Shelby's Social Diary

Annise Parker and Andrea White stick up for preservation: Mayor touts her own"historic money pit"

Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas
Photo by David Thomas

Briefly addressing the Heritage Society's annual Houston Heritage Luncheon, Mayor Annise Parker acknowledged that she knows first hand both the value as well as the cost of historic preservation. After all, she and partner Kathy Hubbard live in what the mayor affectionately refers to as their "historic money pit."

That financial challenge does not, she explained, negate the importance of seeing and touching objects of the past in order to understand the present and the future. It was a theme reiterated by keynote speaker and author Andrea White.

The former Houston first lady is writing a book on the history of the 100-year-old Baker Family Playhouse and she shared some of her discoveries — it has been moved six times, for example. The program included Grace Elizabeth Hurley's recorded interview of Virginia Meyers Watt and her memories of playing in the structure.

Key players in the midday scene, taking place in a party tent at Sam Houston Park's Connally Plaza, were luncheon chairs Claudia Wilson Frost, Margaret Justus and Macey Reasoner Stokes. Houston Parks and Recreation director Joe Turner served as emcee and gleefully invited the luncheon gathering to spend the afternoon rollicking in the Baker Family Playhouse.

Considering that offer were Macey and Harry Reasoner, Bill Hobby, City Council members James Rodriguez and Ellen Cohen, Sofia Adrogué, Laura and Roy Nichol, Martha Goddard, Jackie Bostic, Betty T. Chapman, Richard Mithoff and Tricia Dewhurst.

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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.