Shelby's Social Diary

Grey's Anatomy star returns to Houston to reveal Medal of Arts winners and tout Texas clout

As one of the inaugural Texas Medal of Arts honorees, it was fitting that Emmy Award-winning choreographer and actress Debbie Allen returned to hometown Houston on Tuesday to join the Texas Cultural Trust in announcing its 2013 honorees.

Taking a break from her role in Grey's Anatomy, for which she directed this season's third episode, Allen told the gathering at Houston Ballet Center for Dance that with these awards, "Texas is acknowledging and claiming the diaspora of great talent that has gone out of Texas and is making a difference in the world."

Saluting the impact of arts worldwide, Allen said, "The most powerful diplomacy we have is cultural diplomacy."

Setting for announcement of the awards, which will be presented at a two-day event in Austin in March, could not have been more appropriate as Houston Ballet was named Dance Award honoree. Ballet executive director Jim Nelson welcomed the gathering of local and statewide cultural leaders.

"The most powerful diplomacy we have is cultural diplomacy."

In addition to Houston Ballet, award recipients are Dallas' Gene Jones and Charlotte Jones Anderson honored with the Individual Arts Patron Award, the Kimball Arts Foundation with the Foundation Arts Patron Award, Texas Monthly with the Corporate Arts Patron award, Big Thought/Gigi Antoni with the Arts Education Award, James Surls with the Visual Arts Award, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame with the Theatre Award, Steve Miller with the Music Award and Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira with the Television/Film Award.

Kelli Blanton and Marita Fairbanks, chairs of the March festivities, joined Patricia Dewhurst, Awards honorary chair and Texas Cultural Trust board member, in the program.

Notables in the luncheon gathering included the Alley Theater's Gregory Boyd and Dean Gladden, artist Jesus Moroles, The Art Guys, Houston Arts Alliance CEO Jonathon Glus, HoustonPBS' Ernie Manouse, the Mayor's assistant for cultural affairs Minnette Boesel, Eddy Blanton, Merrill and Joe Hafner, Phoebe Tudor, Philamena Baird, Isabel David, Jennifer Roosth, Patsy Chapman and Philamena Baird.

003, Texas Medal of Arts luncheon, January 2013, Kelli Blanton, Debbie Allen, Jim Nelson, Marita Fairbanks

Photo by © Michelle Watson CultureMapSNAP.com

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True Blue

Time-travel DeLorean drives $1M evening for HPD at Fertitta estate

Photo by AlexandersPortraits.com

Blayne Fertitta Mavredakis, Peter Mavredakis, and Paige Fertitta.

The future — and Houston’s finest — collided in style at the 17th Annual Houston Police Foundation True Blue Gala, where a cinematic time machine and tactical simulations took over one of River Oaks’ iconic addresses.

More than 550 supporters decked in every shade of blue descended on the Fertitta Family Residence for a sold-out, $1 million – raising evening themed “Back to the Future.” From the get-go, nostalgia revved into high gear as the original DeLorean time machine welcomed guests at the door, turning the luxury estate into a flashback-fueled, photo-friendly playground.

As guests have become accustomed to, this isn’t your standard step-and-repeat soirée.

Imagine being thrown into the action — quite literally — as attendees participated in immersive, high-risk simulations helmed by HPD’s elite forces. SWAT hosted a shooting arcade, taser target practice got hearts racing, and the Bomb Squad, Dive Team, DWI Task Force, and Air Support dazzled with hands-on demos. Even HAL, that’s HPD’s robotic K9, made rounds like a celebrity, pausing for selfies and sniffing out good vibes.

The program got serious and seriously real when Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, executive director Charlene Floyd, and event chair Laura Ward took the mic. But any sense of calm was quickly interrupted when a staged terrorist threat exploded in the backyard.

Gunfire. Tactical takedowns. The crowd stunned into silence.

The live reenactment gave attendees a glimpse of the daily bravery HPD officers bring to their duty. To cap it all off? A fireworks finale that lit up the night sky in salute to the city’s brave protectors and the community that proudly stands behind them.

Summoning their inner Marty McFly were Alice and Keith Mosing, Kristina and Paul Somerville, Patrick Fertitta, Blake Fertitta, Michael Fertitta, Blayne Fertitta, John Eddie Williams, Dr. Michael Kaplan, Laura and Don Sanders, Terry and Patrick Henry, Joe Van Matre, Sheriff Jimmy Fullen, and Constable Alan Rosen.

Photo by AlexandersPortraits.com

Blayne Fertitta Mavredakis, Peter Mavredakis, and Paige Fertitta.

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