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Shelby's Social Diary

Gay pride in Tel-Aviv, jewels for a Big Bang Theory star and a wild book party stir the scene

Jesse and Cathy Marion, left, with Jonathan Horowitz at The Tasting Room event for Alley Theatre gala underwriters. Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Alley Ball 2012, Jesse Marion, Cathy Marion, Jonathan Horowitz
Andrew Spindler, from left, Hiram Butler, Chris Goins, Bill Lassiter and Josh Pazda in Rockport, Maine. Photo by Paul Cary Goldberg
Rockport Music Festival, June 2012, Andrew Spindler, Hiram Butler, Christine Goins, Bill Lassiter, Josh Pazda
Houston-based Nini Hale's jewels are set to hit the red carpet once again. Courtesy Photo
News_Nini Hale_portrait
Laura Senior Garcia and Lewis Senior Photo by Michael Reiland
Laura Senior Garcia, Lewis Senior
Linda Lorelle, from left, Keli Goff and Vanessa Gilmore at Goff's book party. Photo by Jessica Crute
Linda Lorelle, Keli Goff, Vanessa Gilmore
Nic Phillips and Nina Delano at The Tasting Room for the Alley Theatre. Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Alley Ball 2012, Nic Phillips, Nina Delano
Dean Gladden, left, with Cornelia and Meredith Long at The Tasting Room for the Alley Theatre. Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Alley Ball 2012, Dean Gladden, Cornelia Long, Meredith Lon
News-Staff-Shelby Hodge-columnist-head shot-mug

When the lights went out on the Alley Theatre's "A Touch of Red" gala at The Corinthian several weeks ago, you might have thought that was the end of the festivities. But not so. Lasco Enterprises partner and chief brand officer Jonathan Horowitz kept the party going with a thank-you event at The Tasting Room in Uptown Park.

Gala chairs Cathy and Jesse Marion were front and center receiving congrats on their successful efforts due in no small part to Lasco, which donated the wines for the gala.

The Tasting Room's executive chef Steve Marquis whipped up a load of tasty hors d'oeuvres including chicken satay, gourmet meatballs, cheese and charcuterie platters and Italian antipasto plates, washed down with Jade Mountain Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc. All as a thank you to those who helped the gala soar.

Sharing in the spirited gathering of several dozen were Cornelia and Meredith Long, Jane and Dean Gladden, Nanette and Jerry Finger, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Nic Phillips and Nina Delano, Brian Teichman, Andy Cordes and Lois and George Stark.

Not that Rockport

Over the weekend, Houston gallery owner Hiram Butler and partner Andrew Spindler opened their vacation home on Boston's North Shore to fellow Houstonians who had jetted north for the Rockport Chamber Music Festival in Rockport, Mass. (Not to be confused with the Rockport, Texas, music festival which was also held over the weekend.)

Joining Butler and Spindler for the black-tie opening night were Tootsies' Chris Goins and her squeeze Josh Pazda and art collector Bill Lassiter.

Delivering the goods

That would be Tim Moloney, who's just back from LA where he delivered a load of fine Nini jewelry to stylist Alison Kahn, who happens to be a native Houstonian. She's working with Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory, outfitting her for the International Television Festival that takes place in Monte Carlo in July.

For each of the four nights of the festival, Miyam will be wearing an assortment of Nini Jewels by Houston-based jewelry designer Nini Hale. You might recall that the actress was decked out in Nini for the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony in January.

Mega book party

More than 150 fans turned out in the ballroom of Hotel Sorella for the launch of At the End of the Day, the non-fiction, inspirational book co-authored by the father-daughter team of Lewis Senior and Laura Senior Garcia.

No ordinary book signing, this cocktail party had a Hollywood theme complete with red carpet, student paparazzi and official emcees — Malcolm Duncan and David Garcia. There was a book cover design competition for students at Southwest Schools the winner, Zac Palmer, was announced that evening.

Big news for the authors, the book was accepted by both Amazon.com and iTunes.

Friends of the authors taking home copies of the book included Laura and Stephen Walter, Pari and John Gill, Mehrnaz Gill, Eric Wagner, Keith Miller, Cindy and Jim Upshaw and Judy and Don Ray.

MSNBC commentator feted

Following book parties in New York and Washington D.C., author Keli Goff, a political commentator on MSNBC, was back in hometown Houston over the weekend first as keynote speaker at the Houston Black Book Fest and then as special guest at a party celebrating the paperback publication of her second tome, The GQ Candidate.

Linda Lorelle, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore and Amber Winsor, deputy director at the Contemporary Arst Museum Houston, hosted the event at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown.

Sight 'ems

Actress Linda Gray, Dallas’ Sue Ellen Ewing, and young gun heartthrob Josh Henderson (John Ross Ewing) at CityCentre where they greeted a throng of fans at Studio Movie Grill for a screening of the first episode of the TNT revival of Dallas. Roula Christie of KRBE-FM’s “Roula & Ryan” show led the Q&A following the premiere. . . .

Artist John Ross Palmer and partner Ryan Lindsay on the streets of Tel-Aviv, where they participated in the 14th annual Tel-Aviv Pride Parade. Shirtless and wearing Texas flag jogging shorts and Ropers and carrying tiny Israeli flags, they cut quite a swath through the crowd.

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