The Overserved Makes the Party Rounds Before the Mayan Apocalypse Takes Us All

Daniel Driensky

Let them eat caviar

It's December, and the world may be ending soon. The sparkly silver lining: we get to see Dallas dressed up in her holiday finest one last time before surrendering to the ever-reliable Mayan calendar.

This weekend, the stars aligned to kick off this festive season in style. Friday, the Gallery at the Fairmont feted CAVIAR, which includes the collections of artists Daniel Perez, Daniel Driensky and Ray Albarez with special guest Ufilmhouse, and runs through the end of the month. DJ Trademarx provided the soundtrack as more than 200 folks spied the mixed mediums represented within the show. Paintings, photographs, films and chalk drawings whet the palettes and the interactive bow-tie instructional kept hands busy.

Saturday, the pressure to keep it tight and right only increased with the third anniversary party for Sister Brother Management, the Dallas-based agency representing the city's most established photographers and stylists, at the new Four Corners Brewing Co. In each of those corners was a photographer, a stylist, an artist, a writer, a musician. It was a gluttonous night of interesting conversation, striking aesthetics and Belvedere vodka. Zhora was a perfect match for entertainment, provoking a few attendees to remove some very nice heels in order to dance more comfortably before artist Tony Bones smashed the Sister Brother piñata in an epic last call.

It was all a terribly decadent and fitting way to start the holiday season, for nearly all of Dallas. The cheek-kisses may have been drunken, but they were not disingenuous. Moved by the art, the music, or whatever reason you use to celebrate, it was a perfect weekend to stir up some goodwill towards man.

If I think back to Friday night, I remember sneaking out of the packed gallery for a glass of bubbly at the Fairmont's Pyramid Bar. Basked in the glow of the lobby's beautiful tree, I watched attendees walk in, dressed up like Christmas presents complete with bows and ribbons. I briefly remember the pending world-ending Mayan emergency, order a bottle of Champagne instead of a glass, and make a pact to stop saving the bows and ribbons for special occasions.

To borrow the better words of Lois Long, my soul sister from another era, "Tomorrow we may die, so let's get drunk and make love." Indeed, we may only have until the 21st, so shine your shoes and order another round.