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Emmy action, up close
Thanks to having the winning bid at a silent auction, local television fans Katherine Kardesch and Aileen Weycer mingled with the stars while attending the Entertainment Tonight/People Magazine after-Emmy party in Hollywood. For the second year in a row, the girls walked the red carpet and met up with celebs, including comedian Kathy Griffin and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, while Kevin Frasier of Entertainment Tonight served as their host for the night. Aileen (left) and Katherine had time to mingle with Jeff Probst, host of the CBS series Survivor.
Calling all book lovers
Carol Goldberg has a volunteer position one could envy. She is chairwoman of this year’s Jewish Book and Arts Fair, being held Nov. 1-15 at the Jewish Community Center of Houston. As one of the nation’s largest Jewish book fairs, it will bring notable authors to Houston, such as Dan Senor, who wrote Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, former Houstonian Sam Apple, who wrote American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland, Chris Bohjalian, who wrote Skeletons at the Feast and A.J. Jacobs, who wrote The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment. Programs include conversations with the authors, book signings, a special-needs inclusion day, concerts, films, art exhibits, a bookstore and a community-wide book read. See www.jcchouston.org. Pictured are (from left) Carol Goldberg and Patti Hanfling at the BookExpoAmerica in New York City this summer.
A day at the park
The Huffington Park Redevelopment Project is finally complete. It is drawing compliments from park users and increasing numbers of visitors. With the success of the 2009 Park Lover’s Ball, co-chaired by Susan Garofolo and Nicholas Ro, $150,000 was dedicated to the park’s redevelopment by the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. Huffington Park now has two new children’s play structures, complete fencing around the park property, a water fountain funded by the West U Club 2021, picnic tables, park benches and trash receptacles. Pictured are some of the park lovers who came to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Mayor Bob Kelley, Chuck Guffey, Bob Fry, Tim O’Connor, Nick Ro, Janine Schuppert, Leah Ragiel, Joni Hruska Fichter, Donna LaMond, Elizabeth and Frank Karkowsky, Sona West and John Cadena, Carolyn and Steve Fyke, Bob McLamb, Steven Segal, George Boehme, Beth Lane and Cece McCann.
Junior League hits the runway
More than 700 Junior League members and their guests enjoyed a fall-fashion preview from Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf during a two-day event for league members. In the crowd were president Kristen Buck, style show chair Kendall Wade, Mary Beth Staine, Melissa Garlington and tea room director Lisa Burns. With approximately 5,000 sustaining, active and provisional members, The Junior League of Houston contributes more than $1.9 million in volunteer time and direct financial support to 33 community projects. Pictured are (from left) Marian Hilpert, Leslie Wade and Catherine McCoin enjoying the fashion show. (Photo: Blackburn Studios)
Legacy of excellence
Excitement is in the air as the West U Elementary auction committee gears up for the return of the school’s traditional fall auction fund-raiser. Spearheaded by event co-chairs Suzanne Rose and Kathy Kehn, “Code Name: Legacy” is slated for Nov. 21 at the Westin Galleria. This year’s auction will include a James Bond/Casino Royale theme. Proceeds from the event will benefit the PTO’s library legacy project and help fund a range of curriculum-enrichment programs during the academic year. Pictured are (from left) Suzanne Rose and Kathy Kehn finalizing details for the upcoming auction.
Glamour, gaming and giving
Top hats, tail coats and feather boas will set the tone for St. Vincent De Paul’s annual PTO gala and auction, The Great Gatsby Gala. Co-chairs Allison Edwards and Karen Harpold are bringing back the glamour and excitement of the roaring ‘20s Nov. 14 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, where the fun begins at 6 p.m. Committee chairs lending a hand with the event include Shannon Ramirez, Monica Smith, Cindy Fiegel, Karen Green, Becky McGraw-Wall, Michelle Bickham, Marnie Clark, Ronny George, Elaine Fitzgibbon, Carol Robichaux and Carolyn Wolfe. Contact Allison at (apedwards@att.net) apedwards (at) att (dot) net or Karen at (gkharp@sbcglobal.net) gkharp (at) sbcglobal (dot) net. Karen Harpold (left) and Allison Edwards are pictured making final plans for the big event.
The art of conversation
Would you like to lunch with a notable leader in our city? Take your pick from 30 exciting lunchmates on Nov. 9 at the Junior League of Houston. Making plans for the gabfest, which will benefit City ArtWorks, are (from left) Jana Stiffel, Mia Bering, Tom Wolff and Janet Cook. Who wouldn’t want to chat and yak with philanthropist Carolyn Farb, Lakewood Church founder Dodie Osteen, Greater Houston Partnership president Jeff Moseley, Consul General of Peru Carlos Polo, Channel 13 sportscaster Bob Allen, State Rep. Ellen Cohen, Harris County sheriff Adrian Garcia, fashion designer Chloe Dao, rodeo CEO Skip Wagner, T’afia’s Monica Pope or 20 other exciting locals? Call 713-681-1331 or go to www.cityartworks.org
Make-your-own pizza party
The Anton Family is hosting a make-your-own pizza party for friends Nov. 13 to benefit Recipe for Success. The party venue will be the Antons’ backyard, complete with an old-fashioned movie projector and homemade pizzas for the young guests. The suggested price of admission is the cost of a babysitter for one night out. Parents will be dropping off their kids for the pizza party while they enjoy an adult night on the town. The event’s proceeds will be donated to Recipe for Success, an organization devoted to encouraging long-term health in children by altering the way they understand, appreciate and eat food. Pictured making plans for movie and pizza night are (from left) Ashton, Drew, twins Pete and Elliot and Amy Anton. If you would like to host your own pizza party, visit recipe4success.org.
One night only
The Blue Bird Circle will dance its way back to the ‘40s at its annual Night Nest Blue Bird Circle Gala on Nov. 12 at the Junior League of Houston. The one-night-only club scene will honor the work of Dr. Daniel Glaze, director of The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center at Texas Children’s Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Noebels, director of The Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Robert Zeller, medical director of The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital. Contact Mills Toomey or Linda Wells at 713-252-8750 or email (bluebirdgala@gmail.com) bluebirdgala (at) gmail (dot) com for ticket information. Pictured are Kathy Kennedy, Bill Kimball, Blue Bird Circle president Linda Wells, Hillery Hugg, Lee Blask and Dr. Greg Press at last year’s gala.
Poodle skirts and Thunderbirds
Lucho of Uptown Park and Theatre Under The Stars’ ladies auxiliary group, the Leading Ladies, recently hosted a Grease-themed social to celebrate the opening of TUTS‘ 2009-2010 season. Pink Ladies and T-Birds shopped the suits and sipped shakes at the “soda shop.” Pictured enjoying the ‘50s costume-contest judging are (back row, from left) Cindy Mason, Cary Dunham, Julie Erickson, Betty Longwood, Stacy Cook, Journey Macfarlane, Judy Nunn, Leticia Jaroski, Victoria Rentz, Hector Villarreal, (front row, from left) Shelley Smith, Denise Dunham, Amy Pierce and Marcia Hovious. To join Leading Ladies, visit www.tuts.com.
Bee Seen in Buzz About Town
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