party watch

Haute young Houston crowd packs posh penthouse party in The Heights

What: Ellison Heights, the newest luxury high-rise in Houston’s Historic Heights neighborhood, along with Diamonds Direct, hosted a luxury, invitation-only shopping event on the penthouse floor of Ellison Heights.

From chic summer sundresses, designer bags and belts, crystal embellished Louboutins and feather capes, guests arrived dressed to impress and took advantage of the opportunity to add to their luxury collections at this summertime shopping event.

Diamonds Direct displayed its collection of fine jewelry, which glittered in the sunset flooding through the floor to ceiling windows in the high-rise’s stunning Sky Deck. Other vendors included Chloe Dao, The Cesta, Three Lumps of Sugar, Laura Rathe Fine Art, Skin Deep Cosmetics & Aesthetics, La Vie en Rose Co., and St. Raine Jewelry.

The evening didn't stop at shopping. Lucky onlookers could spot Houston fashion icon, Chloe Dao, executing a photo shoot on the property, witness an organizational demonstration by in-home valet laundry service, The Cesta, in the massive walk-in closets or receive a B-12 shot from Skin Deep.

After guests checked in, they were offered cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as they made their way from penthouse to penthouse, shopping the various offerings.

Maestro Dobel Tequila, Three Olives Vodka, The Fish Houston, and Bovine & Barley provided cocktails such lychee martinis, bites including fresh sushi, and diamond-shaped desserts including tequila infused gummies and custom cookies.

Who: Chloe Dao, Julia Wang, Sarah Pappas, Nikki Murciano, Karin Chen, Catherine Le, Anthony Vu, Cori Scherer, Jamie Marcelletti, Taylor Rechter, Jennifer Medina, Tasha Gant, Lauren Galindo, Le Dinh, Loan Hoang, Kelly Finnerman, and Thuraya Altai.

Looks from Chloe Dao.

Ellison Heights Diamonds Direct shopping party Chloe Dao looks

Photo by Christian Peña-Houston Photo Team

Looks from Chloe Dao.

young-professionals shopping the-heights new-york-fashion-week

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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