parties

Inside C. Baldwin’s Grand Opening Blowout!

Gloria Gaynor Performs
Gloria Gaynor Performs

Natalie Chambers and Michael Chabala

Nearly 2,000 hip Houstonians — including Lynn Wyatt, Becca Cason Thrash, Houston Ballet and Houston Texans stars, and hometown hip-hopper Slim Thug — hit the C. Baldwin hotel for a first glimpse of the glam new common spaces, including Chris Cosentino's Rosalie restaurant and the lobby's Sloan/Hall boutique.

The hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property that was previously a DoubleTree, adopted a theme of powerful women throughout its renovation. The C. Baldwin is named for Charlotte Baldwin Allen, the unsung “mother of Houston," and the leadership team that brought it to life is made up almost entirely of females. Not to mention, Cosentino's Rosalie, inspired by his Italian grandmother, homages another great gal.

So it's no surprise that the grand-opening festivities were inspired by girl power. The famous quote, “Well behaved women rarely make history," lit up as a popular photo backdrop, and a 111-foot “living wall," made of plants," displayed the letter “X." This gesture was inspired by a time when Baldwin was prohibited from signing her own name on biz documents, and served to remind party guests to make their mark on the world.

Surprise concerts by The Suffers and Gloria Gaynor continued the theme.

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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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Children’s Museum Supporters Go Goth-Glam at Million-Dollar Gala

Alexander's Fine Portraits

THE CORINTHIAN WAS the scene for a haunted happening benefiting Children’s Museum Houston. The decidedly adult bash was filled with dark allure, gothic glamour, and generosity to the tune of $1.14 million, the second-highest total in the event’s history.

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Parties
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‘You’re the Inspiration’: Generous Donors Give $6.2 Mil to Kids’ Charity as Famous Band Takes Stage

Michelle Watson/Catchlight Group

Morris Smith, Tilman Fertitta and Toni Smith

THE HOUSTON CHILDREN'S Charity gala is always anticipated, thanks to the big-deal musical acts brought in to entertain; this year it was Chicago. But the headliners this year were the generous donors, who seemed to surprise even event organizer with their largesse, with a total till of $6.2 million, a record.

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