DIFFAs 8th Annual Burgers and Burgundy Moves to the Ron Kirk Bridge for 2016

A Dallas Light and Sound red carpet experience
welcomes patrons to Burgers and Burgundy 2016
benefiting DIFFA Dallas.

Dallas’s most stylish social butterflies were overjoyed on Friday, October 6th when the weather cleared just in time for the eighth annual Burgers and Burgundy event benefitting DIFFA Dallas. A new theme “DIFFACella” and a new venue the Ron Kirk Bridge provided a fresh new spin on a perennial favorite to entice the stylish and charitable out for an evening of sipping wine and cocktails, listening to live music, and sampling a variety of mouth-watering burgers crafted by some of the best chefs in Texas. Under a clear fall sky nearly 500 DIFFA supporters joined celebrity chefs on a brisk evening to mingle and admire the view of the Dallas skyline. Also new this year were caricature artists, delicious cupcakes, and rolled ice cream treats from Chill 360.



Look who turned up on this fabulous
 Red Carpet for Burgers and Burgundy 2016!
A Real Housewife of Dallas, (LeeAnne Lockin) 
a Fabulous Fashion Blogger, (Cynthia Smoot) 
and a Television Anchor Celebrity
(Jane McGarry)!

At the event, Channel 8 personality and emcee Jane McGarry announced the new DIFFA Style Council Ambassadors from the main stage. The Style Council assist in fundraising efforts for DIFFA’s highly anticipated spring fundraiser. In a special video presentation, organizers presented the theme for DIFFA’s highly-anticipated spring event, House of DIFFA: “DIFFA Arabesque”. DIFFA’s signature annual fundraiser promises to take guests on an enchanting journey with a compelling fashion experience that will provide an exciting mix of fundraising, community, and a renowned runway production. Performing from the main stage were two live bands – The The and Repel the Robot. DJ Tony Dean provided music performing during the interlude and after the live music portion of the evening.

Host John Tesar reached out to other celebrity chefs — Brian Luscher with Luscher’s Red Hots and The Grape, Jermaine Brown with Julia Pearl, David Fingerman with Madrina, Sharon Van Meter who presides at 3015 at Trinity Groves, Casey Thompson, Blaine Staniford of Grace, Rodman Shields with Common Table, and Jacob Williamson from Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck to prepare sliders and other renditions for sampling. Culinary delights included Tesar’s famous slider with pimiento cheese and Staniford’s pork belly ham topped with fermented chilies and garnished with caramelized pineapple.

The main stage at Burgers and Burgundy 2016.

Dallas Light and Sound provided a red carpet walk up experience for the event including a 50 foot red carpet, nickel finished stanchions and red velvet ropes, intelligent lighting, trussing and flat screens to flank the official entrance. Moving into the party, the event benefitted from DLS perimeter lighting, flatscreens on truss towers for sponsor and event branding flanking the stage plus main stage lighting, backstage tents, and a concert quality audio system for the two bands that appeared at the event. Thank you to DIFFA Dallas for choosing Dallas Light and Sound as a production partner again this year for Burgers and Burgundy.

For additional information about DIFFA Dallas and House of DIFFA - Arabesque visit https://www.diffadallas.org.

An album of images from this event can be viewed on the Dallas Light and Sound Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/dallaslightandsound/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157909443020245.

A view of the enthusiastic crowd who journeyed onto the Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge
to patronize Burgers and Burgundy 2016 benefiting DIFFA.
Perimeter event lighting towers from Dallas Light and Sound as seen the background of this photo provided illumination so that patrons could mingle and chat with ease.

The The performing the first music set on the main stage at Burgers and Burgundy 2016
over a Dallas Light and Sound concert quality sound system.

Repel the Robot provide a memorable set of modern dance and rock music at
DIFFA's Burgers and Burgundy 2016. Earlier in the evening the flatscreens flanking the stage
conveyed the announcement message of the 2017 DIFFA Collection theme.

 

After Black the Black Tie Dinner 2016 Official Afterparty Closes The Night with a High Energy Nightclub Experience from Dallas Light and Sound

A custom Dj booth and nightclub lighting installation from
Dallas Light and Sound for
After Black - the official Black Tie Dinner 2016 Afterparty

With more than three decades of history fueling enthusiasm and attendance, on Saturday, October 1st, Black Tie Dinner presented a blow-out bash at the Sheraton in Downtown Dallas. More than 3000 guests and volunteers celebrated 35 years of philanthropy by the organization with a memorable program of inspiration, recognition and entertainment. Titled “Believe in the Art of Equality”, a gorgeous crowd arrived ready to toast the success of one of the nation’s preeminent galas. Not only is Black Tie Dinner the largest and most successful seated dinner in the nation that supports the work of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, it also raises funds for a host of local, community organizations. The 2016 Black Tie Dinner featured Kuchling Award Winner Dr. Steven Pounders, Olympian Greg Louganis, actresses Connie Britten and Debra Messing, comedienne Dana Goldberg, entertainer Todrick Hall and the incredible vocals of Deborah Cox.

The incredible Deborah Cox performs one of her
biggest hits "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" at
After Black - the official Black Tie Dinner 2016 Afterparty.

Dallas Light and Sound provided event production services and resources focused around the event entrance, and the silent auction and after-party areas of the event. With audio, video, lighting and more for Before Back, After Black, and pre and intermission programming, we coordinated our efforts with Jarrod Freeman from the Black Tie Board of Directors and numerous other Board Members and volunteers.

Prior to 2016, the official after-party dubbed "After Black" took place in an area of the host hotel that was separate and apart from the main dinner ballroom and auction space. For 2016, event organizers combined the silent auction space with the after-party and specified a mid-event transformation of the room to provide immediate energy and continued silent auction bidding after the Dinner.

Custom designed and installed intelligent color changing uplighting from Dallas Light and Sound provided a base design palate for our team to build upon. A total of 12 intelligent moving head fixtures, ten flatscreens, six trussing arches, and a custom designed DJ booth from Dallas Light and Sound served as a framework for the afterparty. DLS Dancefloor lighting, hazers, fog cannons, and a killer sound system completed the space to produce a vibrant and memorable After Black. Gobo projectors delivered the “35 Years” branding message on white pipe and drape, on the ceiling and on the dancefloor.

It was an honor to be chosen as a production partner for
After Black - the official Black Tie Dinner 2016 Afterparty
at the organization's 35th dinner.

Grammy Award winning vocalist Deborah Cox graced the after party stage to perform one of her Billboard #1 hits – “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here”. DJ Blacklow was on hand to spin an energetic mix of HiNRG and contemporary dance that kept the crowd on their feet all night. The entire room was thumping and jumping as the Dallas Light and Sound nightclub quality sound system kept party goers in the mood for more beyond Last Call.

This photo album focuses on After Black, the official after-party of Black Tie Dinner, which was presented by John Wright Martin Building + Interiors. For images from Before Black and from during the event, check other albums on facebook at Black Tie Dinner and here at Dallas Light and Sound.

For additional information about Black Tie Dinner visit www.blacktiedinner.org. Thank you to the Board of Directors for choosing Dallas Light and Sound again this year as a production partner for their annual slate of events, including After Black at Black Tie Dinner.

An album of images from this event can be found on the Dallas Light and Sound Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dallaslightandsound/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157925715445245