June, 9, 2010 at  The Caroline Wiess Law Building, Museum of   Fine Arts in Houston approximately 120 guests attended the one year anniversary celebration of the Nidhika and Pershant Mehta Arts of India Gallery.  Hosts, Cornelia C. Long and Peter C. Marzio along with many guests were dressed in “Indian-Inspired” to pay tribute to their rich and colorful heritage.

The Nidhika and Pershant Mehta Arts of India gallery is the only space in Houston devoted to Indian arts and culture, and is the third in a series of five permanent Arts of Asia galleries planned for the museum. The naming of the gallery in the Mehtas' honor recognizes their extraordinary $500,000 leadership gift to the museum.  In addition, they host a series of public programs, including a Bollywood film festival, lectures, and activities for families. (Pictured: Peter C. Marzio, Nidhika & Pershant Mehta).

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An extraordinary evening took place on May 11, 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, Texas where Marilyn Wilhelm, Founder • Chairman • President of Wilhelm Scholê International presented the Cosmopolis Award to: World Renowned Heart Surgeon, Dr. O. H. “Bud” Frazier; American Communications Legend, Lucy Jarvis; Texas’ First Lady of Philanthropy, Dr. Carolyn Farb; the Honorable Ambassador Mussie Hailu of Ethiopia; the World Renowned Physicist and Humanitarian Victor F. Weisskopf; and twenty-three Distinguished Alumni for their significant contributions to humanity. (Pictured: Culver Van Der Jagt, Marilyn Wilhelm, Dagny & Grant Van Der Jagt. Photo Credit: Jenny Antill).

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Muse kicks off PetSet soiree with a night of shopping and pet-friendly fun!

Wednesday, June 9th at Muse, Houston’s fabulously whimsical boutique offering exclusive fashions from New York and Los Angeles, hosted a ferocious night of shopping to kick off the Houston PetSet Soiree.  Guests brought their furry friends to kick off this year’s highly anticipated event, taking place on September 11th at the Omni Hotel.  Billy, Muse’s beloved goldendoodle, played host as guests noshed on cheese and sipped on wine.  PetSet gala chairs Tim Moloney, Andrew Seerden, and Moniczka Latigo were all smiles as animals and animal lovers united to support PetSet Houston.  Fifteen percent of the proceeds from the summer shopping party benefitted the organization. (Pictured: Tena Faust and Taz, PetSet Gala Chair Tim Moloney, Tama Lundquist. Photo Credit: The Photo Boutique).

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An impressive $300,000 is raised to combat child trafficking, all as a part of the Children At Risk gala here in Houston.

Chaired by Dr. Carolyn Farb, Stand Up for Houston’s Children with Randy Travis, a benefit for non-profit CHILDREN AT RISK, was a resounding success. The record-breaking event, held on Friday, June 11th at the Verizon Wireless Theater, raised more than $300,000, as well as created awareness of the major issue of child trafficking in Houston. (Pictured:  Carley Smith,  Denver hockey player JP Testiwuide, Randy Travis, Carolyn Farb)

President George H. Bush and Barbara Bush were honorary chairs of the event. All proceeds will benefit CHILDREN AT RISK’s Center to End the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children, an action-based institute that works to generate solutions to this crisis through policy, advocacy, education, and collaboration. Houston has become a major hub of human trafficking within the United States, and CHILDREN AT RISK is at the forefront of the advocacy efforts to combat this growing illegal industry.

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Nestled within the heart of Houston to bring luxury rental living to one of the city’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods, The Belle Meade at River Oaks unveils Heart Deco benefiting the American Cancer Association.

May 25th The American Heart Association unveiled hearts created by a variety of local Houston artists in a multitude of colors and designs. Guests gazed at the hearts poolside as they enjoyed ceviche by the spoon and heart healthy bites from Yelapa restaurant, with comforting sounds of steel drum band “Steel Vibrations”.  Each of the “heartists” were on hand and were paired with their heart sponsors.  Heart Deco, organized by Grayco Partners and the American Heart Association, is a public art project that continues to raise awareness about the importance of heart health.  Heart Deco will line the walk along Westheimer in front of The Belle Meade for the month of June.

