Jim Crownover, Phoebe Tudor, Diana Hawkins
“Chaired by longtime opera supporters Molly and Jim Crownover, the evening marked a post-pandemic return to gathering donors with the cast and creative team for dinner and saw the largest opening night dinner participation in HGO’s 67-year history,” remarked an HGO rep. In all, nearly 500 guests helped raise about $600,000.
The itself marked the HGO debut of Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue as the doomed heroine — is there any other kind in opera? — in the lead role. Celebrated Ukrainian baritone Andrei Kymach, who had to flee his war-torn homeland in recent months, also appeared; in her pre-curtain remarks, HGO honcho Khori Dastoor dedicated the evening’s special performance to him.
After many rounds of standing ovation, the black-tied crowd left the performing arts center and alighted in a grand tent erected on Fish Plaza outside. “Guests were greeted with glasses of bubbly, and two ten-foot floral Champagne flutes flanking the tent’s entrance with a flurry of real bubbles in the air” — courtesy of a bubble machine —the rep said. At a dinner of fall squash soup with lump crab, a beef tenderloin Marchand du Vin for the entrée, and a dessert of cherry and dark chocolate clafoutis, honorees Jill and Allyn Risley and La traviata crew and cast members were recognized.
Per usual, the guest list represented a who’s-who of Houston society, including Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Lynn Wyatt, Margaret Alkek Williams, Beth Madison, Ping Sun and David Leebron, Bobbie Nau, Betty and Jess Tutor, Andrew Pappas and Charles Martin, Veronica Juarez and Lauren Randle.
Walter and Linda McReynolds, Lynn Wyatt, Molly Crownover
Ann and Jonathan Ayre
Beth Madison, Tom LeCloux
Schyuler Evans, Veronica Juarez, CJ Martin and Andrew Pappas
Joe Greenberg and Claire Liu
Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Betty and Jess Tutor
Bobbie Nau, HGO's Greg Robertson
Brian Dunham and Allyson Pritchett
Margaret Alkek Williams
Cindy and Dr. Franklin Rose
Monica Karuturi and Kumaran Sathyamoorthy
Cynthia and Tony Petrello
Danilo and Stephanie Juvane
Diana and Russell Hawkins
Drs. Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah
Drs. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth
Drs. Sugene Kim and Bob Basu
David Krohn, C.C. and Duke Ensell
Jennifer and Ben Fink
Jerry Fischer, Lynne Bentsen, John Turner
The Astros Dog at Ninfa's
The Burger Joint
For every Astros home run during the playoffs, all guests on-site will receive a free milkshake of their choice at the Burger Joint’s multiple locations. Trust us, these divine milkshakes are worth the trip.
Caracol
Customers who gear up and go out to dinner at Caracol will receive a complimentary margarita with the purchase of an entree during happy-hour.
C. Baldwin
The Lobby Bar at the C. Baldwin has an excellent and festive Juice Box Rita for $12, made with the standard primo ingredients — and a twist of orange juice.
Gatlin's Fins & Feathers
The H-Town Hot sandwich (photo by Becca Wright)
This newcomer from the Gatlin's BBQ team is spicing things up during the World Series. Try the H-Town Hot Sandwich (crispy chicken or fish tossed in Viet-Cajun hot sauce, topped with basil coleslaw and pickles) for $16. All sandwiches are served with fries and pair wonderfully with their assortment of cold draft beers ($8).
Heights & Co.
An expansive patio bar, Heights & Co. is a great place to catch a game, especially when draft beer is on special for $5, and burgers for $10!
GJ Tavern
Calling all Astros fans! The sleek Downtown tavern is offering its happy-hour menu prices immediately following all Astros games. For late games, GJ Tavern offers happy hour prices from 9pm until closing. This hotspot — outfitted with plenty of TVs — is the place to celebrate a big win.
Kenny & Ziggy's
Gameday specials at Kenny & Ziggy's
Nothing says gameday like hot dogs and beer, and Kenny & Ziggy’s artisan franks are made with an old family recipe, which includes natural casings that give them the perfect “snap.” Catch the World Series games in the Spritzer Bar and these hot dogs with the works for $5, plus all draft beers for $4 each.
La Calle Tacos & Tortas
Le Calle (photo by Becca Wright)
La Calle Tacos & Tortas is celebrating the Astros with themed cocktails and taco giveaways. The Mexican eatery will give a free order of street tacos to the guest who guesses the final game score correctly for each game via the restaurant's scoreboard located at the Downtown and Bagby locations.
Maize
The Astrorita at Maize
Out west, tuck into a delicioso fish burger, the hamburguesa de pescado (fried striped bass fillet, avocado, slaw, tomatoes, sweet potato fries), for $10 and wash it down with an Astrorita (tequila blanco, blue curaçao, lime, orange, agave, chili lime salt) for $8.
Osso & Kristalla
Osso & Kristalla pizza
No wonder this modern and breezy Downtown eatery from Astros owner Jim Crane calls itself “Astros Headquarters.” Its location steps away from Minute Maid Park is a no brainer, and the wood-fired pizzas are splendid. Weekday happy hour features beer, cocktails, and wine ($5-$7) plus Italian-kissed bar bites — think calamari fritta, bruschetta, Calabrese shrimp and osso polpette sliders with marinara and Parmesan ($6-$8). A steal!
Roots
Juicy Lucy Burger and Steak Tartare (photo by Michael Anthony)
If you’re geared up for the Astros this post-season, make sure to stop by Roots. The EaDo self-serve wine bar and restaurant is offering 20 percent off all food and drink to customers who come in wearing Astros gear.
Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen
Sylvia's
At both locations, the games will be on in the bar along with these specials: The Astrorita orange margaritaand Sylvia’s signature fajita chicken and beef nachos — choose one or both, $9 each.
The Original Ninfa's
At the Uptown location only, Ninfa’s is offering a grilled Astro Dog topped with jalapeno chow chow, mayonnaise and brown mustard for $8 during home and away games. As always, guests of the Navigation location can enjoy a complimentary shuttle to the game from the East End eatery.
The Upside Pub
The Brisket Hot Dog is wrapped in bacon with caramelized onions and peppers, pickled jalapeños, mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise. (Photo by Becca Wright)
This Garden Oaks pub is aiming to keep up their home-team optimism with $12 pitchers during each Astros postseason game and free shots of beer after every Astros home run. Signature dishes include $7 Frito pies, bacon-wrapped brisket hot dog topped with queso and loaded on a potato bun, and full bar offerings of beer, wine, and cocktails.
Treebeards
Cheer on the Astros with a World Series Crawford Bock beer special at its Bunker Hill location. The southern comfort restaurant is selling pints of Crawford Bock starting at $4. With each Astros win, the number of games left to win the World Series decreases, and so does the price.
Willie's Grill & Icehouse
The neighborhood icehouse is offering an appetizing promotion anytime the Astros win in their quest for World Series domination. Dine-in customers will enjoy free chips and queso the day following every Astros win with the purchase of an entrée.
Urbe
Astros conches at Urbe
The on-site bakery at Hugo Ortega’s Urbe in Uptown Park turns out amazing cakes, cookies, churros, desserts and pastries — and, during the World Series, Astros conchas ($3.50 each/$36 per dozen). Limited quantities available.
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