Asia Society Toasts Next Month’s Tiger Ball with Swanky Steak 48 Event

Asia Society Toasts Next Month’s Tiger Ball with Swanky Steak 48 Event

Bonna Kol, Grace Cavnar, Claudia Contreras

MANY HOUSTON ORGANIZATIONS have had to rethink their in-person fundraisers over the past year, including Asia Society, which moved its annual glam gala to June.


A more intimate cocktail kickoff last week, channeling the main event's Incredible India theme, eased supporters back into the idea of group gatherings and celebrated a timely mission of strengthening relationships and encouraging engagement among the people of Asia, AustralAsia and America.

Dozens of patrons gathered at Steak 48 in River Oaks District, greeted by event chairs Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Claudia and Roberto Contreras, and Eileen and Kase Lawal in an upstairs private-event space. Trays of delicious bites — truffled-topped New York strip, crispy shrimp deviled eggs — were passed around as guests enjoyed catching up face-to-face, chatting about June's Tiger Ball and also about how Asia Society plans to support Covid-relief efforts in India, the beautiful country and culture that inspired this year's gala.

Ann and Jay Cuclis

Brenda and Marc Watts

David Leebron, Y Ping Sun

David Webster, Rose Chen

Moez and Sultana Magalij

Mustafa Tameez, Eileen Lawal

Steve Alvis, Cecilia Brown

Sultana, Mimi Levine, Kathy Goosen

Sylvia Quan, Lily Foster

Parties
Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!

Keep Reading Show less

AS THE HOLIDAYS loom closer with celebrations and travel in the works, now is the time we start thinking about how to feel and look our best.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

Julie Kent, Lauren Anderson, Stanton Welch

AN ELEGANT DINNER on the Wortham stage for dance patrons followed the opening night performance of the Houston Ballet over the weekend, a glittering first foray into what’s shaping up to be a typically busy fall social season.

Keep Reading Show less