Shelby About Town

Kick-off parties for Astros Wives and Consular Corps & a 70th birthday bash withMarilyn Monroe keep things rolling

Astrid Van Dyke, center, with the members of the "Rat Pack" at the GreaterHouston Partnership kick-off party.
Photo by Jeff Fitlow
Bart Truxillo celebrates his 70th with Marilyn Monroe aka Mary Hooper.
Photo by Jenny Antill
Dan Tidwell, Guy Hagstette, Marilyn Monroe aka Mary Hooper, Bart Truxillo andJamie Mize at the Magnolia Ballroom.
Photo by Jenny Antill
Kelley Smith, from left, Myla Rodriguez and Summar Buck at Astros Wives planningsession at Fleming's.
Photo by Fulton Davenport/PWL Studio
Scott McClelland, from left, Becky Thomas, Leisa Holland-Nelson and Tony Chaseat Hotel ZaZa for Greater Houston Partnership.
Photo by Jeff Fitlow
Host Sam Governale, from left, Carla Snyder, Rachel Weiland and Ronda Mills forAstros Wives at Fleming's.
Photo by Fulton Davenport/PWL Studio

Hotel ZaZa was hopping last night (when isn't it?) with the Greater Houston Partnership bunch launching festivities for the Aug. 25 World Trade Soirée, which is also set to take place in the Museum District's hip hostelry. The party followed the gala's Rat Pack theme with a few impersonators on hand to spice things up.

The August event will honor the Consular Corps and representatives from 11 countries joined the kick-off party along with honorary chair of the gala, H-E-B honcho Scott McClelland.

Among notables raising their glasses in anticipation of the upcoming event were GHP chairman Tony Chase, board member and Andrews Kurth chairman Tom Perich and wife Debra, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, Leisa Holland-Nelson, GHP board member Harry Gee and Houston Community College chancellor Mary Spangler.

Younger than springtime

Even Marilyn Monroe couldn't stay away from Bart Truxillo's 70th birthday bash for which Mayor Annise Parker declared it Bart Truxillo Day in Houston. The youthful 70-year-old (we say 70 is the new 60, maybe the new 55) celebrated with several hundred friends at the Magnolia Ballroom, which he happens to own.

Those who have been pals with the historic preservationist and architect for many decades toasted the birthday boy while his friend actress Mary Hooper did a convincing Marilyn Monroe impersonation complete with a breathy singing of "Happy Birthday" a la Marilyn and JFK. The mayoral proclamation was presented by Minnette Boesel, Parker's assistant for cultural affairs.

Lemond Catering's Reggie and Merinda Martin supplied the party treats that included a beef carving station and a birthday cake large enough to serve all of the guests.

Celebrants included Bayou Bend Collection curator Michael Brown, former Houston Ballet artistic director Jim Clouser, sustainable gardening pioneer Camille Waters, Dan Tidwell, Jamie Mize, CultureMap editor in chief Clifford Pugh and John Dascoulias.

A twist for Astro Wives gala

Instead of selecting two women to chair the annual late-summer benefit for the Houston Area Women's Center, the Astros Wives organization has decided that this ship will have a score or more of captains. The wives and fiances are all joining forces to make the Astros Wives Black Ties & Baseball Caps Gala a success.

Six of those ladies gathered at Fleming's Monday to start those plans rolling. The group included Kelley Smith (engaged to outfielder Brian Bogusevic), Myla Rodriguez, Summar Buck, Carla Snyder, Rachel Weiland and Ronda Mills, wife of team manager Brad Mills. Fleming's operating partner Sam Governale briefly joined the party as host for the Astros group.

While noshing on heavy hors d'oeuvres, the ladies chewed over design theme, budget, auction items and more.

The gala is set for Aug. 16 on the field at Minute Park and will celebrate the Astros' 50th anniversary.

Sight 'ems

Millard "Mickey" Drexler, J. Crew CEO and chairman, lunching with several of his area retail members in the Paris room at Philippe Restaurant + Bar. While lunching primarily on specialty salads, the group of 19 talked business, including the opening of J Crew in CityCentre this past February . . .

Melinda Berkman celebrating her birthday with friends at RDG + Bar Annie including Diane Connally, Karen Johnson Karen Mayell and Sheridan Williams.

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Intimate Musicale

Tunes fill River Oaks mansion in support of Miller Outdoor Theatre

Miller Outdoor Theatre Piano Noir fundraiser 2024

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

In a night that struck all the right notes, Robin and Danny Klaes opened their storied River Oaks home on November 10 to host an intimate soirée benefiting Houston’s beloved Miller Outdoor Theatre. Draped in sophisticated black and white cocktail attire, circa 40 arts patrons gathered for an evening of charming performances, fine cuisine, and meaningful chit chat — all with an eye toward supporting Miller’s mission of making the arts accessible to all.

The setting? An exquisitely decorated Kirby Drive home steeped in local lore, famously tied to the true-crime bestseller Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson, which added an intriguing layer to an already memorable evening. Was the ghost of Joan Robinson Hill roaming around? Perhaps.

Guests first mingled in the quaint, canopied courtyard, enjoying Chef Smirnov Catering’s hors d’oeuvres before being whisked into the grand ballroom on the second floor. With its baroque-inspired decor and ceiling murals, the space provided the allure of yesteryear, a theatrical backdrop for amicable chamber music.

St. John Flynn as emcee introduced performances by flutist Victor Kendall and the American Zeitgeist Chamber Ensemble, including Quantz’s Flute Concerto in G, Claude Bolling’s Suite for Jazz Flute, and Barber’s String Quartet. Adding a soupçon of modern flair, vocalists from the Music Box Theater — Rebekah Dahl, Brad Scarborough, and Austin Biel — offered their signature blend of cabaret and comedy.

Amid the musical interludes, Claudia de Vasco, managing director of the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, advocated for the nonprofit’s ongoing capital campaign. She spotlighted a recent key purchase: a grand piano specifically built to withstand Houston’s unpredictable outdoor elements. De Vasco invited attendees to become the official Miller Outdoor grand piano sponsors and make their mark on the amphitheater's enduring legacy.

Since stepping into her leadership role, De Vasco has ushered in a fresh energy around Miller Outdoor Theatre’s mission, focusing on how to better serve Houston’s diverse communities. The nonprofit’s free programming continues to be a gateway for Houstonians to experience everything from world-class symphonies to vibrant cultural showcases.

Guests in attendanceincluded Lance Jones and Allen Ueckert, John Edwards, Gabriel Olson, Carey Kirkpatrick, Lisa and Stan Duchman, Elizabeth and Alan Stein, Gretchen Gardener and Jack Watson, Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Karla and Romulo T. Cisneros, Senator Borris L. Miles and Cydonii Fairfax Miles, and Philamena and Arthur Baird.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

performing-arts fundraisers miller outdoor theatre