parties

‘Iron Sommelier’ Fundraiser Among Flurry of In-Person Charity Parties This Week

Eric Forsythe
‘Iron Sommelier’ Fundraiser Among Flurry of In-Person Charity Parties This Week

On the leading edge of what seems to be a cautious return to live events — with actual people there, in person — the Periwinkle Foundation on Thursday night crowned Evan Turner of Krasi Meze & Wine the 2020 Iron Sommelier at its annual wine-tasting fundraiser, where extraordinary measures were taken to minimize any risk of Covid spread. Theodore Rex's Justin Vann was runner-up.

At least one other in-person benefit soiree is taking place in Houston Friday night. The Faberge jewelry store is hosting a VIP dinner party at the Memorial area home of MAD and BCN restaurateur Ignacio Torras to benefit Astro star Carlos Correa's Correa Family Foundation, which supports children battling cancer and their families. And on Saturday night Elizabeth and Alan Stein will host their annual Red Hot Gala in support of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association Charitable Foundation at the Royal Sonesta Houston hotel; "red hot cocktail" is the suggested attire. Both events have been carefully planned with distancing and masking in mind.

Portions of the event for Periwinkle, which provides programs for Texas Children Hospital patients with life-threatening illnesses, took place at Backstreet Café and at Hugo's to allow tables to be spaced out safely. The competing somms, each having selected two wines to present and an discuss, were shuttled to each restaurant to give presentations at both locations. They were judged by experts on their wine choice, presentation, creativity general knowledge of their bottles.

Sommeliers also presented their wines in a virtual zoom for supporters who preferred to enjoy the event from home. Guests had been provided with a to-go wine-tasting kit to enjoy while following along with the virtual presentation.

Amy and Matt Airhart

Andres Blanco

Betty Hemmus, Adam Murray

Brittany and Justin Loomis

Wine being poured

Ben Hildreth, Mary Nell Suell

Darren Davis, Shankar Nadarajah

Competing Sommelier

David and Gloria Sanders

Hugo's

Eva Sagisaka, Morgan Holleman

Gary Lenz, Suzanne Kirkpatrick

From Your Site Articles
Parties
promoted

Meet Brian Boyter, New High-End Residential Broker with an Unique Background

Meet Brian Boyter, New High-End Residential Broker with an Unique Background

BRIAN BOYTER IS a Houston native with an interesting background in real estate. After an impressive 16-year tenure managing commercial transactions in a Fortune 500 Real Estate Investment Trust, he recently made the shift to high-end residential brokerage. The experience left him uniquely suited to thrive in the sometimes-emotional world of buying or selling a home.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

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.

Keep Reading Show less