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    Legendary Apollo 13 astronaut joins hep Houstonians for $600,000 Be An Angel Gala

    Steven Devadanam
    May 25, 2022 | 5:34 pm
    Mandy Weydeck, Dan Pastorini, Dr. Laura Shiplett
    Mandy Weydeck, Dan Pastorini, and Dr. Laura Shiplett.
    Photo courtesy of Be An Angel Gala

    Cool cats and Pink Ladies packed The Revaire for the annual Be An Angel Awards Gala, which this year boasted a Grease theme. More than 400 guests showed up for the sock hop event decked out in bobby socks and tennis shoes, Pink Lady Sandy satin jackets, and polka dot dresses.

    Reminiscing on old times, attendees perused the more than 80 silent auction items and snapped selfies of their epic costumes. Legendary Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise was spotted among the crowd.

    As for the silent auction, the live event brought in more than $600,000 for Be An Angel, which aims to improve the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities or profound deafness by providing needed adaptive equipment and select services.

    Hot items up for grabs included three European trips and a rare bottle of Old Van Winkle 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that sold for $11,000. The Wine & Whiskey Pull of more than 176 bottles sold out within 30 minutes.

    Event chairs Dot and Walter Cunningham joined dinner chairs were The Honorable Dan Patrick and Mrs. Jan Patrick. Emcee Sam Malone introduced Be An Angel’s executive director, Marti Boone, who presented the 2022 Angel Award to Oticon, a technology company that provides hearing technology for the special needs children Be An Angel services. Oticon’s director, Dr. Laura Shiplet was on hand to accept the award.

    After a sumptuous dinner, guests were treated to the swing and rockabilly stylings of the award-winning dance troupe Dance Force.

    Seen getting their ’50s on were: Paul and Kristina Somerville, Dr. Laura Shiplett, Dr. Mandy Weydeck, Judy and Ron Girotto, Marissa and Chris Kiefer, Dan Pastorini and Pam Morse, Judy and Chuck Cauthorn, Bob and Michele Chiste, George and Jan Pilko, Ray and Veronica Solcher, Steve and Mary Schmidt, Joel and Sunshine Rogers, Ann and Ron Bennett, Jessica Forsdick, Bob and Glenna Leonard, Bruce and Beth Leonard, Cary and Veronica Benson, Ross and Lisa Astramecki, Chuck and Judy Cauthorn, and Jerry Dearing.

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    Pas de Deux Dining

    Houston Ballet's gourmand bash delights with chef-dancer collabs

    Eric Sandler
    May 23, 2025 | 11:30 am
    Houston Ballet Raising the Barre 2025
    Photo by Melissa Taylor
    Houston Ballet danced united with some of Houston's top chefs for Raising the Barre.

    What began as a young professionals’ soirée has gracefully pirouetted into one of Houston’s most anticipated culinary-meets-culture nights.

    And this year’s Raising the Barre delivered a standing ovation-worthy performance. Hosted at Caracol, the fan-favorite tasting event drew nearly 160 guests on May 4, where balletomanes (and those who love them) mingled, noshed, and toasted to an artful cause.

    Co-chaired by Duyen and Marc Nguyen and Dr. Tatiana Sorkin and Michel Coret, the springtime soirée raised nearly $110,000 for Houston Ballet, supporting its mission to inspire a lasting love for dance through performance and education. But this wasn’t your typical rubber-chicken charity dinner. Here, dancers became muses and sous chefs, joining forces with Houston’s culinary stars to serve up an inspired four-course meal, each dish a storytelling moment in its own right.

    Each course hit the table like a pas de deux.

    Chef Aaron Bludorn kicked things off with soloist Danbi Kim, channeling her Korean childhood through a delicate sesame-crusted hamachi, balanced by gochujang vinaigrette and marinated cucumbers. Chef Chris Williams and demi-soloist Estheysis Menendez served a soul-warming lobster stew with plantain fufu and jalapeño pesto, a dish rooted in global tradition and personal memory, honoring the dancer’s Cuban heritage and her mother’s love of herbs and wellness.

    Then came the entrée: Chef Hugo Ortega teamed with principal Chase O’Connell for picanha a las brazos, a coulotte steak celebration dressed in pasilla mole and earthy mushroom zacahuil. The duo riffed on Chase’s ritualistic pre-performance steak dinners, adding Ortega’s signature Latin American soul.

    Pastry powerhouse Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar partnered with first soloist Gian Carlo Perez to close out the show with a guava pastelillo topped with cream cheese ice cream and honey, a nod to his Cuban childhood sweets.

    Adding to the evening’s thoughtful twist, those lush floral centerpieces didn’t just wilt away post-party. Thanks to Houston nonprofit Bloom Again, the arrangements were repurposed and delivered to local hospitals and care facilities, offering cheer beyond the ballroom.

    Among those soaking up the delicious scene were Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Ann Bean, Dr. Patrick Benge, Susan Binney, Jennifer Kushner, Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown, Andrea Medina, Lenni and Bill Burke, Anne and Albert Chao, Jo Furr, Mitchell George and Stanley Curtis Jr., Paula Whitten-Doolin, Victoria Gutierrez and Nick Pierce, Carey Kirkpatrick, Deborah and Edward Koehler, S. Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan, Liliana Soltero and Mike Hawkins, Yana and Warren McFatter, Kris and Richard McGee, Teal and Jeffrey Reamer, Julie Kent, Jim Nelson, Melissa Reihle, and Laura and Brannon Robertson.

    Houston Ballet Raising the Barre 2025
      

    Photo by Melissa Taylor

    Houston Ballet danced united with some of Houston's top chefs for Raising the Barre.

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