BARNEYS OPENING

Barney’s had a fabulous opening tonight at NorthPark, and I was totally surprised to hear Patti LaBelle–see Patti LaBelle in the flesh! She was AWESOME!

“Honey, I’m 63, I’m menopausal and I have diabetes…I’m one mean black woman!”

You go girl! Voulez-vous couchez avec moi, se soi?

Probably one of the best openings I’ve been to. First of all, everyone wore NYC black (except for moi–what was I thinking?) Said Jonathan Adler, the designer and partner of Barneys Creative Director Simon Doonan: “These Dallas gals go all out–I mean their clothes, hair, they look wonderful!”
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CYNTHIA BEARD: BTW, HONEY, I BOUGHT A HOUSE TODAY!

Just got off the phone with her and confirmed she does indeed have a contract on Mary Ellen Bendtsen’s house at 4949 Swiss Ave. It was supposed to close tomorrow, but legal matters may take a bit longer. She has no idea what she will do with the house other than gingerly restore it. I love Cynthia, woman after my own heart: She acted so quickly in buying the house on Swiss she didn’t even tell her husband–he found out when he read the newspaper.

I should try that with Walter Evans!

FURTHER CONFIRMATION…

Peggy’s wearing animal print today.

VIP AT DORIS SANDERS

How’s this for a two-fer? A fabulous pillow in new and vintage fabrics, with a wearable pin attached–I love this one in Chinese silk with a boomerang pin. From Deborah Main Designs at Doris Sanders Ltd. come VIP–very important pillows for very important people. And, yes, Christine, I bet there are some animal prints lurking around–they are never really out. Just ask a leopard.

IS ANIMAL PRINT BACK?

I suspected that the predatory prints were back when I saw them at Anichini, but it wasn’t until the other day when I caught sight of our freelancer Stephanie Stollenwerck’s animal print pumps that I realized I had missed the memo. So I’ve been out on safari, and now I’m all caught up on the trend. Neiman Marcus has a zoo’s worth of animals in jewelry, handbags, shoes, and a cadre of home furnishings. But my favorite animal sighting was at Porthault. Picture this pillow (shown) with white, Frette sheets, a camel throw, or hot pink bedding. See more in your next D Home. Until then, get out there and answer the call of the wild.

THE MONDRIAN: HOME SWEET HELLHOLE

Consider this: If you were paying $10,000 a month in rent, would you want vomit and feces in your hallway? Keep reading. From today’s Park Cities People.
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RE: BARNEYS

Candy, you’re right, the family got plenty of stock in the buyout, as well as a hefty family discount. I don’t blame Catherine for going to the other side. Neiman’s bores the socks off me, as much as I love the history of the store. But who wants to live in the past? Here’s what’s great about the benefit at Barneys tonight: 100 percent of everything–tickets are $250 a pop–goes to benefit Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, and Big Thought, which manages the Young Audiences programs in Dallas.

BARNEYS’ BASH II

Interesting, Rebecca. Tonight’s party is a total sellout and the charity is thrilled–who’s the charity, BTW? I guess Catherine is more interested in philanthropy than an old family business that sold out… but you’ve got to wonder if the family didn’t get to keep just a little stock….

I’ve got news on the Palomar opening this morning, but I have to wrap up some writing first because I know our manager editor is tapping his foot….

BARNEYS NEW YORK PARTY TONIGHT

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it weird that Catherine Rose is co-hosting the big Barneys opening bash tonight? Rose’s maiden name, in case you don’t know, is Marcus. As in Neiman Marcus. In sorority lingo, she’d be called a double legacy. As granddaughter of Stanley Marcus and the daughter of former Neiman’s Chairman Richard Marcus, you’d think she’d be circling the wagons around the family’s former empire, helping Neiman’s toss a counter-party of their own (as they did several years back when Saks at Willowbend opened its mega store with a huge launch party). Loyalty, we see, has its limits.

CERULEAN’S NEW EXHIBIT

Showing art and telling stories. Now through Oct. 30, visit SMU grad Caroline Crockett Pickton’s contemporary Cerulean Gallery and see “Stories Told,” which features work of local artists Libby Beall Goff, Cynthia Collins, Betsy Keith, Liz London, and Haitian artist Burton Chenet. The exhibition benefits the nonprofit Dallas-Haiti Project, which works to provide jobs for Haitian women and improve well-being, health, and education of Haitian people.

This black-and-white, custom hand-printed photograph is “Grandma and Grandson” by University Park artist Libby Beall Goff.

DALLAS ECOBROKERS

Eco what? In keeping with green trends, we now have EcoBrokers. These are certified Realtors with special training in energy and environmental issues. Beth Johnson, arguably the first EcoBroker in Texas, hooks green-leaning buyers up with homes that are energy-efficient and otherwise environmentally friendly. Look her up at BethJohnson.com. If you’ve been skeptical of the emerging green home market, this should convince you it’s becoming real.