Shelby's Social Diary

The best private party of the summer? Santa Barbara polo a sweet diversion forHouston expats

His team won the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open and she co-hosted a lavish partyfor the polo teams.
Photo by Baron Spafford
Houstonians Sandi and Bill Nicholson spun Texas magic at their Solana estate inMontecito, Calif., where two Ferrari FFs greeted guests.
Photo by Baron Spafford
Guests at the Bombardier table at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet club seasonfinale.
Photo by David Lominska
Photo by Baron Spafford
Photo by Baron Spafford
Photo by Baron Spafford
Photo by Baron Spafford

And you thought that Aspen, Nantucket and Pebble Beach had the lock on the hearts of well-heeled Houstonians. Say hello to the luxe environs of Santa Barbara/Montecito where more than a few of our seasonal expats pass much of the summer.

As the Santa Barbara polo season came to an end over the holiday weekend, the Lone Star influence was clearly felt during the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open Finals at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Texans on the whole prevailed as John Muse of Dallas led his Team Lucchese to tournament victory, beating out the Andy Busch team that included Houston seven-goal player Jeff Hall. (Busch is great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch.) That victory was the third in a row for Team Lucchese and the first time for a threepeat in the 103-year history of the tournament.

Sandi and Bill Nicholson gave "the best private party of the summer at their fabulous Solona estate," an evening honoring Santa Barbara polo players and Montecito friends.

Among Houstonians taking in the excitement of this final round of polo, as guests of Bombardier, the luxury private jet manufacturer, were Bombardier jet owner John Eddie Williams and wife Sheridan plus Carol and Mike Linn, Karen and Mike Mayell and Carolyn Farb.

Front and center throughout the polo season was former Houstonian, Dallas resident Charles Ward, managing partner of Idea Works, Inc. Ward summers in this swank California playland, where he exercises his renowned talents as wealth marketing guru. That debonnaire gent maintains an occasional presence on the Houston scene, often accompanying Carolyn Farb.

Ward reports that earlier in the polo-centered activities, Houstonians Sandi and Bill Nicholson gave "the best private party of the summer at their fabulous Solona estate," an evening honoring Santa Barbara polo players and Montecito friends. Ward adds that the season ended with a spectacular party hosted by Houstonian Scott Wood, who heads ERG Team and is president of ERG Resources. Look for this event to become a highly-touted tradition across the polo-infused landscape.

(You might recall that the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club hosted British royals last summer. Shortly after their marriage in 2011, Prince William and Kate were guests at the club, where the prince played in the Foundation Polo Challenge.)

unspecified

College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

Ambition is contagious.

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

And that was the ethos when Emerge supporters gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the organization’s annual Build the Village Luncheon, a polished midday affair centered on a simple but powerful idea: Investing in Houston’s next generation of leaders.

More than 400 guests filled the room for the program, including Emerge scholars, for a celebration of the organization’s mission to help high-achieving students from low-income communities gain admission to and graduate from the country’s top colleges.

Serving as co-chairs were Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm, who welcomed guests to a lively gathering. The luncheon honored Mia Mends, chief executive officer of Cushman and Wakefield Services and former Emerge board chair, recognizing her years of leadership, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for the organization’s scholars.

One of the afternoon’s most electric moments arrived when Klein Collins High School senior Diana Villatoro Sorto stepped to the podium and announced that she will attend Princeton University this fall. The declaration sparked an immediate roar of applause across the ballroom, the kind that ripples through a crowd and lingers for longer than expected.

The program also spotlighted Emerge alumna Marlee Morgan, whose story of resilience and academic success is an example of the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting scholars well beyond the college admissions process. Emerge’s work doesn’t end with an acceptance letter. It extends into helping students navigate college and launch meaningful careers.

The crowd’s enthusiasm translated into tangible support. Attendees raised more than $760,000.

On the scene were Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Farid Virani, Liz DeMontrond, Jack Blanton, Ann Stern, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and Ruth Lopez Turley, and many others.