The Best Events in Dallas for October 2014

September was a haze with the back-to-school transition. I finally feel like I can take a breath and rejoice in the fact that it's Fall! From haunted houses to movie premiers, fashion shows to opera, BBQ festivals to golf this month has something for everyone. Get outside and enjoy this amazing weather!

XO, Cynthia

Wednesday, October 1

Alley’s House will host its third annual luncheon on October 1st, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Barbara Pierce Bush and Honorary Chair, Gloria Campos at House of Blues Dallas. Anna de Haro of Clear Channel Radio will return as event emcee. Barbara Bush has spent her career focusing on nutrition and global health issues. She has traveled extensively with the UN World Food Program, is a member of UNICEF’s Next Generation Steering Committee and was named one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year in 2011 and Newsweek’s Women of Impact in 2013. Alley’s House luncheon is a forum for conversation to better understand the range of barriers facing teen mothers including access to healthcare, adequate nutrition for themselves and their children, education, and jobs that pay a living wage. Tickets start at $150. http://alleyshouse.org/ah/ahluncheon/

Thursday, October 2 

The Mosaic Champion of Human Rights Fall Gala is an annual event to raise awareness of human rights abuses in our communities and individuals working to address them. Dallas fashion designer, Mosaic supporter, and anti-trafficking activist Abi Ferrin will receive the Champion of Human Rights Award which recognizes the extraordinary dedication of individuals who strive to ensure the protection of the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Abi’s Freedom Project helps create alternate forms of employment and hope for oppressed and trafficked women worldwide. Joining them for this fun evening will also be emcee Amy Vanderoef, Host of Good Morning Texas. Guests will enjoy beer, wine & spirits, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, 50/50 Raffle, and live music by the Hunter Sullivan Band.  This gala will be held at Fashion Industry Gallery, 1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201. Tickets start at $200. www.mosaicservices.org/events

Friday, October 3

Project Runway alum, Mila Hermanovski will be coming to Piermarini Boutique on October 3rd from 3pm-6pm. She will be showcasing her Fall collection along with some exclusive styles for the trunk show at Piermarini. Mila, she was born in Dallas and is a fellow Greenhill School alum. She was on Project Runway twice, once during Season 7 and again for Project Runway All-Stars. Piermarini Boutique is located at 6827 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205.





Saturday, October 4

Attend a social screening for the film "Advanced Style" at the Texas Theater. Advanced Style examines the lives of seven unique New Yorkers whose eclectic personal style and vital spirit have guided their approach to aging. Based on Ari Seth Cohen’s famed blog of the same name, this film paints intimate and colorful portraits of independent, stylish women aged 62 to 95 who are challenging conventional ideas about beauty, aging, and Western’s culture’s increasing obsession with youth. Cocktails begin at 7pm, the film will start at 8:00pm. Tickets are $10 at the door. http://thetexastheatre.com/movies-events/advanced-style

Smoked Dallas will take place Downtown in Main Street Gardens and feature an all star lineup of Texas' best pitmasters, chefs and bands to serving heapin’ helpings of ear candy and good grub. Smoked’s edible offerings will be prepared by 16 of Texas' top Pitmasters and Chefs. The BBQ tasting ticket ($45) includes three hours of BBQ tastings from 2 – 5pm. Step right up and they’ll hand you a basket of smoked goodness. VIP ticket holders ($90) can get the party started an hour early at 1pm, plus admission into the VIP area throughout the concert. The bands hit the stage starting at 2:30 and continue until 10. Concert tickets are ONLY $22 and get you in the gate at 5. Not to worry concertgoers, BBQ vendors will be selling their smoked goodness during the show. Smoked Dallas features an all-star Texas musical lineup including Bob Schneider, Black Joe Lewis, Sarah Jaffe, The Tontons, Matt Hillyer & Dean Fearing’s Lost Coyote. http://www.prekindle.com/smokeddallas


Thursday, October 9

DFW Style Daily will team with Belk to present a Girls’ Night Out celebration on October 9 filled with fashion, discounts, giveaways, and more. Kicking off at 6 p.m. Belk Flagship at Galleria Dallas will rock with a live DJ as wine and craft brews begin to flow. Light bites will also be served, along with a tempting 20% storewide discount. Fall fashion will then take center stage at 7 p.m., with a special runway presentation. Deluxe samples from Michael Kors Beauty will make this Girls’ Night Out especially lovely, as will chances to win some very pretty prizes. Up for grabs is a Belk box stuffed with $1,300 worth of goodies, plus one lucky lady will win free shoes for a year. This event is free to attend and no RSVP is required. Belk is located at the Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75240. http://dfwstyledaily.com/2014/09/19/discounts-giveaways-fashion-party-with-us-at-belk-on-october-9/

