Social Planner

5 great reasons Houstonians should attend the next CultureMap Social

CultureMap Social, March 2016, Sheila Shtepani, I. Maria Calderon, Gresa Baboci, Christine Shtepani

Look how much fun these women are having at CultureMap Social.

Our CultureMap Social series returns Thursday, October 6, and we agree, it’s been too long since we’ve hosted a young professionals happy hour — the last one was so sizzling that the Houston Fire Department showed up!

This one takes place at West Ave, and honors the Top Texans Under 30, an exciting group of Houstonians who are making thing happen.

Tickets are normally $25, but if you use the code SOCIAL5, you can save $5 (and 100 percent of sales will be donated to non-profits). Read on for five reasons to attend the CultureMap Social.

1. You get to meet the Top Texans Under 30.
This is the first year for our Top Texans Under 30 program, in which we celebrate the twentysomething trailblazers making stuff happen across the state — and, in some cases, the world. We can’t wait to introduce you to Houstonians —Andyshea Saberioon, Ricky Johnson, Dakota Carter, Kathleen Perley, Mariame Aana, and Mohamad Maarouf — six of the 26 winners. Worth noting: You don’t have to be under 30 to attend this shindig. Which is a good thing, because I’m not.

2. You can partake in fancy food and drink.
Sample great fare from West Ave restaurants Cru, Eddie V’s, Del Frisco’s Grille as well as light bites from Caswell Catering. For dessert, Ann Sacks is hosting champagne and cake balls while Dr. Roth is sponsoring treats from Petite Sweets. And wet your whistle with beer from Alaska Brewing Co. and a Woodford Reserve whisky tasting hosted by Suitsupply.

3. You get to experience our famous party tricks.
We could just dial it in, serve some good food and drink, and call it an evening. But that is not our style. We like to keep our guests entertained and engaged. This round, that means a succulent bar from Pop Shop America, numerology readings, and a pop-up performance by Red Bull Flying Bach.

4. You could win a cool gift card.
One lucky guest will win a $100 gift card from all participating West Ave retailers, including Ann Sacks, Azur West, Bang & Olufsen, Cru, Del Frisco's Grille, Dr. Roth, Eddie V's, Flor, Ligne Roset, Milk + Honey Spa, Moroso, Q Custom Clothier & Rye 51, Revolution Studio, Tootsies, and Suitsupply. Register while you're at the party at Tootsies.

5. You contribute to charity just by attending.
All ticket sales go to charities selected by our Top Texans Under 30. So you get all of the above, and the following nonprofits reap the rewards:

PledgeCents, selected by Andyshea Saberioon and Ricky Johnson
Live Consortium, selected by Dakota Carter
Girls Inc. Houston, selected by Kathleen Perley
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, selected by Mariame Aana
KIPP Houston High School, selected by Mohamad Maarouf

Round up your friends, and RSVP now. We’ll see you there.

top-texans-under-30 event-planner

shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

When the Children’s Museum Houston threw its annual adult fête on October 26, the Corinthian wasn’t just an event space, it was a full-on haunted playground for the city’s imaginative souls. Nearly 500 attendees — clad in mysterious black lace, horns, feathers, and flowing capes — stepped into a realm where goth and childhood wonder collided with spectacular results.

This year’s “Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance,” chaired by Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez, made no bones about its moody vibe. From the moment partygoers floated in, the eerie ambiance—think chandeliers dripping in ghostly light and roses under glass cages—set the stage.

The masterminds at Bergner and Johnson Design turned the room into a scene from a spellbinding fairytale, where fog floated ominously across a grand fountain, dotted with rose petals and flickering candles. One could practically hear the spirits whisper.

And as any child knows, no Halloween is complete without a little shock and awe. At one point, lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the room. Even the sweet tooth found its haunting hour with Jackson and Co.’s darkly decadent desserts, including cake candles that might just have you second-guessing what’s edible. It was a feast fit for vampires, werewolves, and Houston’s social elite alike.

Adding to the festivities, ‘80s cover band The Spazmatics revived the dance floor with a high-energy, undead-worthy set, pulling every last creature of the night into their spell. With the iconic chandeliers casting an ethereal glow, the floor was alive with revelers reliving their MTV glory days.

Maleficent, Dracula, and Wednesday Addams mingled with the crowd, adding a dash of dark fantasy to the evening’s ambiance while paddle bids flew during the live and silent auctions chaired by Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey. Highlights included everything from a diamond necklace to a puppy duo courtesy of K-9 Angels Rescue. Guests vied with ghostly fervor for a bangle donated by Zadok Jewelers. After a close battle, Yana Rodilosso emerged triumphant

The evening raised a spine-tingling $1.14 million, the museum’s second-highest tally ever, all to fuel its mission to nurture Houston's young minds.

Among the undead were Alexandra and Alex Cabraie, Antoinette and Julian Duncan, Kathryn and Travis Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Courtney and Bo Hughes, Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher, Stephanie Wilcox, Freddie Minahan, Heather and Mark Teshoian, Iona and Mike Avery, Veronica and John Griffin, Lacey and Matt Goossen, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Cassandra and Ryan Dalton, and Matthew Mackey.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, and Bethany Buchanan.