Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1510301
Jeweled Dazzled Be and Be W hen luxury retail guru Brian Bolke sends an invite, we respond with a r e s o u n d i n g "Oui!" To celebrate the opening of FoundRae in Residence at The Conservatory in Highland Park Village, Bolke hosted an in-store cocktail party followed by a dinner at Park House. In town for the event was Beth Hutchens, co-founder and creative director of FoundRae, who founded the exquisite jewelry line in 2015. The pieces, which clients consider modern heirlooms, are based on a lexicon of symbols that span time periods and cultures. FoundRae in Residence is located in the first- floor boutique — the original Conservatory location — near Sadelles. The 500-square- foot space with its soaring 40-foot-tall ceiling was once home to an old-school dry cleaner and floral shop and has been meticulously redesigned by Hutchens in collaboration with SpaceSmith Architects and Bolke to showcase the FoundRae jewelry collection. Also in the sparkling new space are Vertu hand-blown glassware and hand-painted ceramics, as well as objets such as the chic black jewelry cases we found in our gift bags. The glass-enclosed back portion of Park House was transformed into a gothically lit dinner soirée. Pardon me for feeling jaded, but long tables don't feel as interesting lately; I prefer tables spread about that allow for intimate tête-à-têtes. Bolke must feel the same way, as that's exactly how he staged his celebration. Dinner began with an assortment of small, delicate crab cakes and wild mushroom leek tarts. The main course was a choice: seared Pacific salmon prepared with Beurre Blanc, gnocchi, and grilled asparagus or charred beef tenderloin spoon with garlic mash and truffled bordelaise. Of course, wine flowed in abundance, as well as late-night tequila shots (but I've been sworn to secrecy about who partook). In the grand spirit of Dallas philanthropy, Bolke and Hutchens rose to announce that they would sponsor the Chloe Chiasson exhibit at the Dallas Contemporary — news that brought a thundering round of applause. Spotted: Dallas Contemporary director Carolina Alvarez-Mathies; Nancy Rogers, Christen Wilson, Missy Peck, Suzanne Droese, Zoe Bonnette, Jane Rozelle Humphrey, Sarah Calodney, Lucy Wrubel, Cipriana Quann, Meghan Wood, Ashley White, and Bolke's husband, Faisal Halum. FoundRae Opening at The Conservatory By Billy Fong. Photography Tamytha Cameron. Partygoers: 1. TK Wonder, Cipriana Quann 2. Jay Sims, Amy Van Cleave 3. Beth Hutchens 4. Chad West, Sarah Dodd 5. Brian Bolke, Faisal Halum Christine Beauchamp 6. Nancy Rogers, Ashley White Sarah Calodney, Carolina Alvarez-Mathies 7. Cindy Krupp, Phillips Nazro Leena Kim 8. Zoe Bonnette, Christen Wilson Billy Fong 9. Kevin LeBlanc, Alix Sommers Neal Thomas 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 6. 62