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    The Cool Kids

    Houston's young and the restless celebrate the rites of spring at "La Dolce Vita" bash

    Shelby Hodge
    Apr 20, 2015 | 12:46 pm

    Ah, the rites of spring are seldom celebrated with such fertile enthusiasm as during Hotel ZaZa's annual welcome of the season. Thursday night's "La Dolce Vita" bash lived up to tradition as more than 400 of H-Town's young and restless arrived to rock, despite the miserable rains.

     

    Typically held around the hotel's sexy pool, the event moved indoors as the savvy ZaZa clan had rainy day plans. First off, the Veuve Cliquot and the Grey Goose helped keep spirits high. Decor transformed the hotel ballroom into a La Dolce Vita (the movie) atmosphere as wait staff, dressed as gondoliers, helped fuel enthusiasm for the theme. Kudos to Spencer Lane, director of food and beverage at Hotel ZaZa, for Plan B.

     

     Divisi Strings launched the action after which DJ Tran kept the party beat rumbling. Not a dull moment on this evening where confetti rockets, dancing sharks and glow-in-the dark-champagne flutes kept the dance party going. Page Parkes models dressed in the latest styles from Tootsies lounged on Vespas (another nod to La Dolce Vita) and posed on pedestals scattered across the ballroom.

     

    Partying guests sampling banquets chef de cuisine Larry De La Flor's party foods included Amy and Hatch Hilliard, Dr. Sheena Garner, Chester Pitts, Michael Chabala, Jennifer and Doug Bosch, Chris Goins, James Sivco, Taylor Crowley, Michael Collins, Ceron, Courtney Perna and Ray Dennison.

    Confetti guns shower the revelers with fun.

      
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Confetti guns shower the revelers with fun.
    unspecified
    news/society

    Vintage Vibes

    Wine and resilience shine at Houston nonprofit's glamorous soirée

    Joel Luks
    Jul 9, 2025 | 10:30 am
    Women's Fund Wine Dinner 2025
    Photo by Johnny Than
    Gaston Elie, Gina Gaston Elie, and Mario Elie.

    The Women’s Fund poured on the charm at its 10th Annual Wine Dinner, trading its usual intimate digs for The Astorian’s lofty glamour and a vibe as effervescent as the night’s first pour. Picture white feathers flirting with candlelight, rosé-hued roses blushing in Revere bowls, and a crowd dressed to toast, taste, and turn up for a cause.

    Women's Fund Wine Dinner 2025
      

    Photo by Johnny Than

    Gaston Elie, Gina Gaston Elie, and Mario Elie.

    Chairs Vanessa and Chuck Ames led the swirl, sip, and support soirée, where guests kicked things off with passed bites and bubbly from Amy and Rob Pierce and Alexandra Bruskoff. Jackson and Co. served up crispy artichokes, mushroom Wellington, tuna carpaccio, and beef tartare, perfectly paired with cava and casual elegance.

    The Madam Zero Champagne Wall added sparkle and suspense, doling out deBoulle gift cards and a private champagne tasting. Meanwhile, the silent auction table buzzed with high-stakes bids for year-long date nights, Zadok's bling, a Chopped-worthy in-home dinner by chef Lena Le, and more.

    Dinner dazzled across four courses: Steelhead carpaccio with Meyer lemon sabayon and Texas Vermentino; wild mushroom agnolotti matched with a Russian River Pinot; charcoal-grilled filet cozied up to Tuscan red; and a bittersweet chocolate tart so luxe it got its own sponsor, Armine+Ambrose.

    Mid-meal pop-up auctions turned tables into tasting salons with caviar and Burgundies flowing like insider gossip. And when it came time to raise paddles, auctioneer Johnny Holloway of Johnny Bravo Productions kept the energy high and the giving higher. Think Majorca vacations (sold twice), Rockets suite nights, Napa getaways, and a cameo on Chris Shepherd's Eat Like a Local that also sold — you guessed it — twice.

    The evening honored the inaugural Toast to Resilience Class. Paulina and Jim McGrath earned the Visionary Spirit Award, Gina Gaston Elie was honored with the Resilient Heart Award, and Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown received the Champions of Community Award—each recognized for lifting up Houston’s women and girls with compassion, creativity, and serious clout.

    By the end of the night, guests had raised an impressive $485,000. That’s more than double last year's total. With more than 250 oenophiles in attendance, the event proved that good wine and a great cause make for one worthy pairing.

    Supporters raising their glasses included Anne and John Clutterbuck, Ashley Sere, Meredith and Ben Marshall, Jessica and Brian Leeke, Brian Faulkner, Caroline and Matt Monday, Lisa and Charlie Meachem, Corbin Young, Craig and Kristin Kellogg, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Lisa Meacham, Kelly and Frank Hogan, George Breen, Megan and Jerry Hughes Jr., Jillian and Yuri Waldo, Erin and Kyle Cummings, Nadia Tajalli, Paula Sutton, Rania Mankarious, Laura Ward, Sarah Barrett, Shellie McBeth, Steve Jetton, Steve Mohtashami, Aliza Dutt, Danny Ward and Nancy Ames, James Calaway, Jody Merritt, Kristen Collins, Kristy Bradshaw, Laura Davenport, Mario Elie, Nene Foxhall, Roxann and Tim Neumann, and Nora Jarrard.

    news/society
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