Shelby About Town

Matt Schaub makes romance, the mayor makes a birthday party and the ladiescelebrate Valentine's

Ann Carl, from left, Kim Moody and Rachel Regan at the Sweethearts tea at theFour Seasons.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Susan Boggio, from left, Kathy Borlenghi, Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein and Phoebe Tudorat the Four Seasons.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Susan Boggio, from left, Franco Valobra and Rosemarie Johnson at the UNICEF galalaunch.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Bob Borochoff and Jane Cummins, pictured at a party last year, celebrated hisbirthday at Del Frisco's.
Photo by David A. Brown
This photo taken only weeks before Brad and Joanna's engagement.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Pershant and Nidhika Mehta at Valobra.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Jodi Doughty, from left, Warner Roberts and Angela Moore at the Four Seasons.
Photo by Kim Coffman

Nevermind the Ladies Who Lunch. How about the Gals Who Go for Tea? Several dozen leading ladies gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel on Valentine's Day for a launch of that downtown hotel's afternoon tea service.

It was the second annual Houston Sweethearts Valentine's Day Tea, founded by Warner Roberts to recognize fantastic femmes. Taking bows as honorees on Tuesday were Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, Mehrnaz Gill, Monica Hartland, Rachel Regan, Michelle Smith and Phoebe Tudor. For that honor, they received crystal awards presented by Bruce Padilla of Baccarat.

The mid-afternoon gathering was hosted by last year's Sweetheart contingent Anne Carl, Kimberly DeLape, Deborah Duncan, Sylvia Forsythe, Kim Moody and Alicia Smith along with Warner.

Four Seasons GM Dirk Burghartz and staffers Jodi Doughty and Angela Moore welcomed the group of more than 100 that included Martha Turner, Dallas Hill, Patti Murphy, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Kathi Rovere, Ellie Francisco, Merele Yarborough, Carol Sawyer and Linda Brown.

The hotel inaugurated the twice-weekly tea service a day early for this special group. Tea will be served (along with bubbly, if preferred) from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Gearing up for UNICEF

The ever-charming Franco Valobra opened his namesake jewelry emporium in Highland Village for a night of toasting Nidhika and Pershant Mehta, who will receive the Spirit of Compassion Award at the March 31 UNICEF World Ball. Generous philanthropists, they will be recognized at the black-tie gala for their advocacy for children around the world.

While guests sipped champagne, Franco revealed a few dazzling jewelry pieces that will be part of the gala auction. And that put big smiles on the faces of gala chairs Susan Boggio and Rosemarie Johnson.

Toasting the honorees were Donatella and Fred Benckenstein, Mehrnaz Gill, Karina and Carlos Barbieri, Matt Johnson, Dan Boggio, Phoebe Tudor and Tony Bass. Look for them and others at the UNICEF gala at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

The Mayor made this party

Cafe Adobe owner Bob Borochoff, born in 1956, celebrated his 56th birthday in the second floor wine room of Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Wednesday night at an intimate dinner party hosted by his special lady Jane Cummins. In addition to Mayor Annise Parker and partner Kathy Hubbard and City Councilman Steve Costello and wife Debbie, the guest list was heavy on restaurateurs.

Helping Bob blow out the candles were Pappas Restaurant's Chris and Maria Pappas, Jack in the Box franchisees Melita and Atour Eyvazian and Gringo's and Jimmy Changas honchos Monica and Russell Ybarra. Forget the birthday cake, this three-course dinner ended with Del Frisco's decadent cheesecake and creme brulee.

Love feast

That's what it seemed like at Tony's for Valentine's Day dinner when three couples, among the 500 diners served that night, celebrated their engagements.

Tops on the list were Brad Marks of I.W. Marks Jewelers and Joanna Hartland, who toasted their future nuptials with her twin sister and brother-in-law Hannah and Cal McNair, Houston Texans vice chairman. A giant bouquet of flowers on their table almost obscured sight lines. The card on the flowers read, "To the prettiest twins we know."

Nearby, Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub enjoyed a romantic Valentine's dinner with wife Laurie.

Kristine Mills' New York debut

If you're in Manhattan tonight, you might want to pop over to the Metropolitan Room, the jazz club on West 22nd Street, to catch this Houston talent's performance with pianist Tommy "T.J." James, conductor and arranger for the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Kristine is a popular jazz singer on the Houston club scene, named by Houston Press as Best Songwriter in 2010 and Best Female Vocalist in 2009.

unspecified

College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

Ambition is contagious.

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

And that was the ethos when Emerge supporters gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the organization’s annual Build the Village Luncheon, a polished midday affair centered on a simple but powerful idea: Investing in Houston’s next generation of leaders.

More than 400 guests filled the room for the program, including Emerge scholars, for a celebration of the organization’s mission to help high-achieving students from low-income communities gain admission to and graduate from the country’s top colleges.

Serving as co-chairs were Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm, who welcomed guests to a lively gathering. The luncheon honored Mia Mends, chief executive officer of Cushman and Wakefield Services and former Emerge board chair, recognizing her years of leadership, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for the organization’s scholars.

One of the afternoon’s most electric moments arrived when Klein Collins High School senior Diana Villatoro Sorto stepped to the podium and announced that she will attend Princeton University this fall. The declaration sparked an immediate roar of applause across the ballroom, the kind that ripples through a crowd and lingers for longer than expected.

The program also spotlighted Emerge alumna Marlee Morgan, whose story of resilience and academic success is an example of the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting scholars well beyond the college admissions process. Emerge’s work doesn’t end with an acceptance letter. It extends into helping students navigate college and launch meaningful careers.

The crowd’s enthusiasm translated into tangible support. Attendees raised more than $760,000.

On the scene were Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Farid Virani, Liz DeMontrond, Jack Blanton, Ann Stern, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and Ruth Lopez Turley, and many others.