go for the gold

Peek inside Rodeo Cook-off's most over-the-top tent: champagne, caviar, and Big stars

In the Texas-sized universe that is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, few things are more exclusive than the private tents of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, which turns 50 this year.

And arguably, the hottest, most in-demand wristband for the Bar-B-Que Contest (we know it as the Cook-off) is the Cotton ‘Q Club, hosted by Cook-off sponsor Cotton Holdings. The red-hot Cotton ‘Q opens Thursday, February 22 and welcomes revelers each night through Saturday, February 24, with more than 700 expected to pack the party.

Regal Rodeo

We've covered the ridiculously over-the-top, lavish Cotton ‘Q tent since it first opened two years ago. The brainchild of charming cowboy CEO Pete Bell and his powerhouse marketing executive vice president Zinat Ahmed, calling the destination a "tent" is like calling a Bugatti a "car."

$Zinat Ahmed Cotton \u2018Q Club$ Rock star marketing exec Zinat Ahmed poses with her pony in the Cotton ‘Q Club Photo by Ashley Patranella of Painted Peacock Photography

This "tent" boasts more than 10,000 square feet of wood-paneled, plaid-carpet luxury that immediately calls to mind New York City's iconic Polo Club. Added flair comes with Ahmed's floral flourish (seriously, there are thousands of roses) that references the Kentucky Derby. Crystal-and-antler chandeliers, seven-foot white iridescent horse statues, and a tufted bar create a cowboy chic/urbane vibe.

50 for 50 = a gold VVIP party

Each year, Ahmed and her crew up the glam, and this year is no different. To honor the “golden” celebration of 50 years of the Cook-off, the Cotton ‘Q Club will showcase gold floral arrangements throughout and gold cocktails. Rap superstar and wine fan 50 Cent gets a tribute with his award-winning Le Chemin du Roi champagne.

“When I finished Cook-off off last year, it was fun, it was brilliant — wouldn't change a thing,” Ahmed tells CultureMap. “But I came away thinking we were missing something and honestly, it was 50 Cent’s champagne; like, I wanted it.

“He just fits the luxe vibe," she continues. "He fits the energy. He’s a winner with his wine, and I really wanted to include him as he’s also a Houston resident and part of the community.”

Champagne and Cowboy Caviar, y'all

While the ‘Q is already VIP, the VVIP set can kick up their heels at its hidden, speakeasy-style lounge dubbed The Gold Pony. A "Stay Golden" neon sign beckons the lucky 50 keyholders, who can sidle up to the private bar, lounge on the plush sofas and alligator chairs, and take selfies with a seven-foot golden pony or zebra heads. As for the VVIP crowd, the spot is so A-list that a "no photography" sign cautions anyone hoping to post to the 'gram.

The Gold Pony caused quite a buzz when it opened last year in its air-conditioned glory and went even more posh and exclusive last year. This year, to kick it up a notch, VVIPs can sip 50's champagne while sampling from a full "Cowboy Caviar" bar, courtesy of hip eatery Ciel. Here, premium caviar is paired with a potato chip or a small potato for the "cowboy" theme. Nothing says regal rodeo like caviar and champagne, no?

Big name music stars shine onstage

But it's not just luxury that awaits cowgirls and cowboys. In its inaugural year, country stars Midland treated guests to a private concert. This year's musical lineup stars William Beckman, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson on Thursday. Friday sees rockin' country powerhouse Shane Smith and The Saints, and The Spazmatics close out the fun on Saturday.

Big & Rich play the big tent Thursday night. Big & Rich

Music fans and Yellowstone fans will recognize Shane Smith and The Saints; the band got major run on Season 5 of the series when they played John Dutton's (Kevin Costner) gubernatorial inauguration. Not long after, the Austin-based band played Texas Governor Greg Abbott's inauguration.

“A lot of people don’t understand how big a lot of these events are associated with the Houston Rodeo,” Smith tells us, “and that entire culture that the Rodeo is the center of. We have a ton of our friends who have gotten to headline and perform at the Rodeo — from Cody Johnson and his band Turnpike Troubadours, and Parker McCollum — so I’m really excited that we’re getting to do play it. It should be an incredible time.”

Shane Smith and The Saints, who made an appearance on Yellowstone, will play never-heard new songs at the tent.Photo courtesy of Shane Smith and The Saints

Smith and The Saints' Spotify following grew from more than 300,000 to 1.2 million after the Yellowstone exposure, but longtime fans can expect the band's Red Dirt faves along with an exclusive tease of new songs from the upcoming album, Norther, which drops in March.

