Rumor Has It - January 2024

The winds blew. Brandon and Tabatha Urech had Tabatha’s 40th celebration scheduled for Cabo in October with 31 friends. The day before, a tropical storm formed and turned into a hurricane, so the Cabo trip was canceled, and a new pattern blew in. After all, everyone had kids and pets taken care of.

FABULOUS 40TH Tabatha Urech’s 40th festivities were planned for Cabo when a hurricane interfered. The group of friends headed to Horseshoe Bay instead to celebrate. Pictured are: Kelly and David Ross, Emily and Grant Gooding, Tabatha and Brandon Urech, Perla and Colin Grover, Amanda and Will Zschau, Kate Burke and Josh Bhatia, Sara Payne and Brad Schuetz, Tanya McDaniel and Jerome Magee, Laura and Michael Ryan, Simona and Jesse McKey, Steve Sinos, Katherine and Johnny Evans; not pictured: Lindsey and Brandon Fleetwood.

Twenty-five friends stormed to Horseshoe Bay to celebrate. Friends created an Olympic tournament inside the condo for couples that is still being talked about. Katherine and Jack and George Urech were at home being cared for by grands James and Sylvia Mills, unaware of all the laughter without them.

ZOO BALL Seven hundred and forty Zoo supporters gathered for the Galápagos themed gala. Pictured: Courtney and Zac Harmon. (Photo: Daniel Ortiz)

Enchanted by turtles and sea lions. Glam gowns at the 2023 Galápagos themed Zoo Ball were a colorful sight and as entertaining as the giant turtles and playful sea lions. After touring the new Galápagos exhibit through a tunnel surrounded by water on both sides, guests were transported through twinkling lights via golf carts to enjoy dinner and the auctions.

ZOO BALL Joe and Cathy Cleary added to the island scene. (Photo: Daniel Ortiz)

Chairs Dylan and Jordan Seff and Vanessa and Chuck Ames, Houston Zoo president and chief executive officer Lee Ehmke, honoree Stacy Methvin, VIPs Margaret Farnsworth and Stephanie von Stein Schusterman, Kristina H. Somerville, and partiers Joe and Cathy Cleary, Bobby and Phoebe Tudor, and Zac and Courtney Ann Harmon were part of the more than 740 who were awed.

FRIENDSGIVING The Friendship Tailgate is an A&M tradition that’s carried on through the decades. Pictured are (front row, from left) Paulette Klein, Karen Hardin, Gay Wathen, Marianne Pustevjosky, Bridget Tissue; (back row, from left) Mary Jo Prince, Kim Hagerty, Pam O’Connor, Patty Spitzer, and Macy Eldridge.

Annual Aggie Friendsgiving food and football. Their Friendsgiving Tailgate originated 30 years ago when Karen and Ed Hardin tailgated on the A&M campus for the last home game in November. Now that they have a home in College Station, they host it. All 40 guests were former Aggie football teammates (Classes ’79, ’80, and ’81), Aggie Yell Leaders (Classes ’80 and ’81), and Diamond Darlings (Class of ’80), and their respective spouses/partners. Just before leaving for the football game, Dr. Pat Flynn led the fireball shots to “BTHO” out of the opponent, another tradition. The party continued in the Jackie Sherrill Lettermen’s Club at Kyle Field, on the campus. Score: 51-10 Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State.

ON STAGE TV and radio host Ernie Manouse interviewed candid and humorous actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth at the 8th Annual Power of Literacy Luncheon benefiting Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. (Photo; Jacob Power)

Fame. Her mother said: What someone thinks of you is none of your business. Kristin Chenoweth spoke candidly and humorously to more than 550 supporters at The Gift of Reading – the 8th Annual Power of Literacy Luncheon. Guests received her latest book, I’m No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts, and she shared lots of them. KPRC2 news anchor and emcee Keith Garvin introduced her and Houston PBS and NPR Host Ernie Manouse as moderator. Kristin claims neither of her parents could sing. But maybe they could – after all, she was adopted. The crowd adopted her into their hearts with a standing ovation.

Adventure in Alaska. There are only a few months when you can go to Alaska, so Peter and Jan Tomlinson took their adult daughters, Kate and Sarah Tomlinson, on a wild trip instead of gifting them money for Christmas. The seven-day whale of a time that started in Fairfax included plenty of wildlife and a view of five humpback whales that jumped together out of the water. They traveled by helicopter to walk on a glacier, dined on a train, and saw dogs pull sleds. The biggest surprise was that two of them got the “gift” of Covid at the end but relived the trip while resting.

SURPRISE! Kylie Baker, who lives in New York, surprised her mom, Chris Baker, by attending the Fall Friendship Party in her honor.

Multi taskers. Reese Baker, Russell Coffee, Charlie Simpson, Jeff Ligon, Jeff Spiers, and Tom Lyvers drove through the woods of Colorado with stops to camp, fish, pan for gold, and treasure hunt with a metal detector. At 10,300 feet high, they had snow, rain, and hail as they hiked up to a cliff at 11,500 feet. A fleck of gold and a quarter turned up but who is to say which is worth more? On the trip, Reese planned a Fall Friendship Dinner for his wife, Christina “Chris” Baker’s birthday, which 40 enjoyed under a full moon with drinks poolside and bountiful food and desserts inside. 

Entrepreneurs. While taking a walk around the neighborhood with YaYa (grandmother), Jane Grace and three-year-old Evelyn spotted three young entrepreneurs selling stretchy bracelets. Maya and Grace and friend Margaux were taking orders in Margaux’s front yard for custom bracelets while customers picked out colors and a charm. The price: Whatever you want to pay. Their “manager” nine-year-old Logan (Margaux’s sister) helped set up and organize the girls for their retail experience. Their two-hour business was profitable, but no stock is available at this time as it is a private company. Parents Chloe and Paul Hotze and Currie and Tripp Rice are the investors.

TAPAS AND SANGRIA Travelers Susan & Martin Buckley in Barcelona tasting and drinking the regional fare.

Planes, trains, and road trips. Lots of tapas and sangria were consumed during three weeks in Spain by travelers Susan and Martin Buckley. They covered a lot of territory from Madrid to Barcelona and along the northeastern coast and to many interior cities like Toledo and Ronda, a favorite. They stayed in Parador Hotels, usually in historic buildings, convents, or castles, and all were well situated with beautiful views. They found driving easy with good signage but send warning of pickpockets in the train stations and busy streets in Madrid and Barcelona. They put their cash and cards in their front pockets and used a crossbody bag. They are already planning to explore the other side of Spain and Portugal next year. 

MEETING THE ARTIST Rosanne Kaufmann Juwa has been on a mission to meet all the artists whose art her late husband Ron Kuwa collected. Pictured is Rosanne with artist Angelbert Metoyer and his team at the sculpture unveiling of the Barbara Jordan sculpture downtown.

Extra special meaning. The unveiling and dedication of the Barbara Jordan sculpture downtown with the artist Angelbert Metoyer had another meaning for Rosanne Kaufmann Juwa. She has been on a journey to meet all the artists whose art her dearly departed husband Ron Juwa collected to keep his memory alive. When Rosanne met Angelbert, he already knew about her as she had been in touch with his studio manager; Angelbert is interested in including Ron's art in his upcoming book. After his talk, he invited her to be in the photo with his team. She is now collecting photos of herself with the artist.

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