Thrift Studio, the "thrift store unlike any other thrift store," will be back this fall benefitting Dwell with Dignity. Starting on October 10th, for 30 days, the pop-up shop will again have incredible vignettes created by interior designers and showrooms with donated Dwell with Dignity inventory, which will be constantly replenished with designer finds. You can be one of the first to preview this year's vignettes at the Preview Party at the Dallas Design Center on October 9. Tickets start at $125 and get you access to the event, sips, bites, and first dibs on designer finds. Dwell with Dignity is a non-profit group of Interior Designers and volunteers dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty. This year there will also be an Art Gallery with original art from local artists, as well as from the children of Dwell with Dignity families. http://thriftstudio.com/preview-tickets/


Wednesday, October 15

Who are the most stylish men and women in Dallas? Find out at the first-ever CultureMap Stylemaker Awards on October 15 at Tootsies. Dallas can vote on 12 deserving semi-finalists who represent not only a diverse array of styles, but also a variety of industries. Some have made an impact on the fashion business; others have simply impressed with their ability to make a fashion statement in any circumstance. The six top vote-getters will move into the final round to determine the readers’ choice. That person, along with editors’ choice, will be honored at the Stylemaker party on October 15. There is no cost to attend. Tootsies is located at 8300 Preston Rd, Ste. 200, Dallas TX 75225.


Saturday, October 18

Chipotle's Cultivate Dallas-Ft. Worth will host a one-day festival on Saturday, October 18 in nearby Irving, Texas at Lake Carolyn. The event will include cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, live music, local food artisans, regional beer and wines, a special Chipotle festival menu, a Kids’ Zone with games and other activities that emphasize fresh and affordable food made with sustainable ingredients. Celebrity chefs lined up for the event include Matt McCallister (FT33 in Dallas); Omar Flores (Casa Rubia in Dallas); Kent Rathbun (Abacus in Dallas and Jasper’s in Plano, Houston and Austin); Paul Qui (Qui and East Side King in Austin); Sean Brock (Husk in Charleston and Nashville, and McCrady’s in Charleston) and Amanda Freitag (Empire Diner in New York). The musical line-up includes Amos Lee, O.A.R., MS MR, Sylvan Esso, and DJ Christopher Golub. Admission is free.  http://chipotlecultivate.com/cities/dallas-ft-worth/#music

Cattle Barons Ball has raised nearly $60 million for cancer research since 1974, the majority of which is conducted right here in DFW. True to Texas’ history of rising to the challenge, this event has become the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Don your boots and join them at Gilley's on October 18 for some boot scooting' fun, live and silent auction and enjoy featured performer Kenny Chesney. Tickets start at $2500 per couple. http://www.cattlebaronsball.com





Thursday, October 23 

The Dallas Opera 2014-15 “Heights of Passion” Season opens with a stunning fashion show featuring styles by world-class Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, as well as, six custom-made gowns created by internationally renowned designers inspired by each of the operas presented this season. The lavish event, co-chaired by Lynn McBee and Nicholas Even, also includes a delectable gourmet luncheon held at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. The opera-themed gowns will also be presented on the red carpet for the opening night of The Marriage of Figaro. They will later be auctioned individually by international auction house Heritage Auctions as a fundraiser for the Dallas Opera. The Winspear Opera house is located at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX, 75201. Tickets start at $250. http://dallasopera.org/support/special-events/first-night/


Friday, October 24

The Dallas Opera’s thrilling season-opening production of the 2014-2015 “Heights of Passion” Season is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, a revolutionary romantic comedy filled with memorable music and unforgettable characters. The Marriage of Figaro opens on Friday, October 24, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District at 2403 Flora Street. Opening Night festivities begin with a magnificent red carpet entrance and a sumptuous FIRST NIGHT Pre-Performance Dinner (beginning at 6:00 p.m.) co-chaired by Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger. A high-spirited After Party, co-chaired by Jenifer Strauss and Robert Weatherly, begins just as the opera ends. Tickets for First Night dinner, performance and after party are $750. You can attend only the after party soiree for $125. www.dallasopera.org/support/special-events/first-night.

CHEFS FOR FARMERS present the 1st annual Oyster Bash on Sunday October 26 from 2pm – 6pm at the newly revamped Dallas Farmer’s Market. Festivities include cooked and live oysters from Texas as well as East and West Coasts shucked on site by the biggest foodie chef hotshots, cocktails, wine, an oyster slurp-off, tarot card reader, spins from DJ Souljah and surprises to come. Jon Alexis (TJ’s Seafood Market), Matt McCallister (FT 33) Kyle McClelland (Proof and Pantry), Jack Perkins (The Slow Bone), Stephen Rogers (Gemma), Jon Stevens (Stock & Barrel), John Tesar (Knife) and special guest Randy Rucker (Briar and Bramble, Houston) serve up oyster-centric dishes and sides during the mix and mingle event. Libations served up BYOG (bring your own glass) style will showcase spirits and wines from the Glazer’s portfolio. The $85 ticket is inclusive of food, libations, tax and gratuity. Tickets available at http://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/23543011512931242. A portion of the proceeds benefit Cafe Momentum and Foodways Texas.

