Sold out in 24 Hours

New Houston restaurant's hottie chef wows CultureMap insiders in first Dine Around Houston night

We're not sure how many of those who signed up for CultureMap's inaugural Dine Around Houston event were on board to get up-close-and-personal with Eleven XI's dreamy chef Kevin Bryant, but by all accounts his sophisticated Kobe beef corn dogs and Eleven XI burgers were a hit with the sellout crowd of 150.

And, yes, he was on the scene, setting more than a few hearts aflutter as he oversaw the special CultureMap menu.

Guests arriving for the early evening dinner fete, were greeted in the parking lot by two hulking 2013 Ram 1500s, a luxurious four-passenger behemoth that when fully loaded, including the V-8 engine, prices in around $48,000. Ram brand advocate Randy Escobar had the deets for interested parties. Dr. Romy Mitchell gave the trucks a once-over, observing, "I'm a big Texas girl. I could drive one of those." And, she noted, with Houston's road repair deficiency a big guy like the Ram could come in handy.

Diners filled the restaurant, its upstairs party room and the bar, the cross-section representing CultureMap readers ranging from University of Houston staffer Renia Butler, to ob/gyn specialist Dr. Damla Dryden, Saint Arnold's Jeremy Johnson, corporate attorney Jennifer Howard and Ram's Curtis Jeffries.

Also in the mix were April and Hilton Lasalle, Wayne Gresham, Mary Nurre, Mary Carol Edwards, Caitlin Barnett, Catarina Gonzales Cron, Dr. Angela Sturm, Stephen Butler, Leslie Pruski and Julia Ambler.

Tickets to the dinner event, featuring Saint Arnold brews, were sold out in little more than 24 hours. Houston Dine Arounds are fundraisers linked to selected nonprofits. The first event benefited the young professionals group PULSE

CultureMap will be hosting five more similar gatherings in the coming months with invitations posted in promo alerts. You can sign up for those in the "Be a CultureMap Insider" box on the right side of our home page.

Catarina Gonzales Cron, from left, Ben Granger, Lauren Soliz and Chris Canonico at Eleven XI for CultureMap's Dine Around Houston.

12 Eleven XI Restaurant & Bar Dine Around July 2013 Catarina Gonzales Cron, Ben Granger, Lauren Soliz, Chris Canonico

Photo by © Roswitha Vogler Photosbyrovo.com

Catarina Gonzales Cron, from left, Ben Granger, Lauren Soliz and Chris Canonico at Eleven XI for CultureMap's Dine Around Houston.

unspecified

For Good

Emotional night uplifts mental health at UTHealth Houston's $1.8M gala

UT Health Houston Mission in Action gala 2025

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Greg and Kristy Kroencke and Cheryl and Anthony Faillace.

At a time when mental health is finally getting its long-overdue moment in the spotlight, more than 200 supporters gathered at the Thompson Hotel for UTHealth Houston’s 2025 Mission in Action gala — an evening as elegant as it was emotionally resonant. Co-chairs Yvonne and Walter Johnson welcomed guests to an event that raised awareness and empathy.

This year’s event honored the John S. Dunn Foundation, a philanthropic force synonymous with health care advancement in Houston. Accepting the honor on behalf of the foundation, Charlie Lusk reflected on a legacy that’s shaped institutions quietly but powerfully over nearly five decades.

The evening, produced by Keely Thorne Events, struck a tone of transformation and dignity. Live music from Divisi Strings floated through a ballroom filled with trees and moody ombré florals by The Blooming Gallery, symbolizing the journey from darkness to light.

Walter Johnson shared his own family’s experience with behavioral health struggles. That spotlight widened with a moving video presentation featuring two UTHealth Houston patients, whose candid stories offered a visceral look at what compassion, research, and comprehensive care can achieve. UTHealth Houston president Melina Kibbe underscored a future-facing focus.

“We are committed to building a future where behavioral health care is more predictive, more preventive, and more personalized so that we can reach people earlier and support them more effectively,” Kibbe said.

The evening’s total impact? More than $1.8 million raised in support of behavioral health research, education, and care at UTHealth Houston.

In the room were Marco Patti, Cynthia Adkins, Terri Lacy, Diana Hawkins, Andy Sowell, John Wallace, Kathleen and Dick Rogers, Cheryl and Anthony Faillace, Jodie Jiles, Sonny Jiles, Ginny and LE Simmons, Larry and Tatiana Seligmann, Bette and Ralph Thomas, Mike and Rajni Jain, Elizabeth and Drew Kanaly, Maria Pappas, Anne-Laure and Steve Stephens, Lisa and Michael Sachs, Les and Linda Allison, Clay and Charlotte Allison, Carla Diaz Lewis and Kenneth Lewis, Anne and Karl Stern, Leila and Walter Mischer, and Regina Rogers.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Greg and Kristy Kroencke and Cheryl and Anthony Faillace.

fundraisers ut health hospitals