FLORAL ESSENCE

FLORAL ESSENCE

by | Jun 28, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Houston

Museum Of Fine Arts Houston Hosts Florescence Events

By Jennifer Roosth          Photography by Jenny Antill

THE SETTING: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was in full bloom with the return of the 13th biennial Florescence, one of the country’s largest competitive flower shows. Following this year’s theme, Time, 300 garden club members from across the country displayed their inventive floral and horticultural arrangements for recognition by The Garden Club of America. An opening reception, evening cocktail party, and High Noon Lunch and Lecture supporting the River Oaks Garden Club and the Garden Club of Houston, made for a set of fabulous spring social gatherings.

THE STYLE: The sweet, floral scent wafted through the air of the elegant events to the delight of the guests. The floral entrants were challenged to design and create floral arrangements and installations pulling inspiration from the museum’s surrounding art collections. In addition to floral design, the show’s other categories include horticulture, horticulture design, photography, botanical arts, needle arts, and conservation. As guests enjoyed their meal, renowned botanical artist Joseph Massie spoke of his journey starting weekend work at the age of 14 to becoming the youngest floral designer to win international achievements, such as the Best in Show at the Chelsea Flower Show. City Kitchen prepared the lunchtime affair’s cuisine.

THE PURPOSE: Carmen Knapp of the River Oaks Garden Club and Meg Tapp of The Garden Club of Houston co-chaired the event, and MFAH Director Gary Tinterow was pleased to announce that Florescence had broken its own fundraising record this year. The event is one of the largest competitive national flower shows sanctioned by the Garden Club of America in the United States. Florescence is presented by River Oaks Garden Club, The Garden Club of Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). Proceeds directly support Florescence’s nonprofit sponsors: River Oaks Garden Club, The Garden Club of Houston, and the MFAH. Both garden clubs rely on the event’s proceeds to support their projects in gardens, parks, and green spaces throughout our community.

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SWINGING FOR THE FENCES

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES

by | Jun 28, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Houston

Joe Niekro Foundation’s Knuckle Ball Scores Big

By Jake Gaines          Photography by Nikki Rosenberg and Quy Tran Photography

THE SETTING: The Houston Knuckle Ball: Field of Dreams annual gala was recently held at The Ballroom at Bayou Place, in support of brain aneurysm, AVM and hemorrhagic stroke research and awareness, and patient education named in honor of 22-year MLB alum and former Houston Astros knuckleballer, Joe Niekro.

THE STYLE: KHOU-TV personality and brain aneurysm survivor, Deborah Duncan, served as the evening’s emcee, while sharing her personal experience and life altering brain aneurysm rupture to the packed event venue. Kirk Wehby, the COO of the event’s presenting sponsor SMITH, helped kick-off the VIP reception by giving a welcome toast to guests and supporters, followed by a tear-jerking invocation from Kirk’s 13 year old son, Luc Wehby, an AVM survivor. To help ignite the evening festivities, Geraldo Rivera, a personal friend of Tricia Bonilla Harrison, gave welcoming video remarks and brought attention to the mission behind the Joe Niekro Foundation. The evening culminated with a spirited live auction officiated by Johny Bravo, followed by a packed dancefloor as the Austin-based band Skyrocket performed, underwritten and supported by Diane Lokey Farb.

THE PURPOSE: This year’s event, chaired by Tricia Bonilla Harrison and Mark D. Sullivan, who both have a personal connection to brain aneurysms, raised nearly $300,000. The auction was a spectacular success and featured original art items, a Steak 48 culinary group experience, exquisite jewelry by Mariquita Masterson, and rare finds in sports memorabilia. Proceeds from this year’s event go toward the advancement and expansion of the foundation’s Patient Services and Education Program, as well as the establishment of a localized clinical research grant for applicants in the Houston area.

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WINNER BY A MILE

WINNER BY A MILE

by | Jun 27, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Houston

Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes Event Benefits Bo’s Place

By Jennifer Roosth           Photography by Daniel Ortiz and Dave Rossm

THE SETTING: This third annual event for the running of the Kentucky Derby was once again sold out, with over 400 guests at the sumptuous home of Paige and Tilman Fertitta. It’s always a must-attend poolside event that Houstonians look forward to while supporting a much-beloved cause.

