Shelby About town

Summer social scene stays hot with fine food, great art and make-up wizardry

It was SRO at Vanity Lounge when a chic group of fashionistas poured in to meet Danish make-up whiz Kirsten Kjaer Weis, founder of Kjaer Weis, a line that is so green that 95 percent of the elements employed in her lip tints, cream blush, eye shadows, etc. are organic.

Before the cocktail party, guests booked up the three-hour appointment slots to have the artist work her wonders. The real fun began at 6 p.m. when the party people poured in to meet and greet and to see Weis presented a city proclamation naming the day in her honor, the presentation made by Chris Brown, accompanied by his ever-glowing wife Divya Brown.

Vanity Lounge owner Diane Caplan and make-up guru Edward Sanchez welcomed the throng that included Aries Milan, Rob Thomas, Ashlee Lee, Kathleen and James Jennings, Kathy Atlas, Bethany Buchanan and Tara Brivic.

Showing tasteful support

That would be Brittany Sakowitz Kushner and Kevin Kushner, who opened their new casa in Upper Kirby and turned the ovens over to Chef Philippe Schmit for a delectable evening hosting potential members of St. Luke's Health System's PULSE young professional group.

Schmit turned on his signature Gallic charm while teaching the ladies how to prepare his traditional scrambled eggs with black truffles. Then began his three-course meal with wine pairings —a tomato bomb with fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil gelee, fig balsamic, fried green tomatoes followed by roasted whole natural chicken and dessert of avocado lime cheesecake and Black Forest white and dark chocolate cake.

Signing up for PULSE on the spot were Nick and Kaylen Meserve, Leslie Sharp and Jonathan Farb, Jessica Ledger, Kate and Paul Stouffer, Jodi and Michael Rubenstein and Jonathan Wasserberg.

A view for budding collectors

Dr. Carlos Bacino, a partner in Sicardi Gallery, opened his art-filled home to ACCESS Contemporary, the youthful collector's group of the Texas Contemporary Art Fair, for an evening of art talk and touring. Bacino led the tour of his collection focusing on Latin American art while gallerist Kerry Inman discussed ACCESS tour related to the fair.

The palette of attendees included Jillian and Andrew Seerden, Maria-Ines Sicardi, Adrienne Johnson Yost, Roel Garcia, Susanna Kise, Elizabeth O'Dowd, Theresa Escobedo, Michael Carroll and Sofia Uurbina, an international art broker visiting from Madrid.

Sight 'ems

Part of the midweek packed house dining at Tony's were Sheridan and John Eddie Williams with Lauren and Worth Snyder and at various tables Y. Ping Sun, Lily and Hamid Kooros and Don Sanders and fiancé Laura Moore dining with Tony Vallone . . .

Making the scene where it's always a scene — Brasserie 19 — KHOU Channel 11 sports anchor Bob Allen, Sara Dodd, Holly Moore, Gregory Fourticq, Joan Miller and scads more amid the SRO crowd . . .

Taking in the caricatures on the walls of the refurbished Palm, John and Becca Cason Thrash with Greggory and Pat Burk . . .

Melinda and Sam Stubbs dining at Da Marco with Cynthia and Tony Petrello.

Chef Philippe Schmitt worked his culinary magic for St. Luke's Health System's PULSE group.

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Intimate Musicale

Tunes fill River Oaks mansion in support of Miller Outdoor Theatre

Miller Outdoor Theatre Piano Noir fundraiser 2024

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

In a night that struck all the right notes, Robin and Danny Klaes opened their storied River Oaks home on November 10 to host an intimate soirée benefiting Houston’s beloved Miller Outdoor Theatre. Draped in sophisticated black and white cocktail attire, circa 40 arts patrons gathered for an evening of charming performances, fine cuisine, and meaningful chit chat — all with an eye toward supporting Miller’s mission of making the arts accessible to all.

The setting? An exquisitely decorated Kirby Drive home steeped in local lore, famously tied to the true-crime bestseller Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson, which added an intriguing layer to an already memorable evening. Was the ghost of Joan Robinson Hill roaming around? Perhaps.

Guests first mingled in the quaint, canopied courtyard, enjoying Chef Smirnov Catering’s hors d’oeuvres before being whisked into the grand ballroom on the second floor. With its baroque-inspired decor and ceiling murals, the space provided the allure of yesteryear, a theatrical backdrop for amicable chamber music.

St. John Flynn as emcee introduced performances by flutist Victor Kendall and the American Zeitgeist Chamber Ensemble, including Quantz’s Flute Concerto in G, Claude Bolling’s Suite for Jazz Flute, and Barber’s String Quartet. Adding a soupçon of modern flair, vocalists from the Music Box Theater — Rebekah Dahl, Brad Scarborough, and Austin Biel — offered their signature blend of cabaret and comedy.

Amid the musical interludes, Claudia de Vasco, managing director of the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, advocated for the nonprofit’s ongoing capital campaign. She spotlighted a recent key purchase: a grand piano specifically built to withstand Houston’s unpredictable outdoor elements. De Vasco invited attendees to become the official Miller Outdoor grand piano sponsors and make their mark on the amphitheater's enduring legacy.

Since stepping into her leadership role, De Vasco has ushered in a fresh energy around Miller Outdoor Theatre’s mission, focusing on how to better serve Houston’s diverse communities. The nonprofit’s free programming continues to be a gateway for Houstonians to experience everything from world-class symphonies to vibrant cultural showcases.

Guests in attendanceincluded Lance Jones and Allen Ueckert, John Edwards, Gabriel Olson, Carey Kirkpatrick, Lisa and Stan Duchman, Elizabeth and Alan Stein, Gretchen Gardener and Jack Watson, Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Karla and Romulo T. Cisneros, Senator Borris L. Miles and Cydonii Fairfax Miles, and Philamena and Arthur Baird.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Lynden Unger, Jacob Stein, Elizabeth and Alan Stein.

performing-arts fundraisers miller outdoor theatre