Sprinkles Cupcakes opens June 21st in Highland Village!  This Los Angeles hotspot will be giving the Houston Favorite CRAVE a run for its Money!  The first Sprinkles Cupcakes shop opened in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2005 by Candace Nelson; and quickly became a favorite dessert stop among Hollywood celebrities.

On June 21, Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier will be serving cupcakes from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Battier and his wife Heidi will be earning a $25,000 donation from Sprinkles Cupcakes for their ‘Take Charge Foundation’.

The Sprinkles Cupcakes shop in Houston is located on 4014 Westheimer Road near Drexel, Houston, Texas. Call Sprinkles Cupcakes at 713-871-9929.

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Art Basel is an international contemporary art exhibition considered the Olympics of the art world.

Knowledgeable collectors, jet setters, and international elite will be gathering this week at the 41st edition of Art Basel taking place in Basel, Switzerland, from June 16 through June 20, 2010. As the world’s premier art show, Art Basel 41 marks the annual summer reunion of the international art world, hosted by the city of Basel, which has been a cultural capital for centuries.  Art Basel features nearly 300 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. 

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Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston held its second annual Tapestry Gala on May 6 at the Hilton Americas chaired by Philamena & Arthur Baird with honorary chairs Peggy and Bill Barnett.  The gala drew 800 culturally, ethnically and socially diverse Houstonians, and raised more than $600,000 in celebration of Houston’s various faiths. (Pictured: Bill Barnett, Peggy Barnett, Jan Duncan, Mark Wallace, Philamena Baird, Arthur Baird, (presenting the Tapestry Award to Jan Duncan))

Jan Duncan accepted the Tapestry Award on behalf of both she and her late husband Dan, with a touching tribute to the life and giving spirit of Dan Duncan.  Bill King, Chairman of the Board, presented the award, an honor which  recognizes community leaders who have shown remarkable dignity through tangible work for the betterment of Houston and the world. 

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Houston Children’s Charity will be hosting its 12th Annual Spring Fundraiser this weekend at Paige and Tilman Fertitta’s gorgeous residence.  The likes of Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Ray Childress, Dan Pastorini, Yao Ming and many more will be mingling amongst guests and enjoying a spring evening as funds are raised to help underprivileged children. I had the opportunity to interview Laura Ward, founder of and current director of Houston Children’s Charity about the organization and this upcoming event.  Here’s what she had to say.

Jen: What exactly distinguished Houston Children’s Charity from other non-profits that focuses on youth in Houston?

Laura: “The unique factor that distinguishes HCC from other organizations in the city is that we are child-related not cause- related.  We provide for any need of a child no matter how large or how small, and all funds stay local – we support children in Houston.  Budgetary restraints are the only thing that stands in our way.”
 
 Jen: This is quite an extravagant event.  Most of these guests have agents and booking rates.  How much of the proceeds of this event are actually going to the charity?  And toward what program?

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I was born in Dallas, raised in Houston: a southern girl to the core.  “The Rules” was my bible in terms of dating growing up…wait for the boy to call, have him pay, open doors, walk street side.  This is how I communicated in early stages of dating with the opposite sex.  He followed ‘the rules’ so I knew he liked me…I started to trust him…and one thing led to another…and well…ya know.

But now I’m THIRTY and single; and I don’t have TIME for all this ‘rules’ stuff.  Plus I KNOW how to communicate with words.  So, what exactly becomes the process of getting from “I like you” to ...”ya know”?  How to speed up the process?  Do one night stands exist in a day and age of so many health and emotional sexually transmitted risk factors? In “Fear of Flying”, Erica Jong introduces the term “zipless fuck” to mean sexual encounter for its own sake, without emotional involvement or commitment or any ulterior motive, between two previously unacquainted persons.  “The zipless fuck is absolutely pure. It is free of ulterior motives. And it is rarer than the unicorn.” -Erica Jong, Fear of Flying (1973)

Hmm.  Do we think it exists in Houston?  Can you have a (dare I say it…) a ‘zipless fuck’ in a city this small?  (Technically, Houston is the 4th largest city in the U.S. with a population of 2.2 mil…but with friends of friends and Facebook…I would guess connecting is probably by a margin of less than 2 degrees of separation.)