THE STYLE: The fabulous hats made for perfect people watching and guests socialized throughout the grounds of the home, sipping traditional mint juleps. Tables covered with a variety of tasty food selections enticed the party goers. Everyone crowded around the large screens to watch the race since a historical stunner led to a wait for the results. Guests continued to visit until the 65-1 winner, Country House was announced.  

THE PURPOSE: Hallie Vanderhider was chair for the event while Hannah and Cal McNair served as honorary chairs. Along with them, Bo’s Place President of the Board, Meredith Chastang were all thrilled to raise over $350,000. Bo’s Place is a non-profit, free-of-charge bereavement center that exists to provide support and community to those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

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A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

by | Jun 27, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Dallas

Ally’s Wish Raises Funds To Grant Wishes For Terminally Ill Moms

By Cynthia Smoot          Photography by Bob Manzano

THE SETTING: The Fifth Annual Boots & Blessings gala took place at Austin Ranch to benefit Ally’s Wish. Attendees kicked off the night by perusing an extensive silent auction as TV personality Scott Murray served as emcee for the evening and gathered everyone to their seats. The program began with a rousing game of Heads or Tails with the winner receiving a pair of Dallas Cowboys football tickets. Guests then enjoyed live country-Western entertainment from The Breckenridge Band as they dined on  traditional BBQ fare.

THE STYLE: Larry and Pat Conner took to the stage to remember their daughter, Allyson Hendrickson, the inspiration for the creation of Ally’s Wish and the organization’s first wish recipient. They reminisced about her obsession with candy sprinkles and then invited each guest to take the small bottles of candy sprinkles at their place setting and dose their cupcake in memory of Allyson.

THE PURPOSE: The Flower Mound-based organization grants wishes to mothers battling terminal illnesses, so they may create lasting memories with their children and loved ones. Since its inception, Ally’s Wish has granted over a hundred wishes to mothers who’ve battled inflammatory breast cancer, Leukemia, colon cancer and other terminal illnesses. Ally’s Wish currently has 43 moms waiting to have wishes granted with new requests arriving daily.

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FASHION X INTERNATIONAL

FASHION X INTERNATIONAL

by | Jun 27, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Austin

Fashion X Austin Features Showcases Designers From Both Sides Of The World

By Rob Giardinelli          Photography by Gregg Cestaro, Charles Linn and Fashion X

THE SETTING: Fashion X Austin recently held its annual Austin Fashion Week, with nearly a dozen events around Austin, over the course of ten days. In the process, several thousand of Austin’s most stylish were on hand to celebrate fashion and philanthropy. The week’s festivities were capped off with three runway nights that honored three stylish women, each of whom make a tremendous impact on Austin by giving back to the city they love.

THE STYLE: The fashionistas attending the three main runways shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening sported their best Austin-chic attire with those wearing fashion-forward looks blending perfectly with those who wore timeless pieces. In addition to a Style Setter being featured each night, Thursday featured a show of emerging designers who competed in the Bernina Fashion Showcase. Friday’s theme, Celebrate Texas, showcased a slate of top designers from around the state. The festivities concluded on Saturday night with Moda X Australia featuring collections of eight designers from Austin’s Sister City Down Under: Adelaide, Australia.

THE PURPOSE: A portion of the proceeds honoring Thursday Style Setter Natasa Valocchi benefited Ballet Austin. A portion of the proceeds honoring Friday Style Setter JK Baxter Hunt benefited ARC of the Capital Cities. A portion of the proceeds honoring Saturday Style Setter Lesa Rossick benefited Relay for Life.

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TROPICAL BLISS

TROPICAL BLISS

by | Jun 27, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Feature Nine

Brittanny Newsom And Christopher Schwarz Marry In Nevis, West Indies

By Rose Betty Williams      
Photography by Vanessa Hall Photography

It was the perfect tropical day for a wedding when Brittanny Newsom, the daughter of Beverly and Dr. Gary Newsom of Austin, and Christopher Schwarz, the son of  Susan and Douglas Schwarz of Westfield, New Jersey, were married on the eastern shore of Nevis, West Indies, overlooking the Caribbean Sea in front of the bride’s family home.

