The 15th Annual Symphony of Chefs was held on Monday, February 24 at Astoria Event Venue. This event is a unique experience unlike any other chef-driven charity event in the DFW Metroplex in that the city's most notable chefs participate in a culinary evening that is out of this world. Guests enjoy a chef-prepared & interactive four-course dinner, wine pairings from some of the world’s best vineyards, a silent auction of experiences and much more! Honorary Chef Chairs Janice Provost, Chef & Owner of Parigi and Dan Landsberg, Executive Chef of The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch, were the driving forces behind this year’s ultimate chef-driven culinary dinner experience benefiting KidLinks. Notable supporters in attendance included Founding Event Chairs Bonnie and Nathan Shea, Cristi and Kevin Ryan, Jodie and John Ludwig, and Lisa & Stuart Sides.

The evening kicked off with hors d’oeuvres prepared by James Ash of Harwood Hospitality Group and a luxurious caviar bar hosted by Black River Caviar. While guests shopped the silent auction, a livestream of Chef Ash preparing these delicious bites was shown. Hamilton A Sneed of HAS Events was the visionary behind this culinary concept. DJ Yojina set the vibe spinning tunes as guests entered through draped curtains, revealing tables placed throughout Astoria’s spacious setting. The scene was set for what was a lively evening of culinary composition. The reception was followed by a seated dinner where 17 of Dallas’ most notable chefs prepared a unique four-course dinner tableside for guests with wine pairings from Banfi Wines, Delicato Family Wines, Willamette Valley Vineyards, HALL Wines, Copper Cane Wines, Riboli Family Wines, Rootstock Wines, Times Ten Cellars, Sonoma Time, and Lewis Cellars.

In addition to Honorary Chef Chairs Janice Provost and Dan Landsberg, participating chefs included Uno Immanivong, Chef & Owner of Red Stix Asian Street Food; Brendan Lee Davey, Executive Chef of Ellie's Lounge & Restaurant at Hall Arts Hotel; Giuliano Matarese of Miss Pasta; Estephan Fernandez, Executive Chef of Truluck's; Nikky Phinyawatana, Owner/CEO of Asian Mint Restaurant Group; Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore, Co-Chefs & Owners of Fond; Aubrey Murphy, Executive Chef of SĒR Steak + Spirits; Miriam Jimenez, General Manager & Partner of Miriam Cocina Latina; Mollie Guerra, Owner of Chef Mollie G, LLC;Rodman Shields, Senior Culinary Director of Milkshake Concepts; Aaron Collins, Chef de Cuisine of Café Momentum; Carlos Ayala, Sous Chef of Nick & Sam's; Michael Matis, Chef de Cuisine of Fearing's; Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, Executive Chef of José; and Mario Hernandez, Executive Chef of NURI Steakhouse. Following the coursed-dinner, Featured Pastry Chef Yasmin Mondragon, Pastry Chef at Eataly Dallas at NorthPark Center created masterful desserts as an ending note to the evening.

Sarah Blaskovich, Food Writer for The Dallas Morning News, served as the evening’s emcee and introduced Temira and Jerry Wagner, who shared how music therapy sessions provided by KidLinks had impacted their son, Jerry Allen Wagner II (whom they affectionately call JAWS), who was was diagnosed at 9 months with a rare chromosome deletion. He has complex medical care needs along with developmental delay and is on the spectrum for Autism. JAWS is non-verbal, but music communicates to him and thanks to several years of KidLinks therapy, now communicates via beats by clapping along with the tempo, using some sign language, and can now wave a lot to say "Hi!"

Temira also shared, “Seeing the quality sessions and outcomes helped us to see the value and importance of such work. We had an in-depth conversation at our church, Disciple City Church and by mid-summer 2024, KidLinks was able to launch a music therapy clinic at our church in Oak Cliff. Typically, in urban and rural communities, families must commute far for services and even spend more for quality sessions. Now, families in the Oak Cliff area and in neighboring communities have better access to these blessings of services.”

Paul Pass, Co-Executive Director (Development) of KidLinks addressed the room saying, "For over four decades, KidLinks has positively impacted more than 439,000 children and caregivers through direct service programs and thousands more through our online platforms. We have provided healing and therapeutic music through a library of songs, in-hospital performances at special care centers, and board-certified music therapy sessions. Your support of this event helps to fund resources that build children’s self-esteem and help them navigate physical, social, and emotional needs.Together, we can spread the power of music, giving kids throughout North Texas the confidence to let their light shine and realize their potential!" Learn more about KidLinks at www.kidlinks.org

Texas Woman’s University (TWU) hosted another successful Dallas Leadership Luncheon on March 6 at The Arts District Mansion, where the university recognized Nicole Small as the 2025 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award recipient. A signature fundraiser for TWU, the event supports scholarships for graduate students while celebrating leaders who have made a significant impact on education and the quality of life in the Dallas community. The presenting event sponsor was Luther King Capital Management.

