Who knew that Harris County Judge Ed Emmett was such a talent at mixing martinis? James Bond would have approved of the politico's shaken-not-stirred technique as the judge shook and poured for patrons of the Immunization Partnership.
Judge Emmett, who focused on traditional gin concoctions, was joined in the celebrity spotlight by Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti and KTRK Channel 13 news whiz Miya Shay, who poured orange and chocolate martinis, respectively. Happily, the 250 guests didn't have to count entirely on the trio to provide libations. There was a cadre of professional bar tenders keeping thirsts slaked throughout Susan Krohn's River Oaks home.
The ever-generous Krohn opened the doors of her chateau-style dwelling for the "Shake It Up Martini Party," chaired by Michelle Bohreer, Vicki Brentin and Kelly Raley.
While there was plenty of play with the double-entendre of shots (as in vodka) vs. shots (as in the doctor's office), there was a serious message delivered by Dr. Paul Offit of Philadelphia. The author of Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All warned that misinformation leads to vaccine hesitancy and illness. That didn't prevent Immunization Partnership president and CEO Anna Dragsbaek from quipping, "This night proves that shots can be fun."
Agreeing on that point were Craig Cordola, Lindy McGee, Kimberly Cotner David, Julie Boom, State Rep. Sarah Davis, State Sen. Joan Huffman and Melanie Mouzoon.
An American in Paris
Donna Josey Chapman rounded up a sleek collection of sociables for lunch in Tony's wine room on Monday where she beat a fashionable drum for the American Hospital in Paris. Donna, a graduate of the Sorbonne and owner of a swank residence in Paris, is chairman of the board of the renowned hospital. (For those who don't know, the hospital was created by an act of Congress in 1913.)
Donna and fellow board member Linda Barrett, who with her husband John, has a second home in Normandy, are encouraging their Houston friends to become hospital ambassadors (a $2,500 donation opens doors to American Hospital medical attention throughout much of the world) and to support the early planning for a Houston-based benefit. Luncheon guest Donna Vallone suggested a French wine dinner. Bien sur!
Joining the hostess, who recently returned to Houston after several years away following the death of her huband Jack Josey, were interested parties including American Hospital board member Diane Lokey Farb, Coco Blaffer, Donatella Benckenstein, Danielle Ellis, Richard Flowers, Kristi Schiller, Bruce Padilla and Rosemary Malone Houck.
NYC hearts Mayor Parker
It was quickie trip to New York for Mayor Annise Parker, who spent much of her brief visit promoting hometown Houston during a political fundraiser in the Fifth Avenue offices of Fulbright & Jaworski. Senior partner Neil Thomas of Houston and Fulbright's New York partner-in-charge Linda Addison, formerly of the Houston office, hosted.
In the crush of 50, mostly New Yorkers, were a handful of Houstonians who made the trip including PR whiz Cindy Clifford, Houston Style publisher Francis Page Jr., Fulbright's executive committee chair Steven Pfeiffer, Goldman Sachs' Terry Thornton and Jason Fuller, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's regional director.
In an interesting aside, Francis is married to Kristyn Page, national director of multi-cultural affairs for Macy's, and she offices in New York. The couple enjoys a commuter marriage and both attended the fundraiser.
More NYC fun
Neil Thomas, Cindy Clifford and Jason Fuller stayed over in the Big Apple to attend the salute to New York City's 50 Most Powerful Women of whom Linda Addison is one. Sponsored by Crain's New York Business, the awards luncheon was held at 583 Park Avenue.
Addison was in good company, recognized along with Arianna Huffington, desigenrs Diane Von Furstenberg and Tory Burch and business notables such as Mary Anne Tighe, CEO of CB Richard Ellis Tri-State.
Making up while partying
There was a reason that the cosmetics salon at Saks Fifth Avenue was packed to the rafters the other night. Supporters of Catholic Charities' "A Cardinal's Christmas" luncheon, set for Dec. 10, poured in for schmoozing and make-up consults and pre-event enthusiasm.
Roseann Rogers and hubby Dr. Aashish Shah, who chair the luncheon, held court among the bustling crowd that just couldn't get enough of the featured Dior make-up samples and demos. Yes, even the men got into the act, sampling Dior's skin care products.
Joining the fun that included noshing on bites from Grille 5115 were Tracy and Jim Geary, Theresa McKinna, Woody Nassar, Ann Marie and Brian Cervenka, Diane Cervenka, Kirstin Feazel, Souad Malouf Bejjani, Nancy Marcus Golden and Jackie Roy.
Sight 'ems
Boxer Lou Saverese and businessman Kevin Robins lunching at Grotto . . .
Reza Pahlavi, his father the late Shah of Iran, dining at Restaurant CINQ in La Colombe d’Or . . .
NBC national news correspondent Janet Shamlian and hubby Le Melcher dining with Alex Brennan-Martin at Brennan's . . .
Paula Dean and hubby Michael, who didn't quite make it to Vic & Anthony's due to the dress code, dining at Morton's downtown location where they feasted on chef Frank Lewis' bone in filet, sea bass, brussels sprouts, and carrot cake. Paula was quoted as loving the carrot cake, "Yum y'all."
