Toga Party

Young professional gods and goddesses rock the night at Bering Omega toga party

In the middle of July with so much citizenry vacationing, there seems to be a pent-up need among the city's young professionals for serious party action. And those pulling the sheets off their beds or hitting up Frankel's for Bering Omega's second annual Toga Party on Saturday night found just that.

More than 150 costumed partiers packed Craft Salon for the second annual mid-summer night's revelry, hosted by Bering Omega's YP board. It was a win-win for Bering Omega as virtually everything was donated. Cara Crafton cleared out her salon for the second year. The Counter provided Mediterranean-inspired sliders while libations were compliments of Dripping Springs Vodka and Saint Arnold Brewing Co.

Chairs Justin Concepcion, Cindy Rodriguez and Leslie Jackson welcomed the crowd that spilled from the salon onto the patio overlooking Dunlavy. (Chair Jason Levya was away on his honeymoon.)

Toga style was interpreted in myriad colorful ways with Ryan Cunningham (aka Bacchus) taking honors for Best Male Toga, Nissa Khan as a fetching goddess winning for Best Female Toga and Rebecca Bertrand and April Gough as Best Overall Toga for their golf-themed togas complete with visors, golf gloves and clubs. As Bering Omega's development veep Beth Wilson said, "People are happy for something to do in the middle of summer and people like to play dress-up."

Stepping out in various modes of toga splendor were Paul Pettie, Pepe Jaramillo, Liz Gorman, Stephen Jones, Nick Espinosa, Scott Peveto, Mary Clarkson, Sarah and Fernando Aramburo, David Nguyen, Jenny Noonan, Nathan Herrington, Rachael Holland and Elizabeth Holland.

Chairs Justin Concepcion, left, Cindy Rodriguez and Leslie Jackson at the Bering Omega toga party.

Chairs Justin Concepcion, from left, Cindy Rodriguez and Leslie Jackson at toga party at Craft Salon benefiting Bering Omega

Photo by © Gary Fountain

Chairs Justin Concepcion, left, Cindy Rodriguez and Leslie Jackson at the Bering Omega toga party.

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raising glasses

Wine and dine raises spirits for Houston's Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities wine and dine fundraiser 2024

Photo by Johnny Than

Alicia Reggie Freysinger, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Catholic Charities President Cynthia Nunes Colbert.

An evening of fine dining and philanthropy unfolded at The Revaire for the 2024 Wine and Dine Dinner, benefitting Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on November 16. With wine glasses in hand and wallets wide open, the stylish and pious savored a night dedicated to lifting up the most vulnerable in the community.

Co-chairs Mikki Hebl and David E. Harvey, Jr., alongside Kerri and Downey Bridgwater, welcomed the crowd, which included His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who blessed the meal. The highlight? A four-course feast by master sommelier Brandon Kerne and chef Ryan Bouillet, paired with wines selected to enhance each bite.

An interactive twist with the secret sip challenge surely added a playful element. Attendees worked together to identify the mystery wine — a 2015 Merite Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia’s Wrattonbully region.

But the night wasn’t just about indulgence. The live auction, emceed by Johnny Bravo, and a moving “fund a need” segment inspired oenophiles to dig deep for Catholic Charities’ programs. Last year, the organization served people in need 358,000 times across Harris, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties, providing essentials like food, housing assistance, and legal aid for immigrants.

Generous support came from sponsors like the Hildebrand Foundation, Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and Cuenod Families.

Wining and dining were Alicia Reggie Freysinger, Cynthia Nunes Colbert, Penny and Paul Layne, Monit Cheung and Patrick Leung, Ashley and Doug Plaeger, Sandi and Jim Lemming, Carol and Paul Beck, Louise and Bob Parsley, Avalyn Langemeier, Suzanne Werner, Amie Springmeyer, Lori Hessel, Ginger Niemann, Peggy Idstein, Karina and Mark Amelang,and Ellen and Jim Ginty.

Photo by Johnny Than

Alicia Reggie Freysinger, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Catholic Charities President Cynthia Nunes Colbert.

catholic charities of the archdiocese of galveston-houston fundraisers