• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    from bluebonnets to roses

    Houston stars and notable names fascinate at Kentucky Derby with big bets, lavish looks, and divine dishes

    Steven Devadanam
    May 8, 2023 | 7:00 pm

    As America — and the world — watched a charismatic Magesprint to victory at the Kentucky Derby, a host of Houstonians were cheering on the fastest two minutes in sports at Churchill Downs.

    Notable names like Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, Reagan Bregman and her family, chef Aaron Bludorn and wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn (one of our recent power couples), and Pete Bell and his family and Cotton Holdings team made fashionable appearances — and big bets — at the 149th running.

    The Bregmans' grand-slam run for the roses

    Reagan Bregman Kentucky Derby 2023Derby glam Reagan Bregman got to visit her filly she owns with husband Alex Bregman, Golden Sombrero. Photo courtesy of Reagan Bregman

    “We decided to plan a girls trip,” Reagan Bregman tells CultureMap of the Derby day. “It was everyone’s first time and we all had so much fun. The energy at the Derby is electric.”

    Fans may have noticed a guest appearance by impossibly adorable baby Knox Bregman, who was decked out in a newsboy hat, vest, pants, and a Gerber baby smile. Bregman was joined by her mother Laurice Howard, mother-in-law Jackie Bregman, and sister-in-law Jessica Bregman Galtney.

    “I loved bringing my son on the trip and now I have all of those memories with him,” Reagan, who donned a chic fascinator, adds. Speaking of memories, Reagan enjoyed memorable moments watching the horse she owns with husband Alex Bregman.

    “We got to visit our horses, meet our filly for the first time, and watch our horse, Golden Sombrero, race after the Derby,” Reagan — says of the Bregman Family Racing horse who came in third in a race held just after Derby. “Such an incredible weekend with family and friends.”

    Return of the Mack

    McIngvale made the most of his day, despite losing a reported $1.2 million on Angel of Empire less than an hour before the race. And as for losses, Mattress Mack, sporting a red sportcoat with a Derby-inspired lining, addressed his $1 million loss betting against NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the champion Kansas City Chiefs.

    “You cost me millions betting against you,” Mack told the young superstar QB as the two shook hands.


    "You cost me millions betting against you."

    Mahomes and Mattress Mack linked up at the Kentucky Derby 😂 pic.twitter.com/gqMYe7FAC4
    — br_betting (@br_betting) May 6, 2023


    “Sorry about that one,” Mahomes replied with a laugh, “you gotta be with me next time!”

    Yes, Chef!

    Meanwhile, Houston top chef Aaron Bludorn was a featured chef at Taste of Derby, a star-studded culinary showcase that happens the Thursday before the race. Bludorn, owner of the eponymous restaurant and seafood spot Navy Blue, even walked the event’s red carpet with the other chefs. He served the Smoked Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Chow Chow from Navy Blue.

    “We loved it, had an amazing time,” Bludorn tells us. “Met tons of fun people and shared fun stories in between the races.”

    Aaron Bludorn Victoria Pappas Bludorn Kentucky Derby 2023A debonair Chef Bludorn with striking wife Victoria, who is wearing a Christine A. Moore hat from Tootsies.Photo courtesy of Aaron Bludorn

    Bludorn attended the race with his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, who looked striking in her lavender floral dress and fascinator. “We did bet on the same horse, Derma [Sotogake], but I put a little money on Mage to place which was a nice payout.” Bludorn restaurant manager Cole Parry also put his money on Mage. “We saw him practicing on Thursday at Derby at Dawn and liked what we saw,” Bludorn adds.

    Aaron Bludorn Victoria Pappas Bludorn Kentucky Derby 2023
      

    Photo courtesy of Aaron Bludorn

    Aaron Bludorn and Victoria Pappas Bludorn made for a picture-perfect pair.

    Cotton goes Derby

    Given that their over-the-top, historic Rodeo Cook-Off tent paid homage to the Derby, the folks at Cotton Holdings were a natural fit at Churchill Downs. Urban Cowboy Pete Bell, his family, rock star marketing/design guru Zinat Ahmed, and team did the Derby like only they could.

    “When we were planning our trip for the 149th annual Kentucky Derby,” Ahmed tells us, “we wanted to take the traditions of this historic event and integrate them into the renowned Cotton Experience for our influencers and clients because we knew this would make for an unforgettable weekend.”

    That meant custom illustrated itineraries and carefully planned events that highlighted the history of Louisville. Ahmed called on luxe custom artist Tara Martin and her DTLA Custom company (read our profile here) to create hand-painted hat boxes, cigar sleeves, and bottles of Blanton’s Bourbon.

