June Christensen must have been just a tot when she joined the Society for the Performing Arts a quarter century ago. For she simply looked too young for that tenure Thursday night when an intimate collection of friends and SPA patrons gathered to celebrate the milestone and her success in the post.
Commemorating the silver anniversary was SPA board member and Cartier boutique director Kari Gonzales, who presented June with a sterling silver Cartier picture frame. Jackson and Co. provided light bites and pianist Clayton Farris and bass player Wallace Stelzer offered the musical background, while well-wishers congratulated June, who took the lead role as SPA CEO in 2007, moving up from her post as director of programming and operations.
Among those toasting Christensen were SPA board chair Melanie Gray, SPA past chairman Jim Postl, Mario Ariza, Houston Ballet's Jim Nelson and C.C. Conner, Houston Symphony CEO Mark Hanson, CultureMap contributor Nancy Wozny, Reginald Randolph, Ann Rogers, Legacy Community Health Services' Chree Boydstun, Laine Twining, Ian Fay, Theresa Mallett, Emily Kuo and Tym Tombar.
Giving to the arts
Generous philanthropists Cathy and Jesse Marion have presented their first Marion Fellowship for the Visual and Performing Arts to SUNY Fredonia photography professor Liz Lee as part of the couple's efforts at supporting artistic work and educational organizations.
The Marions recently created the Marion Fellowship Circle to bring together the arts from both public and private sectors and to facilitate community outreach at Chautauqua Institution, the Alberta College of Art and Design, our Alley Theatre, the Ucross Foundation's artist retreat in Wyoming and the Springboard Schools in Egypt. The fellowship is being administered by SUNY Fredonia, Cathy's alma mater.
NYC book tour
The Clifford Group's Cindy Clifford and Jason Fuller scored a resounding success on their jaunt to BookExpo America in New York. Clifford is a partner in airport concessions at IAH and in San Antonio that include the book shops, thus her invitation to a host of publisher parties. Among the celebrity authors they visited were Paula Deen, "who was so thin and equally gracious exuding true Southern charm," per Clifford, Malcolm Gladwell, "so smart and equally as nice,"and Morning Joe host and namesake Joe Scarborough.
Dual partying
The Federal Grill owner, Matt Brice celebrated the opening of his new restaurant and Howard Covens' birthday with a blow out party that included Old School Harmony with its Motown style music that had the crowd dancing both indoors and or on the patio. Sustenance for the partying included the ever-popular goose fat popcorn, fried oysters, beef sliders, mini pastrami rubens and much more.
Joining the festivities were Jen Brice, Renea Menzies, Brenda Cheney, Tracy Orolin, Harry Faulkner, Mary Jane Zummo, Lilli and Noel Braniff, Regina Garcia, Connie Zubizarrete, Rachel McInnis-Price, Monique Mannke and Randy McCoy.
Sight 'ems
Bobbie Vee and Gerald Cooney taking over a center table at Tony's where they celebrated the final Houston Grand Opera board meeting of the season with a dinner saluting board chair Beth Madison with guests HGO managing director Perryn Leech, director of development and patron services Rudy Avelar, Frances Marzio and Eileen and George Hricik . . .
A. J. Foyt hosting a graduation dinner for a granddaughter in one of the private rooms at Corner Table while Scotty Arnoldy hosted a board dinner in another private room for his Triten. Ladies lunching at various tables Elizabeth Petersen, Rania Daniel and Yasmine Haddad . . .
Debbie Festari celebrating her birthday at Del Frisco's with friends including Dr. Romy Morello, Christie Sullivan, Beth Muecke and Bubba McNeely.
Melanie Gray, Kari Gonzales, June Christensen and Jim Postl celebrate Christensen's 25 years on the job.
