Whether embracing their inner child with foosball, lollipops and pinball machines or playing up their outer sophisticate with a jazz singer, wine and gourmet meats, guests had options to fit their fancy at 13 Celsius on Thursday. The "Realcity:Literacy" party that offered those options doubled as a benefit for Youth Development Center.
Inside the building, dim lighting and the soulful tunes of Kristine Mills created an ambiance reminiscent of a jazz bar. A selection of wines, with gourmet meats and cheeses to compliment, quickly put guests to ease—even to the point of dancing. A couple made a little room by Kristine and danced together full of smiles and I’m sure the memories of many dances before.
As guests stepped outside to the tented parking lot, the atmosphere quickly changed to a teenage wonderland filled with food, games and drinks from their youth.Jonathan Jones of Beaver's,Plinio Sandalio of Textile and Jody Stevens of Jodycakes served trays of mac 'n’ cheese, hot dogs, sliders and mini-cupcakes. Add to that jars of nostalgic candy—Pixie Stix, lollipops and candy necklaces—and the pre-teen version of everyone there would have been jealous.
The games mentioned earlier and a game of “Whac-A-Mole” (a definite aggression reliever) were scattered around the room. There was also an over-sized Jenga that crashed throughout the evening, and an original Nintendo Entertainment System, which quickly attracted Mario fans. DJ Freestyle Steve brought the music and the dance floor quickly filled—no doubt with help from the vodka snow cones.
The night's proceeds went to the Youth Development Center, which promotes literacy through after-school and summer reading programs in Houston.
PARTY WATCH
Taylor Swift keepsake helps raise record-breaking $1.75M at glittering HCCS gala
TheHouston Classical Charter School (HCCS) welcomed 260 guests to The Goodman for its second annual Foundational Dinner on April 11. The sold-out crowd was treated to a record-smashing evening as a staggering $1.75 million was raised to expand the Alief school's campus.
The festive event was chaired by Kristin and Raul Abello with honorary chairs Dr. Julie and Eric Kuo and Jessica and Brian Leeke and auction chairs Jordan and Dylan Seff.
The live auction secured a spot as one of the high points of the glittering affair and included a signed Taylor Swift guitar and two tickets to her show in New Orleans. Other swoon-worthy auction items included a trip for 17 to Puerto Vallarta at Villa Alexa, and a Hill Country getaway with a James Beard-nominated chef.
HCCS supporters Mark Gregg, founder of KiwiEnergy and Joe Greenberg, Alta Resources CEO, added to the already record-breaking evening by graciously matching all gifts during the event up to $200,000.
Houston Classical Charter School currently provides a free education to students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is hoping to expand to enroll students through 8th grade. More than 80 percent of the families enrolled at the Alief school live below the poverty line.
Deyvis Salazar, founder of HCCS, told the crowd that the school’s growth “is not merely for the sake of expansion. We are not aiming to become a network of 20 schools. On the contrary, we strive to maintain intimate connections with our families. We are committed to knowing each child and family who walks through our doors.”
Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were HCCS supporters Adrienne and Snehal Amin, Katy Thomas-Salazar and Deyvis Salazar, Claire and Joe Greenberg, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, John Marc Monrad, Jillian and Yuri Waldo, Katherine and Paul Manuel, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Haydeh and Ali Davoudi, Cristina and Morgan Lunt, and Debb and Mark Gregg.