Party over here, there and everywhere

By Joy Donovan
Special to the Star-Telegram

Thursday night was a hoppin' night. I know some of you couch potatoes were sitting at home watching Jerry Jones' team win or witnessing Madonna kissing Britney during those wild video awards, but some of us had more important things to do. It was a busy pre-Labor Day party night.

The Hilton DFW Lakes threw a bash for its departing general manager, Robert Thrailkill, who was headed for Miami. And they bid aloha (that means goodbye and hello) to its new general manager, Cliff Reynolds, who had the good fortune to move from Hawaii to Grapevine. So the people who usually hold parties, banquets and special events got to flex their party muscles for one of their own. And they pulled out all the stops.

They gave the bash a biker theme and then ran with it. When the partygoers hit the door, they were offered a choice of do-rags to complement their ensembles. Guests in an assortment of leather mingled at the Hilton annex Austin Ranch, deciding which of many activities to try first.

The line for tattoos -- gee, I hope for all those banker-types' sakes they were temporary -- was long. At the picture booth, the authentic biker leather jacket was pretty cool, and the accompanying guns looked real enough for this pacifist.

And I want to take this opportunity to praise the Original Butt Sketch Artist for having the best eyesight of any man I've ever known and the artistic skill of a master.

Black-leather clad Kathee Livengood of Grapevine rolled up to the party on the back of the motorcycle of Southlake's David Barnes and would now like to be referred to as a "Harley Honey."

Meanwhile that same evening, at a calmer pace, GRACE had turned back the clock, transforming the Grapevine Convention Center into a 1950s diner. Polka-dot tablecloths and pastel-colored balloons set the mood for a dinner that included, of course, root beer floats for dessert.

Plenty of poodle skirts, letter jackets and an Elvis wig or two were scattered among the many volunteers who work for this emergency-needs organization. At this party, Welcome to Grace-Land, it was the volunteers who were being honored.

Winning awards in various categories were Mike Anderson, Hurst, administration; Jane Chevier, Grapevine, client-service caseworker; Valerie Reed, Colleyville, clothing; Mary Kaiser, Grapevine, board of directors; Cindy Woelke, Colleyville, Donation Station; and Janet and Mike Smiley, Southlake, furniture warehouse.

Also honored were Marilyn Green, Bedford, Graceful Buys; Terinda Evanoff, Southlake, pantry; Colleyville Area Chapter of National Charity League, Christmas Cottage; Shonda Schaefer, Grapevine, executive director's award; Good Shepherd Catholic Community and Baha'i Faith, transitional housing; Susan Pittman, Grapevine, GRACE habitat; Scott Conard, Southlake, fruits of the spirit award; and Mary Lou Vincent, Grapevine, legacy. Special awards also were given to Fellowship Church and First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine's men's group for assistance.

But stealing the spotlight were the winners of the award for energy and enthusiasm. The Kossuth family of Euless, with its seven children plus Mom all dressed in poodle skirts or jeans with white T-shirts, took the stage to accept the award. Mom Beth Kossuth home-schools these seven, with a lot of help from husband Kraig. Think she might know a little something about energy and enthusiasm?

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