Brittanny, a native Texan with roots in Austin and Big Spring, and Chris, raised in New Jersey, met in New York City where they both lived. Brittanny was studying Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and earning a Masters of Art degree. Chris was employed by Bleacher Report as an NBA Producer. He’s now the producer for the NFL Networks show, Good Morning Football, and is an Emmy Award winner for his coverage of the Olympics on NBC. “Our engagement was eight months, but we dated for three years,” said Brittanny. “What attracted me to Chris was how funny and smart he was. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t laugh together.” The groom shares that “Brittanny was a breath of fresh Southern air in a city I’d lived in for years. And as I’ve grown to know her, I’m continually taken aback by how much goodness she has in her heart. She surprises me every single day.”

With the benefit of Brittanny’s background in art, they enjoy going to museums and galleries in the city; and with Chris’s tutelage, they go to the driving range at Chelsea Piers where Brittanny is attempting to learn golf. They also love trying out new restaurants. In fact, their first date was near Brittanny’s West Village apartment at the Entwine wine bar on Hudson Street. After a few years of dating, Chris had the idea of taking a trip somewhere overseas. They chose to go to Iceland for a weeklong vacation since neither of them had been there. “On our first night in Reykjavik, we went on a private sightseeing tour in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights,” Brittanny said. “We were fortunate enough to actually see the green and blue lights across the sky. That’s when Chris dropped to one knee and asked to spend the rest of his life with me.”

Brittanny and Chris wanted a wedding weekend in Nevis filled with events, love and celebration. They also wanted it to be intimate and shared with their closest friends and family. With that in mind, Brittanny consulted with her parents and they began planning the wedding with the talents of Kathy Blount of Meeting Dynamics Global. The bride bought her wedding dress at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, and chose to wear vintage jewelry passed down from both her grandmothers. 

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The welcome party was held the first night on the beach at The Yachtsman Grill. On day two of the wedding weekend, Brittanny’s grandmother Joan Beil and great aunt Margy Keaton hosted the bridesmaids’ luncheon. That was followed by the rehearsal dinner at the Golden Rock Inn, a sugar mill dating back to 1801 that was purchased and transformed into a boutique hotel by New York artists Helen and Bruce Marden. The ceremony took place in front of the Newsom family home overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Brittanny’s sister Brooke Newsom was maid of honor and her attendants were Sara Lysen, Caitlin O’Connor, Danielle Ruiz, Vanessa Santosuosso, and Miranda Wise. Bradford Schwarz, Chris’s brother, was the best man with David Evans serving as the groomsman.

“There are so many specifics and nuances that go into planning and orchestrating a wedding. And with so many intangibles, something is bound to go awry,” Chris said. “When clouds started rolling in at the beginning of our ceremony, I figured despite all the planning my bride and her mother had done, our guests would be rained on, putting a damper on our wonderful day, but the weather held off, and mere moments after we said ‘I do’, a bit of thunder clapped and the Caribbean rain held off until everyone was on the way to the reception. It seemed like good luck at the time, but looking back now, it feels like something so much more meaningful and powerful than luck.”

The reception was held at the Montpelier Plantation Inn, an 18th century sugar plantation-turned-boutique hotel with 60 acres of lush tropical gardens that was often a hideaway vacation spot for Diana, Princess of Wales. Guests toasted the bride and groom with Dom Perignon, French wines and a five-course Nevisian cuisine dinner. The music was comprised of steel drums and violins, but the bride’s side of the family was surprised and thrilled when the Nevisian Green House Band played their Caribbean version of God Bless Texas. The happy couple’s destination wedding was a weekend in paradise. For their honeymoon, they jetted to the southern coast of France. Now they’re decorating their newly purchased West Village apartment and will continue to travel, explore New York City and return to visit Texas often.

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