Shelby's Social Diary
Party girls pull out all the stops for their birthdays, while a sophisticatedkeg party rocks EaDo
Milestone birthdays present the best of excuses for blowout parties and over the weekend a handful of party girls and guys turning 38, 39, 40 and 50 blew out the candles in high style in three separate soirées.
We wager that no birthday bash could be more memorable than that of Trish Morille, who celebrated her 50th at the home of Sue and Lester Smith. That generous duo and their house manager Jennifer Huber pulled out the stops for the lavish party for 75 of Trish's nearest and dearest, including her son Luke, who was celebrating his 14th on the very same day.
Doing the diva at 50
The party began in the grand foyer of the Smith's fashionable mansion in the Memorial area where cocktails were served and spirits raised in anticipation of the seated dinner by Tony's. Escorted by her husband, Rock Morille, Trish ascended the spiral staircase that led to the Smiths' second-floor ballroom where dinner would be served, glasses raised in champagne toasts and where the dancing to a live band would go on into the wee hours.
Trish, who helped Lester write his book and now works with the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation, couldn't decide on which of three outfits to wear for the party, so in true diva fashion she made three dress changes.
For the record, the entrance to the ballroom was decorated in a garland of rose-colored balloons. Rose-hued lights (a 50-year-old's dream) decorated the space where tables were dressed in pink linens and centered with bouquets of roses. The lights were dimmed for the delivery of two cakes and tears were shed as Rock toasted the birthday girl and their 18-year-old daughter, Katherine, sang "Happy Birthday."
Her party pals included Lisa and Dr. Roy Sheinbaum, Sarah and Ken Fisher, Tammy and Kirk Eyring, Jennifer Huber, Carol and Tom Sawyer, Cherri Carbonara, Ellen Wagnon, Nancy Levicki, Annie Cater, Clifford Pugh, Tom Becker and J.R. Rosenfeld and Karen and Dr. Seth Lerner.
The Three Musketeers
Loved the Pura Vida skinny margaritas. Loved the bites from Jackson & Co. LovedDJ Rich from Austin. That was the resounding chorus of the crowd at Hudson Lounge where Marcy de Luna, Laura Greenberg and Mauney Mafrige celebrated their mumblesomething birthdays as only BFFs could.
As many as 200 poured into the private patio and back lounge of Hudson where the dance party featured laser lights, a big screen and shadow dancer. The prefect setting for tony schmoozing.
Party animals included Evan Greenberg, Stuart Rosenberg, Kara Howes, Monsour Taghdisi, Henry Richardson, Milton Townsend, Natacha and Saverio La Francesca, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Joyce Echols, Ali Ansari, Hilda and Greg Curran and Sabiha Rehmatulla.
The big 4-0
It was an '80s-themed concert event at Crisp & Raw's EaDo studio space Saturday night when Sarah Pennington Tropoli hosted a rocking 40th party for hubby Peter Tropoli, Luby's/Fuddruckers COO. It was something of a Kinkaid and UT reunion as close to 200 revelers channeled their college days in a sophisticated version of a keg party.
Entertainment included "garage band" performances by Peter's two groups — Trout Dog and Major 7. The eats — gourmet burgers and fries grilled on site — were from the Fuddruckers mobile kitchen. Don't forget the rainbow of jello shots.
The rollicking crowd included City Councilman Oliver Pennington and wife Beverley, Kim and J.J. Klevenhagen, Katie and A.J. Brass, Chris and Maria Pappas, Tee and Charles Wickman, Raquel and Andrew Segal, Luisa Feagin, Allison and David Ash and Katherine and Harry Masterson.