Shelby's Social Diary

Gay pride in Tel-Aviv, jewels for a Big Bang Theory star and a wild book partystir the scene

Jesse and Cathy Marion, left, with Jonathan Horowitz at The Tasting Room eventfor Alley Theatre gala underwriters.
Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Andrew Spindler, from left, Hiram Butler, Chris Goins, Bill Lassiter and JoshPazda in Rockport, Maine.
Photo by Paul Cary Goldberg
Houston-based Nini Hale's jewels are set to hit the red carpet once again.
Courtesy Photo
Laura Senior Garcia and Lewis Senior
Photo by Michael Reiland
Linda Lorelle, from left, Keli Goff and Vanessa Gilmore at Goff's book party.
Photo by Jessica Crute
Nic Phillips and Nina Delano at The Tasting Room for the Alley Theatre.
Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Dean Gladden, left, with Cornelia and Meredith Long at The Tasting Room for theAlley Theatre.
Photo by Priscilla Dickson

When the lights went out on the Alley Theatre's "A Touch of Red" gala at The Corinthian several weeks ago, you might have thought that was the end of the festivities. But not so. Lasco Enterprises partner and chief brand officer Jonathan Horowitz kept the party going with a thank-you event at The Tasting Room in Uptown Park.

Gala chairs Cathy and Jesse Marion were front and center receiving congrats on their successful efforts due in no small part to Lasco, which donated the wines for the gala.

The Tasting Room's executive chef Steve Marquis whipped up a load of tasty hors d'oeuvres including chicken satay, gourmet meatballs, cheese and charcuterie platters and Italian antipasto plates, washed down with Jade Mountain Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc. All as a thank you to those who helped the gala soar.

Sharing in the spirited gathering of several dozen were Cornelia and Meredith Long, Jane and Dean Gladden, Nanette and Jerry Finger, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Nic Phillips and Nina Delano, Brian Teichman, Andy Cordes and Lois and George Stark.

Not that Rockport

Over the weekend, Houston gallery owner Hiram Butler and partner Andrew Spindler opened their vacation home on Boston's North Shore to fellow Houstonians who had jetted north for the Rockport Chamber Music Festival in Rockport, Mass. (Not to be confused with the Rockport, Texas, music festival which was also held over the weekend.)

Joining Butler and Spindler for the black-tie opening night were Tootsies' Chris Goins and her squeeze Josh Pazda and art collector Bill Lassiter.

Delivering the goods

That would be Tim Moloney, who's just back from LA where he delivered a load of fine Nini jewelry to stylist Alison Kahn, who happens to be a native Houstonian. She's working with Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory, outfitting her for the International Television Festival that takes place in Monte Carlo in July.

For each of the four nights of the festival, Miyam will be wearing an assortment of Nini Jewels by Houston-based jewelry designer Nini Hale. You might recall that the actress was decked out in Nini for the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony in January.

Mega book party

More than 150 fans turned out in the ballroom of Hotel Sorella for the launch of At the End of the Day, the non-fiction, inspirational book co-authored by the father-daughter team of Lewis Senior and Laura Senior Garcia.

No ordinary book signing, this cocktail party had a Hollywood theme complete with red carpet, student paparazzi and official emcees — Malcolm Duncan and David Garcia. There was a book cover design competition for students at Southwest Schools the winner, Zac Palmer, was announced that evening.

Big news for the authors, the book was accepted by both Amazon.com and iTunes.

Friends of the authors taking home copies of the book included Laura and Stephen Walter, Pari and John Gill, Mehrnaz Gill, Eric Wagner, Keith Miller, Cindy and Jim Upshaw and Judy and Don Ray.

MSNBC commentator feted

Following book parties in New York and Washington D.C., author Keli Goff, a political commentator on MSNBC, was back in hometown Houston over the weekend first as keynote speaker at the Houston Black Book Fest and then as special guest at a party celebrating the paperback publication of her second tome, The GQ Candidate.

Linda Lorelle, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore and Amber Winsor, deputy director at the Contemporary Arst Museum Houston, hosted the event at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown.

Sight 'ems

Actress Linda Gray, Dallas’ Sue Ellen Ewing, and young gun heartthrob Josh Henderson (John Ross Ewing) at CityCentre where they greeted a throng of fans at Studio Movie Grill for a screening of the first episode of the TNT revival of Dallas. Roula Christie of KRBE-FM’s “Roula & Ryan” show led the Q&A following the premiere. . . .

Artist John Ross Palmer and partner Ryan Lindsay on the streets of Tel-Aviv, where they participated in the 14th annual Tel-Aviv Pride Parade. Shirtless and wearing Texas flag jogging shorts and Ropers and carrying tiny Israeli flags, they cut quite a swath through the crowd.

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Michelin Stars

Superstar Spanish chefs return to Houston for dinners with a purpose

Hope and Opportunity Dinner Texas Children's Hospital

Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital

Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

Leave it to Houston to blend avant-garde gastronomy with generosity, stirring up a one-two punch of flavor and philanthropy.

Over two intimate evenings, Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras opened their private home for the Hope and Opportunity Dinners,an affair that embraced the neurodiverse community with epicurean delight.

The dinners, limited to 100 guests per night, were a collaborative recipe honoring the missions of Texas Children’s Duncan Neurological Research Institute and The Genuine Cup, the nonprofit arm of The Genuine Foundation. With a thematic throughline of “Hope” and “Opportunity,” guests were treated to a nine-course menu..

The culinary talent? Flying in from their famed El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, Michelin-starred brothers Joan Roca (head chef) and Jordi Roca (pastry chef), along with sommelier Marta Cortizas, teamed up with chef Luis Roger of Houston’s Michelin-starred BCN Taste & Tradition. The menu, a poetic composition of bold Spanish flavors and delicate textures, was elevated further by thoughtful wine pairings.

Far from a solo act, the Roca brothers worked in sync with some of Houston’s culinary luminaries: Felipe Riccio (March), Mayank Istwal (Mussafer), David Skinner (Eculent), Felipe Botero (Le Jardinier), Mary Cuclis (Kriti Kitchen), and Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó). Service each evening was led by 27 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by 10 coaches.

One dinner honored Whitney and Jim Crane, whose Astros Foundation has become a pillar of Houston philanthropy, and Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi, whose groundbreaking neuroscience work continues to shape the future of medicine. The second dinner spotlight fell on Laura Arnold, co-founder of Arnold Ventures LLC, and Dr. Debra F. Sukin, president and CEO of Texas Children’s Hospital, both champions for equity and innovation in their fields.

The evenings ended with cookbook signings by the Roca brothers, a fitting souvenir from two nights where food was both an experience and a vehicle for change. The events raised more than $400,000.

Showing up for science and inclusion were Monica and Yordon Alvarez, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Carlos Correa, Molly and Crownover, Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Pam and Keith Fullenweider, Adrienne and Jared Crane, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Phoebe Tudor and Tudor, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, and Penny and Paul Layne.

Courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital

Jordi Roca, Ignacio Torras, and Joan Roca.

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