10/24/14

Burgers and Burgundy Benefitting DIFFA/Dallas Is a Smashing Sucess

On Friday, October 3rd, Dallas’ stylish and charitable socialites gathered with celebrity chefs at the gorgeous estate of Bill and Karen Seanor to attend and produce the sixth annual Burgers and Burgundy event benefitting DIFFA/Dallas. Celebrity chef John Tesar of local hot spots Knife and Spoon rounded up his top chef friends to prepare bite-size burgers paired with Burgundy wines and cocktails which guests sipped while enjoying inspired creations, which ranged from traditional beef burgers to versions with lamb, turkey and pulled pork. Many of the grills during this sexy outdoor celebration were the following chefs:

This Park Place Volvo looks beautiful under lighting
from Dallas Light and Sound
Patton Robertson (Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck), John Tesar (Knife & Spoon Bar & Kitchen), Kent Rathbun (Abacus), Brian Zenner (Oak), Nick Jimenez (Cook Hall), Blaine Staniford (Grace), Kevin Williamson (Ranch 616), Samir Dhurandhar (Nick & Sam’s), Stephen Rogers (Gemma), Kyle Mcclelland (Proof and Pantry), Tre Wilcox (Cooking Concepts by Tre Wilcox ), T.J. Lengnick (Shinsei), Sharon Van Meter (3015 Trinity Groves).
 
Burgers and Burgundy benefiting DIFFA/Dallas
gets underway as the sun begins to set.
As guests arrived many took the opportunity to purchase a ticket for the Park Place Volvo raffle benefitting DIFFA/Dallas. Lighting for the car at the entrance and for the entire event was designed, provided and installed by Dallas Light and Sound. This sixth annual edition of Burgers and Burgundy is the second to take place at the Seanor estate – but the first to take place predominantly at night. Neale Jones with Dallas Light and Light Sound worked closely with  event co-chairs Noel Rodriguez and Lee Borchert, to devise a plan to provide guests with an “illuminated” experience. Jones is a former Board of Directors Member of DIFFA Dallas and is the only person in the organization’s history to chair their annual gala event twice.
 
Café or midway lighting from Dallas Light and Sound
illuminates the crowd at Burgers and Burgundy.
Cafe lighting installed by Dallas Light and Sound illuminated the main food service area, with each chef station spotlighted so that the chefs and their staff could see to prepare the food. A special welcome area from event sponsor Celebrity Cruises featured a photo op and gift bags, also illuminated with lighting from Dallas Light and Sound.

DIFFA/Dallas’ Chairman of the Board, Clint Bradley, took the stage mid evening to announce that this year marks the 25th Celebration of DIFFA/Dallas’ annual gala, House of DIFFA, to be held on March 7, 2015 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas. Bradley announced that the upcoming gala, set for March 7, 2015, at the Omni Dallas, will have a theme that pays tribute to the organization’s place during the past 25 years in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In addition to lighting the entrance, main food service area, and the Celebruty Cruise experience, Dallas Light and Sound provided lighting for the stage and for the adjacent dancelfoor, which Hunter Sullivan and his band kept jumping throughout the night. At the end of the evening, a playlist provided by Craig Canant from Dallas Light and Sound closed out the night.

Color wash lighting highlights architectural elements and signage lighting
from Dallas Light and Sound helps deliver the organization's message to
illuminate the night at DIFFA/Dallas Burgers and Burgundy.


 
 
Celebrity Cruises provided an interactive experience, and gift bags, for the patrons of
Burgers and Burgundy benefitting DIFFA/Dallas.
Dallas Light and Sound designed and provided lighting for the Celebrity Cruise area.
 
 
Dancefloor and bandshell lighting from Dallas Light and Sound provided
a colorful spot of energy and excitement at Burgers and Burgundy, benefitting DIFFA/Dallas.