Houston Lifestyles & Homes January 2010
Please e-mail your event news and photos to jan@jancarson.com or mail to Jan Carson: 109 North Post Oak Lane, Ste. 422, Houston, TX 77024.
The calendar is flipping to a brand new year and a brand new decade. (Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were worried about the “millennium bug”?) As I clean out my monthly files of invitations, announcements and updates
from past events, I can
’t help but marvel at the amazing number of charitable events Houston supports,
and the many millions of dollars volunteers raise for nonprofits. It
’s inspiring! I’m not sure what else 2010 will bring, but I am certain of one thing—Houstonians will continue to share their hearts with one another, through many
good deeds and great causes. And for that, I am very thankful.
Highlighting some of the events that will fill you with the warmth of the
holiday spirit:
Not to be missed! The Social Book, Houston’s premier compendium of all things social, celebrates 15 years of “Wicked Success” at its Jan. 21 Launch Party. Founder Scott Evans’ theme of Wizard of Oz meets The Wiz & Wicked is packed with WOW factors. Downtown’s Discovery Green will be transformed into an “Enchanted Forest” with a lighted yellow brick road leading to “Emerald City,” a two-story tent complete with a balcony inside and outside! (Aztec Events & Tents is rumored to be spending $150-$200,000 to build the tent.) The entire
cast of Ensemble Theatre
’s The Wiz will perform, and Yvonne Washington will belt out Somewhere Over The Rainbow, among other tunes. The names of Houston Treasures, local luminaries whose
photos and bios will appear in the 2010
Social Book, will be announced soon.
The splendors of Imperial Grandeur will unfold as the 2010 Winter Ball on Jan.
23 creates a magical winterscape of frosty crystal trees, sheer sparkly
overlays and birch branches dripping with votive lights. Co-chairs
Connie Cooke and Phyllis Williams say they are planning a “spectacular and elegant fairy tale of snowy splendor.” It will be the perfect setting for the announcement of the ABC/13 Women of
Distinction:
Joan Dunlap, Harriet Gertner, Melissa King, Traci Lee, Carmen Maria Montiel-Lechin, Linda Lorelle, Patti Murphy, Helen Shaffer, Laura Spalding, Donna Grace Vallone and myself as ambassador. Proceeds benefit CCFA and its mission to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improve the quality of life of affected
children and adults. For more information, call 713-572-2232.
The economy may have suffered for much of 2009, but the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market was a surprising record-setter—attracting 15 percent more shoppers (84,551) and piling up final sales of $13.7
million, an increase of 10.3 percent from 2008 sales. Congratulations to Market
chair
Gaylon Gullquist and her team of talented volunteers who boosted revenues for the Houston Ballet
Foundation
’s Academy and scholarship programs. And you can continue your support for the
Ballet by attending the Feb. 20 Ballet Ball. Co-chairs
Jana and Richard Fant and Laura and John Spalding bring creativity and freshness to their “Surreal Movement”-themed gala. John and Becca Thrash are honorees. Call 713-535-3276 for tickets.
The Hilton’s Paul-David Van Atta has built Cabaret for a Cure into a sure-fire success, and this year’s 3rd annual gala on Jan. 15 will rock with R&B All Stars Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., formerly of the Fifth Dimension. (If that doesn’t take you back to the ’70s I don’t know what will!) Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa will be honored along with Shell Oil and Jani Lopez for their support Legacy Community Health Services. Anita and Gerald Smith are co-chairs. For tickets, call 713-574-9736.
(1) Art of Conversation
The ballroom was buzzing with talk of fashion, food and forensics as 31 local
celebrities came together for the
“Art of Conversation” fundraiser for City ArtWorks. (From left) KUHF’s Dean Dalton, Carolyn Farb, author Mickey Herskowitz and City ArtWorks
President Tom Wolff.
(2) National Philanthropy Day Awards
Honorary chair Beth Sanders Moore joins Barbara Bush and H-E-B Executive Scott
McClelland at the 24th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards. The former
first lady
’s Celebration of Reading program was honored as Outstanding Fundraising Program.
(3) World AIDS Day Luncheon
Honoree Don Gill, co-chair Roseann Rogers, Chevron’s Joani Baird and co-chair Lara Bell in front of the AIDS quilt at the 2009
World AIDS Day Luncheon, which raised $125,000 for AIDS Foundation Houston.
