Shelby About Town

Tony Vallone, Michael Stribling, Gerald Smith and Toan Ngyuen are in the week'ssocial swirl

John Eddie and Sheridan Williams, left, with Tony Vallone at March of Dimes.
Photo by David Postma/Genesis Photographers
Vanessa Sendukas, left, and Rosemary Schatzman at the March of Dimes SignatureChefs reception.
Photo by David Postma/Genesis Photographers
Gerald and Anita Smith presenting the John Biggers drawing to Houston PublicLibrary's Rhea Brown Lawson.
At Vue's opening, Bubba McNeeley, from left, Chelsi Smith and Nathan Kasselder.
Photo by Dalton DeHart
James Craig, from left, Missy Stevens and Ernesto Cardenas at the opening of Vuenightclub.
Photo by Dalton DeHart
Phillip Duggins, from left, Toan Nguyen, Dr. Bob Wilkins and Mary Ann Reynoldsat Hotel ZaZa.
Photo by Morris Malakoff

It was a perfect spring night Thursday for an indoor/outdoor party and what better home for celebrating an upcoming fundraiser than the modern Stablewood abode of Lucinda and Javier Loya. March of Dimes supporters, under the leadership of Rosemary Schatzman and Vanessa Sendukas, poured in wearing their party frocks and dinner suits for the swank kick-off to this fall's Signature Chefs Gala.

Rosemary and Vanessa are chairing the Oct. 13 dining event that takes place at the Hilton-Americas Houston. On this night, the duo introduced gala honorees – Elizabeth DeLuca representing the Mission Family, Elizabeth and Gary Petersen receiving the community honorees award, Tony Vallone the culinary honoree and Linda Russell, CEO of the Woman's Hospital of Texas, medical honoree.

The point was to generate high interest in the "La Cage Aux Folles" fundraiser that promises to put a new spin and a shortened program on this popular event. Honorary chair Sheridan Williams on the arm of hubby John Eddie Williams was in the mix as were Amy Lee, Michelle Smith, Kimberly DeLape, Tiffany & Co.'s Mike McClure, Momentum Jaguar's Jimmy Olguin, Matt Schatzman, Perry Sendukas, Ellie Francisco, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Brian Teichman and Julie Oliver.

Just as the party was ending, the Loyas launched their second act of the night, another party.

Artful giving

Mark one up for the Houston Public Library, which on Thursday officially received an original drawing by acclaimed African-American artist John Biggers that will be permanently on display at the African American Library at the Gregory School. The drawing, Our Future, appraised at $85,000 was given to the library by Gerald Smith, chairman and CEO of Smith, Graham & Co. Investment Advisors.

Gerald and his wife, Anita Smith, are serious collectors, who are currently donating several works from their collection to a variety of organizations.

Our Future is the second work by Biggers to be in the library family. When he was a professor at Texas Southern University, the artist donated the mural Birth from the Sea to the W.L. Johnson Neighborhood Library.

Rockin' on high

The old Laff Stop space overlooking Allen Parkway and Waugh Drive took on new life this week when it was officially christened as the nightspot Vue, a chic lounge cum dance club and event space.

Owners Woody Gould of Guava Lamp and Tony Gutierrez of Crew Staffing and Chelsea Grill showed off the new place that was designed by HGTV Design Star contestant Michael Stribling.

On hand to launch the scene were Edward Sanchez, Jeff Gremillion, Rob Rutherford, Kara Howes, Dr. Roland Maldonado, Shannon Hall, Marcy de Luna, Chelsi Smith, Neal Hamil, Lindsey Brown, Mark Sullivan, Shannon Hall, Bubba McNeely, Todd Ramos and Kim Padgett.

A masquerade at ZaZa

It was part birthday celebration and part salute to Masquerade Theatre in Toan Ngyuen's private domain at Hotel ZaZa. Guests were invited into Toan's luscious "Warwick Apartment" for toasts and taste treats and much promoting of Masquerade and its upcoming gala at the Downtown Aquarium.

Art photographer Morris Malakoff was there to record the fun that included the arrival of a mammoth birthday cake (red velvet), presented by Mary Ann Reynolds and her ophthalmologist husband Dr. Bob Wilkins.

Joining the party were Jackson Hearn, Phil Dade, Becky Page, John Zodrow, Rhetta Moody McAllister and Jim McAllister, Sergei Galperin, Emily Jen and Luther Chakurian.

Key the gathering were theater founder Phillip Duggan, leading lady Paula Smith, gala emcee Ernie Manouse and SpotOn Public Relation's Tammy Dowe.

Sight 'ems

A heavy-hitter crowd turning out at La Griglia for power lunching. At various tables on a beautiful weekday were attorneys Roland Garcia, Kenny Friedman and Jack Rains, Metro's senior veep Kim Slaughter, the Rev. Rudy Rasmus, former city councilman Mark Ellis, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's regional director Jason Fuller and marketing/PR whiz Cindy Clifford . . .

Beth and Dr. Chris Papasakelariou dining at Tony's where they hosted Shell Houston Open player Jason Day of Australia and his wife, Ellie Day, and Bob and Lynette Holmes in for the tournament from Palm Springs, Calif. . . .

