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    Shelby About Town

    A wedding gown — and date — for Dominique Sachse, Houston jewels for Big BangTheory star & Mayor Parker on stage

    Shelby Hodge
    Jan 27, 2012 | 1:07 pm
    • They have a date, she has a dress and close friends are hosting the wedding in aswank Memorial area home.
      Photo by Robert Hunt
    • Houston-based Nini Hale's beautiful Nini Jewels should be seen on the red carpetat Sunday's SAG Awards Ceremony.
      Courtesy Photo
    • This fancy diamond suite by Nini Jewels will be presented to Mayim Bialik forconsideration for the SAG event.
    • Houston Arts Alliance CEO Jonathan Glus, left, and board chair Marshal Lightmanwelcomed more than 350 to the HAA reception.
      Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    • Bring It On star Ariana DeBose celebrated her birthday at Hearsay.
      Photo via Ariana DeBose/Facebook
    • Nini Jewels frog cuff when paired with these earrings costs around $360,000retail.
    • Board members Michael Cordua and Denise DuBard at the Houston Arts Alliancereception at the Hobby Center.
      Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    As KPRC news anchor Dominique Sachse's recent Facebook post notes: "Wedding date: check. Wedding dress: check! Can't be that much more on my list, right? (wink)."

    Yes, Dominique and Nick Florescu will tie the knot in mid-May in Houston, having abandoned the early romantic idea of a wedding in Rome. ( Too many complications with family, children and orchestrating the perfect across-the-Atlantic nuptials.)

    They will be wed in a private ceremony, family and intimate friends only, in the Memorial area home of John and Becca Cason Thrash. We all know how grand that art-filled dwelling is for swell parties and can only imagine how fantastic the wedding will be. Friends need not feel left out as immediately following their vows, the newlyweds will invite their partying throng of amigos over to the Cason Thrash home for a major celebration.

    Dominique has selected a gown by DiSanto, a nod to that original plan for nuptials in Italy. You really should go to the designer's website and check out the glamour gowns. We can only imagine what Dominique will select.

    Look for their children, six between them, in the wedding party. Three boys: Alex, Nicky and Styles. Three girls: Elle, Bella and Ava.

    Red carpet bling from Houston

    Houston-based jewelry designer Nini Hale, a third generation gem artist with roots going back to Thailand, will be glued to the tube Sunday night for the Screen Actors Guild Awards Ceremony. Plans at the moment are for actress Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory to wear her creations on the red carpet.

    Tim Moloney will be on the scene in LA with loads of Nini's precious jewelry for stylists to peruse. It's a major step into Hollywood for the Houstonian who creates dazzling one-of-a-kind pieces priced from $20,000 to $2 million. While her creations are available in select Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus stores, she has a showroom near the Galleria.

    Nini has a rich history as her grandmother was jeweler to the royal family of Thailand.

    Houston arts in the spotlight

    The stage of Zilkha Hall at Hobby Center was packed with leaders of the arts, business and legislative communities Tuesday night when the Houston Arts Alliance held its biennial reception spotlighting the economic benefits of the city's arts community, not the least of which is 150,000 jobs.

    Mayor Annise Parker and City Controller Ron Green praised the contributions of the arts to the city and applauded recent additions to the scene —Houston Ballet's Center for Dance, the Asia Society's new home and the new facility for the Houston Buffalo Soldiers Museum, each of which was built during the national recession.

    In addition to seven city council members, HAA CEO Jonathon Glus and HAA board chairman Marshal Lightman helped spread the word on the organization that works as a public arts agency for the city by distributing more than $3 million in grants to some 250 non-profit arts organizations and individuals.

    Helping celebrate the rich trove of arts were Texas Commission on the Arts exec Gary Gibbs, Joe Dilg, Judy Nyquist, Greg Ortale, Minnette Boesel, John Guess and Peter Brown.

    A decade in print

    Joni and Michael Hoffman, editor and publisher respectively of The Buzz Magazines, celebrated 10 years of publishing with a blow-out at Hotel Sorella's new meetings and events center. Close to 500 well-wishers joined the party that was orchestrated by Ashleigh Scanlon's Double the Details.

