Entertainment

Apparently, the recent engagement of Tom Hicks' son Alex was the beginning of a domino effect in the Hicks family. Last Friday night, Mack Hicks, second son of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars owner, proposed to his girlfriend, Elizabeth Huber, in Las Vegas.

To be more accurate, he had someone propose on his behalf.

The couple was at the Palazzo Las Vegas and Mack arranged for a private instructor to teach them blackjack. As the hands were dealt, the dealer turned over cards for Liz that said, "Will You Marry Me?"

She said yes.

Mack works in his father's business, and he and Liz have been together for about six years.

Shinsei chef Casey Thompson rocketed to national fame last year as a contestant on the reality show Top Chef. On Monday, she hit the big milestone.

Casey turned 30.

Sunday night, the joint was rockin' at the Apartment, event planner Todd Fiscus' party venue in the Dallas Design District. Casey's roommate, local PR pro Catharine Flagg, hosted a 30th birthday bash and all the local food-world luminaries came by for the festivities.

Shinsei co-owner Lynae Fearing arrived with her husband, Fearing's chef-owner Dean Fearing; jeweler Denis Boulle came with his wife, Karen; produce king Lucian La Barba was in attendance; and Casey's parents drove up from Austin for the occasion.

It still feels like the morning after from last month's grand Crystal Charity Ball. But the committee that organizes the granddaddy of Dallas charity galas is already moving on to plans for the 2008 gala in December.

This week, incoming Crystal Charity Ball chairman Gloria Eulich Martindale announced eight women who would be joining the 100-member Crystal Charity Ball committee. The new members are Paige Baten-Locke, Gina Betts, Mary Elizabeth Carrell, Melissa Macatee, Brandy Ratchford, Pat Rosenthal, Connie Sigel and Heidi Wolf.

It was also revealed that Debbie Oates will be chairman-elect for the 2009 ball.

Gerald Peters Gallery recently relocated from its longtime space at Fairmount and Cedar Springs to the new gallery-rich area on Dragon Street.

Friday night, the new Peters Gallery hosted an opening for ceramic sculptor Jun Kaneko.

The night before, gallery directors Ashley Tatum Casson and Karen Fedri hosted a dinner for Mr. Kaneko and his wife, Ree, in the private dining room at the Club, the new restaurant of Robert Colombo and Billy Solomon in the Centrum.

Among the guests were George Cameron Nash, Joan Davidow, Priscilla Beshears and Kathy and Robert Hames.

Some highlights of the Kaneko exhibition include six large bronze heads that toured the world as part of the set for the opera Madame Butterfly.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips welcomed his new offensive line coach, Hudson Houck, this week with dinner on the town.

Friday night, Wade and his wife, Laurie, hosted Hudson for dinner at Al Biernat's.

At a table nearby was Cowboys exec Jerry Jones Jr., who came over to shake hands.

"I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood."

Cartoonist Bill Watterson