Party with a purpose: Houston's Top Texans Under 30 celebrated at splashy CultureMap Social

Party with a Purpose

CultureMap Socials are always lively affairs. But with Houston's Top Texans Under 30 as the guests of honor, the good times rolled in more ways than one at this party with a purpose at West Ave.

All six Houstonians beamed as they each received a glass trophy and huge applause from the audience of family, friends and CultureMap readers who regularly attend the quarterly socials. The Houston honorees are Andyshea Saberioon and Ricky Johnson, co-founders of PledgeCents; Dr. Dakota Carter, founder of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the UTHealth McGovern Medical School; Decode Digital founder Kathleen Perley; Mariame Aana, supervising attorney for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; and KIPP Houston High School principal Mohamad Maarouf.

Top Texans Under 30, created by CultureMap to salute twentysomething trailblazers who are making things happen across the state — and, in some cases, the world — is honoring 26 individuals in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio in this inaugural celebration.

The party was so high-spirited that, while presenting the awards,CultureMap network editor-in-chief Jennifer Chininis had to good-naturedly shush the boisterous crowd to focus their attention on the honorees.

The CultureMap crew, led by network marketing director Jessica Baldwin, and the Tootsies team, led by Shelley Taylor Ludwick, gave the store an extra party vibe by removing the glass product cases in the middle of the store to create a open space where DJ Senega spun tunes while an instructor from Revolution Studio cycled to the beat of the music.

Flor, Azur West, Stash, Milk + Honey Spa, and other tenants from West Ave, which sponsored the event, provided displays as guests sampled light bites from Cru, Eddie V’s, and Del Frisco’s Grille and emptied the dessert bar, featuring champagne and cake balls from Ann Sacks. They also devoured treats from Petite Sweets, courtesy of Dr. Roth, and slaked their thirst with beer from Alaska Brewing Co. and a Woodford Reserve whisky tasting hosted by Suitsupply.

Guests also had the opportunity to have a session with numerology reader Melaine Hogan and go home with a custom-made terrarium, courtesy of Pop Shop America.

Red Bull Flying Bach, the high-flying breakdance troupe that will be performing at the Hobby Center on January 20-22, also thrilled the crowd with an impromptu performance that had the dancers spinning on the marble floor.

Tickets sales from the Social will be given to nonprofit charities selected by the Houston Top Texan Under 30 recipients.

Seen in the crowd were Holly Alvis, Kaitlin Saraguna, Maximiliano Degwitz, Sarah Baker, Tarra Gaines, Jessica Goldman, Krystal Finch, Ronke Amubieya, Meagan Thomason, Cary Pratka, Rebecca Lu, Nadine Chen, Natalia Cuenca, Sheila Shtephani, Whitney Wolff, Elizabeth Shafer, Sarah Baker, Ashley Trauer, Karena Zolner, and Zak Nave.

Also enjoying the fun were Zainab Ghwari, Kathy Baba, Ethan Cavender, Krysten Keffer, James Kelso, Bahiyyih Autry, Cooper Gouge, Maggie Gomez, Mallary Lattanze, Angie Jones, Nick Becraft, Kathleen Perley, Kelli Krenik, and Allyson Johnson.

Holly Alvis, right, and Kaitlin Saraguna take a selfie. In the background are Maximiliano Degwitz and Andyshea Saberioon.

CultureMap Social Houston Maximiliano Degwitz, Kaitlin Saraguna, Andyshea Saberioon, Holly Alvis

Holly Alvis, right, and Kaitlin Saraguna take a selfie. In the background are Maximiliano Degwitz and Andyshea Saberioon.

5 great reasons Houstonians should attend the next CultureMap Social

Social Planner

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.

Photo courtesy of Decode Digital

Houston digital marketer inspires others to succeed by not being afraid to fail

Decoding Entrepreneurship

Editor’s note:This is the inaugural year for CultureMap’s Top Texans Under 30, a program that celebrates the twentysomething power players making a difference in their industries and communities across the Lone Star State — and, in some cases, the world. The full list is here. For now, read all about Kathleen Perley.

At just 25, Kathleen Perley founded Decode Digital, a digital marketing agency dedicated to continual evolution within the industry. Three years later, the 28-year-old Houstonian heads the agency of 15 employees, and it’s already earned 15 Crystal Awards from the American Marketing Association of Houston.

With projected annual revenues of $3 million, it’s safe to say that Perley and Decode Digital are here to stay.

In her free time, Perley promotes the advancement of young women in the corporate world through partnering with a number of organizations including her alma mater, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston. She’s also actively participated with the Houston chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Mutton Bustin’ Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

We caught up with Perley to learn more about what makes her tick.

CultureMap: What inspires you to do what you do?

Kathleen Perley: I’ve always enjoyed logic problems, and marketing is like a huge logic problem. Testing concepts, merging technologies, using data, and innovating are just a few components I like to use to solve the problem.

Digital marketing is constantly changing, and I like to be challenged. With a wide range of clients, I get to learn a lot about a number of industries, which is great because I really am a closet nerd at heart. In fact, I listen to TED Talks as part of my bedtime routine.

CM: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other Texans trying to make a difference by innovating?

KP: Fail first. When I initially made the decision to go out and start a business on my own, many people told me that I should have taken a safer career path and that I would fail.

But if you really throw yourself into things and know that, yes, you will fail — potentially multiple times — be the first to fail at it and then adapt. The result will be a tenacity and fortitude to be successful in whatever life brings.

CM: Sum up Texas in three words.

KP: Badass. No need for two others!

CM: What’s one thing that people might not know about you?

KP: After I returned to the United States from a Fulbright Research grant in Madrid, I had plans to get a Ph.D. on a full scholarship for linguistics and speech pathology. The program wasn’t going to begin for a while, so in the meantime, I decided to get a minimum-wage job at a startup automotive digital agency.

That’s when I fell in love with marketing, especially the data and analytics. I ended up declining the full ride and dream of being the cool professor with my own research to pursue this new accidental career path that I love.

CM: Finish this sentence: “It’s a good day when … ”

KP: I’m not needed in the business, allowing me to work on the business. This means I’ve been able to surround myself with incredibly smart people to whom I’ve been able to provide the tools and instill the confidence in themselves to make things happen.

---

RSVP now for the CultureMap Social: Top Texans Under 30 Edition, October 6 at Tootsies, to celebrate Perley and her fellow Houston winners.

Courtesy photo

Pioneering Houston psychiatrist makes it his mission to help LGBTQ youth

Advocate Alert

Founder of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the McGovern Medical School (formerly UTHealth), Dr. Dakota Carter has become one of the leading champions of LGBTQ mental health. He’s written LGBTQ health curriculum for McGovern Medical School and Baylor College School of Medicine, and he maintains a clinical practice in Houston.

He’s also the Democratic nominee for the State Board of Education District 6 — the first openly gay candidate for the board — and he’s currently pursuing his second doctorate in education. Dr. Carter is certainly busy, but he seems to be inexhaustible in his mission to help LGBTQ youth.

The 28-year-old was named to the APA/SAMHSA Minority Fellowship program in July 2016, one of the oldest and most respected residency fellowships with the American Psychological Association and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This funding will allow Dr. Carter to continue his work in LGBTQ mental health research.

We chatted with Dr. Carter to learn more about his mission.

CultureMap: What inspires you to do what you do?

Dakota Carter: I love giving back. I feel so blessed for the many wonderful opportunities in discovering my passion for my career, giving back to my community, and attempting to make a difference.

My family’s philosophy has always been to tackle problems when you see them and give back. I do this every day, from my clinical practice and research to help my patients and their families, to brainstorming with my campaign team to ensure that we are fighting for all Texans.

Running for office as a young person is challenging, but it is vital for our generation to be engaged. We need more young people present for decisions and discussions to utilize their unique talents and creativity to improve our great state, country, and world.

CM: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other Texans trying to make a difference by innovating?

DC: It’s something I tell all the kiddos I see: “Stay true to yourself and use your voice!” We all have something to contribute, and everyone deserves a place at the table. New, bold ideas really can change the world.

CM: Sum up Texas in three words.

DC: Diverse. Boundless. Home.

CM: What’s one thing that people might not know about you?

DC: I grew up on a ranch in West Texas. Before college, I rodeoed and was an avid horseback rider.

