parties

Flavors in Motion: Inside Houston Ballet’s Spring Soirée

Melissa Taylor
Flavors in Motion: Inside Houston Ballet’s Spring Soirée

Houston Ballet dancers Danbi Kim, Estheysis Menendez, Gian Carlo Perez, and Chase O'Connell

IT WAS AN evening of style, flavor and celebration as guests filled Caracol for Houston Ballet’s signature spring event, Raising the Barre. Co-chaired by Duyen & Marc Nguyen and Dr. Tatiana Sorkin & Michel Coret, the dinner brought together 160 supporters and raised $110,000 for the Ballet’s performances, education programs and artistic initiatives.

The menu was created by four of the city's top chefs alongside Houston Ballet dancers. Chef Aaron Bludorn and Soloist Danbi Kim opened the night with sesame-crusted Hamachi, inspired by flavors from Kim’s Korean upbringing. Chef Chris Williams and Demi Soloist Estheysis Menendez followed with a rich lobster stew, layered with jalapeño pesto and plantain fufu — a nod to her mother's love of fresh ingredients.

For the main course, Chef Hugo Ortega and Principal Chase O’Connell delivered a smoky Coulotte steak with pasilla mole, inspired by O’Connell’s pre-show steak tradition. Dessert came courtesy of Fluff Bake Bar’s Rebecca Masson and First Soloist Gian Carlo Perez: guava pastries with cream cheese ice cream and a drizzle of honey, reminiscent of Perez’s favorite childhood treat.

Florals by Bergner and Johnson played up the spring party vibe with coral, peach, and pink blossoms, later donated to nonprofit Bloom Again for use in hospitals and care centers.

Guests included Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Kristy Bradshaw, Lindsey Brown, Anne and Albert Chao, Jo Furr, Carey Kirkpatrick, Phoebe Tudor and Whitney Lawson.

Ada Agbor and Zoe Cadore

Anne and Albert Chao

Anya and Jeremy Smith, Julie Kent

Bill and Lenni Burke

Chef Hugo Ortega

Michel Coret and Dr. Tatiana Sorkin, Duyen and Marc Nguyen

Denise and Todd Liebl

Edward and Deborah Koehler, Angela Oh and Pekka Kauranen

Ileana and Michael Treviño

Jo Furr and C.C. Conner

Kristy Bradshaw, Jim Nelson, Kelley Lubanko

Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan

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Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

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parties

At Posh Tony’s Fete, Baly’s New Doctorate and Life of Service Honored

Alejandro Olivares

Gayla Gardner, Jacquie Baly and Julie Baker Finck

THE DOCTOR IS in! One of Houston’s most engaged civic leaders, Jacquie Baly, has a new title after earning her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Change & Leadership from USC. And some of the city’s heavy hitters turned up for a swanky reception at Tony’s to congratulate her. “Education and community leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Baly. “This honor fuels my continued mission to create meaningful change.”

And they weren’t alone in their admiration. Both the City of Houston and the State of Texas declared the day of the to-do “Dr. Jacquie Baly Day,” complete with official proclamations.

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Style+Culture

Spring into the Season with These Fun Events (That Don't Involve Rodeo Crowds)

Houston Arboretum

WE ALL LOVE a Rodeo, but sometimes we need options for events that have a different energy, speed — and crowd size. Check out some artsy, unique happenings around Houston in March!

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