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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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    Big Spenders

    Retro futurism meets philanthropy as Houston museum gala raises $3.6M

    Joel Luks
    Mar 12, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Houston Museum of Natural Science Gala 2026
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Will Lee, Britton Daugbjerg, Ella Fertitta, and Jason Fertitta.

    Big spenders to the front, please.

    On a night when Houston’s black-tie crowd orbited the worlds of science, style, and a little retro-futurism, the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Futurama: A Stardust Odyssey Gala 2026 felt less like a traditional fundraiser and more like an expedition through the museum’s halls.

    Chaired by Randa and Charlie Williams alongside Susanne and Joel Bartsch, the gala welcomed more than 350 guests who arrived ready to lean into the evening’s mid-century futuristic theme. Instead of a traditional program, tables were scattered throughout the museum, an intentional design that encouraged guests to roam. Blooming Gallery’s décor channeled a bright, Jetsons-inspired palette before shifting into a copper-and-marigold Mad Men mood as the evening progressed.

    Let’s talk about the Vault Auction, as it had a gravitational force all its own, delivering a treasure trove of museum-worthy marvels and luxury collectibles.

    Among the headliners was a jaw-dropping 90–troy-ounce crystallized gold specimen from the Beta Hunt Gold Mine in Western Australia, with a $850,000 starting bid. A Chanel brooch centered on a GIA-certified yellow sapphire had a starting bid of $180,000, while a dazzling pair of earrings featuring Paraiba tourmaline, Mahenge pink spinel, and diamonds was valued between $800,000 and $1.2 million. The crown jewel of the display? “Rocks in a Box,” a museum-quality curated mineral collection assembled by HMNS curators selling for $1.8 million.

    Need a ride? We got you. A 1965 Jaguar XKE Series 1 4.2 Coupe donated by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru was up for grabs.

    Gulf Coast Entertainment’s Justin and The SwingBeats Quartet filled cocktail hour with jazz standards and retro pop. Later, diners gathered in Morian Hall of Paleontology and the Morian Overlook for a multi-course meal of elevated Southern fare.

    After dinner, the celebration shifted into high gear in the Grand Entry Hall. Joystix Entertainment transformed the space into a retro arcade with glowing pinball machines, Donkey Kong cabinets, and pool tables. Flamingo showgirls by J&D Entertainment strutted through the crowd. Guests danced to live music, sipped milkshakes, nibbled late-night mini grilled cheese sandwiches, and even tried their luck at claw machines filled with gemstones and minerals.

    The affair became the most successful gala in the museum’s history, raising $3.6 million to support educational programs, exhibitions, and outreach initiatives.

    Orbiting the scene were Mary and Ron Neal, Patty and T. Mark Kelly, Caroline and Jack Williams, Nancy and David Pustka, Cynde and Chris Stravros, Mary Helen and Pete Bowden, Meg and Dick Weekley, Al Walker, Joella and Steve Mach, Monica and Fox Benton, Lisa and Mike O’Leary, and Chandos and Ike Epley, alongside many of Houston’s leading philanthropists and community supporters.

    Houston Museum of Natural Science Gala 2026

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Will Lee, Britton Daugbjerg, Ella Fertitta, and Jason Fertitta.

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