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    Shelby About Town

    County Judge Emmett mixes martinis, Mayor Parker wins in NYC & Paula Deen dinesin H-Town

    Shelby Hodge
    Sep 20, 2011 | 3:45 pm
    • Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has the hand of a mixologist.
      Photo by Omar Mejia/LastNightPics.com
    • Miya Shay pours at the Immunization Partnership event.
      Photo by Omar Mejia/LastNightPics.com
    • Donna Josey Chapman, from left, Lynn Wyatt and Donna Vallone at Tony's.
      Photo by Kim Coffman
    • Kristi Schiller, from left, Richard Flowers and Diane Lokey Farb were guests atthe American Hospital luncheon.
      Photo by Kim Coffman
    • Souad Malouf Bejjani, left, Woody Nassar and Roseann Rogers at Saks FifthAvenue.
      Photo by Kevin Chappell
    • Ann Marie and Brian Cervenka, left, and Diane Cervenka, at the CatholicCharities party.
      Photo by Kevin Chappell

    Who knew that Harris County Judge Ed Emmett was such a talent at mixing martinis? James Bond would have approved of the politico's shaken-not-stirred technique as the judge shook and poured for patrons of the Immunization Partnership.

    Judge Emmett, who focused on traditional gin concoctions, was joined in the celebrity spotlight by Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti and KTRK Channel 13 news whiz Miya Shay, who poured orange and chocolate martinis, respectively. Happily, the 250 guests didn't have to count entirely on the trio to provide libations. There was a cadre of professional bar tenders keeping thirsts slaked throughout Susan Krohn's River Oaks home.

    The ever-generous Krohn opened the doors of her chateau-style dwelling for the "Shake It Up Martini Party," chaired by Michelle Bohreer, Vicki Brentin and Kelly Raley.

    While there was plenty of play with the double-entendre of shots (as in vodka) vs. shots (as in the doctor's office), there was a serious message delivered by Dr. Paul Offit of Philadelphia. The author of Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All warned that misinformation leads to vaccine hesitancy and illness. That didn't prevent Immunization Partnership president and CEO Anna Dragsbaek from quipping, "This night proves that shots can be fun."

    Agreeing on that point were Craig Cordola, Lindy McGee, Kimberly Cotner David, Julie Boom, State Rep. Sarah Davis, State Sen. Joan Huffman and Melanie Mouzoon.

    An American in Paris

    Donna Josey Chapman rounded up a sleek collection of sociables for lunch in Tony's wine room on Monday where she beat a fashionable drum for the American Hospital in Paris. Donna, a graduate of the Sorbonne and owner of a swank residence in Paris, is chairman of the board of the renowned hospital. (For those who don't know, the hospital was created by an act of Congress in 1913.)

    Donna and fellow board member Linda Barrett, who with her husband John, has a second home in Normandy, are encouraging their Houston friends to become hospital ambassadors (a $2,500 donation opens doors to American Hospital medical attention throughout much of the world) and to support the early planning for a Houston-based benefit. Luncheon guest Donna Vallone suggested a French wine dinner. Bien sur!

    Joining the hostess, who recently returned to Houston after several years away following the death of her huband Jack Josey, were interested parties including American Hospital board member Diane Lokey Farb, Coco Blaffer, Donatella Benckenstein, Danielle Ellis, Richard Flowers, Kristi Schiller, Bruce Padilla and Rosemary Malone Houck.

    NYC hearts Mayor Parker

    It was quickie trip to New York for Mayor Annise Parker, who spent much of her brief visit promoting hometown Houston during a political fundraiser in the Fifth Avenue offices of Fulbright & Jaworski. Senior partner Neil Thomas of Houston and Fulbright's New York partner-in-charge Linda Addison, formerly of the Houston office, hosted.

    In the crush of 50, mostly New Yorkers, were a handful of Houstonians who made the trip including PR whiz Cindy Clifford, Houston Style publisher Francis Page Jr., Fulbright's executive committee chair Steven Pfeiffer, Goldman Sachs' Terry Thornton and Jason Fuller, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's regional director.

    In an interesting aside, Francis is married to Kristyn Page, national director of multi-cultural affairs for Macy's, and she offices in New York. The couple enjoys a commuter marriage and both attended the fundraiser.

    More NYC fun

    Neil Thomas, Cindy Clifford and Jason Fuller stayed over in the Big Apple to attend the salute to New York City's 50 Most Powerful Women of whom Linda Addison is one. Sponsored by Crain's New York Business, the awards luncheon was held at 583 Park Avenue.

    Addison was in good company, recognized along with Arianna Huffington, desigenrs Diane Von Furstenberg and Tory Burch and business notables such as Mary Anne Tighe, CEO of CB Richard Ellis Tri-State.

    Making up while partying

    There was a reason that the cosmetics salon at Saks Fifth Avenue was packed to the rafters the other night. Supporters of Catholic Charities' "A Cardinal's Christmas" luncheon, set for Dec. 10, poured in for schmoozing and make-up consults and pre-event enthusiasm.

