Alan Peppard

When fitness doyenne Kerri Nelson unlocked the doors of her new University Park pilates studio recently, there was a familiar face from her days hanging with the Dallas Stars hockey team.

As most people around these parts know, Kerri was the longtime steady of Dallas Star Mike Modano, and they had planned to wed in 2000. Well, the best-laid plans of etc., etc., and the couple went their separate ways.

Kerri is now the owner of the Pilates Connection on Sherry Lane at Preston Road. Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco was among the revelers who came by her recent grand-opening party.

Reality TV may be diluting culture and lowering our national IQ, but there's no denying its power.

Dallas' Casey Thompson, the chef at Shinsei, didn't win on Bravo's Top Chef, but she was clearly the audience favorite.

Casey was just in Seattle on vacation and pulled up to the Pike Place Market to check out the fresh Dungeness crab. Even with a hat and sunglasses on, she was immediately recognized, and the local foodies lined up to have their pictures taken with her.

After graciously posing, Casey jumped in the car and headed across the border to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she enjoyed a little anonymity.

It's hard to believe that it's only been a year since NorthPark launched its twice-annual runway extravaganza, Fashion at the Park.

Next week, the third annual F at the P will launch with a gaggle of runway fashion shows.

The crème de la crème of society will file into the white tent the night of March 29 for the pinnacle event, the Fashion at the Park Gala, presented by Neiman Marcus, the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and NorthPark Center. All the VVIPs should be mingling with their flashy baubles on display.

This year, designer-on-the-horizon Naeem Khan will attend, bringing his 2008 fall evening couture collection.

A red-carpet regular, Naeem's designs are frequently found gracing the silhouettes of Eva Longoria Parker (who wore one of his gowns to the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards), Carrie Underwood and Kelly Ripa.

Naeem also designed the costumes for the movie version of Dreamgirls .

Fashion oracle Carolina Herrera – she designed Caroline Kennedy's wedding gown and was a favorite of Caroline's mother, Jacqueline – is dispatching her daughter Carolina Adriana Herrera to Fashion at the Park to present the 2008 spring-summer women's and men's collections of the CH Carolina Herrera line.

Carolina the Younger is familiar to fashion-mag readers as "The Face of CH Carolina."

Before the show, the Rosewood Mansion is laying out the eats for a VIP reception. After the CH show, Carolina Adriana will be the guest for dinner at a private Dallas home. All CH events will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

NorthPark is hosting 15 runway shows in all, as well as an assortment of ancillary Fashion at the Park receptions.

What day would be complete without a roundup of celebrity athletes and their eating habits?

Dallas Mavericks Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Eddie Jones were all spotted beefing up at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House.

Injured Dallas Star Sergei Zubov had to watch last weekend's tough loss to the Canucks from off the ice. Afterward, he tried to put the game behind him with a late dinner at BLT Steak.