Canine Capers

Bad to the Bone: Biker dogs, hunks in leather and roaring motorcycles blow the roof off this bash

Between the dogs barking, the motorcycle engines roaring and Bubba McNeely singing, the decibel overload at the Bayou City Event Center could be described only as joyful. What else could you say about a room full of revved-up animal lovers, many with their pooches in tow, raising much-needed funds for Citizens for Animal Protection?

The biker vibe was a nod to the "Bad to the Bone" theme which inspired all manner of road hog attire. Leather chaps, tattoos and motorcycle jackets ruled. Aside from the floral centerpieces, the real decor of the night was provided by a half dozen bright and shiny motorcycles positioned around the party space. Oh, and then there was attorney Carolyn St. Clair, fetchingly costumed as Maleficent, who paraded through the lively scene with her winged (really) Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Leaders of the pack Patti and Don Murphy, Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla pulled the event together as a special effort to help CAP through the summer months, clearly the dog days of summer when funds and supplies run low and and the animal count runs high.

Taking bows on this night with the assistance of emcee Deborah Duncan were honorees Gaylon and Don Gullquist, honorary chairs Francie and Mike Willis and Bad to the Bone award recipients Lori and Darryl Schroeder, accompanied by Sharkey, wearing a Harley Davidson doggie cover. J&D Entertainment dancers ramped up the energy before the contestants strutted their stuff.

Costumed to the hilt and taking home first prize for their impressive biker garb were Tina and Sam Governale (strikingly handsome in his leather togs) and their pooches, Massimo (Imo) and Valentino (Ino). They paraded down the catwalk in a "fashion" competition that had the crowd of 200 oohing and ahhing as the four-legged procession was truly charming.

Among the parading pairs were Kim Padgett with her runway-savvy Cassidy, Tenenbaum & Co.'s Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield with Jackson, Jack Rains with Elvis, Dr. Rolando Maldonado with his Westie Dodger, Lindsay Beale with a CAP Shelter dog and Alex Martinez with his "cabana boys," Pedro and Pablo, fashionably dressed by Alex Blair.

Take a look at the video:

Lisa Gochman, left, and Amy Bender.

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Lisa Gochman, left, and Amy Bender.

unspecified

Passing the baton

Houston Ballet’s record-breaking opener doubles as Jim Nelson’s swan song

Photo by Dave Rossman

Jonathan and Margaret Cox; Anne and Albert Chao.

Houston’s balletomanes pirouetted into the new season in high style at the Houston Ballet Opening Night Onstage Dinner on September 5, where more than 220 patrons gathered atop the Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Stage.

The evening, chaired by Shara and Kent Schaffer, doubled as both a glittering kickoff to the 2025–2026 season and a heartfelt tribute to longtime Houston Ballet leader Jim Nelson.

The festivities began with a stirring performance of Onegin, John Cranko’s timeless ballet of love and regret, based on Alexander Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. After curtain call, guests made their way to Orchestra for a moving salute to Nelson, who recently concluded a distinguished tenure with the company. Artistic director Julie Kent offered warm remarks of appreciation before welcoming Council Member Joaquin Martinez, who surprised Nelson with an official proclamation from the City of Houston, lauding his leadership, advocacy for inclusivity, and steadfast commitment to community engagement.

Then came the showstopping reveal.

With a flourish, the curtain lifted to unveil the transformed Brown Stage, now set for an old-world–inspired banquet designed by Bergner and Johnson. Hemstitched napkins, mahogany lattice chairs, and towering gold vases spilling over with hydrangeas, astilbe, roses, tulips, ranunculus, and coxcomb created a scene worthy of Pushkin’s poetic salons.

In his closing remarks, Nelson thanked attendees and symbolically passed the baton to new executive director Sonja Kostich, who assumed the role in August. He also raised a jubilant toast to the ballet’s cherished friend Margaret Alkek Williams, who celebrated her milestone 90th birthday that evening.

The occasion set a record. The dinner raised nearly $500,000 to support Houston Ballet.

Sur la pointe were Richard Lapin, Melza and Ted Barr, Gary and Marian Beauchamp, Susan and Gary Binney, Marsha Bourque, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Kelley and Stephen Lubanko, Gay and Paul Currie, Anne and Albert Chao, Sidney Faust, Richard Flowers and Angel Rios, Rose Cullen, Sandy Godfrey, Marianne and Joe Geagea, Mignon and Steve Gill, Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones, Deborah and Edward Koehler, Marguerite Swartz, Jane DiPaolo, Allison and Troy Thacker, Ann Trammell, Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, and Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees.

Photo by Dave Rossman

Jonathan and Margaret Cox; Anne and Albert Chao.