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Over Ice T he song that played as I searched for my outfit for the grand dame of the Dallas social s e a s o n , T h e Crystal Charity Ball, was Nina Simone's "Exactly Like You." It had been a drizzly day, but I knew that a little rain wouldn't keep the ladies from donning the most black-tie of black-tie gowns for the annual occasion. The lyrics to Miz Simone's classic seemed oh- so appropriate: "You make me feel so grand. I wanna give this world to you." Under the leadership of ball chair Cheryl Joyner, this year's hallowed affair (the 73rd) was titled New York Holiday and drew 1,500 guests to the Hilton Anatole to raise much- needed funds for seven children's charities in Dallas County. As always, the ballroom had been magically transformed by designer Tom Addis. Dallas' dreary weather was forgotten; we all felt like we'd been ice skating at Rockefeller Center and walked back to our pied-à-terre on Park Avenue to dress for a night of dancing. The entrance was grand as always, with photographers snapping shots of the glorious gowns against a backdrop reminiscent of Central Park, the life-size trees capped with faux snow. As guests sipped cocktails, ice skaters pirouetted on the mini- rink that had been installed for the occasion. During the pre-dinner portion of the agenda, we all bid on silent auction items (which ultimately netted more than $700,000) and tried our luck at the casino tables. When the ballroom doors opened, a gorgeous scene unfolded with Dallas' own version of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, the Kilgore Rangerettes, doing high-kicky kicks in sparkly sequined outfits as the big band played on the stage. Given that this is the ideal opportunity to bring out the most photo-worthy gowns, all the usual- suspect designers were represented — Oscar, Carolina, and Dallas' own Nardos. Standout ladies I spied that evening included Kristin Hallam and Tanya Rice in ravishing red, Lisa Cooley, Melinda Knowles, Maggie Kipp, Shelle Sills, and Sabrina Harrison. At midnight, Joiner passed the baton to the 2025 ball chair, Mary Martha Pickens, secure in the knowledge that her own year had raised more than $7 million for the 2024 beneficiaries: Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, HHM Health, Methodist Health Care System, Parkland Health Foundation, Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology, Traffick911, and Vogel. Manhattan By Billy Fong. Photography Nate Rehlander. Bradley Belen, Madelaine Lam Sabrina Harrison, Jodi Kahn Brian Friesen, Madelaine Lam, Joshua Trevino James & Kristin Hallam A Moment from Crystal Charity Ball Mark & Melinda Knowles Lynn McBee, Jeffrey Netzer 48