I asked around if some Houstonians would tell me their thoughts on one-night stands.  Here is what they had to say:

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Raise the Roof for Breast Cancer Research

Take a stroll through a fabulous European country home and join the fight against breast cancer. Tour Houston’s fifth Pink Ribbon House®, a designer showcase home being built to “raise the roof” for breast cancer research at The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). The multi-million dollar showcase home located at 10807 Bridlewood Street in Hunters Creek Village will open for public tours April 16-18, and April 23-25, 2010. Chairs for the 2010 Pink Ribbon House® are Deb Parks, Trish Hayes and Gail Rauhut. Honorary Chairs are Diane and John Riley.

Established in 2003 by the Breast Center Advisory Council at BCM, the Pink Ribbon House® project raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research and patient care at BCM through the design, decorating and touring of showcase homes. Since its founding, the Pink Ribbon House® project has raised over $2 million for breast cancer research at BCM.

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It’s that time of year again: the most elite clothing swap this side of the Mason Dixon Line.  The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Fashion Show and Chic Boutique “Reflections on Style” event is a Houston tradition that is so fun and fabulous that it sells out to the 450 that can fit in the River Oaks dining room (according to Fire Code Regulation) before the first invitation is even mailed.  

The theme of this year’s luncheon event was ‘Muses of Fashion’.  Co-chairs Betty Hrncir and Ann Bookout along with Chic Boutique chairs Donatella Benckenstein and Mehrnaz Gill, and Fashion Producer Lenny Matuszenewski delivered an amazing runway show and boutique highlighting themes that inspired trends fashion throughout time.  The luncheon was introduced by Auxiliary President Vicki West, and honored Lilly Andrus for her committed volunteerism to the Women’s Auxiliary.  (See event pics below)

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This past weekend, Masraff's, a long-time staple in the Houston fine dining circuit, celebrated an exclusive, invitation-only Grand Opening event  to introduce its new location at 1753 Post Oak Boulevard, in the heart of the Galleria area of Houston!  Over 200 long time Masraff patrons, friends, and VIP's turned out for this private party and who's who event

Masraff's earned its reputation as a premier location for fine dining at its old location, tucked away in on Post Oak in Tanglewood.  Patrons have warm memories of being wined and dined in the staid elegance of Masraff's former quaint stone restaurant for the past ten years.

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With skies of blue and clouds of white, Symphony Ball 2010 was indeed a wondrous night.  Chaired by Martin and Kelli-Cohen Fein, with honorary chair Margaret Alkek Williams, the 2010 Houston Symphony Ball themed “What a Wonderful World” gathered 600 music loving patrons at the Hilton Americas for a night of black-tie dancing, dining and gaming.  The evening honored Aileen Gordon, Cora Sue Mach and Fidelity Investments--Gordon received the Ima Hogg Philanthropy Award; Fidelity, the Maurice Hirsch Corporate Citizenship Award; Mach, recognition for long-time leadership in education and community.

Mark Hanson, the new CEO and Executive Director of the Houston Symphony, was introduced to the crowd of patrons.  This young (38) and handsome native Bostonian will be replacing Matthew VanBesien officially in May.  But, careful girls, he’s married to the lovely Christina, whose company was offered in the silent auction as part of a luncheon package including a girls’ day at Neiman Marcus.  How exciting for the glamorous, music loving sophisticates of Houston to meet these bright young additions to the community.  

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Fashionistas and green advocates alike came out on Tuesday, March 9 to celebrate the third annual Hats in the Park Luncheon benefiting Hermann Park Conservancy. Jana Arnoldy and Linda Hunsaker co-chaired the packed luncheon which brought together over 300 guests for a champagne reception at the historic Hermann Park followed by the luncheon on the great lawn.  The fabulous spring event grossed over $210,000 for Herman  Park.

From straw to silk and floppy to gravity-defying, the hats were a sight to behold. Many ladies sported floral themed ensembles and the colorful outfits were appropriate for a benefit event that helps keep Hermann Park blooming. Mayor Annise Parker presented Ann Hamilton with the 2010 Bob and Elyse Lanier Award for her part in facilitating Hermann Park’s rejuvenation.

(See event pics below and in our "Houston Social Scene" picture gallery)

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