Rumor Has It - October 2024

Family trip. Rosemary Beach beckoned Whitney Sharman. She and Joe Sharman, their 2.5-year-old daughter, Scotty, and her brother, Christian Easterling and his wife, Kate, daughters Reese, 13, and Sloan, 11, and son Harrison, 7, rented a house a minute from the beach for a full weeklong playcaytion. The cousins delighted in the sand and waves and the adults dined delightfully at Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar with stunning ocean and sunset views. Whitney says the next time they return there will be four in their family.

SOMETHING BLUE Beverly Vosko and Jim Jackson recently married surrounded by family and friends. From left: Piper Jackson, Michelle Levin, Emily Caughey, bride Beverly Vosko Jackson, Jennifer Caughey, and Olivia Jackson.

They met on Match. They both lost spouses to cancer years ago and found new love in each other. Beverly Vosko married Jim Jackson on June 22. They married at Dukessa at 5 p.m. surrounded by white roses and 60 guests. VIPS were Beverly’s daughters and sons-in law Jennifer and Ryan Caughey and Michelle and Dan Levin, Jim’s sons and daughters-in-law Justin and Kristen Jackson and Brandon and Courtney Jackson, and grandchildren Emily Caughey, Olivia Jackson, Piper Jackson, William Levin, Joshua Levin, James Caughey, and Quinn Jackson (ringbearer). The couple honeymooned in the Greece islands and Athens in August.

DUAL BIRTHDAY TRIP Jeremy Fain and mom Donita Fain celebrated their birthdays on a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. Celebrating were family members (from left) Mike Fain, Jeremy Fain, Peter Fain, Donita Fain, Marco Garza, and Dora Garza.

Birthdays in paradise. It may have been a Norwegian cruise line, but the trip was to Hawaii with stops in Oahu, Maui, the big Island of Hawaii, and Kauai. The family cruise was to celebrate the joint 40th birthday of Jeremy Fain and 70th birthday of his mom, Donita Fain. Dad Mike Fain, brother Peter Fain, brother-in-law Marco Garza, Marco’s mother, and Dora Garza luxuriated for 10 days with a visual feast of magnificent waterfalls, lush foliage, gourmet dishes, and perfect weather. “Living in paradise came true now that it was lived firsthand,” said Jeremy.

GOLD-MEDAL MEMORIES Charlotte Marchesseau dined with Walter Bering and Will Elting while cheering on Will’s niece’s daughter, Teal Cohen, in the Olympics.

Girls in the boat. Will Elting and Charlotte Marchesseau made travel plans to attend the Paris Olympic Games after his niece’s daughter Teal Cohen and her teammates won their qualification races and became the U.S. entry in the women’s quadruple sculls event. Teal began competitive rowing at Hockaday School in Dallas and later rowed at the University of Washington in Seattle. While a lot of events were sold out, even resale tickets, they were able to score at the hottest restaurants, Chez André and Ginger, both in the 8th district, where they stayed. Will and Charlotte dined with Walter Bering at three different restaurants. Teal and the team did not medal but Charlotte says the trip was gold.

ON CATALINA ISLAND Beth Muecke strolls while daughter Kendra Muecke paddle boards in Catalina Island.

Let’s do this! Although singer/songwriter Kendra Muecke has lived in the Malibu and Los Angeles areas for 13 years, she had never been to Catalina Island. Her mom, Beth Muecke, posed the question: Want to go to Catalina Island? Since they didn’t own a boat, they booked a reservation on the Catalina Express, a double-decker enclosed ferry that takes you from Long Beach to Catalina in one hour. This European-styled island has charming hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, and ice cream/candy shops with a variety of boats moored in the marina. Kendra went paddleboarding while Beth chose window-cruising. Although they felt like they were on the coast of Italy, they could understand the language. 

GIRLS TRIP Celebrating Kristi Barnhill’s 60th in Santa Fe were (from left) Courtney McAninch, Lisa Heard, birthday girl Kristi Barnhill, Terasa Schuller, and Beryl Gibson.

Fabulous husband. Marc Barnhill sent his wife Kristi Barnhill with friends from college and the neighborhood to celebrate her 60th in Santa Fe. Sylvia Spivey didn’t make it due to the airline outage debacle. The group sampled New Mexico wines in the Santa Fe Tasting Room at local winery Gruet Winery, and refreshed after scouring the farmers market and artist markets with spa treatments at Ten Thousand Waves Spa. And one thing gals do best – have tasty conversations at trendy restaurants: Horno, Sazon, Geronimo, and La Choza for authentic New Mexico cuisine. “La chosen ones” on the trip were Courtney McAninch, Lisa Heard, Terasa Schuller, and Beryl Gibson.

FILM SCREENING Brothers Socratis and Diamantis Zavitsanos co-produced their first feature film, Sew Torn, and recently hosted a private screening in Houston. Here they are pictured at the Locarno Film Festival in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. From left: Socratis Zavitsanos, actress Eve Connolly, actress K Callan, Diamantis Zavitsanos, and actor Ron Cook. 

Sew Torn. Brothers Socratis and Diamantis Zavitsanos co-produced their first feature film, Sew Torn, about a year ago. They signed on with The Playmaker, who has been handling the international sales for the movie, securing theatrical distribution in Spain and France. In August, it played at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland with 8,000 viewers. They hosted a private screening on Aug. 22 in Houston with 400 attendees. Socratis gave a brief introduction for the dark comedy thriller movie. After the screening, he and Diamantis answered questions with Doug Harris, a founding member of Houston Film Critics Society, as the moderator. The biggest fans were Joni and John Zavitsanos. 

SOAKING UP NATURE Paul and Linda Lynn were awestruck by beauty on their 21-day trip that included Brazil and Peru. Here, they’re pictured at the Iguazu Falls.  

Adventures in South America. The 21-day trip that covered Brazil (Rio and the Iguazu Falls) to Peru (Lima, Amazon River area, Machu Picchu) was thrilling for Paul and Linda Lynn. Their guide on the river below the Iguazu Falls ran them under 50-foot waterfalls drenching them with hard cascading water. Seven colorful macaws in the branches above made them forget how wet they were. Below was another story when the guide pulled a 15-foot anaconda out of a hole and let them wrap it around their necks. Once they got to the 8,000-foot elevation of the 600-year-old Inca site, Machu Picchu, they were mesmerized. And glad there were lots of natural meds and Coca tea to alleviate the elevation sickness. The price to pay for being high on life.

BLUE LAGOON After a day of adventuring in Iceland, Tom and Sherry Hale finished the day in the Blue Lagoon. Pictured is Sherry relaxing in the water with a face mask on.

Blue Lagoon and a white face mask. After Tom and Sherry Hale had a walk on the wild side in Iceland to tectonic geological sites, waterfalls, and volcanos, they finished the day in the Blue Lagoon with therapeutic 100-degree water. The lagoon experience, which they booked in advance, surpassed their expectations. They were provided with a towel and comfy robes. A surprise bar was in the locker areas and in the pool. They were prepared with a waterproof cover for their cell phone to take pics. Four days after they left, there was an emergency evacuation of the lagoon and hotel of 1,300 people. The volcano lava eruption opened up a two- and-a-half-mile fissure. No one was injured. Don’t play with fire.

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