Shelby's Social Diary

CultureMap's "Painting in the Park" adventure brings out young professionals'colorfully wild side

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
It was an overflow crowd of would-be Picassos that packed the painting lawn.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Working on the community painting of the skyline.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The downtown skyline made a perfect backdrop for the painting party.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Who knew that so many would-be Manets, Monets and Grandma Moseses lurked beneath the somber suits of the city's young professionals? Well, they turned out in sell-out numbers at Discovery Green Tuesday night for a rollicking early evening of painting, imbibing and socializing.

CultureMap joined forces with Pinot's Palette to present the casual evening during which guests stationed themselves Piccaso-style at palettes to work their painterly magic on 8x8-inch canvases. The step-by-step, self-guided painting opportunity drew a cross section of talents, many of whom had never picked up a paint brush.

Kimberly Attard, who owns Wax Lab, encouraged a group of friends to try the experience that she had enjoyed previously at several birthday parties. Apartment manager Wanda Dominguez and her mom Roseann Martinez were among those who thought that "Painting in the Park" would be a good way to ease into the week.

Tyrone Tanner quipped that this was an opportunity to "take up our natural gift and abilities to become the next great artist." We're not sure that the Pixie Petals subject that the "artists" were focusing on was the road to Robert Rauschenberg fame, but, hey, everyone seemed to be having a blast.

And as Tanner's painting partner Chrysaundra Simmons explained, "It was a really good value. I've never done Pinot's before and I wanted to try it out." And they were all into the adult beverages.

Guests sipped Messina Hof wines and Stella Artois beer while nibbling on hors d'oeuvres from The Grove, just a stone's throw from the painting lawn.

With 75 palettes and spaces at painting tables available, those in the overflow crowd of 150 were able to try their talents at the community painting of the park and the downtown skyline. That project and the overall painting were overseen by local artists Carmen Talbert and Ashley Gardner.

A second "Painting in the Park" event will be held on Nov. 8. Details here.

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legacy and lyrics

High notes and higher hopes put Houston's Omega House in the spotlight

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.

For Avenue 360, it was time to get back in the gala game with Voices for Hope — its first big fundraising celebration since the pandemic. This year’s event marked a lively return to in-person gatherings, joining the ranks of busy, bustling parties that have defined 2024.

The evening celebrated the legacy of Omega House, Texas’s residential hospice for AIDS patients.

Co-chaired by Alicia Smith and Brigitte Kalai, Voices for Hope revived an important tradition of honoring Omega House’s legacy of compassionate end-of-life care. The night opened with a cocktail reception emceed by Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan, during which guests entered raffles for luxurious prizes, including jewelry from Nini Jewels and Wayne Smith Jewels, a shopping spree at Tootsie’s, and a staycation at The Post Oak Hotel with a Porsche weekend rental.

About those voices: the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts choir’s charming performance of “Seasons of Love” set the evening’s emotional tone. Blues artist Luke Whitney continued with soulful melodies before America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Christina Wells brought down the house with dynamic interpretations of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “We Are Family.”

Houston’s social scribe Shelby Hodge gifted Wells her raffle prize, honoring the performer for her roles as a singer, nurse, and mother. The gala also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Bering Omega Community Services, with board member Ken Bohan receiving the Harmony of the Heart Award. Omega House medical director Dr. Gus Krucke, director of dental services Dr. Mark Nichols, and director Sandy Stacy were honored with the Symphony of Service Award, with Stacy’s 30 years of service encouraging standing applause.

Spotted were Lance Smith, Bashar Kalai, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Leisa Holland Nelson, Farida Abjani, Shafik Rifaat, Maria and Omar Moncada Alaoui, Jody Merritt, Christine Johnson, Michele Till, Anna Reger, Mandy Kao, Mark Folkes and Christopher Johnston, Brandon Weinbrenner and Mitchell Greco, Fady Armanious, and Tony Bradfield.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.