    Zinat Ahmed Bailey Bell Cotton Holdings Kentucky Derby 2023Zinat Ahmed (wearing a hat from The Hat Girls) and Bailey Bell think pink at the Derby's First Turn Club.Photo courtesy of Cotton Holdings

    Cotton Holdings participated in the Galt House Hotel’s “Call to the Post” event, and welcomed guests with a special cocktail party later in the evening. Friday called for donning pink and watching Kentucky Oaks races from their seats in the First Turn Club.

    Bell, his family, and Ahmed were Derby-ready on race day. “While planning my outfits, I opted for delicate pastels to honor the traditional color palette of the Derby and lots of floral motifs to celebrate the ‘Run for the Roses,’ the always-immaculately styled Ahmed says.

    As for betting, Ahmed notes that Derby veteran Bell Pete “calculates the odds and reviews statistics.” Ahmed, however, opts for a less numbers-driven approach: “I scan the book and pick the horse with my favorite name.”

    Cheers to our Houston Derby delegates. Here’s hoping for an equally impressive outing at next year’s big 150.

    news/society
    popular

    Wildcatters Unite

    Museum gala raises $1.3 million with an assist from Billy Bob Thornton

    Joel Luks
    May 26, 2025 | 3:00 pm
    Bryan Museum Wildcatters Gala 2025
    Photo by Dave Rossman
    John Bryan, Mary Jon Bryan, Billy Bob Thornton, and J.P. Bryan.

    The Bryan Museum tapped into its roots and raised a glass — and more than $1.3 million — during its 10th Anniversary Gala, a high-octane homage to Texas’ oil legends that glittered as bright as a gusher at sunrise. Held April 12 on the storied grounds of the Galveston landmark, the Wildcatters Gala toasted five titans of the Lone Star oil legacy in a night that mixed boomtown nostalgia, couture curation, and a live-wire performance by Billy Bob Thornton and his band, The Boxmasters.

    More than 500 guests turned out for the celebration, chaired by Dancie and Jim Ware and Renee and Scott Rice, honoring Ernie H. Cockrell, Mary Ralph Lowe, Trevor Rees-Jones, and the families of Eddy C. Scurlock and R.E. “Bob” Smith.

    Guests were welcomed by a cinematic Boomtown façade and ushered into the rollicking Spindletop Saloon, where bartenders in oil-rush garb served “The Rob Roy” with a wink. The saloon spilled into interactive history vignettes—one channeling the early 1900s with the Scurlock and Cockrell legacies, another styled as a 1980s oil tycoon’s den complete with vintage tech and nods to the Astrodome. The immersive experience felt part museum, part Mad Men, part Texas-sized fever dream.

    And speaking of curation. Inside, guests previewed Kermit Oliver & Hermès: Storytelling on Silk & Canvas, the acclaimed exhibit blending high art and haute couture. Native Texan Kermit Oliver, the first American to design for the French fashion house, was feted through rare Hermès scarves and original works, reminding partygoers that Texas culture isn’t just oil and cattle, but silk and symbolism, too.

    J.P. Bryan, museum founder, took center stage for a poignant tribute to the honorees.

    “This year we chose to honor, not just a single gifted individual, but an entire industry of exceptional people who succeeded in making Texas the largest oil producer in the United States,” he said. Each honoree received The Bryan Museum History Medal of Honor, embedded with a 1500s-era silver coin and set in a five-point star, one point for each honoree, all stars in their own right.

    The night ended on a high note — literally — with Billy BobThornton and The Boxmasters igniting the tent with a raucous set that left boots tapping and bourbon glasses clinking.

    The $1.3 million raised marks a new fundraising record on Galveston Island, benefiting the museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives, and outreach programs.

    Among those in the crowd were Christy and Webb Jennings, Mary B. Jennings, Lila Jennings, Gary Petersen, Susan and Bill Sealy, Ellye Anderson and Carter Ware, Eddy and Harrison Blanton, Diana and Scott Anderson, Brady Caruth, Lisa and Michael O’Leary, Kirby and Scott McCool, Lindsay and Rand Holstead, Courtney Hopson, Shelly Mulanax, Mayes Middleton, Jochen Reiser and Gerri Popov, Terry and Tom Smith, Diane and Fred Burns, Victor and Janice Pierson, Kelley Sullivan Georgiades and George Georgiades, Jolyn and Russell Scheirman, Sarah and Todd Sullivan, and Alicia Brian.

    Bryan Museum Wildcatters Gala 2025
      

    Photo by Dave Rossman

    John Bryan, Mary Jon Bryan, Billy Bob Thornton, and J.P. Bryan.

    fundraisersmuseumsbryan museum
    news/society
    popular
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.
    Loading...