Radio divas Maria Todd of CBS Radio KHMX and Cleverley Stone of CBS 650 enjoying a long lunch at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House where they feasted on Shanghai calamari (their personal fav), Gulf oysters, steak salad and a triple cheese-stuffed burger with onion rings, these girls clearly not counting calories.

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Hottest Headlines of 2025

Houston billionaires' big gift leads our top 10 society stories of 2025

Photo courtesy of The Kinder Foundation

Richard Kinder has surpassed Tilman Fertitta to become the richest billionaire in Houston in 2025.

Editor's note: From celebrating a beloved steakhouse's 10th anniversary to an incredible declaration of philanthropy by Houston billionaires, Houston’s society scene sizzled this year. Houstonians came out to support a variety of charitable causes, mix and mingle, and show their Houston pride. There were tennis tournaments, wine dinners, fashion shows, and other festivities, marking milestones and demonstrating once again the city’s dedication to supporting its own.

Read on for Houston's 10 hottest society headlines of 2025.

1. Houston billionaires will donate almost entire fortune to charity. Houston billionaire philanthropists Rich and Nancy Kinder made headlines when they told ABC 13’s Melanie Lawson that they would give away 95 percent of their fortune. Longtime supporters of education, civic life, and the arts, the Kinders have been donors to several Houston charities and institutions, including the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Emancipation Park, and Rice University, where a center for urban research is named for them.

2. Top Houston steakhouse toasts 10 years with a mayoral proclamation. When the Washington Avenue steakhouse B&B Butchers celebrated its 10th anniversary back in October, it did so with a bash that included fine dining, live music, and killer views of downtown from the upstairs terrace. Before the festivities, Mayor John Whitmire presented Ben Berg, founder and CEO of Berg Hospitality Group, with an official City of Houston proclamation declaring October 21, 2025, as B&B Butchers Day.

3. Bayou a Drink? Cocktails in Bloom draws a colorful crowd of Houstonians. Nearly 200 supporters gathered for the fourth annual Cocktails in Bloom event at Lost Lake in June, a benefit for the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Guests dressed in garden-party glam strolled the lakeside scene, sipping libations from Flora and Giant Texas Distillers, and enjoying bites from Barbacana, Burger Bodega, Kin Dee, and more.

4. Houston Symphony fires up new season in Stravinsky-inspired style. In a spectacular event marking the opening of the Houston Symphony’s 2025-26 season, the orchestra took inspiration from Stravinsky’s famed The Firebird, transforming Jones Hall and Corinthian Houston into an homage to the composer’s mythical milieu. Black-tie-clad guests posed in front of a giant bird on their way into the concert hall, and were then transported to The Corinthian for a spectacular dinner by City Kitchen with radiant decor by The Events Company.

5. Houston charity’s Pearls of Wisdom gala is a real gem of a night. July’s Pearls of Wisdom gala was an Italian-inspired evening to benefit Vita Living, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From the color-splashed cocktail hour, to a live auction that included a six-night escape to a riverfront condo near Beaver Creek, the event raised a record-breaking $207,000 for the organization.

6. Houston survivors shine at Texas Children’s Salute to Champions luncheon. Runway radiance took center stage at The Revaire in October for the 14th Annual Salute to Champions Luncheon and Fashion Show. The event was a fundraiser for Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center. Fashions provided by Dillard's dressed the Patient Champions, while Tootsies styled the Community Champions.

7.Cultural fashion takes center stage at Runway to Asia in Houston. Asia Society Texas’s first-ever Runway to Asia saw more than 300 guests at The Post Oak Hotel, raising more than $300,000 for the center’s programming, which celebrates cultural diversity through art. Attendees enjoyed a three-course lunch before a catwalk presentation honoring Danny Nguyen, Houston’s own silhouettist supreme, and international fashion luminary Zang Toi.

8. Lavish brunch party raises nearly $1M for Houston’s homeless animals. PetSet’s September “Le Brunch” fundraiser was a sunshine-filled fête, at Le Tesserae, helping the organization support Houston’s fight against animal homelessness. The inaugural daytime event blended laid-back glam with serious fundraising muscle. Nearly $1 million was raised to fund PetSet’s critical grant program, which supports rescue groups and shelters across Texas.

9. Wine and resilience shine at Houston nonprofit's glamorous soirée. More than 250 oenophiles turned out at The Astorian for the Women’s Fund10th Annual Wine Dinner. Among the highlights: the Madam Zero Champagne Wall, doling out deBoulle gift cards and a private champagne tasting, and a silent auction where guests could bid on year-long date nights, Zadok's bling, and more. The evening raised $485,000, more than double last year's total.

10. A-list Houston crowd enjoys posh amenities at River Oaks tennis tournament. The River Oaks Men's Clay Court Championship held at the storied River Oaks Country Club is the only remaining Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour played on clay courts. The event blended tennis, shopping, fashion, and socializing.

Photo courtesy of The Kinder Foundation

Richard Kinder is now the richest Houstonian, according to Forbes.

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