It was the big old secret of the summer. Organizers were prepared to go to Guantanamo before leaking the pop-up location of the VIP party on Friday, June 28, on the eve of Dirk Nowitzki’s Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game. Like a speakeasy at the height of Prohibition, only special folks were provided an address for the one-night-only “Club 41.” But even if the word escaped, entrance was forboden unless you had a cherished pass and your name was on “the list.”
Screen dancers
But even before that could take place, bouncers as tall as a Mavericks’ eye were on hand to guarantee only the privileged made it in the hallway check-in with a wall of bright colored panels showcasing silhouettes of dancers.
David Trowbridge and Stephanie Wilcox
Even then, your wristband sealed your fate in the club. The hoi polloi enjoyed the good life on the ground level, including a dazzling white-tiled dance floor that was occasionally cloaked in fog. Overhead were 17 discos balls slowly spinning in place around the mother of all disco balls. They took on a rainbow of colors when the disco LED wall and laser show ramped up to meet the beat of the music. At different locations on the edge of the dance floor were towering mini-stages with dancers just beyond reach in one-piece costumes, chains, heels and fishnet stockings.
But like the Greek gods of old, the XXX VIP’s had their places above the fray in a modern-day version of Mount Olympus. Instead of Titans guarding the lounge of the gods, there were even more bouncers. If you had the right wristband, you may have scored a smile as they allowed your entry. If not, a stern shake of the head and upheld hand stopped even some of Dallas’ most boldface types.
David Justice, Rebecca Villalobos and Goose Gossage
This modern day version of Olympus had seating arrangements with ice buckets with Piper-Heidsieck champagne and Remy Martin Cognac on coffee tables, a bar in the back and waiters with trays of food. Heroes White Sox coach Goose Gossage hunkered down with Heroes Blue Sox coach David Justice and his wife Rebecca Villalobos watching the millennials schmoozing and dancing below. Toward the back of the room, former Playboy Cyber Girl of the Month Meghan Allen was talking with Brittany Kumm and Brendan McMahon. J.J. Barea was taking photos with his phones.
Meghan Allen, Brittany Kumm and Brendan McMahon
J.J. Barea
Newly engaged Allison Micheletti and Mike Modano were as giddy as a winning quarterback and homecoming queen revealing that they plan to wed in Dallas come September. Mike, who had been with the baseball fundraiser for the past 10 years, was going to be MIA for the baseball game because he had to be in New York with the Stars for the NHL draft, “representing the team, making our picks and so on.”
Mike Modano and Allison Micheletti
Heroes Baseball Founder Charlie McKinney explained that when Modano no longer wanted to be head man of the game, Charlie knew he needed either Tony Romo or Dirk to take it over. With 7,000 expected for the Saturday game, they had added an online auction, including a dinner with Dirk, with a goal for the year of $200,000 to be split between Dirk’s foundation and the Heroes Foundation.
Dirk Nowitzki and Casey Alexander
In the back of the room, Dirk was showing photos on his phone to Charlie’s assistant Casey Alexander and talking about the old days, when Casey was a friend of Dirk’s sister in Germany. Earlier in the day he had been working on his batting during “training camp” at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Last year he got two singles, but his goal was to score this year.
And like the mythological legends, these gods of sports didn’t stay put in their lofty confines. The moving-and-shaking seemed to be happening on the ground level with such types as Nick Lachey and Justin Whitman making their way through the jam, the dance floor being filled with professionals and should-be’s (Robin and David Trowbridge, Stephanie and Ryan Wilcox, Molly Bonner and Alyson Griffith) and watching/talking on the sideline Stacy and Kris Kristynik, Beth and David Thames and Tricia Ward and Jon Clark.
Travelocity gnome and Jonathan Rogers
The face that received the most second looks was the Travelocity gnome and his escort, Jonathan Rogers. Seems the twosome have literally traveled the world to such events as the NFL draft, NBA finals and Coachella music festival. Want proof? They’ve been photographed with Charles Barkley, Simon Cowell and Kevin Bacon.
Mark Cuban
Leader of the pack was Mark Cuban in a “You Are Uniqe” (sic) T-shirt and well-worn jeans. When asked about Ron Kirk’s revealing that Cuban had called Kirk at home on the night of 9/11 and quietly donated $1M for the widows of all those first responders, Mark added, “Nine out of 10, I say, I’ll give if you don’t give my name. . . That was a long time ago!” Regarding the T-shirt, Cuban explained, “Somebody gave it to me and I thought it would be fun to wear.”
Lara Beth Seager
As for his playing Saturday, Mark admitted, “I don’t know. I was out there at batting practice today. I’ll see. Oh, I hit the ball. But that’s not the point. The point is whether I can stand up in the morning.”
About the location? It turned out to be Wendy Krispin’s new 129 Leslie event venue in the Dallas Design District, but even Wendy admitted that it had been transformed thanks to event producer Lara Beth Seager. Looking around the place as the 300 guests arrived, Wendy said that three days before all had been white and totally different. The question had to be asked — “Was the major transformation by Seager a pain?” Without hesitation, Wendy emphasized au contraire, adding that Seager was one of the best that she had worked with. No stress, no strain, no problemos. Just a delightful experience.