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    Shelby's Social Diary

    Marking end of an era, Houston Symphony Maestro's Wine Dinner is a sentimental affair

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    May 21, 2013 | 2:18 pm

    Houston Symphony music director Hans Graf exited his post in grand style Sunday night, ending his tenure as the symphony's longest-serving music director amid a stage full of admiring fans. The annual Maestro's Wine Dinner and Collector's Auction, held under the lights at Jones Hall, served as a generous toast to the man who also is an avid wine connoisseur and serious collector.

    More than 300 close friends, symphony supporters and musicians gathered for the successful fundraiser (more than $400,000). While the evening could not help but be nostalgic on the heels of Graf's farewell concerts, there was an electric buzz as guests recalled the countless curtain calls that followed the final notes of the symphony's performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 the night before.

    The black-tie evening was orchestrated by chairs Mary Lynn and Steve Marks and Judy and Rodney Margolis with Dr. Tom Nichols and Robert Sakowitz serving as wine auction chairmen.

    While guests dined on a five-course dinner by Jackson & Co., entertainment was provided Houston Symphony harpist Paula Page and flutist Judy Dines, performing duets by French composers. The dinner courses were presented with exceptional wine pairings, selected by dinner wine chairs Lindy and John Rydman of Spec's Wines, Spirit & Finer Foods.

    Toasts to the Graf and his beloved wife, Rita Graf, flowed with Symphony CEO Mark Hanson, concertmaster Frank Huang and gala chair Rodney Margolis praising the couple. Along with his words of praise, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst presented the Grafs with a Texas state flag that had flown over the capitol in Austin earlier in the day.

    Well-wishers included Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Danielle and Josh Batchelor, Darlene and Cappy Bisso, Viviana and David Denechaud, Tricia Dewhurst, Linda and Gene Dewhurst, Marie Bosarge, Katie Flaherty, April and Tom Lykos, Barbara and Ulyesse LeGrange, Nancy and Bob Peiser and Betty and Jesse Tutor. They all went home with commemorative Riedel wine glasses bearing the image of Graf.

    Special guests were Matthew VanBesien and wife Rosie Jowitt, who had flown in from China. VanBesien, currently CEO of the New York Philharmonic, served as symphony executive director in association with Graf from 2005 to 2010.

    Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniel at the Houston Symphony Maestro's Wine Dinner.

    Houston Maestro's Dinner May 2013 Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim L. Daniel
      
    Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com
    Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniel at the Houston Symphony Maestro's Wine Dinner.
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    Start Me Up

    Immersive Houston art venue rocks out with new Rolling Stone experience

    Holly Beretto
    May 15, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    ​“Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience!”
    Photo courtesy of Artechouse
    “Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience!” opens at Artechouse in May.

    A new art exhibit puts viewers into the heart of rock and roll. Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience opens this Thursday, May 15 at Artechouse, the immersive art venue that opened last year in the Heights. With its 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling digital canvases in 18K-resolution and state-of-the-art surround sound, viewers will feel they’ve stepped into some of music’s most iconic moments.

    Narrated by Kevin Bacon, Amplified includes 1,000 photographs, 200 videos, 1,300 Rolling Stone covers, and features more than 300 artists whose music changed the world. Using sight, sound, and motion, this dynamic exhibit makes music history approachable and immediate for viewers. Here's a sneak peek:


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    Houstonians know our city has its own deep connections to genre-shaking music history. From The Beatles at the Sam Houston Coliseum, to Elvis at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Bob Dylan’s “Night of the Hurricane” in 1976, and being the hometown of Beyoncé, Bun B, ZZ Top, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more, Houston has cultivated and welcomed artists with choruses of boisterous cheers and applause.

    "Given Houston’s deep connection to the evolution of rock and pop music over the decades, we were thrilled to partner with Rolling Stone to bring Amplified to Houstonians and continue the city’s tradition of supporting and celebrating musical acts from around the world," says Sandro Kereselidze, co-founder of Artechouse. "This exhibit aligns perfectly with our mission to connect the public with cultural and artistic storytelling through cutting-edge technology. We’re excited for guests of all ages to experience the history of rock ‘n’ roll like never before."

    The show was originally produced by Illuminarium Experiences and created by Brand New World Studios in partnership with Rolling Stone. Viewers who attend the Artechouse experience can keep their immersive experience going at the venue’s Reality (XR) Bar, serving cocktails and mocktails that dovetail with the exhibit. Blending cutting-edge XR technology with craft mixology, drinks come to life through exclusive XR activations, which are accessible via Artechouse’s XR mobile app. Guests can downtown the app from the App Store or Google Play.

    “Music imagery is about experiences,” said Jodi Peckman, executive producer and former creative director of Rolling Stone. “It’s about the unbridled joy of concerts and our connection to our favorite artists. Every picture tells a story and Rolling Stone Presents: AMPLIFIED has hundreds of stories to tell.”

    Timed tickets are available online and at the venue, and advanced reservations are strongly encouraged. Admission starts at $39 plus fees for adults and $29 plus fees for children, ages 17 and under. Tickets are currently available through August 31.

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