STYLE PARTY PLACES

IT’S NO NEWS that here in the social center of the Southwest we enjoy parties. Not any particular sort of party, really; just parties. And that makes our party planning potentially simple -theoretically, you could throw a big party or a small one, a plain one or a fancy one, an early one or a late one and still be a rousing success. The only kind of party you don’t dare throw is a boring one, which, unlike a thrilling one, may be forever etched into one’s memory.

One of the disadvantages of living in a city filled with gala get-togethers is that so many people go to so many parties that there isn’t a gimmick that hasn’t already been tried. In the process, party planning has become much more complex; and in our frenzy to assemble the hottest hors d’oeuvres, most elaborate setups and cleverest costumes, we may neglect a very vital ingredient: location. Every good party planner knows that location can be the life – or death -of a party. Luckily, Dallas has dozens of the perfect party places – places you might never have thought were available.



CIVIC AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS, MUSEUMS AND THEATERS



Dallas Civic Garden Center, Fair Park. 428-7476. The center’s garden auditorium accommodates up to 500 people for parties, meetings, weddings and receptions. Along three sides of the auditorium, 40-foot windows filled with seasonal plants offer a view of a landscaped garden and a lily pond. Inside, window boxes line the windows. Auditorium rental includes the use of the garden, terraces and a circular patio. In the garden, 10,000 flowers -tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, dahlias, petunias and more -bloom during the spring and summer.

The facility can be rented for $200 from 5 to 10 p.m., with an additional charge of $50 per hour after 10 p.m. For smaller groups, alcoves in the auditorium can be rented for $100 each. The fee for use of the kitchen is $25. The center also rents and sets up equipment -long tables for $2 each, round tables for $3, chairs for 25 cents and bars for $75. The garden center’s only drawback is that the building is in the process of being redecorated.

Hall of State Museum, Fair Park. 421-5136. The Great Hall, with its marble floors, muraled walls and hand-stenciled ceilings, provides an elegant setting for seated dinners for up to 300 people and receptions for as many as 800. It rents for $350 for a four-hour period. The auditorium rents for $50 for four hours. The Lower Gallery adjacent to the auditorium can accommodate up to 100 and also rents for $50. “We have a $10-an-hour maintenance fee and require that people provide security,” says Elizabeth Roese, who handles room reservations for the Historical Society.

Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. 880-0137. Within the next year, a restaurant should be in operation in the Majestic Theatre, the newly renovated downtown theater that is included in the National Register of Historic Places. “The restaurant’s first obligation will be to performances at the theater. But when there’s not a performance, private functions can be held there. The restaurant will operate much like the Crystal Terrace at the Music Hall,” says David Boddie, former house manager of the Music Hall at Fair Park, who now manages the Majestic.

New Arts Theatre, 702 Ross Ave. 761-9064. This facility on the southern edge of the West End Historic District has a lobby that can accommodate 150 people for a reception. The concession stand doubles as a bar and serving area. Another bar can be set up in the theater, and couples can dance on the stage.

“Some organizations buy the whole house for a show and have a theater party,” says David Yoder, general manager. “Others rent the building and bring in their own entertainment. And we can have parties, meetings and receptions without shows, too. People can arrange for their own caterer, or we will arrange catering for them.” Prices range from $100 to $1,000, depending on individual needs.

Music Hall at Fair Park. 565-1116. Jack Sosebee, 742-5534. Planning a party at the Crystal Terrace, the restaurant in the Music Hall, is a two-step process: First, call the Music Hall to book the space; then discuss party arrangements with Jack Sosebee, who has the concessions contract.

“We can have parties at the Crystal Terrace only when there are no stage events at the Music Hall,” says Sosebee. “And there are performances about 265 days a year. However, we have had deb parties, wedding receptions, business dinners, charity art shows and balls. For large groups of 1,500 or 1,600, we can use the intermission lobby as well as the restaurant. The Crystal Terrace seats about 400, and small groups can use portions of the restaurant or parts of the lobby.”

Meals cost $15 or more per person. The restaurant space rents for half the Music Hall rental price, which is two-tiered – $ 1,054.15 for commercial use and $574.86 for nonprofit organizations. When groups rent the Music Hall, there is no additional fee for use of the restaurant.

Union Station, 400 S. Houston. 651-0140. The restored railroad depot, which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, has three rooms available for social and business functions. The Grand Hall, which was the train station’s waiting room, boasts 48-foot-high ceilings and the original cast-iron chandeliers. Seated dinners for 500 and stand-up receptions and dances for as many as 1,200 can be held in the room.

The Pullman Room, with a built-in stage and brass railings, is often used for business and club meetings. It can accommodate from 200 to 450 people. The Dealey Room overlooks Ferris Park and is used for groups of 20 to 100. Rental prices for the rooms vary according to the number of people attending and the amount of food ordered.



