An enchanted shire awaits filled with dragons, fairies, hobbits, and orcs, as well as fashion and jewelry fit for a queen, at the Equest Tolkien Experience. Unlike any other home in Preston Hollow – and possibly the country – this seven-years-in-the-making Tolkien-inspired cottage and grounds were created out of imagination and fantasy. In addition to the magical tour, guests can shop couture fashions and accessories from Lily of the West and Hari Jewels, with designer guest appearances, and additional luxury items from Origins of Santa Fe boutique. The experience includes delightful drinks, bites, and music to inspire the soul and open the heart to benefit Equest.
The Equest Tolkien Experience is available to the public on Thursday, April 6 from 3pm to 9pm with live Celtic music and complimentary valet from 6pm to 9pm; Friday, April 7 from 1pm to 6pm, and Saturday, April 8, from 11am to 5pm. Exclusive to adults 21+. The Shire is located at 4668 Meadowood Road, Dallas, TX 75220. Flat, sturdy shoes for crossing drawbridges and moats recommended. $20 minimum donation appreciated to benefit Equest and its 35 years of providing hope and healing through equine facilitated activities and therapies. Please RSVPhere. For more information, call 972.412.0199.
TOUR OF THE SHIRE
Experience a primitive other worldly indoor/outdoor adventure at The Shire of Preston Hollow. Tour a whimsical Tolkien-inspired cottage, Hobbit House, and gardens based on the tales of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. After walking across a drawbridge and through the portcullis, middle-earth greets with warning, “Beyond this place be dragons.” Then enter Caras Galadhon, the beautiful city of trees whose branches tangle across a cathedral ceiling. Follow a path through the Old Forest, across a water bridge to the Hobbit House, and up to the dragon’s lair. Tours are a suggested $20 minimum donation.
THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
The shopping experience will feature fine exotic jewelry from Hari Jewels and couture apparel by Lily of the West. In addition, Origins of Santa Fe, named one of the “Top 10 Best Boutiques in the World” in Frommer’s Guide to Shopping, will showcase hand-painted and pieced kimonos by Catherine Bacon, vintage embroidered western wear, rare fabric handbags, Federico jewelry, Saniya Khan evening wear, hand-painted silks by Natasha Fouquet, fantasy jewelry by Susan Green, global wearable art by Laura Sheppherd, and much more. 15 percent of proceeds from sales will benefit Equest.
Lily of the West clientele are familiar names who walk the red carpet on Oscar night, although designer Lily Falk sees fashion as “a celebration of life and beauty.” Her couture dresses, wedding gowns, and party dresses define craftsmanship, or as she explains, “the difference of a one-of-kind Princess Diana gown with everything built-in verses a gown that comes in every size off a rack.” The designer will be in attendance for custom measurements and design discussions.
The roots of Hari Jewels can be traced back to ancient handmade jewelers based in the heart of Delhi, India. The exclusivity of designer jewelry carved a niche for itself in the times of the Mughal Empire. Jewelry designer Anand Jain, also known as “Hari,” is the visionary of extraordinary flair for reckoning the need of presenting this ancient art of jewelry and rare gem stones to the world.
Listed in Suzy Gershman's Where to Buy the Best of Everything, Origins is where you can find a version of the ethnic/rich hippie BoHo glam worn by a certain style of woman all over the world. Origins is the oldest and best-known boutique in Santa Fe, and the creator of an eclectic Santa Fe-look mixing fine basics with ethnic couture, wearable art, tribal artifacts, collectibles, textiles, and fine and affordable jewelry. Often copied, never duplicated, Origins has dressed celebrities and women alike from all over the world for more than 40 years.
About Equest
Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine facilitated activities, therapies and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities and veterans with adjustment challenges. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine facilitated counseling, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship and competition. With the help of 45 therapy horses, 10 instructors, four therapists, two counselors, and 400 volunteers, lives are changed on a daily basis for more than 1,200 clients served annually. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas and remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program that provides 40,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year. Equest was named “2015 Non-Profit of the Year” by CNM Connect. www.equest.org
