At Symphony Dinner, Wine Takes Center Stage — to the Tune of $650K

Priscilla Dickson
At Symphony Dinner, Wine Takes Center Stage — to the Tune of $650K

Milka Waterland, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl and Elia Gabbanelli

THE JONES HALL stage is frequently a place where stars can be found. On a particularly lucky Friday the 13th, the Symphony hosted a fundraising dinner of which the true stars were bottles of fine wine — and supporters were eager to raise a glass!


More than 350 beautifully dressed Houstonians turned out for the 2022 Wine Dinner and Collector’s Auction, chaired by Joan and Robert Duff and benefiting the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement programs. After making an entrance on the red carpet and perusing the auction items in the lobby, guests, seated at one of many round tables arranged on the Jones Hall stage, enjoyed a multicourse meal by City Kitchen. Vino pairings were selected by John Rydman, owner of Spec’s and president of the Houston Symphony Society.

This year’s Collector’s Auction included hundreds of rare and exceptional wines and wine-related experiences, and a lucky raffle winner took home 12 bottles of 100-point wine, according to Wine Advocate. The evening’s total till topped $650,000. Cheers!

Haylie Duff and Matt Rosenberg

Kamilah Todd and Eric Brueggeman

Alan and Elizabeth Stein

Yoon Smith, Malaika Mukoro and Amy Shen

Ann and Jonathan Ayre

William Dee and Lea Hunt

Evan and Carin Collins

Leslie Siller and Robert Sakowitz

James Craig and Jacquie Baly

Joan and Robert Duff

David and Kirby Lodholz

Hallie Vanderhider and Fady Armanious

The Jones Hall stage

Parties
Reyna Group Owner Leads Real Estate Market with Passion and Excellence

MICHELLE REYNA WYMES, a distinguished name in the Houston real estate market, is the owner of the successful boutique brokerage, Reyna Group. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle has deep-rooted connections to the community she serves with dedication and pride.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

Lilith's Lullaby cocktail (photo by Angie Cavazos)

TO QUOTE THE wee one in Poltergeist: “They’re baaaaack!” Houston’s beloved gothic and girl-powered pop-up The Cursed Cauldron returns Friday, Oct. 4 to Aero Cocktail Co. in River Oaks. The new Aero Cocktail Co. will host the pop-up Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 4pm-12am, and Sundays 2pm-10pm. To help contribute to the spooky (and fun) vibe, visitors are invited to “don their magical attire;” kohl eyeliner and black nail polish are strongly recommended.

Keep Reading Show less
Food