com | 