August 30, 2012

  • This evening I’ve been flipping through the new issue of “Fort Worth Texas” magazine.

    Not precisely the most imaginative name, but it does give you some idea of what market it’s aiming for.  ;^)

    Magazines are mostly vehicles for advertising (as are newspapers and virtually all news media, much as we dislike to acknowledge it), but after a little bit I noticed a startling similarity regarding many of the ads:  they’re for charitable events.

    Expensive charitable events.

    Here’s “Wine, Women & Shoes” which is designed for “benefitting [sic] communities in schools.”  The misspelling rather amuses me, under the circumstances.  Anyway, the reader is urged to “Be there. Be fabulous!”  A single ticket is $125.  For that I will be allowed to sip fine wines, shop the latest shoes and accessories, savor delectable bites, and mingle with the Sole Men.  Hmmm….I pay $125 to essentially go shoe-shopping at the T&P Railroad Station? I don’t think so.  Pass.

    Okay, how about the “Let’s Chat: Women Who Care, Share” event, benefiting the YWCA?  Table sponsorships begin at $1,000.

    No?  Perhaps the 20th Annual Cowtown Ball….”Boots and Bling”….featuring country singer Mark Chesnutt is more to your taste, and a mere $250 per ticket (tables available for $2,000).

    I can tell you are a reader of rare discrimination, demanded the unique.  Then how about the Fort Worth Club/Outdoor Sports Club’s Wild Game Dinner, benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth?  As the add enticingly enquires, “Are you game for the Camo Chic event of the year?”  Which is itself a trifle unnerving, as it hints there are likely to be more Camo Chic events than this one.  The cost of reservations was not included this time, which does make one wonder.

    Here’s one that might be fun, and not outrageously expensive:  it’s the inaugural “A Wish With Wings” Kitchens Tour: the finest chefs, the finest homes (odd they haven’t called me yet).  Individual tickets are merely $25.  That’s doable.  

    The Panther Club has planned a Fiesta in Paradise, benefiting Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth, being held at Joe T. Garcia’s, and single “parrot head” tickets are $100.

    Tell you what, providing the venue and menu for such gala events is clearly a trend for the aforementioned Joe T’s, as it is also the site of the Peppers & Pinatas 5th Annual Dinner Party, to help support fire fighters, police, paramedics, and veterans.  Single tickets are $100.

    One of the most well-known homeless missions, Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, is presenting A Very Special Dinner called “The Master’s Plan” at Ridglea Country Club.  Ticket information is available by calling a number or emailing an address,

    Interspersed throughout are some charitable golf tournaments, naturally, but you get the gist by now.

    Where on earth is everyone getting all this money, is what I want to know.  Aren’t these supposed to be tricky times for the economy?  Who are all these people who can gaily throw a hundred smackers at something, getting a Mexican dinner in return?

    It’s really quite frustrating, as it makes me think everyone else Out There in Fort Worth Land is frolicking at gala events this fall, and then there’s me…staying home and watching “Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives” and drooling over restaurants at which I’ll doubtless never dine.  

    Bring on the Sonic Chili cheeseburger with a side of onion rings!  shy

Comments (2)

  • I am convinced that there is an Association for Hometown Magazines. Our own Lafayette Magazine sounds exactly the same. They always have pictures of trendy, chi-chi residents in them. Ours seem to focus on our amazing, outstanding gardens and our resident genius artists. And I’ve always been wary of events that require me to be in the .0000001%.

  • But  – I thought all Texans were wealthy oil people.  Or cowboys.

Post a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *