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    Shelby About Town

    Partying among the jewels, a $2 million gift and A&M Coach Sumlin celebrated at lunch

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    May 10, 2013 | 10:51 am

    We love a generous "thank you" party, particularly when the festivities take place in a setting filled with sparkling gems and major jewels. Case in point — the recent partnering between Zadok Jewelers and Covenant House as a major merci amid Zadok's yummy inventory of fine jewelry.

    Thank you's were certainly in order to chairs Julie and Jay Rogers, the Covenant House Guild and major sponsors such as Silver Eagle Distributors and Texas Children's Hospital for their combined efforts that helped raised $900,000 at the gala in March.

    In addition to sampling happy hour treats compliments of Johnny Carrabba and Carrabba's and sipping on adult libations, guests had the opportunity to mingle with representatives from major jewelry brands including Marco Bicego, Heather B. Moore, Topall and Finn.

    Helene and Dror Zadok and their sons welcomed the group that included guild president Amanda Crump, Covenant House CEO Ronda Robinson, Mimi and Larry Levine, Tammy and Wayne Nguyen, Peggy Edwards, Linda Ligon, Jane Page Crump and Tonya and Hank Hamilton.

    Girls just wanna have fun

    Bulgari manager Karen Turner-Smith played hostess to a handful of BFFs when Dr. Sakina Davis took advantage of her high bid on the in-store lunch for 10, a gem that she won at the John Cooper School gala. The ladies were shuttled by private car from their home base in The Woodlands for the champagne luncheon.

    Partaking of the private shopping experience in the luxe Bulgari boutique and sitting down to lunch by A Fare Extraordinaire were Denise Lipar (one of the gala chairs), Sharmeen Rizvi, Kathy Phan, Beth Griffith, Traci Breaux, Darla Hodges and Ayesha Fayaz. One of the ladies went home with a Bulgari "Serpenti" handbag, won in a raffle.

    A $2 million gift and a chair endowed

    It was a low-key luncheon with high import at Texas Children's Hospital when Maureen and Jim Hackett were spotlighted for their $2 million gift establishing the Maureen Hackett Endowed Chair for Reproductive Psychiatry. The endowed chair will support treatment and research addressing mental health issues unique to women, such as postpartum mood or anxiety disorders, mother-baby attachment difficulties and emotional changes related to menopause.

    Joining the Hackett family, including daughters Kelly and Mosie, was the inaugural appointed chair Dr. Lucy Puryear and Texas Children's CEO Mark Wallace.

    A&M Touchdown Club scores

    Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin headlined the Touchdown Club of Houston A&M Day luncheon at the J.W. Marriott where the room was filled with supporters including John Schiller, Byron Hood, DeeDee and Wallis Marsh, Chris Cokinos, Steve Kennedy, Frank Nadolney, Cliff Lane and loads of others.

    The highlight was Butch Ghutzman presenting Sumlin with a ticket from the 1940 A&M national championship football game, as well as a ticket from the 1940 football game between A&M and UCLA. Interesting aside noted at the luncheon: Jackie Robinson was on the UCLA football team. (That’s right, he played football as well as baseball.)

    Sight 'ems

    Brenda Cheney celebrating her birthday at the new Federal Grill on Shepherd where owner Matt Brice pulled out the stops for the group that included her brother Craig Cheney and niece Amber Cheney, Danny Horstman, Gary Casper, Tom Adkins, Jeff Gremillion, Howard Covens, Tracy Orolin, Harry Faulkner and more. The group is still raving about the duck fat popcorn, the fried oysters and eggplant fritters that were just part of the lavish menu.

    Larry and Mimi Levine, left, with Julie and Jay Rogers at Covenant House event at Zadok Jewelers.

    Zadok happy hour event May 2013 Larry Levine and Mimi Levine with Julie Rogers and Jay Rogers
      
    Photo by Kasey Meier
    Larry and Mimi Levine, left, with Julie and Jay Rogers at Covenant House event at Zadok Jewelers.
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    Roman Reverie

    Top Houston chef and Michelin sommelier help symphony raise $900,000

    Joel Luks
    May 14, 2025 | 2:03 pm
    Houston Symphony wine dinner and auction 2025
    Photo by Priscilla Dickson
    Houston Symphony executive director and CEO Gary Ginstling, Margaret Ginstling; chairs Elia and Michael Gabbanelli.

    When spring gala season reaches full crescendo, few evenings deliver the kind of multisensory bacchanal as the Houston Symphony’s Wine Dinner and Collector’s Auction. On May 2, a sold-out crowd of 365 stylish guests made a grand entrance at Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, where fine wine, lavish décor, and a five-course feast awaited.

    Houston Symphony wine dinner and auction 2025
      

    Photo by Priscilla Dickson

    Houston Symphony executive director and CEO Gary Ginstling, Margaret Ginstling; chairs Elia and Michael Gabbanelli.

    A revelry worthy of Dionysus himself. In black-tie, of course.

    Leading the charge were Elia and Michael Gabbanelli, gala chairs and proud heirs of the famed Gabbanelli accordion family — a fitting touch of musical lineage. They were joined by Jack Matzer, whose stewardship of the collector’s auction helped orchestrate the evening’s finale: More than $900,000 raised for the symphony’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives, which bring music to schools, hospitals, and underserved venues.

    The foyer buzzed with energy as guests in all their finery sipped champagne and circled the silent auction, eyes gleaming at the fabulousness of oenophilic riches. Standout lots included six vintage bottles of Red Bordeaux, two bottles of 1982 Château Margaux (yes, the unicorn vintage), and a week-long Tuscan getaway for those dreaming of vineyard vistas and sun-drenched serenity. Bidding was brisk and focused — more than one guest looked ready to conduct their own blind tasting right on the spot.

    At the dinner hour, the scene shifted dramatically as guests were ushered onto the Jones Hall stage, transformed by The Events Company into a sumptuous Roman mirage. Towering candelabras crowned with coral and ruby blooms stood sentry over lace-red linens strewn with votives, pomegranates, and overflowing grapes. Four statues, wreathed in greenery, added a mythic flair—as if Bacchus himself might pop out to pour the next glass. And the next.

    But it wasn’t just about the wine. Culinary star chef Danny Trace of Potente crafted an ambitious five-course menu that married elegance and indulgence. A standout starter of heirloom tomato and whipped burrata with cucumber ribbons gave way to Potente’s signature black truffle pasta, then diver scallops with sweet corn risotto and a show-stealing veal perigeux with goat cheese polenta. Dessert? A double chocolate cake kissed with Chambord and crowned with caramel crunch pearls.

    Wine pairings, curated by John and Lindy Rydman and Lisa Rydman Lindsey of Spec’s Wines, were introduced by master sommelier Steven McDonald, the Pappas Bros. Steakhouse wine expert who earned the sommelier award at the 2024 Michelin Guide Texas ceremony. Guests clinked, tasted, nodded in approval — oenophiles united in appreciation.

    Among those spotted in the stylish crowd were Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Janet Clark, Gary Ginstling and Margaret Lederer, Joan and Robert Duff, Margaret Alkek Williams, Barbara Burger, Lydia Gold, Quentin and Aerin Smith, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, Mary Lynn Marks, Bob Weiner, Robert Sakowitz, David Peavy and Stephen McCauley, Aggie Foster and Steve Simon, Virginia Clark, Brigette Kalai, Farida Abjani, Jennifer and Scott Allison, Carey Kirkpatrick, Ken and Mady Kades, and Sippi and Ajay Khurana.

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