Rumor Has It - May 2025

Feathers and lights adorned the tables. Everyone was a winner at the Spring Branch Education Foundation’s Vegas-themed The Fabulous SBEF Gala at the Omni Houston Hotel. Co-chairs Kim Huston, Rebekah James, and Kristin Thomas, dressed in bling, upped the ante as 300 patrons participated in casino games and posed in front of a wedding chapel. Some wore blue suede shoes, but nobody was lonesome that night as an Elvis impersonator belted out familiar ’50s tunes. Bundtinis were donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes for a sweet late-night snack. The evening was nothin’ but fun! 

SPRING PARTY R.O. and Carol Hunton took a photo opp as the guests were sipping champagne at Carol’s spring lunch.

Celebration of the season. Big rains were predicted but they stayed away. Carol Hunton certainly knows how to bring together an elegant mix of friends from all aspects of her big life at a spring party. Champagne (before tariffs) was paired with exquisite bites of shrimp, beef tenderloin, and lamb lollipop chops. The ladies-only party of 45 friends came from book club, luncheon group, Houston Symphony League, and polo friends, which represent just a few of her interests. Next time it will probably include mah jongg friends, as that is her latest diversion. The one male party crasher was R.O. Hunton, her husband, who made a brief appearance dressed as a dashing GQ model with a pocket square. 

ADVENTURES IN JAPAN Lori and Efisio Farris enjoyed time with their adult children, Valerio and Francesa, in Japan. Here, Valerio, Francesa, and Efisio are around the fire pit with their ima diver while Lori snaps a picture.

Sushi, surprises, and sea urchins. Lori and Efisio Farris caught up with their adult children, Valerio, a Milan-based brand strategist in fashion, and Francesca, a program director at a cooking school in Sicily, in Japan. The highlight? A front-row seat at a fish auction in their fisherman town of Toba, their chosen catch was whisked to a restaurant and transformed into a meal so fresh it probably still had dreams of swimming. Full of zest was former chef Efisio. Then came Ima Diver, a fearless sea harvester who grilled lobster and crafted sea urchin sushi before their eyes. Paired with miso soup and salty sea air in Toba, the experience was haute cuisine meets high-seas magic.

Please find me. While Keith McCarthy was on the way back from a business trip, his wife Meredith left for Round Top. A relative gave their Golden Retriever, Millie, her meds and “secured” the gate – but Millie had other plans. When Keith got home, she was gone. Cue panic mode! Meredith texted 19 neighbors, Keith posted on Facebook, and the neighborhood security guard was on the lookout for Millie. Success. The security guard alerted Keith after neighbors Melinda Chernosky and Mary Wade called Kendall Solé to confirm it was her (Millie’s cousin, after all). Mary kept Millie safe until her humans arrived. Crisis averted and gate actually secured – a doggone happy ending!

BBQ FTW Jerry Kent overseeing some rare beef at his Rodeo booth, Pits and Ashes.

Smells great! Pits and Ashes, a BBQ team serving up brisket, ribs, chicken, and dessert, has been participating in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest since 1978. Jerry and Laura Kent took it over in 1998 and added a cigar night to honor vets and first responders. The heroes service extends to serving in the barbecue line so you know where to thank one. Swaying to the tunes of the live band with the sweet smoky aroma in the air were Jennifer and Steve Bass, Anne and Chris Richardson, and Jane and Jim Brann. A good bovine time for all.

BAYOU CITY ART FESTIVAL It was an art-filled weekend at the Bayou City Art Festival. Pictured, enjoying the event, are (from left) Dimi Daudin and daughter Stefanie Daudin and friends Adele and mom Julia Bor.

Rain was predicted but the sun prevailed. The Bayou City Art Festival, produced by the Art Colony Association Inc., had about 20,000 visitors to see 250 exhibiting artists representing 19 different art disciplines. Dimi Daudin and daughter Stefanie Daudin and friends Adele and mom Julia Bor joined the afternoon crowd at the downtown venue for sensory overload. With music in the background, strolling among the smells of the food truck park, and the visual art delights, wine and craft beer garden, two entertainment stages, did they even see the Culinary Arts Stage? And anyone coming or leaving had a chance for free samples of pizza and quesadillas. 

FUN WITH NEIGHBORS The annual Memorial Villages Food Truck Rodeo took place at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Pictured (from left) Vanja Kissliny from Switzerland and Kelsey Bassett from England joined in the fun with their host family Julie and Ray Wright with children Rebecca in stroller and Ryan Wright.

