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    and...action!

    Richard Linklater stars in hot Houston film festival's opening night party

    Tarra Gaines
    Nov 12, 2018 | 11:32 am

    The directorial stars shined bright as Houston film and art lovers celebrated the opening night of the 10th annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts. One of Houston’s favorite directing sons, Academy Award-nominee, Richard Linklater was on hand to party with his fellow filmmakers and ring in five days of screening some of the most innovative films focused on visual, performing, and literary arts.

    Before the opening night special screening, the cinephile and art-loving guests gathered in the MFAH’s Pre-Columbian Gallery to mingle with some of the filmmakers and the seemly mild-mannered but quite extraordinary documentary subjects including Steve Young, Emmy-nominated staff writer for The Late Show with David Letterman. Young’s unusual record collection of corporate musical soundtracks became the focus of the award-winning documentary Bathtubs Over Broadway.

    After an introduction from Houston Cinema Arts Society board chair Franci Neely and artistic director Richard Herskowitz, the highlight of the evening was the screening of the hilarious yet surprisingly heartfelt Bathtubs. The film chronicles Young’s journey into the beautifully bizarre world of industrial musical, mega musical shows from the 1950-70s created solely for corporate conventions and sales meetings. In his search for these lost records, Young finds creativity and art in the strangest circumstance.

    After a standing-ovation from the Brown Auditorium audience at the film’s end, MFAH film curator Marian Luntz moderated a Q&A with Young, director Dava Whisenant, producer Amanda Spain, and writer/producer Ozzy Inguanzo.

    The celebration continued with an after-party in the MFAH Cullinan Hall. Young’s fellow industrial musical record collector and Germs and Ariel Pink drummer, Don Bolles commanded the turntables to DJ a selection of the greatest never-been-hits from the industrial musical songbook. Though the tunes no doubt left some party-goers wonderfully dazed and confused, the evening set the stage for a tremendous lineup of films yet to experience at this year’s HCAF.

    Seen walking the red carpet were Jill Hartz, Brandon Weinbrenner and Mitchell Greco, Bob and Gracie Cavnar, Katie Cokinos, Alice Gordon, Giorgio Angelini and Maggie Burns Angelini, Ernie Manouse and Walt Zipprian, Stacey Steers, Maria Giese, Michelle Memran, Sharon Adams, Kim Voynar, Dan Miller, Ann Davis Vaughan and Richard Vaughan, Alecia Harris, Fred Baldwin, and Wendy Watriss.

    Ernie Manouse, Walt Zipprian

    HCAF 2018 Opening Night:Ernie Manouse, Walt Zipprian
      
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Ernie Manouse, Walt Zipprian
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    Prairie Chic

    Alfresco Gala honors 50 years of Houston Arboretum volunteers

    Joel Luks
    Jun 5, 2025 | 4:30 pm
    Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 2025 gala
    Photo by Anthony Rathbun
    Kelly Young; Scott Fletcher and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.

    Spring wildflowers, dancing under the stars, and a donkey in the mix?

    Just another enchanted evening at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s Alfresco Gala, where more than 400 guests embraced the great outdoors — florals, fried chicken, and all — to celebrate 50 Years of Volunteers.

    Dubbed “Little Party on the Prairie,” the affair honored the invaluable helping hands who’ve supported the arboretum’s mission across five decades. From leading Tyke Hikes to raising a glass at Tapas on the Trails, these volunteers have helped nurture the Arboretum’s role as a treasured urban wilderness escape and a learning lab for all ages.

    The night’s tally? A very green $450,000 raised for education and conservation programs.

    Co-chaired by Lucie Harte Arnoldy and Daniel Arnoldy, the fundraiser sprawled across the Nature Center Courtyard and Lawn, morphed into an earthy-chic dinner party that kept things relaxed but refined. Think curated picnic vibes.

    Musical entertainment came courtesy of local favorites The Spiffingtons, who turned the prairie into a dance floor under a star-lit sky. In between spins and steps, guests took part in guided night hikes with Arboretum staff, discovering the trails in a new (moon)light. The juxtaposition of music, nature, and exploration felt very Houston meets Midsommar, but in a good way.

    For a dose of glamour-meets-gimmick, Curadora’s on-site hat bar was a hit, where attendees customized stylish toppers with ribbons and feathers for that perfectly personalized prairie couture. And yes, there was a live donkey photo op complete with hay bales — because nothing says “rustic elegance” like a four-legged party crasher with a strong selfie game.

    Top supporters included Marilyn and Harry Kirk, Carrie and John Hays Compton, Kirkland and Ellis LLP, and Moonshot Compost, adding corporate and community heft to the evening’s mission.

    Among those soaking up the night were Kris and Elisabeth Larson, Councilmember Sallie Alcorn and George Alcorn, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Scott Fletcher, Kelly Young, and Sarah Flournoy and Don Verser. Also spotted were arboretum board members and longtime advocates including Betty and Steve Newton, Jenn and Allen Rustay, Gigi and Ernie Pekmezaris, Amy and Leyton Woolf, Tiffany and James Melchers, Ruth and Dan Flournoy, and Marilyn and Harry Kirk.

    Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 2025 gala
      

    Photo by Anthony Rathbun

    Kelly Young; Scott Fletcher and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.

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