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Weekend highlights in Dallas

The White Out Party

Tonight, local beer and liquor retailer Sigel’s is throwing a huge mass tasting of the finest clear spirits you can lay your taste buds on. The White Out Party will fill the Dallas Contemporary with more than 20 of the best brands of liquor: Hendrick’s Gin, Ty Ku Sake, Milagro Tequila, and Barsol Pisco are among the labels that will be represented. Snag your tickets here or at the door, and don’t forget to bust out the white attire!

Taste Addison!

As previously previewed, this weekend is the annual food coma-inducing Taste Addison, where dozens of restaurants of all stripes line Addison Circle Park with booths and serve up tasty eats and drinks while live and national music acts play. I went last night and had a blast — the weather, especially once the sun goes down, is gorgeous and forecast to stay that way all weekend, so get out there!

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Aftershock London wows with opening party

By Kyle Spencer

Fashion Correspondent

Pip, pip, cheerio. OK, so my attempt to sound British is pretty lousy, but what was far from lousy was Aftershock London’s opening launch party. It was a night filled with food, fashion and fine festivities — in short, Aftershock London opened its doors with a BANG.

The atmosphere at the Plaza at Preston Center import was vibrant as partiers dressed to the nines in their chicest summer attire gazed at whimsical gowns and bejeweled clutches, while snacking on deviled eggs and finger sandwiches from R+D Kitchen. Beautiful models showed off numerous costume changes throughout the evening, giving partygoers a chance to see Aftershock’s wide variety of women’s ballroom attire.

Ladies, if you’re in the market for a prom dress, I strongly recommend heading to Aftershock. The dresses achieve haute couture style at affordable prices. Fashionistas with a handbag fetish would be wise to check out Aftershock London’s clutch collection. These opera style bags are not only very trendy but versatile. Thanks to its fun, modern styles, I expect Aftershock to become a favorite of the Dallas fashion scene. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to see if they have a dress in a size 6.

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Taste Addison fanfare and free tickets!

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to serve as a judge for Taste: The Competition, an event affiliated with Taste Addison, where local restaurants were tasked with creating tasty, portable treats that’d make ideal street food. Of course I’ll judge that!

Fifteen restos were represented, and judges sampled delights ranging from Asian fare to Tex-Mex-inspired specialties. Among my faves were Thai Star’s Mi Kati (below).

And Buffalo Wild Wings’ Deep Fried Bread Pudding Bites made my day as my favorite dish of them all … happily it placed third, with the grand prize winner being Blue Mesa for its Chimayo Market Corn (top), coated in herbs, spices and cheese. Yurrrmm. Edited to add: Sadly, none of the sweet and savories made at Taste: The Competition will be available at Taste Addison OR at the restaurant that created it. Nuts!

But Taste: The Competition was but a precursor to this year’s big Addison food event: Taste Addison. The annual toast to good eats features dozens of area restaurants serving up samples of the best dishes they have to offer. There’s also carnival food for those who’re in a classic fair-food mood.

This year, the event has snagged some considerable talent as musical headliners: Reckless Kelly, The O’s, Blue October and Sister Hazel are among the acts that’ll hit the giant Dos Equis Main Stage smack in the middle of the festival grounds.

Wanna get out there this year? Your Diva’s here to make that happen … I have two tickets to give away to the first person who leaves a delicous comment here or under this story on my Facebook page — simply tell me what culinary specialties you’re most hoping to encounter and savor at Taste Addison. Good luck, chicadees!

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Chanel trunk show at Scoop NYC!

Started by college buddies Gerard Maione and Seth Weisser, the chic Soho boutique called What Goes Around Comes Around offers vintage fashions from decades past. With some garments dating back to the 1860s, these men have one of the most sought-after old-world fashion collections in the industry, and they’ve decided to share it with always fashionable Dallas in the form of a Chanel trunk show. Come out today through May 19 to Scoop NYC in Highland Park Village, where WGACA will unveil some vintage pieces from the label.

Expect to see the famed Chanel 2.55 bag along with other chic designs from The House of Coco and mingle amongst the crème de la crème of Dallas fashion lovers. Meantime, chickadee, make you sure you gather up the change from your car seats, couch cushions and that one cup holder, because vintage Chanel comes at a price. But, truly, can you put a price on owning history? Exactly. Keep in mind that the trunk show lasts the duration of store hours each day — hope to see you there.

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Haystack Burgers coming to Richardson

So that burger above is coming soon to a new burger joint in Richardson. Haystack Burgers & Barley is sweeping into the north burbs with a menu of specialty burgers, sides and salads and craft beers.

Located right off Central Expressway and dangerously close to your Diva, Haystack is throwing a grand opening party this Tuesday night from 5 to 6:30 p.m.! Not only can visitors get a sneak preview of some apps, but they can also meet with brand reps from Revolver Brewing, Four Corners Brewery and Lakewood Brewery. Plus, one lucky guest will win a VIP card good for one free burger per week for a year. Solid! Sounds like a good time will be had by all — especially taste buds and tummies.

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Aftershock London opens first US shop in Dallas

The British are coming, the British are coming! No need to grab your musket and lantern, though, but you’ll definitely need your wallet and sense of style, as London chic realness is about to invade our very own Big D. Aftershock London opens the doors to its very first US store, at Dallas’ Plaza at Preston Center with apparel and accessories fit for a (fashion) queen. With more than 100 stores in the U.K., Aftershock London seems a great addition to Dallas’ trend-setting cadre of fashion retailers.

With 20 years of British branding behind them, Aftershock London offers an innovative style that stays on the cutting edge, and its flair for European color-blocking as well as ornate accessories is its calling card. In addition to stocking whimsical ball gowns fit for a prom queen, Aftershock abounds with finely detailed casual dresses, tops and handbags. Savvy fashionistas would do well to load up on threads from Aftershock London, but don’t take my word for it. The British invasion happens today!

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Timo Weiland brings spring style to Piermarini Boutique trunk show

Spring is hitting Dallas with a SPLASH — of color, that is.

Designer Timo Weiland is unveiling his spring and summer 2013 line at the Snider Plaza’s Piermarini Boutique. Nebraska-born Weiland has always been art-inclined, showing an interest in photography, sketching and painting. With his fashions being sold on Style.com and a feature story in Forbes, Weiland is quickly becoming a breakout star in the fashion world.

Rich in chic patterns and bold prints, Timo Weiland’s apparel delves into a nautical and mosaic style for this season’s trendy looks. Black and white colorblocking characterizes the men’s collection, as Weiland uses urban-influenced jackets and sport-styled shorts to rock this seasons runway. The schoolboy trend of matching cardigan with a crisp cotton short is put together flawlessly in Weiland’s men’s line. He even allows pops of brightness in his men’s wear, as bold oranges and blue make cameo appearances throughout.

Women get even more color in the spring/summer collection. Missoni-inspired printed dresses are elegant in their flowing and breezy nature. Weiland mixes up his women’s wear with gothic-infused tailoring and trends.

But seeing is believing: Come join the designer himself for a night filled with food, fashion and fun from 3 to 6 p.m. this Saturday, May 11, at Piermarini Boutique. Get up and personal with Timo and his fierce fashions.