(4) A Conversation with a Living Legend
Baseball legend Hank Aaron was the star of “A Conversation with a Living Legend,” co-chaired by (l-r) Jack and Ginger Blanton, and Kelli and Eddy Blanton. The
luncheon raised more than $400,000 for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
(5) Writers in the Schools
Writers in the Schools celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner co-chaired
by (l-r) Clayton and Ginya Trier and featuring former Houston Ballet principal
dancer Li Cunxin who talked about his memoir,
Mao’s Last Dancer. Dominic Walsh danced with Li at the Houston Ballet.
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(6) Gingerbread Bash
The 4th annual Home Sweet Home Gingerbread Bash was a sweet success for the
Children
’s Museum Houston. David Hill and Susan Dingle were among the guests admiring the
creative confections.
(7) JCC & LA Law
JCC Arts & Culture Steering Committee Chair Susan Farb Morris joins former LA Law star Jill Eikenberry, who was in Houston for the Jewish Book & Art Fair.
(8) Chatting it Up
Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and Kathy Schenck chat it up at the “Art of Conversation” luncheon for City ArtWorks.
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(9) Indian Film Festival Gala
Shelby Hodge and Eileen Lawal at the First Annual Indian Film Festival Gala,
where awards were given to producers and stars. The gala was the inspiration of
Sutapa Ghosh.
(10) “A Night Out” for DFSH
It was a night of fashion fun that raised more than $80,000 for Dress for
Success Houston. (From left) DFSH Executive Director Nancy Levicki, event chair
Liz Crowell and image consultant Cathy Fitzpatrick Cleary.
(11) Joyful Toyful
Holding huggable stuffed animals, 19th annual Joyful Toyful co-chairs Janet and
Fred Wahrlich led a team of volunteers who collected thousands of toys that
were distributed to children.
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(12) Angels of Hope
Janice McNair (seated) was the honoree at the Angels of Hope Luncheon & Fashion Show benefiting Child Advocates. Co-chairs Pat Osborne and Kathy Galt
filled a ballroom with enthusiastic supporters.
(13) Rococo Rock Tea
Kate Scott, Cooky Mays and Laura Wheless get into character for the Theta Show Rococo Rock Tea.
(14) Wild Game Dinner
Host Joe Davis joins Sylvia Sullivan, director of special events for the Open
Door Mission, at a
“Wild Game Dinner” to raise funds and awareness for the residential drug and alcohol rehab
program.
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(15) Living Legends
Hammerin’ Hank Aaron (755 home runs) greets CBS News Anchor Bob Schieffer prior to “A Conversation with a Living Legend” for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Former Houston Astros star Jeff Bagwell did
the introduction.
(16) Celebrity Pet
The “Home for the Holidays”-themed Celebrity Paws Gala for Citizens for Animal Protection featured honorees
and their pets, including Julie Brown with her beautiful Border Collie,
“Molly.”
(17) Birthday MONTH
Not just a DAY, not even a WEEK…Denise Bush and Ellie Francisco decided to celebrate their birthdays the entire
MONTH of November and invited 140 friends to a kick off luncheon at Tootsies.
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You can stay up-to-date with what’s happening “On The Town” throughout the month by clicking on www.Facebook.com/OnTheTownHouston. Social photos, events and updates are posted daily.
Jan 8: Opportunity Ball for Houston Community College. 713-718-8492.
Jan 14: Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coaching Awards for American Heart Association. 713-610-5026.
Jan 14: UNICEF dinner with Lucy Liu for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. 713-963-9390.
Jan 15: Cabaret for a Cure for Legacy Community Health Services. 713-574-9736.
Jan 16: “The Jive & Swing Hope Gala” for the Santa Maria Hostel. 281-657-0898.
Jan 21: The Pearl Ball for Good Samaritan Foundation. 713-529-4646.
Jan 21: The Social Book 2010 Launch Party. 713- 965-2922.
Jan 23: The ABC/13 CCFA Winter Ball honoring the Women of Distinction. 713-572-2232.
Jan 27: Hearts of Hope Luncheon for Bo’s Place. 713-942-8339.
Feb 2: Girls Just Wanna Have Fund for Houston Ronald McDonald House.
713-795-3585.
Feb 13: “Keep the Beat” Heart Ball for the American Heart Association. 713-610-5000.
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Fort Bend Publishing Group 2008