    Roseann Rogers and hubby Dr. Aashish Shah, who chair the luncheon, held court among the bustling crowd that just couldn't get enough of the featured Dior make-up samples and demos. Yes, even the men got into the act, sampling Dior's skin care products.

    Joining the fun that included noshing on bites from Grille 5115 were Tracy and Jim Geary, Theresa McKinna, Woody Nassar, Ann Marie and Brian Cervenka, Diane Cervenka, Kirstin Feazel, Souad Malouf Bejjani, Nancy Marcus Golden and Jackie Roy.

    Sight 'ems

    Boxer Lou Saverese and businessman Kevin Robins lunching at Grotto . . .

    Reza Pahlavi, his father the late Shah of Iran, dining at Restaurant CINQ in La Colombe d’Or . . .

    NBC national news correspondent Janet Shamlian and hubby Le Melcher dining with Alex Brennan-Martin at Brennan's . . .

    Paula Dean and hubby Michael, who didn't quite make it to Vic & Anthony's due to the dress code, dining at Morton's downtown location where they feasted on chef Frank Lewis' bone in filet, sea bass, brussels sprouts, and carrot cake. Paula was quoted as loving the carrot cake, "Yum y'all."

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    Safety First

    Houston spirit shines as Crime Stoppers gala raises $2 million

    Joel Luks
    Dec 9, 2025 | 4:30 pm
    undefined
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Event and strategy chairs Vanessa Ames, Kristen Collins, Dana Barton, Brooke Lee, and Jordan Seff.

    Big hats met big-hearted giving at The Revaire as Crime Stoppers of Houston hosted its Second Annual “Raise ’Em Up for Texas” Gala, presented by Glenda and Russell Gordy and the C. James and Carole Walter Looke Family Fund

    The evening unfolded like a Texas-sized toast guided by gala chairs Brooke Lee, Dana Barton, and Kristen Collins, and lifted further by strategic chairs Vanessa Ames and Jordan Seff.

    More than 460 guests filled the sprawling venue, welcomed first by a festive happy hour and a bustling silent auction. Master of ceremonies Johnny Bravo kicked things into gear as guests settled in, followed by remarks from Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious, who championed the crowd’s shared commitment to keeping Houston safe.

    Speaker Maurine Molak, co-founder of the David’s Legacy Foundation shared the story of her son, whose life was cut short at 16 after enduring relentless cyberbullying. She illuminated the gap in resources available to families at the time and the sweeping efforts that eventually led to David’s Law. Her partnership with Crime Stoppers through The John M. O’Quinn Foundation Million for Million campaign has already reached more than two million students, continuing David’s legacy by empowering young Texans to seek safety, support, and hope.

    A surprise presentation of the Second McIngvale Family Humanitarian Award honored Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown of Southern Smoke Foundation for their community-wide compassion. Accepting on their behalf was Catarina Bill.

    Then came a major announcement: The creation of a new Crime Stoppers Women’s Collective, a group of 50 women stepping into a leadership role for 2026, along with an ambitious push to educate 10 million Texas students and the launch of SafeSpace Student Hub, a digital platform designed to give students a confidential place to seek guidance.

    Nobody’s Fool closed out the night with plenty of two-stepping as supporters lingered, celebrating a mission-driven evening that raised a record-breaking $2 million.

    Showing up in full Texas spirit were Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Hallie Vanderhider, Sippy and Ajay Khurana, Tom Ramsey, Noe Diaz, Ben Katrib, Twila Carter, Willie Davis, Fred Flickinger, Mary Nan Huffman, Julian Ramirez, Alan Rosen, Terry Allbritton, Emily DeToto, Lori DeAngelo, Peyton Peebles, Aaron Burdette, Lance Long, Dan Simons, Carolyn Dozier, Ken Wise, Tiffany Herd, Eric and Lisa Elder, Alex and Tammy Janos, Kari Lynd, Natalie and Steve Mohtashami, Kyle and Erin Cummings, Snehal Amin and Adrienne Amin, Jessica Leeke, Carla and Tony Maarraoui, Karen and Lohn Zylicz, Frank and Jill Stagg, Robert and Dana Clay, Catherine and Peter Badger, Pam Connealy, Mayes and Macy Middleton, Megan and Walker Weston, Meredith and Ben Marshall, Seth and Hannah Siegel-Gardner, Anna Reger, Sheri Zucker, Trini Mendenhall, Phillip Royalty, Jeff Nadalo, Farida Abjani, Maria Moncada Alaoui and Omar Alaoui, Susan Boggio, Deborah Duncan, and Laura Ward.

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Event and strategy chairs Vanessa Ames, Kristen Collins, Dana Barton, Brooke Lee, and Jordan Seff.

    fundraiserscrime stoppers houston
    news/society

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