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    Zoo Flock

    Young professionals get wild in a Tootsies catwalk event, but they're not the real party animals

    Joel Luks
    Jun 24, 2013 | 3:26 pm

    It was only a matter of time before the rising popularity of animal prints and beastly-inspired couture would trigger one flock to fly away from its nest. Houston Zoo's young professionals covey, known to the cool cats as Flock, spread its wings away from its home in Hermann Park and roved over to Tootsies on Wednesday for a feral fashionable fete.

    Strutting their stuff for "Flock to the Catwalk" — apart from the au courant conservation advocates — were a screech owl, an African-crested porcupine, a baby alligator, a rainbow boa and a greater tenrec, the latter a cutie-pie of a hedgehog too adorbs for words.

    The endearing creatures summoned their inner supermodel and struck poses for the camera while Tootsies human models showcased trendy wearables that nodded to the evening's motif. This inspired some to add to their wardrobes, particularly as the boutique was giving a percentage of the sales to the Houston Zoo.

    The Lions Tail, a potation stirred by Ryan Rouse and Brad Moore from Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar, was the "flocktail" du jour alongside frosty suds from Saint Arnold Brewing Company. The beverages coupled well with Mediterranean noshes courtesy of Phoenicia Specialty Foods and sweets by Eddie V's. The M Box photo booth provided by Yelp captured all the undomesticated fun.

    Upon bidding adieu, guests received swag bags full of zoo and West Ave goodies, including a tiger striped cake ball by The Little Cake and a Jonathan Adler gift card.

    Talking a walk on the wild side in the company of director of development Sarah Atwood, senior director of development Nick Espinosa and committee members David Rassin, Tamar Mendelssohn, Melissa Kuo and Denise Furlough were Catarina Cron, Carey Kirkpatrick, Amy Springs, Amy Lin, Lyndsey Zorich, Katharine Hayes, Jimmy Wu, Michael Mandola, Edward Sanchez, Kile and Zack Spelz, Kristina and Kevin Frankel, Bubba Mcneely, Erin Langley, Stephen Jones, Liz Gorman, Sarah Pendley, Bobby Tillman, Hannah Thibodeaux and Mylene Pham.

    Young professionals pose at "Flock to the Catwalk" at Tootsies.

    Flock at Tootsies Houston June 2013 group shot
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Young professionals pose at "Flock to the Catwalk" at Tootsies.
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    Farming Hope

    Culinary stars shine at Houston nonprofit's 20th anniversary feast

    Joel Luks
    Feb 2, 2026 | 2:00 pm
    Recipe for Success Alchemy Banquet 2025
    Photo by CatchLight Group
    David Buckley, Randy Evans, Erik Cruz, Ryan Pera, Bob and Gracie Cavnar, Pedro Garcia, Claire Smith, Sebastien Laval, Lucas McKinney, and Dominick Lee.

    Under a twilight sky painted in harvest hues, Hope Farms transformed into a culinary dreamscape for a sold-out celebration. The 2025 Delicious Alchemy Banquet marked the 20th anniversary of Recipe for Success Foundation, honoring co-founders Gracie and Bob Cavnar for two decades of changing how children eat and think about food.

    A green velvet-draped king’s table stretched across the farm, glinting with silver candelabras and emerald-toned florals grown just steps away. Virginia and Will McMullen, who chaired the event, summoned a culinary cast of OG chefs—original gastronomes—who first helped design the Foundation’s Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education curriculum back in 2005.

    These founding personalities, including Randy Evans, Peter Garcia, Greg Martin, Barbara McKnight, Ryan Pera, and Claire Smith, joined forces once more to remind everyone what delicious activism tastes like. Also contributing standout dishes were Erik Cruz, David Buckley, Lucas McKinney, Dominick Lee, Sebastien Laval, and Adam Paul, each bringing fresh perspective and flavor to the table.

    The 10-course feast began with Solar Flares — a hibiscus and lemon drop pepper cocktail mixed with Tito’s — and rolled out a farm-forward menu featuring R-C Ranch wagyu tartare, roasted honeynut squash, paella, Gulf fish, juniper-roasted buffalo, and a concha bread pudding with goat’s milk cajeta. Each dish drew applause, with chefs welcomed in rounds to take their bows like culinary rock stars.

    A City of Houston Proclamation, read aloud by the McMullens, officially named the evening Gracie and Bob Cavnar Day. During dessert, Cavnar rallied guests to support the new 20 for ’26 Campaign aimed at expanding Seed-to-Plate into 20 more Title I schools. More than $10,000 was pledged on the spot.

    Spotted soaking up the farm-chic vibes were Sheree Frede, RJ Jenkins, Brian Neal, Melissa and Dan Sugulas, Stefanie and Cody Carper, Anita and David Garten, Lynn Goode, Greg Boyd, Jennifer and Lance Gilliam, Josef Jerade, Veronica Neal, Kimberly Cutchall and Matt Henneman, Nannette and David Hartdegen, Laurette Veres, Miya Shay, Justin McRay, Dr. Christopher Chance, Yasmine Haddad, Kelly and Kim Hales, George O. Jackson, Harrison Williams, Gerald Seidl, Michelle LaNoue, Karen Garcia, Kristin Blomquist, Rudy Guerra, and Kathryne Castellanos.

    Recipe for Success Alchemy Banquet 2025

    Photo by CatchLight Group

    David Buckley, Randy Evans, Erik Cruz, Ryan Pera, Bob and Gracie Cavnar, Pedro Garcia, Claire Smith, Sebastien Laval, Lucas McKinney, and Dominick Lee.

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