Inside the Music Issue Bash

Mike Charlton
Cliff Gordon, Sam Knight, Steph Cooksey and Troy Creagh

On a decidedly warm Tuesday evening, Houston CityBook hosted an al fresco party celebrating its second annual Music Issue, and the photogenic musicians featured within. Guests were pleasantly surprised when they stepped outside on the ninth floor of Downtown’s swanky new Catalyst apartment tower, finding a breezy, shaded pool deck awaiting.


The views were pure Houston — skyscrapers, palm trees and and Minute Maid Park — but the vibe may have been more Miami, thanks to house beats spun by a DJs from Ryde, which just opened a spin studio nearby. Partygoers grabbed cocktails and bites from neighborhood gems Irma’s Southwest and Xochi, chatting it up with several local musicians highlighted in CityBook’s May feature “Sound Check,” photographed by Steven Visneau at the new Hotel ZaZa Memorial City.

Cover star Tobe Nwigwe, who performs at BET’s L.A. music festival next month, arrived with his posse, graciously posing for pics. CityBook Editor in Chief Jeff Gremillion welcomed the crowd of 200-plus, offering remarks on the diversity and depth of the city’s music scene before the spotlight shifted to jazz artists Steph Cooksey and Stephen Richard, two of the May issue’s featured artists. They performed a sulty set as more pretty people pored out onto the pool deck, with bartenders continuing to sling cocktails until well after sunset.

Jordan Everitt, Ryan O. Harris and Scott Bonilla
Party People
‘Natural Passion’ Makes Fourth-Gen Houstonian Sarah Callaway Sulma a Realty Star

AS A FOURTH-generation Houstonian, Sarah Callaway Sulma has a unique and invaluable view of the city. Her deep seated connection to Houston led her down the path to becoming one the city's most well-respected, and renowned real estate agents. Sarah's natural passion for the real estate industry from a young age led her to where she is today. "I know that it sounds cheesy, but it is the truth! I wanted to be in real estate from a young age," Sarah shares. "The late-great restaurateur, Tony Vallone, put me together with real estate legend, Martha Turner, and Martha put me together with Cathy Cagle. The rest is history-13 years of success and counting!" Now with over 13 years in real estate and $55M+ in residential real estate sales, Sarah brings a rare combination of knowledge, skill, and advocacy to each one of her clients.

Keep Reading Show less

A giant astronaut now looks over Discovery Green where the PCMA conference will host its opening event

AMAL CLOONEY, LIZ Cheney and Brené Brown will be in Houston this week to speak at the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual conference. Houston First is bringing the conference — for meeting-planners who work on behalf of companies and associations to book conventions — to town. Houston First president and CEO Michael Heckman has referred to the event as “the Super Bowl of our industry,” as the organization hopes to book $200 million in new incremental business over the next five years.

Keep Reading Show less

Windsor Fire cocktail at Marigold Club

HOUSTON BARS AND restaurants are making the most of Dry January by revamping their cocktail and mocktail lists. Increasingly, patrons are searching for non- and low-alcoholic options to capitalize on health and wellness benefits — and the city's best mixologists are taking note. Standard offerings like a virgin mule or a fun lemonade remain, but read on for some of the more inventive mocktails you'll find on menus around town!

Keep Reading Show less
Food