    Guests raved over the miles of creative food tables, the liquid nitrogen ice cream from Rosemary's Catering and the bountiful flowers from Lexis Florist. The scene included an Absolut Vodka press station, cigar girls dolling out Houston's own Hight Cigars, a Face Exchange photo booth and a nightcap of milk and Michael's Cookie Jar treats. Positive State of Mind had the crowd singing along to their classic oldies.

    Joining the party were Jamie Barrere, Betty Hrncir, Carol Sharpe, Sheri Khatami, Roshanak Far, Randi Corbell Casada, Betsy and Scott Baxter, Dr. Ellen Friedman and newly-elected Bellaire Mayor Dr. Phil Nauert and wife Sandy.

    Sight 'ems

    Geo. H. Lewis & Sons honchos Billy Wells and Bradford Wyatt lunching at Brasserie 19 where the crowd at various tables included Karen Johnson, Larry Levine, Karen Mayell, Terrie Turner, Kelli Blanton. Also spotted there Tammy Dowe headhuddling with All-in-One Applications founder Jessica Givens and Jamil Driscoll and Amanda Halter . . .

    Members of the cast of Bring it On: The Musical, now playing at Theatre Under the Stars, celebrating cast member Ariana DeBose's 21st birthday at lunch at Hearsay. (You might remember Ariana from season six of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.) . . .

    Houston Texans right tackle Eric Winston lunching at Haven with Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar, discussing a new TV project. Stay tuned . . .

    Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush at the Hobby Center where they received a standing ovation as they arrived for the performance of Bring It On: The Musical. The Bushes went backstage after the show to congratulate the cast and pose for a photo opp . . .

    Sheridan and John Eddie Williams dining at Tony's with Elaine Block and Dennis O'Rourke. At another table Donna and Tony Vallone hosted Mike Linn and Sandy and Dr. Barney Barrett.

    unspecified
    news/society

    Michelin Stars

    Superstar Spanish chefs return to Houston for dinners with a purpose

    Joel Luks
    Dec 19, 2025 | 10:30 am
    Hope and Opportunity Dinner Texas Children's Hospital
    Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital
    Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

    Leave it to Houston to blend avant-garde gastronomy with generosity, stirring up a one-two punch of flavor and philanthropy.

    Over two intimate evenings, Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras opened their private home for the Hope and Opportunity Dinners,an affair that embraced the neurodiverse community with epicurean delight.

    The dinners, limited to 100 guests per night, were a collaborative recipe honoring the missions of Texas Children’s Duncan Neurological Research Institute and The Genuine Cup, the nonprofit arm of The Genuine Foundation. With a thematic throughline of “Hope” and “Opportunity,” guests were treated to a nine-course menu..

    The culinary talent? Flying in from their famed El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, Michelin-starred brothers Joan Roca (head chef) and Jordi Roca (pastry chef), along with sommelier Marta Cortizas, teamed up with chef Luis Roger of Houston’s Michelin-starred BCN Taste & Tradition. The menu, a poetic composition of bold Spanish flavors and delicate textures, was elevated further by thoughtful wine pairings.

    Far from a solo act, the Roca brothers worked in sync with some of Houston’s culinary luminaries: Felipe Riccio (March), Mayank Istwal (Mussafer), David Skinner (Eculent), Felipe Botero (Le Jardinier), Mary Cuclis (Kriti Kitchen), and Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó). Service each evening was led by 27 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by 10 coaches.

    One dinner honored Whitney and Jim Crane, whose Astros Foundation has become a pillar of Houston philanthropy, and Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, whose groundbreaking neuroscience work continues to shape the future of medicine. The second dinner spotlight fell on Laura Arnold, co-founder of Arnold Ventures LLC, and Dr. Debra F. Sukin, president and CEO of Texas Children’s Hospital, both champions for equity and innovation in their fields.

    The evenings ended with cookbook signings by the Roca brothers, a fitting souvenir from two nights where food was both an experience and a vehicle for change. The events raised more than $400,000.

    Showing up for science and inclusion were Monica and Yordon Alvarez, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Carlos Correa, Molly and Crownover, Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Pam and Keith Fullenweider, Adrienne and Jared Crane, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Phoebe Tudor and Tudor, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, and Penny and Paul Layne.

    Hope and Opportunity Dinner Texas Children's Hospital

    Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital

    Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

    fundraisershospitalstexas children's hospital
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