Shelby About Town

Houston car collectors take over the 18th hole of Pebble Beach and wow a Cristal-chugging crowd

While well-dressed patricians from across the country strolled the grounds of the Pebble Beach Lodge on Sunday, a troupe of Houstonians made very merry during the Concours d'Elegance, the ultimate vintage car show that unfolded on the 18th hole of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Course.

The group had good reason to join in the flowing champagne toasts as one of their own walked off with three awards.

The champagne, preferably Cristal, flows. The afternoon feasts are catered with lavish menus including every rich delight from caviar to succulent fried chicken.

Retired oil executive (National Oilwell) and avid car collector Jim Fasnacht took bows with first and second place in the Ruxton class and received a special Rolex award for his dedication to assembling a historic class of cars. Fasnacht has more than 60 cars in his collection, seven of which are the rare Ruxtons, each of them on display at Pebble Beach.

Also welcomed to show their prized wheels at the invitation-only Concours were Houstonians Janie and Roberto Quiroz, entering their 1956 Maserati in the competition, and retired oil exec John Bookout, Jr. whose 1951 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Spyder earned a third place in its class.

As is tradition, the partying unfolds across the verdant lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean as guests dress up, some in vintage costuming and most all in hats, and set up their gourmet picnic parties across the grounds. The champagne, preferably Cristal, flows. The afternoon feasts are catered with lavish menus including every rich delight from caviar to succulent fried chicken.

Houstonians among those dressing up for the festive afternoon were Cathy and Dr. Gary Brock, Randa and K.C. Weiner, Julie Culver, Nancy and David Pustka, Amy and John Aubrey and Dr. Mark Brinker.

Jim Fasnacht has had a love of cars since he was 7 and began collecting at age 16. The 59-year-old still has his first acquisition — a Corvette Stingray. He shares that love of cars with Evelyn. "And yes, I collect," she tells CultureMap. "But my taste runs to the cheap seats — micros and minis like the Crosley, the BMW Isetta, Messerschmitt and a few art cars."

Roberto and Janie Quiroz with their 1956 Maserati Zagato coup.

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Big Spenders

Retro futurism meets philanthropy as Houston museum gala raises $3.6M

Houston Museum of Natural Science Gala 2026

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Will Lee, Britton Daugbjerg, Ella Fertitta, and Jason Fertitta.

Big spenders to the front, please.

On a night when Houston’s black-tie crowd orbited the worlds of science, style, and a little retro-futurism, the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Futurama: A Stardust Odyssey Gala 2026 felt less like a traditional fundraiser and more like an expedition through the museum’s halls.

Chaired by Randa and Charlie Williams alongside Susanne and Joel Bartsch, the gala welcomed more than 350 guests who arrived ready to lean into the evening’s mid-century futuristic theme. Instead of a traditional program, tables were scattered throughout the museum, an intentional design that encouraged guests to roam. Blooming Gallery’s décor channeled a bright, Jetsons-inspired palette before shifting into a copper-and-marigold Mad Men mood as the evening progressed.

Let’s talk about the Vault Auction, as it had a gravitational force all its own, delivering a treasure trove of museum-worthy marvels and luxury collectibles.

Among the headliners was a jaw-dropping 90–troy-ounce crystallized gold specimen from the Beta Hunt Gold Mine in Western Australia, with a $850,000 starting bid. A Chanel brooch centered on a GIA-certified yellow sapphire had a starting bid of $180,000, while a dazzling pair of earrings featuring Paraiba tourmaline, Mahenge pink spinel, and diamonds was valued between $800,000 and $1.2 million. The crown jewel of the display? “Rocks in a Box,” a museum-quality curated mineral collection assembled by HMNS curators selling for $1.8 million.

Need a ride? We got you. A 1965 Jaguar XKE Series 1 4.2 Coupe donated by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru was up for grabs.

Gulf Coast Entertainment’s Justin and The SwingBeats Quartet filled cocktail hour with jazz standards and retro pop. Later, diners gathered in Morian Hall of Paleontology and the Morian Overlook for a multi-course meal of elevated Southern fare.

After dinner, the celebration shifted into high gear in the Grand Entry Hall. Joystix Entertainment transformed the space into a retro arcade with glowing pinball machines, Donkey Kong cabinets, and pool tables. Flamingo showgirls by J&D Entertainment strutted through the crowd. Guests danced to live music, sipped milkshakes, nibbled late-night mini grilled cheese sandwiches, and even tried their luck at claw machines filled with gemstones and minerals.

The affair became the most successful gala in the museum’s history, raising $3.6 million to support educational programs, exhibitions, and outreach initiatives.

Orbiting the scene were Mary and Ron Neal, Patty and T. Mark Kelly, Caroline and Jack Williams, Nancy and David Pustka, Cynde and Chris Stravros, Mary Helen and Pete Bowden, Meg and Dick Weekley, Al Walker, Joella and Steve Mach, Monica and Fox Benton, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, and Chandos and Ike Epley, alongside many of Houston’s leading philanthropists and community supporters.