CM: Finish this sentence: “It’s a good day when … ”

DC: It’s a good day when, after a long day on the campaign trail or working with patients – or both! – I can come home to my awesome dog and start a Netflix binge.

---

RSVP now for the CultureMap Social: Top Texans Under 30 Edition, October 6 at Tootsies, to celebrate Carter and his fellow Houston winners.

Photo courtesy of Mariame Aana

Young Houston immigration attorney leads by altruistic example

Service Before Self

The power of connection fuels Mariame Aana’s work, whether she’s serving as supervising attorney for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, mentoring others, or leading a team of volunteers. The 27-year-old Houstonian is the definition of an overachiever — she’s proficient in French, Spanish, and Arabic, and dabbles in Mandarin, plus she has a law degree and an MBA — but what makes her so special is she always finds ways to funnel that energy into helping others.

Through her volunteer work in the semester after passing her New York bar exam — while she was waiting to take her Texas bar exam — Aana found her passion for immigration law. She credits the experience with providing the foundational skills to begin her practice in the sector.

In her role at Catholic Charities, Aana oversees the St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance’s pro bono program, where she coordinates outreach efforts and pro bono work with other attorneys and legal caseworkers. The program provides assistance to legal permanent residents seeking citizenship, DACA applicants, unaccompanied refugee minors, and others in need of legal assistance.

She took a few minutes out of her busy work schedule to chat with us about the things that inspire her.

CultureMap: What inspires you to do what you do?

Mariame Aana: My inspiration, secret weapon, and top influence on my life trajectory is my mom! From preschool onward, I was involved in her community service projects. She instilled in me the value that in obtaining or attaining a safe, secure, and stable life for yourself, “you have the opportunity to make a change, to make a positive impact, to make it a better world for you and the rest of the world.”

CM: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other Texans trying to make a difference?

MA: Understand and maximize the value you bring to the table, as well as where the need is in the marketplace — whether in the nonprofit world or elsewhere — in order to best position yourself to make an impact.

CM: Sum up Texas in three words:

MA: Storied, spirited, singular.

CM: What’s one thing that people might not know about you?

MA: One day, I hope to have my own bee farm! I’ve taken an introductory beekeeping class and purchased some starter materials. In the near future, I’d settle for one or two hives as soon as I find the time to care for them.

CM: Finish this sentence: “It’s a good day when … ”

MA: I’ve tackled the items on my to-do list that would otherwise keep me up at night if pushed to tomorrow. It’s a great day when I get a chance to take on challenges beyond deadline survival. It’s a perfect day when I have some downtime in between!

---

RSVP now for the CultureMap Social: Top Texans Under 30 Edition, October 6 at Tootsies, to celebrate Aana and her fellow Houston winners.

Courtesy photo

Admirable young Houstonian helps build a better future for high schoolers

Praiseworthy Mentorship

Passionate about social justice and education, 29-year-old Mohamad Maarouf defies the norm for what you might expect from a school administrator. As the principal of KIPP Houston High School, Maarouf loves hanging out with students at lunch, chatting with them in the halls, and he never misses a school sporting event. As a mentor, Maarouf is accessible and fosters a love of learning every day.

KIPP, which stands for Knowledge Is Power Program, was developed for underserved students who might otherwise have limited access to empowering academic programs. Maarouf’s calm demeanor and dedication is exactly the kind of adult influence that many of his students crave. He’s even been known to pick students up from school and tutor others on Saturdays.

We sat down with this tireless advocate to learn a bit more about him.

CultureMap: What inspires you to do what you do?

Mohamad Maarouf: I’m inspired by my students. Each and every day I come to school, it is through my students’ personal exploration and the quest for equity that I see our world becoming a better place. To me, there is no better reason to wake up every morning.

CM: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other Texans trying to make a difference?

MM: Do your homework!

CM: Sum up Texas in three words:

MM: Bigger and better.

CM: What’s one thing that people might not know about you?

MM: Although I am Palestinian and Lebanese, the majority of my family lives in The Gambia and Denmark.

CM: Finish this sentence: “It’s a good day when … ”

MM: You make it one.

---

RSVP now for the CultureMap Social: Top Texans Under 30 Edition, October 6 at Tootsies, to celebrate Maarouf and his fellow Houston winners.