Food Truck Rodeo. The annual Memorial Villages Food Truck Rodeo at Chapelwood United Methodist Church provided enough fun to make a kid forget about nap time. Karaoke queens Mary Buttram and Aileen Mamedov belted out Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson, faces painted like they were ready for a Broadway show. The event was full of heart, thanks to Madeleine Andrews and Georgia Wells with Hearts for the Community booth, spreading kindness. Kelsey Bassett from England and Vanja Kissliny from Switzerland joined in the fun with their host family Ray and Julie Wright with children Ryan and Rebecca. In the blazing heat, a firetruck with firemen Cody Seymour, Kenny MacLeod, Ricky Noskrent, and Eric Flores sparked a lot of interest.

WISDOM FROM DR. FRASIER Kelsey Grammer aka Dr. Frazier (pictured on right, with Julie Baker Finck on left) spoke at the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s A Celebration of Reading event. 

Next year you must attend! Each petit four had text reading Happy 100th Birthday to celebrate Barbara Bush’s 100th birthday. Over two million dollars was raised to further literacy through the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. At A Celebration of Reading, Neil and Pierce Bush welcomed the literary crowd and recognized Julie Baker Finck, Ph.D. Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands bragged that he went to Texas A&M and on to UT. He was gigged and hooked. Victoria Christopher Murray, coauthor of Personal Librarian, has a new book, Harlem Rhapsody, about the making of Harlem. Kelsey Grammer aka Dr. Frazier spoke to a medium years ago who told him to tell his sister’s story, and that book is Karen: A Brother Remembers. Laughter ensued when comedian Nate Bargatze said he has some blank pages in his book Big Dumb Eyes and thinks all books should have them to give the reader a break.

Fat Tuesday at Brennan’s. J. Michael Soliz is a hairdresser by day and a natural entertainer at night when the spirit of fun calls. With his own props of a supersized feathered hat, a choker with a dangling abundance of beads and his brand of cheer, he’s a staple on Fat Tuesday at Brennan’s. Jean Wilson and Rosanne Kaufmann were in the crowd as Mardi Gras revelers, admiring his snazzy black outfit of fringed shorts and sunglasses, knowing that’s part of the outrageous festival.

SAND AND SEA Pictured (from left) are Rose Chen and Gloria Teasley in Cabo. It was a weekend of sundresses and sunglasses for these gals that bring sunshine with them.

No turtle soup for me. Rose Chen was in Zen heaven when she visited Gloria Teasley in Cabo for a long weekend. While Rose was taking in the blue sky and sea, a man waved her over and asked if she wanted to watch a turtle rescue. She will never have turtle soup again! An outing to restaurant The Office on the Beach livened up the quiet strolls on the sand. She and Gloria found some local handicrafts and jewelry to add more color to their already colorful lives. 

Lights, action! Behind the scenes, a world exists for Tina Raham Stewart that is quite personal. Twenty-five years ago, Jonathan Stewart brought her into the world of the Alley Theatre and the Houston Symphony. In his memory, Tina has taken a more active role as a board member of the Alley Theatre and is on the Artistic and Orchestra Affairs Committee of the Houston Symphony. The Glass Menagerie in April at the Alley was in his honor and there will be a Bee Gees Symphony performance with Steven Reineke in Jonathan’s honor May 16-18. Tina has also endowed in his name $1,000,000 to the Legacy Programs of the Alley and the Symphony. That’s how you mend a broken heart (Bee Gees). 

COLORFUL MUSICAL HARMONY Brigitte Kalai and Farida Abjani chaired the Fifth Annual Conversations with an ICON Luncheon benefiting the Houston Symphony League. Pictured, from left: Honoree Heidi Turney, HSL president Heidi Rockecharlie, chair Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, and co-chair Farida Abjani.

Good tempo. The major keys were Brigitte Kalai and Farida Abjani, who chaired the Fifth Annual Conversations with an ICON Luncheon at Houston Country Club benefiting the Houston Symphony League. With rhythm and harmony, president Heidi Rockecharlie conducted a score of the League’s accomplishments and outreach initiatives, with projections to reach more than 350,000 individuals this season, over 130,000 of whom are children. Guests enjoyed an engaging repertoire between ICON honoree Heidi Turney (VP and GM of longtime supporter Saks Fifth Avenue) and journalist Shelby Hodge, who were followed by models in spring clothes from Saks Fifth Avenue. Three exemplary Houstonians Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees, and Beth Wolff were honored for their rhapsody of unwavering support.

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