The highlight of the luncheon was a moderated conversation with Small, who is the CEO of LH Capital, Inc. and Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and education philanthropist Abby Williams, who with her husband Todd Williams received the 2024 TWU Leadership Award. The event also featured the announcement of $77,000 in scholarship awards presented to the 32 graduate students selected for the 2025 class of Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholars. Six of those were recognized: Abi Rainey (College of Arts and Sciences), Bradaisea Ridge-Law (Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship), Dr. Savitha Sundar (College of Health Sciences/Occupational Therapy), Jenny Reynolds (College of Health Sciences), Kiara Whitney (Houston J. and Florence A. Doswell College of Nursing), and Christiana Parra (College of Professional Education).

Luncheon speakers were the program emcee, Lisa Rampy, Vice President of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement; Shannon Mantaro, Executive Director of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership, the luncheon sponsor; Ralph Hawkins, event chair and a past Leadership Award recipient; and TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Carine M. Feyten.

The TWU Dallas Leadership Award is named in honor of the late Virginia Chandler Dykes, a TWU alumna and TWU Board of Regents member who was a noted healthcare leader and champion for education. Dykes’ sons Dr. Ron Chandler and Chuck Chandler attended, as was Virginia’s longtime friend, Patricia Crocker.

Since 2002, the event has raised $2.42 million for graduate student scholarships.  Returning as the event’s presenting sponsor was Luther King Capital Management.

Additional thanks to these sponsors:

Luncheon Sponsor: Texas Woman’s University's Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership

VIP Reception Sponsor: Billingsley Company

Pioneer Platinum Sponsor: Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Pioneer Investors: Sue S. Bancroft, Carol & Don Glendenning & Leigh Glendenning Roberts

Pioneer Premier Partners: Children’s Health, Haynes Boone, The Hersh Foundation, The Hirsch Family Foundation, Nicole and Justin Small/Justin and Nicole Small Fund, Valeo Partners 

Learn more about the Dallas Leadership Luncheon at twu.edu/DallasLeadership.

Lyric Stage presents its third show of the season, Jekyll & Hyde, a dramatic and intense musical highlighting a talented cast of 22 local actors, at the Lyric Studios Space from March 28 to April 19. Tickets are now on sale.

Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the performance features a thrilling score of pop-rock hits from multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double-Oscar- and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse.

The story is about an evocative tale of two men – one, a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself. Both women are in love with the same man, and both are unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind's most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde. The production is rated PG-13.

Location: Lyric Stage Studio, 1170 Quaker St., Dallas, TX 75207

Information:

https://www.lyricstage.org/season31

Tickets:

$30 to $50, are now on sale at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tix/7561

Creative Team:

Producer – Catherine Carpenter Cox

Director - Michael Serrecchia

Musical Director - Larry Miller

Choreographer and Costumer– Tricia Guenther

Set, Lighting and Sound Designer – Scott Guenther

Cast:

Cameron Vargas – Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde

Julia Rose Hartman – Lucy Harris

Nicole Brady-Chen –  Emma Carew

Ben Meaders – Simon Stride

Hunter Lewis –  Gabriel John Utterson

AJ Martinez – Lord Savage

Christine Phelan – Lady Beaconsfield

Andy Searcy – Sir Archibald Proops

Hector Garcia – Sir Danvers Carew

James Williams – General Lord Glossop

Doug Fowler – Bishop Of Basingstoke

Jayden Russell – Nellie

Colton Daniel – Spider

Alexandru Istrate – Poole

Jacob Thomason – Ensemble

Madeline Carter – Ensemble

Sydney Hamil – Ensemble

Caitlin Martelle – Ensemble

Jessie Prince – Youth Ensemble

Justin Prince – Youth Ensemble

Wyatt Hartz – Youth Ensemble

Varsha Jagarlamudi – Youth Ensemble

About Lyric Stage:

Lyric Stage, a Dallas-based 501c3 not-for-profit professional musical theatre company, was established in 1993 with the mission of the development and preservation of the musical, a unique art form. In its thirty-year history, Lyric Stage has produced more than 125 productions, which include 21 world-premiere musicals and two Off-Broadway shows. For more information, visit www.lyricstage.org

Connect with Lyric Stage: Facebook or Instagram

SHOW DATES:

Fri., March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat., March 29, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sun., March 30, 2:00 p.m.

Fri., April 4, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., April 5, 2:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Sun., April 6, 2:00 p.m.

Fri., April 11, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., April 12, 2:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Sun., April 13, 2:00 p.m.

Fri., April 18, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., April 19, 2:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Since 1950, JFS has served as an open door to all in need – impacting hundreds of thousands in its mission to provide whole-person care and promote self-sufficiency and well-being 

Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Greater Dallas will celebrate 75 years of serving the community with a Diamond Anniversary Gala on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, Trinity Ballroom. Co-Chairs Lori and Mike Cohen, Ann and Michael Ochstein, Karla and Larry Steinberg, and Julie and Michael Zimmermann join Honorary Co-Chairs Sharon and Eric Goldberg, Ynette and Jim Hogue, Susie and Joel Litman, Stanley Rabin, Jackie and Steve Waldman, and Donald Zale along with JFS leadership in presenting this celebratory evening. Guests will enjoy entertainment by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra as well as dancing, food stations, an open bar, silent auction, and a luxury raffle.

