01-21-06 Janine Evans is Cinderella

ParkCitiesNeighhors ON THE COVER

Park Cities mom Janine of all tradesByMERRITfPATIERSON

My daughter wanted little more in lifethan for the real Cinderella to attend herfourth birthday party. Thankfully I knowCinderella, and as it turns out, she 'wasavailable that very day.

She came to the party and held up wellunder the intense scrutiny of tiny guestsquestioning her authenticity. She was askedabout her castle, the step-sisters, PrinceCharming and her current mode of trans-portation. When you are the real thing, youhave nothing to hide.

Which is why Janine Evans has to becareful - she will have trouble explainingto local princesses why Cinderella is some-times seen exiting her home on Stanfordand driving away in her Mercedes stationwagon.

Before marrying her husband, Will, andbecoming mom to Matthew, 7, and Walker,4, Evans attended college on a ballet schol-arship and danced in Doritos commercials.

Besides being a princess, she is Cher, aleading supplier of knock-off designer sun-glasses, interior decorator and communityvolunteer.

I have seen Evans - as Cher - make agrand entrance through a cloud of smokesinging "If You Believe" with neighborhoodfans screaming and dancing. Even the mostuptight partygoers can't keep themselvesfromjumping on stage andjoiningin. It justcomes naturally to this karaoke queen forhire.

In the past she has donated her celebritykaraoke services - complete with soundsystem, song choices and charm - to theUP Elementary auction, as well as the Brad-field Elementary auction. She has also beenknown to donate a princess party or two.

lf you haven't run into her dressed as afamous princess or pop-rock diva, you mayhave seen her selling knock-off accessories(legal ones) out of her trunk in the carpoolline. Ladies in the Park Cities know thatEvans is the "go-to mom" for the best de-signer replica eyewear in Dallas.

During lunch one day last spring, I lis-tened as a friend asked Evans if she had acertain style of sunglasses "in stock." Insult-ed that a customer would question her abil-ity to secure merchandise, she immediatelydialed her cell phone and rattled off a seriesof numbers. A few seconds later she slappedher cell phone closed and tossed it in herbag like a gun into a holster and said,"They'll be here Friday."

All other endeavors take a back seat toher true passion, interior decorating. Sheowns Bracken Interiors and is responsiblefor the fresh new looks in many of the finesthomes and businesses in Dallas.

SUBMITTEO PHOTOS

REAL MOM: Janine Evans relaxes in her University Park home with her sons Matthew. left. and Walker, right.

You can find her almost anytime in thedesign district or zooming in and out ofhomes with fabric samples, but not onThesdaynight. That's when she sings in re-tirement homes with the Junior League.

She has also served on the UniversityPark Preschool Association board as themembership chairwoman and programschairwoman and is currently the co-chair-woman of couple's parties, And she hasserved on the carnival committee and theauction solicitation committee at UP Ele-mentary.

Her magical gifts give new life to ourcommunity, but none is as special to me asthe one she gave my child: a little bit longerto believe in fantasy.

My oldest daughter, suspicious that theCinderella from her sister's party was actu-ally Matthews mom in disguise, confront-ed Evans in the school yard, Evans, know-ingthat her cover had been blown, glancedto the left and to the right to make sure noone would hear her stunning confessionand revealed thetruth that onlymy daugh-ter knows. The Park Cities mom thing? It'san undercover role to protect her trueidentity, Cinderella.

Merritt Patterson is afrequent contributor

I GOT YOU, BABE: Janine Evans singswith friend and guest Michelle Fehlmanat one of her karaoke partiesbenefiting University Park Elementary.

to Park CitiesNeighbors. If you krww of an out-standing preschool association. or PTA mom; e-

IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Janine Evans asCher, left. poses with members of the1970s hit group and backup singers forthe evening, the Village People. LauriePetri ca. Carrie Green and LaurenArthur.

mail Merritt at MerrittChril,·tfnePatterscm@yaJwo.com.