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    Shelby's Social Diary

    Party girls pull out all the stops for their birthdays, while a sophisticatedkeg party rocks EaDo

    Shelby Hodge
    Feb 1, 2012 | 4:02 pm
    • The birthday boy and his musical charms were on display.
      Courtesy photo
    • The party at Hudson Lounge featured a shadow dancer in pink wig.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Turning 50 never looked so good as it does on this lady.
      Photo by Dave Rossman
    • Crisp & Raw was the unusual party setting for this 40th birthday bash.
      Courtesy Photo
    • Babes in bar land — the birthday trio had a blast at Hudson Lounge.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • That's a whole lot of candles, but who knew.
      Photo by Dave Rossman
    • Party girls at the Tropoli birthday bash at Crisp & Raw.
      Courtesy Photo

    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. Loved DJ 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.

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    news/society

    Grapes and Glory

    It’s a tie: two champs crowned at prestigious Houston wine competition

    Joel Luks
    Feb 6, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Iron Sommelier 2025
    Photo by Dave Rossman
    Sean Beck, co-winners Zachary Newman and John Mason, Lara Lack, and Justin Goodman.

    For the first time in Iron Sommelier history, it wasn’t just the wine leaving guests speechless.

    It was the scoreboard.

    Zachary Newman of Pappas Steakhouse and John Mason of The Coronado Club made history with a rare draw, splitting the coveted title of Iron Sommelier 2025 at The Periwinkle Foundation’s annual swirl-and-sip showdown at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Park.

    The event, presented by Chord Energy, turned up the tannins and raised the bar and a record $535,000. Proceeds support Periwinkle’s Camps, Arts, and Survivor programs, all serving children and families facing life-threatening illnesses.

    Chaired by Sean Beck and Lara Lack, the evening gathered more than 650 oenophiles to sample and swirl wines thoughtfully curated by 14 of Houston’s top somms. Each wine pro presented a trio of selections rooted in a theme of their choosing. Newman’s operatic “Bottling Bel Canto” paired Italian wines with their musical muses, while Mason’s “The Wine King” offered a journey through the diverse terroirs of South Africa.

    In a competition judged by industry experts including Jesse Katz, Jim Clarke, Eugenio Jardim, and James Tidwell, sommeliers were scored on originality, depth of knowledge, and flair. Katz, recently crowned Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, even popped into the Underwriter Room to pour from his Aperture Cellars portfolio and chat with fans.

    Elsewhere, a Masters Tasting Room featured rare, high-end pours guided by four Master Sommeliers, while Steven McDonald and Frank Bullington delivered a surprise rap performance about the wines — you had to be there. The University of Houston Cougar Marching Band brought the brass, and standout bites came courtesy of local chefs like Laura Reyes, Richard Knight, Jassi Bindra, and the duo of MJ Zapata and Juana Gomez.

    Emcee Kevin Quinn of KRBE-FM steered the night with humor and heart, sharing his family’s personal connection to pediatric cancer. Periwinkle camper-turned-counselor Sydney Decker brought the mission to life with her own survivor story.

    Additional honors went to Kelly Rau (first runner-up), Coleman Mason (second runner-up), Harold Houpt (best wine), and Marcus Gausepohl (best theme and table decor). Newman also nabbed People’s Choice, adding a cherry on top of his co-win.

    Meanwhile, the crowd kept spirits high with a wine pull, a whiskey-and-wine raffle, a live auction featuring art by pediatric patients, and a trip-worthy wine case curated by 2024 champ Matthew McLaughlin. In a toast to community and generosity, Doug Suggitt saluted presenting sponsor Chord Energy and longtime supporter AutoSol for fueling the foundation’s mission.

    Sippin’ and strollin’ were Justin and Natalie Goodman, Jayne Finkowski-Rivera and Carlos Rivera, Jenifer and Scott Jarriel, Karen and Dave Smith, Dr. Tim Porea, Dr. ZoAnn Dryer, Melinda and Matt Mogas, Susan and Kurt Hanson, Debbie and Ozzie Bauer, Anne and John Clutterbuck, Frank Billingsley, Kevin Gilliard, Jessica and Bobby Matos, Sarah and Charlie Blanchard, Heidi and Ken Dunek, Paulina and Jim McGrath, Valerie and Rick Greiner, Livia Schooley and Jimmy Massaad, and many more wine-loving friends of the foundation.

    Iron Sommelier 2025

    Photo by Dave Rossman

    Sean Beck, co-winners Zachary Newman and John Mason, Lara Lack, and Justin Goodman.

    fundraiserswineiron sommelier
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