ICE SKATING CHALETS

Galleria Ice Capades Chalet, Galleria. 387-5533. Skating is open to the public until 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. After hours, however, the ice can be reserved for private parties. The ice rink can be rented for $100 an hour with no charge for the first 50 pairs of skates. After 50, skates cost $1.25 each. You can also rent the ballet room for use as a party room for $25 an hour. You can bring food into the party room, but not alcoholic beverages.

Plaza of the Americas Ice Capades Chalet, Plaza of the Americas. 748-4001. “We’ve had a variety of parties here, and we will plan just about anything anyone wants. A year ago, we had a deb party and put a gazebo and a dance floor on the ice,” says Bert Blanchette, thechalet’s manager.

Private parties must be booked on Sundays from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m., when the rink is closed. Ice and skate rental is $300 for two hours for up to 100 people. For more than 100, there’s a charge of $3 a person. You can bring your own food, or Blanch-ette will arrange to have the party catered through Great Gatti’s or Hamby’s (restaurants located in the Plaza of the Americas) for $5 or more per person. He can also arrange for an open bar. But beverages and food must be consumed in the skate rental area, not on the ice.

Prestonwood Ice Capades Chalet, Pres-tonwood Town Center. 980-8988. The chalet has a party room that rents for $25 an hour and can accommodate about 40 people. There is also an open area near the bleachers where tables can be set up for a buffet. You can use your own caterer, or the chalet will arrange for pizza delivery from Chuck E. Cheese’s. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. The rink may be reserved after the public sessions at 11 p.m., for $100 an hour.



PARKS



Gore Park, University Boulevard, University Park. 363-1644. The pavilion at Gore Park is particularly suitable for daytime parties, brunches, luncheons or teas. University Park residents can reserve the pavilion for $10 before 5 p.m. and $20 after 5. The fee for nonresidents is $30 before 5 p.m., and $60 after 5 p.m. There is a $250 security deposit, which is refundable if there’s no damage.

Lee Park, Turtle Creek Boulevard, Arlington Hall. 670-4071. The park and its bronze equestrian statue, which was dedicated during the Texas Centennial by Franklin D. Roosevelt, is a tribute to Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Bill Johnson of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department will provide croquet equipment upon request and can put together a party kit for anyone interested. “We recently obtained permission to allow alcoholic beverages at functions in the city parks, but there are restrictions, and people must apply for approval by the Park Department and sign an agreement,” Johnson says. Music ordinances must also be obeyed at all parks.

Unfortunately, Lee Park cannot be reserved; it’s available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Arlington Hall, the park’s replica of Lee’s home, can be reserved for educational or cultural events. Upon Park Department approval, Arlington Hall rents for $40 from 9 a.m. to noon, $50 from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and $65 from 5 p.m. to midnight. There is also a refundable damage fee and clean-up fee that is usually $25, but is $200 if alcoholic beverages are served.

Old City Park, 1717 Gano St. 421-5141. Several of the buildings in this museum of cultural history can be reserved for parties and meetings. Brent Place, the 1876 farmhouse restaurant, rents for $150 (hours negotiable) plus $ 15 an hour for a member of the park staff to oversee security. There is also a refundable $50 security deposit. You can use your own caterer, or the park’s food manager will cater a meal for a minimum of $12 per person.

The rental fee for the 1890s bandstand is $75 for three hours, plus a $50 refundable security deposit. Renner School and Pilot Grove Church are available for meetings for $20 an hour each. The Hoblitzelle Pavilion, a 60-by-90-foot tent, rents for $690 for one day. Use of the grounds costs $150 to $250 plus a $12-per-hour security fee and a $10-per-hour maintenance fee.

White Rock Lake, building reservations, 428-2610. Flag Pole Hill on Lawther Drive and Northwest Highway has long been a popular place for outdoor parties and picnics. A number of other areas in the park can be reserved for $50 each. Sites around the lake can be used on a first-come, first-serve basis, and three buildings can be rented for parties. The largest is Winfrey Point, an impressive structure that can hold 360 people overlooking the southeast side of the lake. A screened-in porch surrounds the building; and inside is a stage, kitchen and two fireplaces. Two hundred folding chairs and six long tables are included in the rental prices of $30, 9 a.m. to noon; $40, 12:30 to 5 p.m.; and $65, 6 p.m. to midnight.

But the other two buildings are strictly rustic. The Dreyfuss Club, also surrounded by a screened-in porch, can accommodate up to 200 people. It can be rented for $25, 9 a.m. to noon; $30, 12:30 to 5 p.m.; and $35, 6 p.m. to midnight. Prices include 60 chairs and four long tables. The smallest building, Big Thicket, has a capacity of 60 and rents for $20, 9 a.m. to noon; $25, 12:30 to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to midnight.

Other Parks. The Oriental Garden at Kidd Springs Park, another favorite spot, rents for $25. Other areas at the park can be reserved for $35. Samuell-Grand Park, with its perennial blooming garden, is nice for outdoor celebrations. And in the spring, when the Turtle Creek area is ablaze with azaleas and flowering trees, there’s no prettier place for picnicking. Turtle Creek and Samuell-Grand are first-come, first-serve; neither park can be reserved.



