parties

Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson
Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Chairs Brady and Zane Carruth, Brittany and Adam Clark

IT ALREADY FEELS like spring in Houston and the spring social season is here with it! 375 guests donned in white-tie flocked to The Post Oak Hotel for the annual Houston Symphony Ball, one of the city’s most anticipated and A-list galas.

The theme was Monet’s garden and the grand foyer was transformed into a picturesque lush scene with floral archways and a lifesize lilypond painting with an archway. Dazzling guests took photos and mingled during the cocktail hour that featured passed sipping tequila from Casa Dragones — because why not?

The ballroom was as posh and verdant as the foyer with large wooden gazebos flanking the rows of tables topped with extravagant boutiques of pink roses and various hues of hydrangeas and greenery.

The Post Oak Hotel’s Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere created a three-course French-inspired meal for the occasion including a French country salad, filet mignon served alongside potato gratin and Grand Marnier pain perdu for dessert. Following dinner, revelers danced the night away to Q the Band.

This ball was chaired by Zane & Brady Carruth and Brittany & Adam Clark and honored Cora Sue Mach with Houston Symphony’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Franco Valobra as Houston Symphony’s Community Honoree.

Betty and Jesse Tutor

Barbara Burger and Gary Ginstling

Margaret Alkek Williams

Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees

Bob and Joan Duff

Chris and Kristy Bradshaw

Daniel Irion, Karen Payne and Kirk Kveton

Eric and Lisa Lindsey

Alice Mao and Matt Brams

Edward and Rini Ziegler

Elia and Michael Gabbanelli

Jim and Dancie Ware

Jonathan and Ann Ayre

Lisa and Eric Lindsey

Tammie and Charles Johnson

Parties
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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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food

Escape to Europe Without Leaving Houston: Heights & Co. Hosts Al Fresco Wine & Movie Nights

The patio at Heights & Co.

IT'S ALMOST TIME for summer vacations, but Heights & Co. is offering escapes on its newly redecorated patio in the form of wine and movie nights — no passport needed! Visit France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more through wine pairings and tasting menus, all complemented by movies set in each location.

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Food
parties

All That Jazz: With ‘Moonlight’ Theme, Mercury Mixes Up Musical Medley, Goes Glam for 2025 Gala

Jacob Power

Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk

BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.

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Art+Culture