“As we celebrate 75 years of impact in Dallas, we hope the community will join us in honoring and commemorating the impact of our health services, which focus on physical, emotional, nutritional, and financial well-being, at this festive affair,” said Cathy Barker, CEO, JFS. “While there will be a time to sit, eat, and enjoy a program and presentation, the party atmosphere will encourage guests to be out of their chairs, mingling, dancing to the music of the Jordan Kahn Orchestra, reviewing the silent auction, and more. This is a celebration!”

During the evening, JFS will pay tribute to those whose impact has been pivotal in the nonprofit’s mission to meet the community’s needs and its continued growth by recognizing past presidents and the gala’s co-chairs and honorary co-chairs, who also make up the capital campaign leadership team.

JFS is currently building a foundation for the next 75 years through its Meeting the Moment Capital Campaign, which will culminate with an early 2026 opening of the organization’s new 100,000-square-foot home, The Karla and Larry Steinberg building, located in Addison. From an expansive food pantry, career and financial services and family violence intervention to behavioral and medical services, JFS is one of the few nonprofits that provides comprehensive services under one roof.

“This campaign, a catalyst for making our vision of self-sufficiency and well-being for all a reality, will expand essential services, secure a sustainable funding model to support programs, and grow our endowment to ensure the long-term viability of JFS,” added Barker. “The event brings us closer to achieving our $40 million capital campaign goal, allowing us to expand our reach and ensure impact for years to come.”

Since 1950, Jewish Family Service has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands. From aiding refugees who arrived in Texas after World War II, to providing natural disaster relief, career training and primary medical care, JFS has evolved to meet the needs of the community. Rooted in Jewish values, JFS serves as an open door to all in need regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or ability to pay. Last year, JFS’s wraparound services impacted 26,000 unduplicated individuals. By 2028, with the new building established, JFS expects to serve approximately 50,000 individuals across all agency services, increase client visits from 29,000 to 120,000, and increase pounds of food distributed from 450,000 to 1.4 million.

“Join us for a fun, elegant evening as JFS celebrates decades of life-changing impact and service to our community and discover how you might help us shape the future,” added Barker. “We are excited to build upon this 75-year legacy and transform even more lives in the decades to come.”

Tickets for the JFS Diamond Anniversary Gala are $250 and are available at https://www.jfsgala75.com/.

Sponsors of the JFS Diamond Anniversary Gala are Title Sponsor Susser Bank and event sponsors American Airlines, Central Market, Sewell, and Texas Jewish Post.

# # #

Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas (JFS) is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive health services that address physical, emotional, nutritional, and financial well-being. Its mission is to provide effective and accessible whole-person care that promotes lifelong self-sufficiency and well-being for the Greater Dallas community. JFS Dallas offers programs to the community such as primary medical care, individual age-appropriate counseling and group support, career and financial coaching, a food pantry, support for older adults, and a Clubhouse for adults with mental illness. Since 1950, JFS has served anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or ability to pay. The agency, celebrating its 75^th anniversary in 2025, impacted over 26,000 lives last year. Jfsdallas.org

In celebration of National Dentist Day, dentists at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas offer suggestions for the best foods to protect your smile.

National Dentist Day is today, and the dentists at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry remind you to brush, floss and visit your local dentist twice a year for professional cleanings. In between those cleanings, here are five foods – sometimes called natural toothbrushes – dentists suggest eating to protect your teeth:

Carrots

Chewing raw carrots helps remove debris from your teeth and may offer your gums a gentle massage.

“The vitamin A and calcium in carrots are beneficial for dental enamel,” said Dr. Janna Burnett, clinical associate professor in the comprehensive dentistry department.

“Beta carotene, found in carrots, is excellent for bone health and can help strengthen your jaws,” Burnett said.

Celery

The fibrous texture of celery helps disrupt plaque biofilm. Celery has similar benefits to carrots in terms of being rich in calcium and vitamin A. The crunchy texture is beneficial for bone health.

Cheese

Cheese is high in calcium and phosphate, which is beneficial for bone health. Cheese also helps to neutralize an acidic oral environment. The addition of cheese may help prevent demineralization of dental enamel. Cheese also increases salivary production, which in turn can wash away sugar and bacteria.

Avocados

The healthy fats and antioxidants found in avocados are beneficial for fighting inflammation, which may be beneficial for periodontal health. They are rich in vitamins E, K and C and potassium, which help maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Strawberries

“While some acids may contribute to enamel demineralization, the malic acid found in strawberries may help reduce tooth surface stains,” Burnett said.

Some studies show strawberries contain elements that help prevent pathogenic oral bacteria from causing damage to the teeth; however, those pesky strawberry seeds could get stuck in your teeth – a natural reminder to keep flossing.

With all food, remember to sip water instead of soda, juice or alcohol during and after eating. Drinking water during and after meals helps to remove food particles and helps keep your mouth’s natural pH balance. The American Dental Association recommends water with fluoride because it provides additional protection against cavities.