Ad Placement 300x100

Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

Stylish new restaurant mixes European flair with American fare in Montrose's hottest destination

Montrose's stylish new bistro

The Montrose Collective mixed-use development continues to cement its status as Houston’s newest dining destination. Fresh off openings such as Oheya by Uchi and Picnik comes a new bistro from a veteran team of restaurateurs.

Meet The Chelsea. Now open across from Marmo, the upscale Italian steakhouse, The Chelsea serves a diverse menu of New American fare in a stylish environment that’s inspired by classic European restaurants.

Restaurateurs Shawn Rao and Jonathan Serrano teamed up with Houston operator Roveen Abante, a partner in concepts such as Be More Pacific, Sushi Rebel, and the upcoming Conservatory Galleria food hall, to open The Chelsea. Rao and Serrano are native Houstonians who found success in Dallas with the Syn Group, a hospitality company that operates a number of concepts in the Metroplex, including Don Chingon, The Social House, and America Gardens.

While those concepts are bar forward and casual, The Chelsea aspires to offer a more elevated experience, which suits its owners state in life.

Photo by Abante Photography

The Chelsea opened this week.

“I think you create the best products when you’re at the stage of your life to relate to the product,” Rao tells CultureMap. “If you create something you won’t enjoy, you may miss the mark. The Chelsea is exactly a place I’d go to. It’s like places I eat in Dallas. That’s why we decided to go this route. We really latched on to it.”

To create the proper atmosphere, Rao and his partners took inspiration from their travels across Europe. They created a space that features marble-patterned floors, shades of teal and burgundy, and lots of art on the walls.

“Our initial design was way over the top. We had to dial it back,” Rao says. Later, he adds, “We wanted to get the design right. We know Houston has a discerning eye when it comes to new restaurants. We felt we had to get it as perfect as possible.”

Chef Andre Garza contributes to those goals with his eclectic menu. Meals at The Chelsea start with raw items such as oysters, tuna tartare, shrimp and scallop verde that’s made with a Peruvian-style leche de tigre and a spicy chili crisp. Three salads round out the starters.

From there, diners may choose from a selection of shareable small plates. Highlights include shrimp scampi, miso-marinated chicken lollipops, charred Spanish octopus, and a tempura fried lobster tail. Parker House Pigs — a riff on the classic rolls that are stuffed with spicy Japanese Kurobuta sausage — emerged as an early fan favorite during last weekend’s invite-only soft opening. Those looking for a more traditional entree have a range of choices, including seafood pot pie, roast chicken, and a classic cheeseburger.

Beverage options start with a cocktail list that offers eight martinis. Look for variations such as the espresso martini, Gibson, Vesper, and a Martinez made with Maraschino and Angostura. The wine list includes about 15 by-the-glass options with most bottles priced between $30 and $180, Rao says.

“We want to be that sort of neighborhood, three-to-five mile radius, go-to for meals, go-to for drinks,” he adds. “I know everyone says that, but we want to cater to that element.”

The Chelsea opens for dinner beginning at 4 pm daily. Brunch will follow in the coming weeks.

Joel the Lab mix's big smile is one to fall in love with at Houston SPCA

Adoptable Dog

If you've always envisioned having a dog that can wow a crowd with tricks, then adopting Joel is a great first step.

This two-year-old Lab mix that's currently at the Houston SPCA is super treat motivated, which means he's eager to learn. He already knows how to sit like a champ, so training him to do more complicated commands would be no sweat.

Joel is a playful guy at 57 pounds, who loves to wrestle and run with his pals.

But if you're also seeking a pup who's into quiet time, he's never met a couch he doesn't love to stretch out on.

Joel is what's known as a VIP — Very Important Pup — so his adoption fee is 50 percent off, only $25.

That includes a microchip, neuter surgery, up-to-date vaccinations, a free sample bag of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and a free post-exam from any VCA Animal Hospital.

Stop by the Houston SPCA, which is open every day from 11 am-6 pm, to spend some time in the play yards with Joel and many other adoptable pets.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

He's eager to please and easy to train.