"There's a song called 'Fire In The Sky' that nobody has gotten to hear yet that we're gonna be playing that night," Smith reveals. "It's about two brothers fighting in war and trying to make it home, and it's just a big Celtic rock epic song."

Hanging with Kevin Costner and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan (who counts himself a big fan) hasn't gotten the band's heads too big for their Stetsons. ‘Q guests can expect to meet them after the show.

“I always try to be accessible and be cool to the folks that allow us to keep doing this at the end of the day,” says Smith. “I've done it for a very long time and I’m gonna always try to do it — to have that connection with our fans.”

Photo by Cotton Holdings

Hip eatery Ciel serves up Cowboy Caviar.

rodeohouston

the pen is mightier

Houston's literary elite celebrate the power of books at annual gala

Photo by Wilson Parish Photography

Inprint Gala Chairs Breen and Holly Haire, Inprint Executive Director Rich Levy, Featured Speaker Lauren Groff

The super power of storytelling was the theme of the evening at the River Oaks Country Club, as Houston’s glittering literati made this year’s Inprint Poets and Writers Ball an epic tale to tell. Chaired by Holly and Breen Haire and attended by 370 literature-loving Houstonians, the gala raised more than $450,000 for Inprint’s many readings, workshops, and educational programs as well as support for Houston-based emerging writers.

Special guest speaker, the acclaimed and best selling author of Matrix, Fates & Furies, Arcadia, and The Monsters of Templeton, Lauren Groff, noted what a unique organization Inprint is and what a rarity of an occasion it is to celebrate the literary arts together.

“This does not happen anywhere else,” she remarked of the gala early in her rousing talk about the power of the written word in a time when books are being banned and censored. She emphasized that storytelling makes us human and helps us “define who we are.”

But before Groff’s words of hope for the future of books and the beguiling dinner designed by Robert Del Grande, the James Beard Award-winning Chef Emeritus of The Annie Café & Bar, the evening began with one of the gala’s most beloved traditions. Guests were treated to intimate salon readings from up and coming writers and poets. This year’s crop of authors, all with strong Inprint and Houston ties, were Rosa Boshier González reading a funny, literary work of speculative fiction; award-winning poet and writing professor Rohan Chhetri; and fellow poet, Julia Guez, reading a selection of lyrical, short poems. All three also told stories of how Inprint fellowship and awards gave them the power to chase their writerly dreams.

Photo by Wilson Parish Photography

Inprint Gala Chairs Breen and Holly Haire, Inprint Executive Director Rich Levy, Featured Speaker Lauren Groff.

This year’s gala was also the chance for long time friends to celebrate the work of Inprint executive director, Rich Levy, who retires at the end of the 2025-2026 season, after leading the organization to unprecedented heights for 31 years.

In keeping with the philosophy that not all heroes wear capes, the Inprint board presented Levy with a red cape in honor of his many years of super powered support and promotion of the literary arts in Houston. As a sign to Levy’s lasting legacy, Inprint Presidents Council member Franci Neely, was joined by board president Chinhui Juhn, board member and former president Kevin Lewis, and advisory board member Michael Zilkha to announced the establishment of The Rich Levy Inprint Poetry Buskers Endowment. With more than $132,000 in seed money already raised, this endowment will support in perpetuity the Poetry Busters program to bring poets to the people around Houston.

With another nod to the future, the Houston arts leader, educator, and writer chosen to next lead Inprint, Giuseppe Taurino, was in attendance, and took a quick bow to guests. Taurino, who now serves as executive director of Writers in the Schools (WITS) Houston, was selected to lead Inprint in a national search.

Also seen partying with the poets were Christina Bryan and Trey Peacock, Yini Collette, Kimberly Cutchall and Matt Henneman, Mary S and Jack Dawson, Consuelo Duroc-Danner, Vicky and Anthony Estrera, Debbie Gary, Marc Grossberg, Eddie Allen, Caroline Kerr and Andy Lusk, Sabria Lewis, Valerae Lewis and Michael O’Reilly, Katie Padden and Rick Evans, Noelle and Eric Reed, Lillie Robertson, Katie Sammons and Terry Lohrenz, Nikita and Atman Shukla, Limor and Stuart Smith, Diana Strassmann and Jeff Smisek, Nina Zilkha, Michelle and Rishi Varma.

fundraisers inprint