Shelby's Social Diary

Beastly models and fast cars were a hit with Houston Zoo fans

Loria Wilson, from left, Jared Lang, Sharon Aboussleman and Errol McLaughlin
Photo by Todd Parker
Kendall Owens, from left, Gretchen Bieber, Arabella di Bagno, Emily Lamport
Photo by Todd Parker
A beastly model from Page Parkes
Photo by Todd Parker
Kimberley Byer and Mitchell Parker
Photo by Todd Parker
Stephanie O’Keefe and Milhko Bravo
Photo by Todd Parker
Houston Zoo young professionals unleash their inner beasts at Momentum Audi.
Photo by Todd Parker

Why, we might ask, are there so many pre-parties held to launch so many official parties? But we already know the answer. There are seven nights in every week and no party animal worth his taxi fare home wants to hibernate even for a single evening in the dark. So as long as the throngs are resolved to party and the hosts are willing to play, why not!

So it was Thursday night when Momentum Audi's Jared Lang, fast becoming the city's prince of parties, hosted a kick-off for the Houston Zoo's Beastly Brunch, an outdoor fundraiser sponsored by the zoo's young professional group, Flock. It's set for Feb. 28.

More than 200 enthusiastic zoo fans showed up to release their inner beasts while DJ Dave Wrangler spun the tunes. They grazed through fields of sushi and other Japanese fare from Sushi Raku and sipped at the Maker's Mark zoo-tini water hole. Adding campy authenticity to the night, Page Parkes models, painted like wild creatures, struck poses around the hot cars.

Many familiar faces in the mix including Dr. Roland Maldonado, Denise Furlough, Mitchell Parker, Katherine Orellana, Bea Valencia, Adriana and José Berlanga, Sharon Aboussleman, Stuart Rosenberg, Miya Shay, Loria and Kent Oliver and Nick Espinosa.

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legacy and lyrics

High notes and higher hopes put Houston's Omega House in the spotlight

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.

For Avenue 360, it was time to get back in the gala game with Voices for Hope — its first big fundraising celebration since the pandemic. This year’s event marked a lively return to in-person gatherings, joining the ranks of busy, bustling parties that have defined 2024.

The evening celebrated the legacy of Omega House, Texas’s residential hospice for AIDS patients.

Co-chaired by Alicia Smith and Brigitte Kalai, Voices for Hope revived an important tradition of honoring Omega House’s legacy of compassionate end-of-life care. The night opened with a cocktail reception emceed by Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan, during which guests entered raffles for luxurious prizes, including jewelry from Nini Jewels and Wayne Smith Jewels, a shopping spree at Tootsie’s, and a staycation at The Post Oak Hotel with a Porsche weekend rental.

About those voices: the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts choir’s charming performance of “Seasons of Love” set the evening’s emotional tone. Blues artist Luke Whitney continued with soulful melodies before America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Christina Wells brought down the house with dynamic interpretations of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “We Are Family.”

Houston’s social scribe Shelby Hodge gifted Wells her raffle prize, honoring the performer for her roles as a singer, nurse, and mother. The gala also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Bering Omega Community Services, with board member Ken Bohan receiving the Harmony of the Heart Award. Omega House medical director Dr. Gus Krucke, director of dental services Dr. Mark Nichols, and director Sandy Stacy were honored with the Symphony of Service Award, with Stacy’s 30 years of service encouraging standing applause.

Spotted were Lance Smith, Bashar Kalai, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Leisa Holland Nelson, Farida Abjani, Shafik Rifaat, Maria and Omar Moncada Alaoui, Jody Merritt, Christine Johnson, Michele Till, Anna Reger, Mandy Kao, Mark Folkes and Christopher Johnston, Brandon Weinbrenner and Mitchell Greco, Fady Armanious, and Tony Bradfield.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.

Shelby's Social Diary

Beastly models and fast cars were a hit with Houston Zoo fans

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legacy and lyrics

High notes and higher hopes put Houston's Omega House in the spotlight

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome
Get Houston intel delivered daily.