All you really need is love to celebrate Valentine's Day, but it sure doesn't hurt to throw in some good food, spirits, entertainment and chocolate to add some magic to the memories you'll make. All of this awaits you and your valentine at the Summer Santa "Tribute to Love" concert Feb. 10 at the Palace Arts Center in Grapevine.
The joy of the Broadway-themed concert, sponsored by BNSF, is undeniable. Specially designed to create a magical Valentine's experience, the program is part -performance, part -date night or family outing, and exceptionally fun. It's the ideal place to bring that special someone for extraordinary entertainment while helping out disadvantaged children served by Summer Santa.Headline entertainer is David Gaschen, a remarkably talented Texas singer who has performed the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and around the world. Joining Gaschen are local entertainers Mollie Claire and Susan Gilchrest.Gilchrest will bring her big-band type vocals that audiences love, and McKinney sixth-grade student Claire will showcase her considerable experience in musical theater.Event chairwoman Cyn Choate says the playbill includes songs from Phantom, Girl Crazy, Annie, Man of la Mancha and Les Miserables, and "will showcase Broadway's best." Emcee is award-winning motivational speaker and broadcaster Christine Cashen.A signature part of this event is the delicious food from Cotton Patch Cafe served at the pre-concert reception -- the generous servings of the eatery's best dishes along with luscious libations make the ticket price more than worth it.Event organizers include Karen Lieber, Cheri Henderickson and others who have worked for months planning the evening that includes not only dinner and the show but also a raffle and auction.After a Chocolate Intermission (think delicious samplings of Valentine candy delicacies), Dr. Burt Smith will auction off travel packages and a surprise item not yet revealed.Smith is well known for revving up bidders to open their pocketbooks for charity, and with a vacation for 16 in Park City, Utah; a stay at Great Wolf Lodge; and a serenade by Gaschen to your valentine up for grabs in the live auction, be ready for some friendly competition among bidders.Don't forget to get a raffle ticket for a chance to win a stay at a bed-and-breakfast, a beer tasting party, a spa package or sports memorabilia.Spokesperson Sherri Whitt said, "Summer Santa's philosophy is very simple. The children of today are the future of the world. Positive life experiences prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow. Every dollar raised at our concert goes to make smiles during the summer on the faces of children in Northeast Tarrant County." Whitt reports that since 1997 the organization has helped more than 39,000 children enjoy summer activities and provided $900,000 in funding for their programs.Tickets are $75 and include the reception, beverages, complimentary valet parking and the concert. Purchase in advance at www.summersanta.org/loveconcert or at the door if seats are still available. Questions? Contact Whitt, 817-410-9663, or Choate, 817-481-9555.Love That SmileFew charity events are more aptly named than the annual Love That Smile soiree produced by Dental Health Arlington. With more than a nod to the organization's school-based SMILES program that provides oral-health education, toothbrushes, dental exams and tooth sealants to area elementary-age school children, the evening celebrates the achievements of the past year with dinner, dancing, awards and lots of fun.The steering committee includes Wendy Grantges, Dianna Mischnick, Erin Pokrifcsak, Laura Stinson, Joni Wilson and DHA executives Glenda Bell, Kim Clarke and executive director April Harris. They have arranged a special evening 7-11 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Cacharel Ballroom in Arlington.Before dinner, guests will enjoy a cash bar and shopping at an expansive silent auction. After a gourmet meal, Kelly Romans will be presented with the Sally Hopper Golden Crown Award for extraordinary service to DHA's patients. Then a live auction and dancing to music by Canta Rhythm & Brass will round out the party's agenda.If you make this event part of your Valentine's Day plans, you will help DHA continue its efforts; last year more than 3,000 patients received clinic care and 9,000 school children were served by the SMILES program.Contact Kim Clarke at 817-437-3527 to make reservations. Learn more at www.dentalhealtharlington.org.Farr Best TheatreLooking for some good entertainment for the weekend? The fully restored 95-year old Farr Best Theatre in downtown Mansfield, at 109 North Main St., may have just the ticket.Performing at 8 p.m. Saturday is the "retro-eclectic" band the Texas Gypsies. Described as "Gypsy Hot Jazz meeting Western Swing," the band has contributed songs to several movie and TV shows including The Smell of Success, Keeping Up With the Kardashians -- New York and Bad Girls Club. Guitar, upright bass, violin, drums and a hot horn section combine to make the ensemble a popular award-winning band. Spokesperson Felix Wong said, "The 150-seat theater is an intimate 'listening' venue that performers and audiences love. The fact that it is nonsmoking, starts shows early, allows reserved seats and is BYOB is just icing on the cake."For concert tickets, as well as information on upcoming shows, visit www.farrbest.tix.com or call 817- 453-1700.An elegant evening with love stories & the unexpectedTo treat your sweetheart to some unique entertainment for Valentine's Day, get tickets to the Stage West fundraising event "Acting With the Stars" on Feb. 14 at the Fort Worth Club.Back by popular demand, the centerpiece of the fun-filled evening is a show where local celebs team up with professional actors in vignettes from well-known theatrical productions -- with "love" as the recurring theme.It only gets better when the audience gets to vote on which acting pair should win the coveted 2013 Acting with the Stars trophy.This year's competitors are: Krys Boyd, host of Think on KERA, paired with Ashley Wood; Joel Burns, Fort Worth City Councilman District 9, paired with Chuck Huber; Paul Harral, editor of Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, paired with Judy Keith; Katie Sherrod, journalist and producer, paired with Jerry Russell; Bo Soderbergh, executive director of the Tarrant County Food Bank, paired with Shannon McGrann; and Judge Sharen Wilson, Criminal District Court No. 1 of Tarrant County, paired with Brian Mathis.The evening also includes a lovely three-course dinner served in the Horizon Room at the Fort Worth Club after a hosted wine reception and a chance browse a silent auction. Shoppers at the auction will compete to see whose bids win various sports packages for local sports teams; a five-night stay at a Dillon, Colo., condo; Page for a Day with State Sen. Wendy Davis; and theater tickets, fine art and other exciting merchandise.CBS 11 news anchor Karen Borta will emcee the acting competition, beginning at 8 p.m., and winners will be announced after the votes are tallied. Stage West spokesperson Dana Schultes said that after guests vote for their favorite couple, there will be five minutes to buy extra votes and "Stuff the Ballot Box" -- a crowd pleaser at last year's event.Tickets, $125 each, are available online at www.stagewest.org or call the box office at 817-784-9378. To learn more, contact Schultes at 817-338-1777.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