PARTY RANCHES



Austin Ranch, State Highway 26, two miles from Grapevine. 481-1536. The granddaddy of party ranches, Austin Ranch operated for 30 years as Austin Patio Dude Ranch before moving to the opposite end of its 12-acre lake. New facilities include the Round-Up Room, which accommodates 800 to 1,000 guests; a large enclosed patio overlooking the lake; and an open patio beside the swimming pool.

The ranch’s staff will plan parties with barbecue dinners, country/western dancing and dance lessons, square dance performances and lessons, gunfighting skits, horseback riding and hayrides. Activities such as fishing, paddle boating, volleyball and Softball are also available.

Big D, Texas, Malloy Bridge Road off 1-45 South, eight miles from downtown Dallas. 263-2056. Big D, Texas, is both a party facility and a 607-acre working longhorn ranch. “We offer a total Texas experience,” says Mel Lewis, director of sales. “We give the standard modern ranch party or picnic with trail rides and camp-fires, but we also have the old town, which reflects life in Texas during the 1880s.”

The town, reminiscent of Matt Dillon’s Dodge City, has a saloon, casino, bank, pool hall, dentist’s office, general store and more -35 buildings in all -connected by wooden walkways. Six party rooms in various town buildings accommodate groups of 25 to 10,000.

The cost for parties varies from $25 to $40 a head, depending on food, beverages, entertainment and facilities requested.

Circle R Ranch, Farm Road 1171, about seven miles west of Lewisville. 430-1561. The ranch plans trail-ride dinners for 20 to 65 people. Guests travel by horseback or hay wagon for 45 minutes to the trail camp, where steaks or barbecue dinners are served. Then a guitar player entertains around the campfire. The trail-ride dinners cost $35 per person for a minimum of 30 people.

Guests can also square-dance or watch square dancing exhibitions in the pavilion. The ranch can also stage rodeos. And business meetings, breakfasts, brunches and lunches can be planned for groups of all sizes. For conventions, the ranch will arrange bus transportation to and from hotels.



OTHER LOCATIONS



Apparel Mart, Dallas Market Center. 655-6200. In the Great Hall, with its arrangement of terraces and alcoves, as many as 2,400 and as few as 24 can be seated for dinner. An in-house caterer offers menus for dinners ranging in price from $15 to $30 per person. Breakfasts and luncheons cost from $2.60 to $15.50 per person. Reception menus are also available. When the event is a food function, there is no rental charge.

Charity galas, company parties and debutante balls have been held in the white-columned contemporary hall. Upstairs is a smaller facility, the Fashion Theater, which can accommodate up to 400 people.

The Lookout Room, Reunion Tower. 651-1234. One floor below Antares restaurant, the Lookout Room opens onto the observation deck and offers a panorama of downtown Dallas. One hundred people can enjoy a seated dinner; or 200, a stand-up reception. Party arrangements are made through the Hyatt Regency Catering Office. Room rental varies according to the food order. The room can be decorated to suit any theme.

Texas Stadium Club, Texas Stadium. 438-7676. Located above the end zone at Texas Stadium, the club has a 175-foot-long glass wall overlooking the football field. It can be reserved for dinner dances, cocktail parties, meetings and banquets. The Texas Stadium Club has served groups of 25 to 900 for presidential dinners (for Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and Luis Echeverria Alvarez of Mexico).

The club’s staff will arrange for Dallas Cowboys football players and local super-fan Crazy Ray to attend cocktail parties and sign autographs and will take guests on tours of the stadium, flash their names on the Scoreboard and call their names out over the stadium speakers. The club is available for functions all day and at night. Prices depend upon the services provided and the food served.

Vick’s Continental and Caffe Vick’s, Diamond Shamrock Tower, San Jacinto and Harwood. 651-9211. These two restaurants are open during business hours for lunch and serve as a party facility on weekends. By rearranging the tables and combining the space of the restaurants, owner Vick Clesi can serve 250 at seated dinners and 500 at stand-up affairs.

The setting is a huge atrium dotted with tropical plants and fountains on the first floor of the building. Clesi’s fee is a per-person food and beverage price. He says he will plan anything from an eight-course meal with six wines to a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres.

Willow Bend Polo and Hunt Club, FM 544, Piano. 248-6235. To have a party at Willow Bend, you must be a member of the club or have a member sponsor you. However, dining memberships are available for $100, which is less than some area facilities charge for room rental.

There are two party rooms upstairs: the Polo Room and the Rafters Room. The Polo Room overlooks the polo field and has a permanent dance floor and a brass-trimmed bar. It accommodates 90 for a seated dinner or 150 for a cocktail reception. The Rafters Room is larger and less formal; 120 can be served at seated dinners and 200 for cocktails.