Thursday, October 30

Enjoy yourself as top local chefs prepare their signature dishes to raise awareness and vital revenue to help March of Dimes prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality at the Signature Chef Auction. Join Lead Chef Kent Rathbun and more than 20 top local chefs as they prepare their signature dishes – all to honor stronger, healthier babies. This delicious event will take place at the Omni Dallas Hotel and starts at 6pm. Tickets start at $500. http://signaturechefsdallas.com





These Events Run Throughout the Month of October 

Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum runs for the entire month of October. See the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village created with 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash, take photos at one of the most photographed places in Dallas, and bring or purchase a picnic to enjoy among the chrysanthemums and marigolds. Many fun activities take place in the main garden and the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden during the festival.

Tom Thumb offers $1 off general garden admission tickets during Autumn at the Arboretum. Discounted tickets are available for purchase at area Tom Thumb locations. Take advantage of Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) on Wednesdays. Half Price Daytime Parking: $5 parking available for purchase in advance online. The Dallas Arboretum is located at on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. Check http://www.dallasarboretum.org/ for daily schedules.

Through approximately 40 unique and interactive experiences, the traveling exhibition 2theXtreme: MathAlive! at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science takes math from its native form into the fascinating applied worlds of design, engineering, technology and science. Create a video game, master engineer a modern city, edit an animated movie, compete in a mountain bike race, jump into a ‘binary dance party,’ or program and control Curiosity, NASA’s next Mars rover. The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.perotmuseum.org/explore-the-museum/traveling-exhibits/Math-Alive/index.html

photo: Slaughterhouse on Facebook

This month is all about spooktacular frights! Dallas and the surrounding suburbs offer some of the best haunted houses anywhere in the country. There are way to many choices to list them all, s here are a few of the best known:

Slaughterhouse is over 16,000 square feet of pure terror. In its 10th year of fear, this is the longest running haunted house in Downtown Dallas. BEWARE: This haunted attraction is very graphic and not intended or recommended for children under 10 years old. Tickets start at $24. Located at 2615 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226. http://www.weslaughter.com

Dark Hour is unlike any other haunted house in the Metroplex. With over 30,000 sq. ft. of terror to experience, guests are treated to a top-notch performance. Dark Hour uses state-of-the-art technology and lighting equivalent to the equipment used at concerts and theatrical productions. The highly detailed sets and professional actors combine to create the ultimate high quality haunt experience for all who enter. Tickets start at $26. Located at 701 Taylor Drive, Plano, TX 75074. http://darkhourhauntedhouse.com

The Boneyard is a combination of high-tech effects, movie-quality sets and old-fashioned scare tactics. Tickets start at $28. Located at 2921 E. Division St., Arlington. 817-451-2663. theboneyard.org.

Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus is made up of 29 trailers arranged in a maze of more than 100 scenes filled with clowns, deranged medical personnel, a light show and more. Tickets start at $30. Located t 8225 Esters Blvd., Irving. stranglingbros.com.

OUTSIDE DALLAS COUNTY:

photo: Cutting Edge Haunted House

Cutting Edge Haunted House - The award-winning dark attraction is in an actual meatpacking plant. Tickets start at $29.95. Located at 1701 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. 817-348-8444. cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com.

Hangman's House of Horrors - The main haunt is 30 minutes long, plus there are McDagenville, the Labyrinth and 3-D Wonderland. Tickets start at $25. Located at 2300 West Freeway, Fort Worth. 817-336-4264. hangmans.com.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas gets a macabre makeover with haunted houses, spooky shows and renamed rides (Conquistador Orc Chefs and the Titan Witch, for example). Tickets start at $20. Additional fees are required for some attractions. Located at 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington. 817-265-3356. http://frightfest.sixflags.com

Zombie Manor is a Hollywood-style set bringing the zombie apocalypse to Arlington. Tickets start at $17. Located at 7501 U.S. Highway 287, Arlington. 817-478-7430. zombiemanor.com.

Screams - The Halloween theme park houses Castle of Darkness, 3-D Pirates of Peril Point, the Arcane Asylum, Unkel Koy’s Klown Maze, Ghoulish Graveyard and Trail of Terror: Blizzard of Beasts. Tickets start at $27. Located at 2511 FM66, Waxahachie. 972-938-3247. screamspark.com.

Thrillvania Thrill Park is known as "The Terror of Terrell" and includes Verdun Manor, Cassandra’s Labyrinth of Terror, Thorn Hall, Granny Lupus’ Seance Theatre, VooDoo Bayou and Sam Hain’s Trail of Torment. Tickets start at $29.95. Located at 2330 County Road 138, Terrell. thrillvania.com.


This post sponsored by The Woman's Center for Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery: