Corporate events are among my favorite social gatherings, offering an open space to mingle, eat, sip, and, of course, boot scoot boogie.
The Rustic in Uptown Dallas
Hunt Real Estate Capital chose the perfect venue for their annual holiday party: The Rustic in Uptown Dallas, Texas. This Texas ranch-style restaurant serves farm-to-table ingredients from local vendors and hosts live performances by both local and national music artists.
It was a crisp, starry night—ideal for showing off my new fitted olive Laysha Cargo Jacket by Eden Society. I paired it with an eggplant Queensland Dolman Jersey Knit Top, my ReRock Express Jeans, and my dance-ready Tony Lama cowboy boots. (Need help finding your perfect cowboy boots? Check out this great read from Texas Monthly and let me know in the comments what kind of boots you love!)
A Warm Welcome
Upon arrival, valet service made for a smooth entrance. I was greeted warmly and easily found my magnetic name tag. Employees and clients from all over the U.S. were invited, creating a lively, diverse crowd.
Though I missed the hors d’oeuvres, my husband Jason assured me they were delicious.
Good Decisions
James P. Flynn, the Chief Investment Officer, delivered a special speech highlighting the excitement surrounding the recent acquisition by Tokyo-based ORIX Corporation. Hunt Real Estate Capital‘s strong presence in the multifamily industry—boasting the development or design of around 111,919 multifamily housing units—was celebrated. Flynn also welcomed the addition of ORIX Real Estate Capital brands, Lancaster Pollard and Red Capital Group, into this new chapter. Lancaster Pollard is a leading lender to the senior living and healthcare industries, while Red Capital Group is the nation’s top FHA lender and an experienced loan servicer.
It was encouraging to hear about the bright future ahead, with plans to combine efforts into a new entity that will offer commercial real estate investors direct capital products tailored to their needs as they grow and evolve. The talented teams across these offices are valuable assets, building more value for their customers, regardless of market conditions.
CHEERS TO A NEW CHAPTER!
To kick off the holiday festivities, Mr. Flynn invited Kate Porter, a fabulous Hunt Companies executive assistant, to the stage to conduct the company raffle. Although I didn’t win, it was refreshing to hear the winners’ names called out, adding a personal touch. Ms. Porter received well-deserved praise for her coordination of this memorable holiday event.
A Zesty Fiesta
The dinner spread featured both indoor and outdoor options. Inside, the main floor boasted a taco salad bar with chicken, fajita steak, and jalapeño spoon bread. Outdoors, the buffet offered grilled shrimp, chicken tinga, smoked brisket, pork carnitas, elote black bean salad, spring salads, spicy corn salad, and a variety of dressings. A trio of dessert shooters circulated, with the salted caramel mousse being my favorite!
Dining and Mingling
Guests could choose from long wooden benches in the backyard, cozy spots near chimeneas, wooden chair lounges, the horseshoe bar, or the spacious booths in the dining room.
The Bar
If you follow me on Instagram, you know how much I enjoy a good margarita. The Rustic’s frozen margarita—served in a salted rimmed mason jar with a handle—won my approval. The bar also featured Texas craft beers, Texas-styled cocktails, community punch, and fine wines.
Live Band
For entertainment, a local band, Straight Tequila Night, performed country music favorites. The sound was louder than I remembered, but that didn’t stop Jason and me from taking advantage of our kid-free evening to dance the night away, both in the dining hall and under the Texas sky in front of The Rustic’s stage. It was a much-needed escape—even if only for an evening.
A Memorable Evening
Overall, it was a pleasure meeting a variety of my husband’s coworkers, company partners, and their spouses. It’s clear that Hunt Real Estate Capital fosters a thriving community.
