People: In the OC: Jerry Sanchez
admin January 27th, 2008
Jerry Sanchez is an attorney with Bracewell & Giuliani in Dallas. Heis also an organizer of the second annual Grape Expectations WineTasting Benefit for Twelve HillsNature Center, which is slated for 5 to 8 p.m. Feb 16 at the homeof Enrique MacGregor and Mark Niermann. City Council members DaveNeumann and Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garica will serve as honoraryhosts for the event, which is sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Fund of Dallas. - Chuck Cox
How long have you lived in Oak Cliff?
I’ve lived in Kessler Park for nine years. My partner, Roland Ramirezand I moved from Austin. Oak Cliff’s topography is somewhatreminiscent of Austin.
What do you enjoy most about living in Oak Cliff?
Oak Cliff’s diversity, unique architecture, mature trees, and theclose proximity to many areas in the Metroplex are great features.However, the most enjoyable part of Oak Cliff is the friendliness ofits inhabitants, which helps give Oak Cliff a small-town feel. it’snext to impossible to go to a restaurant or the grocery store and notrun into someone you know. It’s like a small city within a large city.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
I don’t just have one favorite restaurant. My favorite restaurantsare Tillman’s Roadhouse and Hattie’s. In addition to being located inthe Bishop Arts District, both have great food and atmosphere and thefriendly wait staff and owners treat you like family. Kavala is alsoa favorite…..
How did the first Grape Expectations come about?
This event is the brainchild of Enrique MacGregor and Mark Niemann,co-founders of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas, an organizationthat has raised more than $500,000 for various nonprofitorganizations in Dallas. Enrique and Mark are active participantswith the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. The 100-plus winessampled at the Grape Expectations benefit are some of the samevintages featured at the wine competition. Through Enrique and Mark’sleadership efforts and a committee of dedicated volunteers, lastyear’s event raised approximately $6,000 for the Twelve Hills NatureCenter, which was matched by The Meadows Foundation, and this year’sgoal is $10,000. The Twelve Hills Nature Center is a five-acre urbanoasis in North Oak Cliff utilized as an inner-city environmental,education and recreational facility for neighborhood students and thecommunity. The National Wildlife Federation has certified the naturepreserve as a wildlife habitat.
source: Oak Cliff People