“A labor of love” takes on a new meaning in this year’s Dining by Design fall event. Of the many table designers participating, two ladies are teaming up again, but this time with the mission to take the love and energy they put into their tablescape and give it others, watching it grow through a ripple effect.
Donna Millon and Connie Lovell have named their table design “From Our Hearts to Yours,” and they mean that literally. They shared 500 small wooden hearts with three area elementary schools, asking the students to paint and decorate them. These custom-crafted hearts will be used in Millon and Lovell’s Dining by Design table. When the event is over, the hearts will be donated to Valley Baptist Medical Center for their Senior Santa event. Through this project, each heart will be tied onto gifts given to local nursing home patients this Christmas. Thus, the gift just keeps on giving.
As the ladies cleaned up after Dining by Design in 2013, they mused that it would be nice to have something to donate to instead of throwing away their table components; it would be fitting to take all of that love and energy they put into their design and make it bigger, get more people involved, and give it away to somebody else. This year’s concept began to develop right then and there. They were warmed by the idea that the love that went into decorating these small hearts would follow them as they were given away at Christmas. In the end, they just want to touch someone’s heart and make them smile.
Dining by Design continues to support the American Cancer Society through their efforts to raise awareness and funding for cancer research in order “to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.” Table designers use their creativity and talents to construct table design displays that will be shown off like works of art. More than 750 guests are expected to attend this year’s event, including invited guests, corporate sponsors, underwriters, and area business leaders.
Dining by Design will take place on Thursday, November 6th at its new location, the Casa del Sol, at 221 East Madison in Harlingen. The Preview Party will be held from 11 am to 3 pm, with $25 pre-sale tickets being sold at the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce and $30 tickets being sold at the door. The Pre-Dinner Reception will begin at 6:30 pm, and the Dinner Event is set to be served at 8 pm. Limited Dinner Event seating is available for $100 per person. For all ticket, sponsorship, and donation information, contact Glenda Ledesma at 956.245.5482 or glendagl@sbcglobal.net. For more information about Dining by Design, visit www.DiningByDesignHgn.com.
Dining by Design is truly a unique Valley event that applauds imagination and inspiration while offering a delicious presentation that is a feast for the eyes and food for the soul.
