parties

Lady Gaga-Inspired Gingerbread Creation Takes the Cake at Montrose Competition

Lady Gaga-Inspired Gingerbread Creation Takes the Cake at Montrose Competition

Kenny Bacak and Melissa Rodriguez

‘TIS THE SEASON for gingerbread-house-making! Montrose Grace Place hosted more than 15 teams for an annual competition. Montrose Grace Place’s mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for homeless youth of all sexualities and genders.

Held at Kindred Montrose, a beautiful church on Waugh, the fundraiser included festive beverages, snacks and a silent auction. Teams competed by building and decorating gingerbread houses and surrounding scenes, all in the name of snagging the Judge’s Choice Award. The decision-makers included radio personality Amir Diamond, Sister ZsaZsa Galor, Sister Gin Tervention and HIV awareness advocate Caleb Brown.

The winning creation was a metallic, geometric, Lady Gaga-inspired house titled “Welcome to Chromatica,” as announced by emcee Duckie DuJour.

All-in-all, the event was a huge success, per Board President Natalie Ferguson. “Days before the competition took place, we broke our previous fundraising record,” she said. “All of the funds raised will help us kick off 2022 in great spirits and in fantastic financial positioning.”

Mistress of Ceremonies Ducki DuJour with the first-place team / photo by Nick Moore

Executive Director Courtney Sellers with the kids category winner / photo by Nick Moore

Courtney Sellers with the Peoples Choice winners / photo by Nick Moore

The winning gingerbread house

A competition entry

Kenny Bacak, Melissa Rodriguez, Sarah Yates

From Your Site Articles
Wellness+Giving Back
promoted

Thrive & Inspire: Creating ’Something Bigger Than Ourselves’ Drives Gooch and Pappas of RYDE

Thrive & Inspire: Creating ’Something Bigger Than Ourselves’ Drives Gooch and Pappas of RYDE

Ashley Gooch and Andrew Pappas, Co-Founders

WHAT INSPIRES YOU as you grow RYDE? The RYDE community and our team inspire us every day. The goal from the start was to create something that is bigger than ourselves — our community is just that. We want to push the limits of what a fitness experience can be. Our new Heights studio is a testament to that commitment, offering a high-energy indoor cycling experience in a stunning space. RYDE Heights opens in April, exactly eight years after our first location opened on West Gray in River Oaks.

Keep Reading Show less
events

Chefs Collaborate on Pop-Up Dinners as Tribute to Late Restaurateur

Alex Au-Yeung (photo by Jenn Duncan)

WHEN IT OPENED a few months ago, The Woodlands outpost of acclaimed Katy restaurant Phat Eatery was billed as Alex Au-Yeung's dream restaurant. Unfortunately, Au-Yeung never got to see it come to fruition, as he passed away earlier this year. But the James Beared-nominated chef-owner certainly left his mark — and in honor of what would be his 53rd birthday, operating partners Kevin Lee and Marvin He have organized two pop-up tribute dinners.

Keep Reading Show less
Food
real estate

Houston Named Most Affordable Big City for New College Grads — and ATX's Rank Will Shock You

WHAT DOES IT mean to be "rent-burdened"? The phrase describes those who spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, and it's become an increasingly relevant part of the larger conversation about the American economy in a post-Covid world.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate