Rumor Has It - November 2025

Fun and furry creatures. It was Ryder Hoffman’s second birthday bash, and it was nothing short of a mini amusement park. The train chugged its way down not one, but two entire streets in Hunters Creek, while a pony casually munched on grass, waiting for the next toddler to hitch a ride on his back. Over at the moo station, kiddos had their choice of pancakes and adults could opt for a trendy Acai bowl. A petting zoo, full of goats, bunnies, and chickens, kept the little ones giggling and entertained while the train took a quick detour down the street. Meanwhile, the balloon animal artist was there twisting and turning balloons into creatures that only a toddler could truly appreciate. 

Pictured at the Bryan Museum event are (from left) Jay Guerrero, Regional Director for Senator John Cornyn, Joe Jaworski, Jr., former Mayor of Galveston, and author Laurie Bricker.

Laurie Bricker’s grandmother. Lorraine Rey Isaacs Hofeller survived the 1900 Galveston flood – and kept going till 106! Laurie captured her grandmother’s flood of memories in My Grandmother’s Ring, a tribute to both grit and sparkle. At a sold-out Bryan Museum event, 150 guests admired Lorraine’s legendary ring and bracelet while former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski introduced Laurie and director Melissa Williams Murphy welcomed the crowd – proving Lorraine’s story still shines brighter than her jewelry. Houstonians that poured into the museum’s beautiful solarium for the talk included husband Jeff Bricker, Steven Bricker, Brandon Bricker, Jay Guerrero, Debby and Alan Stanton, Francine Beckman, Lana Armstrong, and Teri and Lee Straus.

LADIES LUNCHEON Mady Kades hosted a fun luncheon with a twist.   

Food, fun, and friendship. Mady Kades wrapped up summer with a lively luncheon for 25 gal pals – and a surprise twist. Each guest scribbled three little-known facts about herself. Turns out, this crowd is full of hidden talent: one’s father was a composer, another’s a trailblazing hiker, and someone even confessed to once sitting on Art Linkletter’s lap (no follow-up questions, please). The guessing game for prizes had everyone in stitches, especially with tricky curveballs tossed in by Sharon Maloney, Frances Rubin, Michele Hosko, Helene Zadok, Joyce Fadem, Joan Lebow, Paulette Levine, Donna Palmer, Rhonda Bass, Cynthia Mills, Lindy Kahn, and Sheila Aron.

NO CLUE Andy Greenwood holds his 14th mystery murder that uses his friends’ names but no clues.

Where did they all come from? Andy and Tanya Greenwood expected a quiet crowd for Andy’s 14th detective novel, Honky Tonk Hell, but 80 guests packed in for cocktails, tequila shots, apps, and autographs. Despite everyone claiming to be “out of town,” the house turned into Houston’s liveliest whodunit. The book cover features Tanya’s boots and a honky tonk in San Angelo. Andy, known for slipping in friends’ names and even old movie characters, toasted his latest plot – a murder with absolutely no clues. Some of the faithful fans Lorraine Abercrombie, Rod and Linda Proto, John Wade Harris, Mary Ann Macy, Barry and Rosalyn Margolis, Maggie Austin, Darci Templeton, Mike Tyson, Bruce and Terry Harrison and Daughter Sarah Stopschinski from Brenham.

85 AND STILL FUN Sheila Train celebrates with friends and family and a chihuahua.

Homegrown hit. Sheila Train’s 85th birthday was celebrated at home with son Jordan Train, who joked his absent wife, who was out of town during the party, still “made it” – she appeared in the photo background on the cake. Grandson Adam Train, wife India, and their chihuahua Cookie added tributes before yours truly quizzed the crowd: parents’ names? how she met Louis (may he rest in peace)? dog names? Was one called Choo Choo? (Nope). Thirty guests sang “Happy Birthday” as Sheila blew out candles on a cake featuring – herself!

It was pearls, Chanel, and pure sparkle. Riyad Abu Taha and friends threw a belated birthday bash for the ever-stylish Harriet Gertner at Café Annie. Fatimeh Mehdi of Just Desserts crowned the night with a cake worthy of Paris Fashion Week – with pearls and a Chanel logo, naturally. A DJ spun patio beats for 25 guests as “Happy Birthday” rang out in Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, and English. Harriet? Every bit as youthful as her chic crowd that included Scarlett Yarborough, Elizabeth McInnis Netting, Linda Suib, Harry Brand, and Lorraine and Larry Jacobs. 

California dreaming, Tudor-style. Phoebe and Bobby Tudor summered in sunny Montecito, where Phoebe balanced downward dogs with upmarket tomatoes at the farmers market. Between golf swings, sizzling meals, and fierce mah jongg matches with friends from Houston and beyond, she, “Bebe” cherished every giggle-filled moment with her two-year-old granddaughter. In her “spare” time, she planned the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 75th Gala, which was Oct. 16, and dreamed up Astrodome revival ideas – because sometimes, preservation inspiration strikes best mid-warrior pose or mid-putt. 

ARTSY Untitled Art, Houston debuted at the George R. Brown Convention Center this fall. Pictured, at the VIP opening, are (from left) Clayton Katz, Natalie Vaclavik, and Brett Ashley Barth.    

Metallic, moving, glossy, textured. The Untitled Art, Houston opening felt like walking into a sensory ambush, in a good way – slow, shimmering, and just a little dizzying, thanks to 80 galleries competing for your eyeballs. Unexpected, captivating works of art wowed attendees. On VIP night, the glitterati flocked: director Michael Slenske, executive director Clara Andrade, Clayton Katz, Natalie Vaclavik, Brett Ashley Barth, Jeff Luna, Marion Sealy, Jennifer Roosth, Terry and Bruce Merwin, and Rhonda and Bill Glick. The VIP suite had passed appetizers and signature drinks for other sensory experiences. This fall marked the festival’s debut in Houston. Rumor has it the contemporary art fest will return next year.

EXPLORING ITALY Strake Jesuit classmates explored Turin, Assisi, and Rome. Teachers Mr. Joe Seiter and Mr. Lucas Nocera accompanied the group on the trip. Pictured are Mr. Seiter (on left) with students Wolfgang Strohmeyer, Daniel Makulski, Tomasz Sokalski, John Sander, John Fahy, Liam Lennox, Christian Escobar, Cooper Olson, David Prodoehl, Juan Pablo Ramirez, Alfred Sarno, JD Arnold, Jackson Price, and Collin Say.

Italian adventure. Wolfgang Strohmeyer and a dozen Strake Jesuit classmates, including Liam Lennox and John Sander, trekked across Turin, Assisi, and Rome, logging eight miles a day (basically a holy marathon). Highlights? Hiking up to Santuario di Oropa and literally touching the clouds, chasing sunsets in Assisi, and cooling off with a swim in a volcanic lake. They scored VIP access to the pope’s summerhouse – yes, telescopes, gardens, and all. Masses in basilicas, grottos, even by St. Peter’s tomb made it a pilgrimage with plenty of steps and stories. Wolfgang’s wildlife and landscape photos can be seen at his Instagram account @wolf_stroh.

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