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    Shelby About Town

    A holiday mission, partying around a police chase & Arian Foster out and about:What you missed

    Shelby Hodge
    Jan 4, 2012 | 10:31 am
    • Warner Roberts, from left, John Blaisdell and Moncia Hartland at PhiippeRestaurant where they strategized for the Mission of Yahweh surprise.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Bethany Hartland and Charlie Hartland at Philippe Restaurant.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Daniel Hartland played Santa at the "Christmas on a Mission" happening.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Ken Downing appears as guest judge on Project Runway All-Stars.
    • Luggage filled with personal items were gifts for the moms at Mission of Yahweh.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Joanna Hartland and Brad Marks
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

    Christmas seems soooooo last year. But there's one more act of holiday kindness that is well worth sharing.

    For the past three years, Monica Hartland and John Blaisdell have rounded up their friends and family to guarantee that the women and children seeking shelter at The Mission of Yahweh in northwest Houston have a joyous Christmas.

    The 2011 effort began earlier in the month when the couple hosted a cocktail party at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge, during which guests committed to fulfill the Christmas needs (and more) of the mission residents. Monica and John bill the Christmas morning surprise for residents of the homeless shelter as "Christmas on a Mission."

    The women and children awakened to find the Mission of Yahweh courtyard filled with snow and brimming with presents while a jolly Santa (Daniel Hartland) and costumed elves (Monty Broughton and Ray Metcalf) wished them all good cheer. The moms each received much-needed suitcases packed with personal care items while the children received toys from their wish lists.

    The party included a sugary breakfast of cinnamon rolls baked by Adele Hartland and dancing and snow ball fights to DJ spins.

    Among the "Christmas on a Mission" team joining the Christmas morning give-away were Monica and John, Megan Blaisdell, KayKay Blaisdell, Bethany Hartland, Kerem Karaman, Jose Omana and Charlie Hartland (Monica's father). Charlie was on that first mission party three years ago. "I went the first time because she (Monica) asked me. Now, I go because I love it. There is such gratefulness in the eyes of the moms and children."

    It's become a serious family affair with eight of Charlie's 14 children joining the party in 2011.

    Pushers and shovers

    That's just the playful moniker that Cindy Clifford of The Clifford Group gave to partying throng that crowded into her Montrose bungalow for the annual post-Christmas bash that she, her husband David Bray and Jason Fuller hosted.

    The party was almost canceled several days out when a police chase ended on the Clifford/Bray front porch, knocking out most of the brick work in the process. But the trio persevered and Jason stepped in to camouflage the damage (cosmetic, no structural problems). He went to Houston Garden Center and picked up a few, at-this-point free, Christmas trees hauled them onto the porch, dressed them in lights and thereby creating a very festive welcome for partygoers.

    In the mix of close to 150 were Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard, District Attorney Pat Lykos, City Council members-elect (at that time) Ellen Cohen and Andrew Burks, Houston Style Publisher Francis Page Jr. and wife Kristyn, Texas Southern's Dean of Communications James Ward, Fox 26's Carolyn Mungo, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, KTRK Ch. 13's Miya Shay with assistant DA Gene Wu, State Rep. Carol Alvarado and the list goes on and on.

    Project Runway All-Stars

    Tune in on Thursday to see Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing as guest judge of the popular Lifetime Television fashion competition. In fact, Neiman Marcus is sponsoring the show because, according to the Dallas Morning News, "it appeals to younger shoppers."

    Thirteen former Project Runway contestants return for the competition that premieres on Jan. 5.

    Sight 'ems

    Houston Texans running back Arian Foster dining with friends at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Friday night . . .

    More than 60 Northwestern University staff celebrating New Year's Eve, despite their team's loss to Texas A&M in the Meineke Car Care Bowl earlier in the day, in a private party room at Del Frisco's where in the main dining room A&M's interim coach and soon-to-be head coach for the Fresno State Bulldogs Tim Deruyter celebrated the New Year with family and friends.

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    Horns Up High

    Burnt orange spirit lights up Houston at Texas Exes scholarship gala

    Joel Luks
    May 16, 2025 | 5:45 pm
    Texas Exes Scholarship Gala 2025
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Kisha and Jason Itkin, Sallie Alcorn, and Kurt and Tara Arnold.

    It was an elevated burnt orange night at River Oaks Country Club as more than 300 Longhorn faithful gathered for the Texas Exes Houston Chapter’s Longhorn Legacy Scholarship Gala on April 10. The evening’s honorees, Kisha Itkin, Jason Itkin, Tara Arnold, and Kurt Arnold, were celebrated for their generosity and spirited support of The University of Texas at Austin.

    Texas Exes Scholarship Gala 2025
      

    Photo by Jacob Power

    Kisha and Jason Itkin, Sallie Alcorn, and Kurt and Tara Arnold.

    Greeting guests at valet was none other than Bevo, the famed Longhorn steer and unofficial mascot. Inside, a sculpted ice bar featuring the honorees' names and the Longhorn logo in vibrant burnt orange wowed the crowd. Underwritten by Mike Lowenberg of Lowenberg Law Firm, the frosty centerpiece offered a fitting nod to the honorees’ indelible mark on UT’s legacy. Meanwhile, a UT Tower ice sculpture, framed by a festive balloon wall by Topped Off Co., provided yet another irresistible photo op.

    Leading the evening’s program was Cyndy Garza Roberts, who kicked off festivities with a stirring video. Athletics director Chris Del Conte praised Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnoldfor their invaluable ideas and steadfast support, reinforcing the honorees’ impact beyond just philanthropy. Texas Exes Houston Chapter president Kyle Griffin and event chair Tawnya Bell also shared personal stories, with Bell's emotional scholarship journey underscoring the night’s purpose.

    Personal testimonies from UT grads and scholarship recipients Janelle Chavez and Will Florer inspired more generosity, culminating in a $330,000 fundraising triumph. Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn capped off the tributes with a mayoral proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire, officially declaring April 10 as Kisha and Jason Itkin and Tara and Kurt Arnold Day in Houston.

    In true Longhorn tradition, the evening closed with all guests standing, horns up, singing "The Eyes of Texas, a fitting finale to a night brimming with spirit.

    Spotted were Chuck Harris, Brien Smith, Rick Harsch, June Deadrick, Brock Niezgoda and Meg Hayward, Jackie and Scott Freeman, Luisa and Dr. Lucky Chopra, Ginger Cearley, Erin and Nathan Phelps, Kristen Griffin, Adam Pulaski, Stephanie Wilcox, Catherine Campbell, Al Riddle, Lauren Riddle, Michele Leal and George Farah, Winell and Doug Herron, Kristen Cannon, Niki and James Lassiter, and Amy and Segev Zadok.

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