VIPs Alight to Celebrate CityBook's 'Leaders & Legends' at Sunny Schmooze

Jhane Hoang
VIPs Alight to Celebrate CityBook's 'Leaders & Legends' at Sunny Schmooze

Jim Crane and Lynn Wyatt at CityBook's 'Leaders & Legends' party

A WHO'S WHO of Houstonians — from the arts, big business, the media, philanthropy, pro sports and much more — came together to celebrate CityBook and Gittings Photography’s 2022 “Leaders & Legends” portrait series, presented in partnership with Residences at The Allen and Bentley Houston.

The annual event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, so the VIP guests were thrilled to gather in person for the occasion, in Residence’s at The Allen’s sunny hospitality space, in the shadow of its rising hotel and condominium tower. Along with CityBookExecutive Publisher Lisa Holthouse and Editor Jeff Gremillion, The Allen developer Roberto Contreras, himself among the Leaders & Legends honored, welcomed guests with warm remarks.


Many other honorees, all of whom were featured in the magazine’s mid-spring issue, were also on hand, including Astros owner Jim Crane, society doyenne Hallie Vanderhider, fundraising legend Carolyn Farb, popular locavore restaurateurs Benjy Levit and Aaron Lyons, noted gallerist Mimi Sperber-Wasserberg of Off the Wall and Marilyn Oshman, founder of the Orange Show organization and the Art Car Parade.

China and Roberto Contreras IV

Lisa Holthouse and Ray Childress

Page Parkes

Connor Walsh and Chae Eun Yang

Vanessa Barrow

Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious and Ally Shell

Lucinda Loya and Felicia Stone

Randy Hale, Michael Holthouse, Kim and Dan Moody

Aaron and Stefanie Lyons

Amanda Mills and Mark Sullivan

Josh and Trisha Weisman

Carolyn Farb and Danny Nguyen

Katelyn Leonard and Jack Vielhauer

Demola the Violinist and Bianca Bucaram

Leslie Siller and Cheryl Byington

Roberto Contreras

Mario Gudmundsson and Marcelo Saenz

Hamilton Rowan and Mimi Sperber-Wasserberg

Karen deGeurin and Peter Remington

Bentleys on display

Kathy Flanagan and Lloyd Gite

Leisa Holland Nelson and Marilyn Oshman

Franklin and Cindi Rose

Chris Hendel and Beth Wolff

Lisa Gochman, Chloe Dao and Lindsey Word

Todd Ramos

Leaders & Legends is an annual portrait series that seeks to honor both icons of the city, responsible for its growth and prominence, as well as Houston’s current leaders, charting the path forward.

Guests enjoyed fun, fabulous treats from Monarch Hospitality including lobster “corn dogs,” timber-smoked Wagyu carpaccio under glass, caviar “twinkies,” foie gras and cognac mousse served in little ice cream cones and adult Cosmopolitan popsicles. DJ TK kept the scene lively.

Father-and-son UH basketball coaches Kelvin and Kellen Sampson were also among the community luminaries featured in the 2022 “Leaders & Legends” collection.

Style
As Escape Spa Expands in 2025, Owner Has Advice on Personal Growth: ‘Focus on Intention Setting’

CHANGE IS A good thing, and with the start of a new year, I always like to reflect on how far I've come and start fresh by setting self-care goals for the coming months. Personal growth is a passion for me, and also something I enjoy. Guiding a business through growth and change is also one of my passions, so I am very pleased to announce that Escape Spa is going to be expanding in 2025! We’re honored that we’ve built such a loyal following since opening in Cypress in July of 2022, and we’re thrilled to be in a position to grow our wellness and recovery sanctuary just outside of Houston.

Keep ReadingShow less

Concert of Arias finalists on the Wortham stage, including first place and audience choice winner Geonho Lee of South Korea, third from left. (Photo by Michael Bishop)

LONG ONE OF the HGO’s most exciting evenings on the calendar — Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers called it the best night of the year — the 37th Annual Concert of Arias and gala dinner afterward dazzled and inspired opera fans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment

Baber and Robart of The Well Pilates Studio

A NEW BOUTIQUE-fitness concept has sprung to life in West Houston. The Well Pilates Studio, founded by two Houstonians, opened this weekend on Memorial near Wilcrest, in the heart of a community noticeably lacking in studio-style gyms.

Keep ReadingShow less
Style