Summer 2018: On Location
Check out behind the scenes of the swimwear shoot at H-Town's most expensive home on the market.
Jun. 5, 2018
What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.
The Urban Harvest’s Farmers Market Program supports real, fresh food and the hardworking people who grow it. The market is more than just a place to shop, it’s a gathering place where friends and families meet up each at Urban Harvest, kids grow up knowing where their food comes from, and new friendships are forged.
What is your mission? The mission of Urban Harvest is to be a catalyst in transforming food accessibility in Greater Houston. Urban Harvest aims to achieve this by fostering strong partnerships with local farmers and gardeners, operating vibrant Farmers Markets, initiating mobile markets, and providing comprehensive garden education.
What is your vision? Their vision is not just to improve, but to transform the way communities engage with and access fresh, locally sourced food. Through these efforts, Urban Harvest aspires to set a national example, showcasing how innovative community collaboration can lead to sustainable change in food systems across the country.
How have you impacted the community?
In 2023 -
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market brought together over 100 local farmers, ranchers, gardeners and food artisans to sell their products directly to Houstonians
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market hosted over 45,000 shoppers
• Urban Harvest matched $25,000 in Double Up Food Bucks, allowing those who use SNAP/EBT to get $1 in fresh fruits and veggies for each $1 spent, up to $40 daily
• Approximately 45% of Urban Harvest vendors identified as social minorities and Urban Harvest continue to strive to grow the Farmers Market diversity. In addition, 50% of shoppers identify as a BIPOC.
Tell us about your big event. Urban Harvest invites Houstonians to break bread during their 30th Anniversary Sunday Supper hosted at St. John’s School on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024. The evening will be a celebration of local food, culinary excellence and the communities Urban Harvest serves. Thirteen of Houston’s most esteemed chefs will lend their unique talents during a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers. Proceeds from this unforgettable farm-to-table experience will benefit the programs of Urban Harvest: Farmers Markets, Community Gardens, Youth Education, Food Access, and Gardening Classes.
What are you most proud of? Every year the small but mighty organization serves over 45,000 farmers market patrons and over 100 small food business; nearly 5,000 students and teachers in socially vulnerable Areas; 3,823 community gardeners preserving over 34 acres of greenspace; over 2,000 Mobile Market customers, 78% of which are in underserved neighborhoods; and educates over 900 individuals who participate in year-round organic gardening classes.
Betty Hrncir, Sidney Faust, Julie Baker Finck
ACTUAL WINTER WEATHER was in the forecast the night of the Winter Ball, benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and honoring the Women of Distinction, a festive and fitting detail that sparked a flurry of conversation at the Omni Hotel.
With a theme of "Up, Up, and Away," the gala was an uplifting display of hope and determination, and featured a vibrant palette of blues, coral, and gold brought to life by Blooming Gallery. Upon arrival, guests passed through a "hallway of honor," a display of photos of previous honorees and the event over the past four decades.
Mistress of Ceremonies Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman conducted a charming program, and galagoers enjoyed a polished runway show coordinated by Todd Ramos. The honorees included Bincy Abraham, Alice Mao Brams, Sharon Albert Brier, Julie Baker Finck, Stephanie von Stein Schusterman, Jacquie Baly, plus Honored Hero Bayle Goldman and Healthcare Partner Honoree Keith Fiman.
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow were thrilled with the turnout of 270 and the evening's total till, which topped $575K. Funds will fuel research, education, and patient support programs, propelling the Foundation’s mission forward.
2025 Women of Distinction
Stephanie von Stein Schusterman and Dr. Mark Schusterman
Anthony DeLuca, Katherine and Jeff Smith
Nora Jarrard, Maria Bassa, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Beth Muecke
Beth Wolff, Jane Page-Crump, Cheryl Byington
Mitch Feinberg, Brian Atlas, Mike Brier, Scott Frisbie, Scott Drysdale
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow
Daniel Irion, Jerre Williams, Kirk Kveton
Michele Hosko, Scott Drysdale
Sippi Khurana, Jacquie Baly, Terri Wang
Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Zane Carruth
2025 Women of Distinction
Stephanie von Stein Schusterman and Dr. Mark Schusterman
Anthony DeLuca, Katherine and Jeff Smith
Nora Jarrard, Maria Bassa, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Beth Muecke
Beth Wolff, Jane Page-Crump, Cheryl Byington
Mitch Feinberg, Brian Atlas, Mike Brier, Scott Frisbie, Scott Drysdale
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow
Daniel Irion, Jerre Williams, Kirk Kveton
Michele Hosko, Scott Drysdale
Sippi Khurana, Jacquie Baly, Terri Wang
Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Zane Carruth
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.
The Wortham Center concert — which serves as the finals of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, pitting the world’s best young singers against each other for high honors and big money — was even more spectacular this year. The young opera performers were accompanied by a full orchestra for the first time, and not just a lone piano per the tradition. And a full orchestra requires a big-shot conductor. Enter Maestro James Gaffigan, the general music director of Komische Oper Berlin, music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia and music director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in Switzerland.
Other operatic glitterati also participated in the rousing affair. Judges included Michael Heaston, the deputy general manager of the Metropolitan Opera and the former music director of HGO’s Butler Studio school; Khori Dastoor, HGO general director and CEO; and Summers. World-famous, Houston-based diva Ana María Martínez selected the recipient of her Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award.
But of course, the real stars were the performers, each of whom performed two numbers for the judges — and for the audiences gathered in the hall and watching the live stream hosted by Ernie Manouse. The audience, by the way, participated in the dolling out of awards, voting by phone for the coveted Audience Choice Award.
Jim Loftis and Alexa Chally (photo by Michelle Watson)
Beth Madison and Steve Hamilton (photo by Michelle Watson)
Misook Doolittle, Stephen Beaudoin and Charlotte Lee (photo by Michelle Watson)
Albert Chao and Anne Chao (photo by Michelle Watson)
Megha Karkera and Mayur Kanjia, Warren and Rachel Ellsworth, Jaclyn Goodell, and Brad and Meagan Glover (photo by Michelle Watson)
Mark Walker and Thomas DeNapoli (photo by Michelle Watson)
Loren Meeker, Barbara Labatt and Blair Labatt (photo by Michelle Watson)
Harry and Diane Gendel (photo by Michelle Watson)
Janet Carrig and John Carrig (photo by Michelle Watson)
Roberto Kalb, Gloria Portela and Navasard Hakobyan (photo by Michelle Watson)
Angela Lee and Myrtle Jones (photo by Michelle Watson)
When the winners were announced, it was cute young baritone Geonho Lee of South Korea, with his warm buttery voice and impish charm, who walked away with both the first place award and the audience prize. That’s $30,000 in the total purse!
After the competition, event chairs Reinnette and Stan Marek welcomed nearly 500 opera lovers into the Wortham’s grand foyer for a dinner party celebrating the beaming contestants. In all, more than $775,000 was raised. “Proceeds from the Concert of Arias support the Butler Studio’s mission to recruit, develop and champion world-class young artists,” noted an HGO rep. “These funds also help bring opera to communities across Greater Houston, offering accessible programming for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”
Guests for the evening included Estela Cockrell, Sarah and Ernest Butler, Molly and Jim Crownover, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Theresa and Peter Chang, Stephen Klineberg, Anne and Albert Chao, Matthew and Kristen Loden, Robert Sakowitz and Mindy and Joshua Davidson.