Shelby About Town

Local TV news personality spills her wedding secrets, NY Knicks star celebratesat Texans & hot restaurant buzz

Miya Shay and Gene Wu celebrated their marriage during a long weekend bash inPuerta Vallarta.
Photo by Jillian Mitchell
Chloe Dao, pictured here at her own wedding last September, designed Miya Shay'sgown and that of her attendants.
New York Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire held his son's sixth birthday party at theGrille.
Houston Texans Grille/Facebook
Party animals Tod Eason, left, and Mark Sullivan, pictured here at New Year'sEve, rocked on Tod's recent birthday.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw Miya Shay reporting the news for KTRK Channel 13 on Wednesday. Why, she just got married on Saturday and she was already back on the job!

She might have returned to reporter's mindset, but the three-day Puerta Vallarta bash is still fresh in her thoughts as well as the thoughts of the 50 friends that joined her and Gene Wu at Villa Verano for the poolside wedding.

We love that she wore a gown designed for her by close friend Chloe Dao and that he wore linen slacks and shirt, shirttail out and sandals (as did all the groomsmen). The bridesmaids wore tangerine-colored gowns also designed by the Project Runway star. "The boys had it easy . . . I just went to Macy's," Miya emailed.

In the wedding party —Whet Smith, Jason Luong, Kim Padgett, Stephen Louis, Courtney Zubowski, Toby Hamrick, Jessica Rossman, Windy Hamrick, Jeff Shell and Laurette Veres.

The non-denominational commitment ceremony (they wrote their own vows) was performed by LyAnna Smith, a United Methodist seminarian and long-time friend of the groom. The previous week, the couple were officially wed by U.S. District Judge David Hittner in his courtroom in the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse.

For Gene, it's back to the business of running for State Representative.

A NY Knicks bash

In town to beef up his game under tutelage of Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon at the Big Man Camp, New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire took time out from the court play to help celebrate Amar'e Jr.'s birthday at the Houston Texans Grille.

In honor of the 6-year-old, the Grille had a special birthday cake made and decorated the private room in a Texans theme complete with beads, hats, noisemakers and balloons. Never mind that adults outnumbered the kids by a long shot. The eatery surprised young Amar'e with his own kid-sized Houston Texans helmet and jersey.

Sight 'ems

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning lunching with CAMH board chair Sissy Kempner at Brasserie 19 where the midday crowd included Joyce Echols, Lora Clemmons, Elizabeth Petersen, Erin Florescu, Irene Robertson, Ghyda Midani and loads more . . .

A clear sign that summer travels are shutting down: Alan Crain, Bill Wright, David Solomon, Hiram Butler, Dancie Ware, David Wuthrich and so many others in the business crowd lunching at La Griglia . . .

Tod Eason and pals celebrating his birthday at the Foundation Room at House of Blues, where the group grooved to the sounds of MTA: A Tribute to Metallica and THAT 80z BAND, which with its ribald '80s-hair rock tribute just screamed TOD EASON! Joining in the retro wild fun were Lonnie Schiller, Nick Florescu, the newly hitched Jillian and Andrew Seerden, Andrew Rentz, Jason Reeves, Matt Moriarty, Fleming's GM and all-around-cool-guy Sam Governale and Dean Giuffre . . .

Bill Boyar, founder of boutique law firm BoyarMiller, with the firm's chairman, Chris Hanslik at the Tasting Room-Uptown Park where they presented SEARCH Homeless Services executive director, Thao Costis with a big surprise of dozens of pairs of shoes!

Back in July, BoyarMiller and the Tasting Room co-hosted a fundraising drive for school uniforms for SEARCH, which raised $28,000. To ensure that the SEARCH kids had new shoes along with their new clothes, Bill and Chris chipped in extra funds to buy shoes.

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Barbara’s Legacy

Tom Selleck headlines Houston literacy luncheon, helps raise $775K

Barbara Bush Foundation literacy luncheon 2025

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Lina Lorelle and Tom Selleck.

Tom Selleck may have played many roles throughout his decades-long career — private investigator, cowboy, police commissioner — but at an event in Houston, the Hollywood icon stepped into a new one: literacy advocate.

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner headlined the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s 10th Annual Power of Literacy Luncheon: Opening Doors to Literacy, bringing personal anecdotes, quiet wisdom, and his signature mustache to the sold-out crowd at The Post Oak Hotel.

“I first met Barbara Bush in Hawaii, when I was doing Magnum P.I.,” he shared from the stage. “She hosted a small reception, and I have to say we really hit it off.”

That connection made his participation all the more thoughtful.

Selleck reflected on stories from his 2024 memoir You Never Know, keeping the audience rapt with his tales of humor and humility. When asked what he hopes readers take away from his book, he offered an introspective insight.

“Getting there isn’t such a big deal, because there is always somewhere else to go,” he said. “The real value is in the journey.”

That sentiment struck a chord with the 800 attendees, who helped the Ladies for Literacy Guild raise a record-breaking $775,000 to fund literacy programs across Houston.

Co-chaired by Sidney Faust and Betty Hrncir, the luncheon honored the guild’s 10th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Barbara Bush. The event began with an invocation from students at Barbara Bush Elementary, followed by a rousing performance from the Saint Thomas’ Episcopal Pipe Band. Emmy Award-winning journalist Linda Lorelle emceed the afternoon.

Guests were also treated to a pearl-themed raffle courtesy of Tenenbaum Jewelers—a nod to Barbara Bush’s signature style—along with florals donated by H-E-B. Phillips 66 led the charge as Title Sponsor, joined by Literacy Champion Sponsor ExxonMobil.

Showing their literary love were Sarahbeth and Pierce Bush, John Hrncir, Nancy Ames and Danny Ward, Maggie Austin, Jamie Barrere, Tony Bradfield, Cheryl Byington, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Amy Chronis, Sue Conway, Patricia Cornelius, Tammy Genovese Davis, Stick Delaup, Deborah Dunkum, Lesha Elsenbrook, Tena and Tyson Faust, Julie Finck, Gail Garland, Rhonda Graff, Katy Hays, Maureen Higdon, Leslie Hix, Courtney Hopson, Lisa Jakel, Jenny Joy, Patti Kroll, Laurie Lashier, Julie Little, Tama Lundquist, Cora Sue Mach, Martha Adger Madget, Anne McClellan, Mary Hale, Lovett McLean, Marsha Montemayor, Trish Morille, Barbie Prusak, Tenley E. Raj, Regina Rogers, Mary Sage, Sandra Shenkir, Tharen Simpson, Rhonda Smith, Deborah Stavis, Andrea Suarez, Suzi and William Dore, and Jacqueline Hamilton Taylor.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Lina Lorelle and Tom Selleck.

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