Shelby About Town
Dracula, Tom Jones and even Houston Texan Shaun Cody make their plays on thesocial field
What began some years ago as a quiet Halloween party at Karen and Roland Garcia's Memorial-area spread has morped into a full-blown costume romp that this year even had a volunteer charity component. Donations were accepted to the Rose Ribbon Foundation.
Guests were encouraged to wear costumes and most of the 200-plus partygoers obliged. Beyond wining, dining and socializing, this party had plenty of pizzazz. The Garcias arranged for spectacular choreographed light and video shows, produced by LD Systems, playing throughout the night. Cindi Rose created her famous silhouettes of guests and society astrologer Herb Hochman told fortunes. Plus, there was a photo booth.
Among the elaborately costumed guests joining the Garcias were notables Philamena and Arthur Baird, Dr. Franklin Rose, Liz and Tom Glanville, Edward Sanchez, Miya Shay, Melissa and City Councilman Ed Gonzalez, City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones, JoAnn and Judge Robert Shaffer, Janis Schmees, Louise and Gerry Birnberg and South Texas College of Law Dean Donald Guter.
Roland Garcia, aka Dracula on this night, is shareholder with Greenberg Traurig.
Tom Jones on the line!
No question, Kimberly DeLape all butswoons at the mere thought of the Welsh singer. So when friends got together to celebrate her 50th birthday with a party at Grille 5115 in Saks Fifth Avenue, hubby Frank DeLape, in an act of true love, arranged for Jones to give the birthday girl a call. Never mind that the call dropped (he is in Europe) before they could speak to one another.
Hostesses Deborah Duncan, Sylvia Forsythe and Alicia Smith, in keeping with the theme, provided posters of Tom Jones, including one autographed with birthday wishes, and a Tom Jones blow-up doll that went nicely with the Beyoncé doll.
Among 23 guests donning disco ball necklaces in honor of the birthday girl were Carolyn Farb, Lucinda Loya, Ericka Bagwell, Amy Lee, Ann Carl, Mehrnaz Gill, Tena Faust and Pily Simon.
Serious matters
It was a go-getter father-daughter team that led Children at Risk to a successful luncheon at Hotel ZaZa. Joseph Sutton and Megan Sutton-Reed chaired the benefit that was attended by more than 500 and raised more than $360,000 for the annual Accolades Luncheon. The theme of the fundraiser was "Bursting the Human Trafficking Bubble."
Leading the program were former First Lady Barbara Bush and CNN's Amber Lyon. Ashley Judd had been scheduled to speak on child trafficking, but following the death of race car driver Dan Wheldon, she canceled. Judd and her husband, race car driver Dario Franchitti, were close friends with Wheldon.
The program honored Janet and Bob Zincke and Fox 26.
Sight 'ems
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Whip of the House, rallying the troops at a private luncheon in the Enoteca Room at Grotto on Friday . . .
Houston Texans nose tackle Shaun Cody celebrating the team's win on Sunday with his family at Morton's the Steakhouse in the Galleria area, where restaurant GM Brad Smith gave him a high-five congrats and where former President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara Bush had dinner as well . . .
Mary Ann McKeithan and Julia Frankel hosting a bevy of social swans for a fall ladies lunch fest at Tony's.