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Thursday, May 13th the River Oaks Country Club set the scene for this year’s Friends For Life Gala celebrity art auction and dinner.  

Houston animal lovers were invited where the organization honored renowned Houston Astros Broadcaster, Milo Hamilton.  The soiree featured both a live and silent auction which included special artwork created by the rescue animals and a one of a kind original “Blue Dog” piece by the famous New Orleans artist George Rodrigue.  Rodrigue’s donation was the perfect fit for the animal advocates and art lovers.  The life auction included Barkitecture Houses designed by celebrities Dennis and Kimberly Quaid and Cloris Leachman.  David Sutherland Yoest’s $180,000 “win” of this auction item and gifting to major fund raiser Don Sanders was the hit of the evening.  Approximately $700,000 was raised at the gala that will benefit Friends For Life rescue and adoption programs.  (Pictured: Lauren Levicki & Milo Hamilton. Photo Credit: Jenny Antill).

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Right in line with the theme, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport set the scene for the 2010 Alley Theatre Jet Setters’ Ball.  May 15th partygoers enjoyed a cocktail reception in the museum, toured exhibits, then took off to the party tent to take flight in a retro airport scene with flight attendants on hand.  This event is truly not to be missed by Houston’s circle of elite travelers!

This year’s gala honored Houston business leader and philanthropist Fayez Sarofim.  Event chairs were Courtney and Bo Hopson.  City Kitchen catered the divine dinner and the Marianne Bennett Orchestra kept the crowd dancing all night long. 

In the scene: Alley Theatre artistic director Gregory Boyd and managing director Dean Gladden, Lynn Wyatt, Brad Wyatt, Clayton and Shel Erikson, Elyse and Bob Lanier, Joyce and Hugh Echols, Kristi and John Schiller.

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The Friends of The Stehlin Foundation, a group dedicated to raising funds to support the research, clinical and education programs conducted at the CHRISTUS Stehlin Foundation.

Thursday, May 21st at a dinner party hosted by Sally and Bobby Anderson, The Friends of The CHRISTUS Stehlin Foundation got guests fired up about the organization's upcoming 29th annual gala, slated for November 13, 2010. Before guests indulged in the delectable dinner, gala chairmen spotlighted Honorees John and Lindy Rydman.  The Rydmans, who own Spec's Liquor and Spirits, are sponsoring "Cork Project" which donates to The Stehlin Foundation's cancer research with every wine cork brought to Spec's for recyling.  The gala theme was also revealed at the kick-off party when guests found out they will be dancing the night away at the ABBA-inspired event. (Pictured: Philip & Becca Weigand, Tamara & Harrison Bibb. Photo Credit: The Photo Boutique).

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Renea Menzies not only illustrates with paint on a canvas she illuminates a room!  I recently met Renea and was instantly intrigued by her as a person and as a working artist.  This former model did not put her talent to use professionally until later in life, but you will notice she has not wasted any of her time or her talent.  Her sculpted oil paintings display provocative colors that call out a movement of imagination in a textured oasis.  Art enthusiasts say her use of oils creates a luscious and buttery appearance similar to ribbon candy.  Each of the swirls she creates takes the viewer on another journey of extraordinary proportion.  Renea says "My creative soul was inspired by a desire to evoke my emotions at the deepest level with vibrantly colored swirls that exude off the canvas and into the heart of the viewer".   I had the chance to interview Renea about her day to day life in Houston and her ambitions.  Let's get to know Renea Menzies:

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Our own "Intimate With Erica" socialite columnist Erica Rose is known nation wide for her role on a season of the famous reality dating show "The Bachelor" on ABC.  Even though she did not walk away with the final rose, her true destiny is being a business woman and a hit reality TV mega star.  

Houston's hometown princess is now one of the leading ladies on the new VH1 reality series called "You're Cut Off", a program showcasing privileged young socialites in a setting stripping away all of their exclusive amenities for a more subdued lifestyle. (Pictured: Leslie Tyler Fink, Erica Rose, Nicole Brende)

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