CultureMap Wine Guy Chris Shepherd uncorks his favorite Austin restaurants and bars for superb sips and bold bites

wine guy wednesday

Editor's note: Long before Chris Shepherd became a James Beard Award-winning chef, he developed enough of a passion for wine to work at Brennan's of Houston as a sommelier. He maintains that interest to this day. When Chris expressed interest in writing about wine-related topics for CultureMap, we said yes.

In this week's column, he shares a few of his favorite places to drink wine in Austin. Take it away, Chris.

I spent this past weekend cooking at Aaron Franklin’s Hot Luck festival, which benefits my foundation Southern Smoke. This weekend, I tried a few new spots with great wine programs and visited a few old favorites.

I know a lot of you visit Austin frequently, so here’s my list.

Let’s start with the OG, June’s All Day. We visit June’s almost every time we’re in Austin for a bottle of wine, some shaved ham, fried chicken sandwich, and happy smiles. Word on the street (also known as their website and wine list) is that all sparkling wines are 50-percent off on Monday nights after 5 pm. Who says Mondays aren’t a good day to start drinking?

Underdog is a new spot in town that's only been open for a few weeks. It’s a bottle shop and wine bar with an eclectic list focused on small producers — some classic and some new winemakers. I’m a big fan of their selection of Veyder Malberg, which is a really amazing Austrian producer of Riesling and Gruner. They also have a fantastic selection of red Burdgundys and Rhone. Their food is Korean-inspired and delicious. The bites we had were outstanding. I look forward to going back to Underdog over and over again.

For a tried-and-true wine spot, go get in line at Birdie’s(Editor’s note: It just won Restaurant of the Year in the 2023 CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards). Don’t worry, it moves fast. Husband/wife team Tracy Malechek and Arjav Ezekiel run one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Both the menu and the wine list are always. I asked Arjav to share a little insight into his wine program:

“The list changes all the time, and we’re really thoughtful about the wines we serve. We put the same effort into sourcing our wines as Tracy does with her ingredients in the kitchen, and we take a lot of cues from the weather. In the summer, we have more rosé, white, sparkling, and orange wines. In the winter, the whites become more full-bodied with more reds on the list,” he says.

“It’s a thoughtful blend of classic producers and new, fun, young guard. Too many wine lists pick a side, and it was important to us to build a list of things we’re excited about — whether it’s a cool new natty producer or a Burgundy that’s farmed correctly and been around for 100 years. We want our program to be a bridge for drinkers, introducing something new no matter what styles they typically drink.”

If you’re looking for a place you can hang out and drink wine all day or if a magnum is your speed at 12:30 pm, Lolo is your spot. It’s a killer wine shop and bar on the East side of Austin with all natural wines. The staff is very knowledgeable and can recommend anything from Pet Nats to orange wines to your large formats of happiness. Pro tip: if you have afternoon meetings, schedule them here! If you’re trying to avoid meetings, this is also the place to be.

Enough about wine! Here are two other spots that you should definitely check out.

Uptown Sports Clubis Aaron Franklin and James Moody’s new restaurant, and it’s essentially always open. Walk-ins only, 8am-2am. Here you’ll find great po-boys and gumbo, a strong cold seafood selection, and the cocktails are fantastic. Don’t come here to watch sports. The only TV in the building is an 8-inch tube TV showing black and white baseball reruns from the ‘70s.

Este is the new Mexican seafood spot from the Suerte team. Chef Fermin Nuñez has this place humming. The menu has delightful treats like seafood towers and tostadas, grilled seafood (whole turbo is a must!), and don’t sleep on the Camarones “El Ricas.” It’s the messiest dish on the menu, and it’s Chef Fermin’s favorite. It’s mine as well. The wine list rocks, too!

Enjoy Austin! Keep it weird.

-----

Contact our Wine Guy via email at chris@chrisshepherdconcepts.com.

Chris Shepherd won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014. Last year, he parted ways with Underbelly Hospitality, a restaurant group that currently operates four Houston restaurants: Wild Oats, GJ Tavern, Underbelly Burger, and Georgia James. The Southern Smoke Foundation, a non-profit he co-founded with his wife Lindsey Brown, has distributed more than $10 million to hospitality workers in crisis through its Emergency Relief Fund.

Photo courtesy of June's All Day

June's All Day is one of Chris's favorite spots in Austin.

View All Listings